The Beachcomber was full to the brim, but this time all the rooms held friends and family. The porches Aiden had built were draped in a garland of fresh flowers—daisies and gaillardias—and the patio was a field of white tea light candles in mason jars. The walkway, too, was lined with them and white folding chairs were set out on either side of it leading down to sea.
“Ready?” Olivia asked, as she straightened Wyatt’s tie. He was now ten, lanky and tall in his tuxedo, holding a ring bearer’s pillow.
Callie’s mother blinked rapidly, wiping her tears with a hanky, as she stood with them in a pale pink gown. She’d spent a wonderful week talking and catching up with Callie and Olivia and finalizing the wedding plans. Callie had never seen her smile as much as she had since she’d arrived.
Callie nodded, her nerves melting away at the thought of standing next to Luke and promising to love him forever.
They’d both had laughed at the headline in the local paper: Pretty boy Luke Sullivan has been tamed! The papers had been in a whirl since the public revelation of Frederick McFarlin’s connection to the Sullivan family, as well as the merger between Parker Industries and Sullivan Enterprises, when Aiden and Luke had announced their partnership.
And now, they’d surprised them once again with the wedding. But Luke had been right about the press embracing their family turmoil: They were the new darlings of Waves, and the people there couldn’t get enough of them. Callie had to insist on paying for coffee at the coffee shop, the owner refusing to take her money for all the wonderful things they’d done for the community, and when they walked past people in town, Luke got stopped but only to receive well-wishes and offers of gratitude.
Luke hadn’t just donated to the relief effort that year during the hurricane, he’d initiated an annual auction in which he auctioned off ten of his prized surfboards, donating all the proceeds to the nonprofit Bring Us Home. Other companies had jumped on board, and the whole thing had gotten so huge that it had become a local fair. There were carnival rides, booths of local products, cotton candy and twirling, light-up toys for the kids. Luke and Aiden organized the whole thing every year, and the community loved it.
Callie took a peek out the French doors, warmth spreading over her when she saw Luke. His eyes were on the entry to the walkway, waiting for her. The music had started. Just before she turned around, she caught sight of Edward and Frederick, sitting beside each other. They looked like they were chatting.
“It’s time,” Olivia said.
Callie grabbed her bouquet, made specially of gaillardias, and held it close to her white silk dress, which fell in one smooth wave to the floor where it puddled at the back into a small train.
After they’d gotten downstairs, just before going out, she picked up the basket they’d filled with petals. “Ready?” she said in a commanding whisper as she bent down—they’d been practicing this all summer. With a giggle, she handed the basket to Poppy who carried it in her mouth. Wyatt took the white ribbon leash and they walked out together as the crowd shifted in their seats.
“Okay, Mom,” she said, turning to her mother. She’d cried when Callie had asked if she could walk her down the aisle. They’d talked for over an hour that night over wine and good music.
The doors swooshed open and all Callie could see was Luke’s face, the glisten in his eyes, and the awe that overtook him as she walked toward her future. And she couldn’t imagine anything better.
If you enjoyed The Summer House, you’ll love Summer by the Sea by Jenny Hale - a perfect, feel-good summer romance.
Letter from Jenny
Thank you so much for reading The Summer House. I really hope you found it to be a heart-warming summer escape!
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If you did enjoy The Summer House, I’d love it if you’d write a review. Getting feedback from readers is amazing, and it also helps to persuade other readers to pick up one of my books for the first time.
Until next time!
Jenny
P.S. If you enjoyed this story, and would like a little more summer fun, do check out my other summer novels: Summer at Oyster Bay, Summer by the Sea and A Barefoot Summer.
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Also by Jenny Hale
A Barefoot Summer
Summer by the Sea
Summer at Oyster Bay
Coming Home for Christmas
A Christmas to Remember
Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses
All I Want for Christmas
A Barefoot Summer
'You’ll love Libby’s heartwarming journey as her life changes in ways she’d never have expected… A warm, light, brilliantly romantic story.’ 5/5 GirlsLovetoRead.com Buy now!
A Barefoot Summer is a beautiful, touching story about coming home, the importance of family, and the special place that first loves hold in our hearts. Fans of Carole Matthews, Trisha Ashley, Susan Mallery and Susan Wiggs – and anyone looking for a perfect, feel-good summer read will enjoy this.
Sometimes you find perfect where you least expect it …
Libby Potter has just lost the perfect job, the perfect apartment and the perfect boyfriend. Moving back to the home town that she couldn’t wait to escape when she was younger was definitely not on her to-do list. Especially as it means running into the man whose heart she broke when she left.
Pete Bennett can still make Libby’s world stop with just the sound of his voice – even ten years on. Only now, she is the last person in the world that he wants to see.
As everyone else welcomes Libby home with open arms, she realizes she’s missed that special closeness that comes from lifelong friendship. And, as Libby seeks to make amends with Pete, she begins to wonder whether she made the right choice in leaving all those years ago.
When an amazing career opportunity gives her the chance to leave again, Libby will have to decide what her version of perfect is… and where she really belongs.
A Barefoot Summer was previously published as Love Me for Me.
Buy now!
Summer by the Sea
Summer by the Sea is a beautiful, heart-warming summer read about sisters, first love and not always getting what we want – but sometimes ending up with exactly what we need.
They say there’s always one summer that changes you.