Atlanta. I won’t be doing anything until that’s finished. I still have about a year left.” She was actually nearly at the fundraising goal. She could finish a lot sooner. Why was she even considering this? And why did it sound so tempting? The possibility so exciting?
Elijah nudged Simon. “Can you get the door for me, buddy?”
Simon moved ahead and opened it.
Elijah lifted Charity again into his arms and carried her over the threshold as Simon held the door. “We can talk doc later. Let’s get this party started.” He kissed her before setting her down once they were inside. “Love you,” he whispered.
Her father and Elijah’s mother stepped inside just as the heavens opened up. From sun to instant downpour. In seconds the patio was covered in water.
“Timed that one perfectly,” her father commented.
Julie moved over to Margaret. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Margaret shook her head. “It’s all organized. The grand room’s all set up.” She glanced at Simon. “I might have to get the bartender to pick up a few more bottles of champagne.”
Simon grinned. “Already covered, Mrs. Bennet.”
They headed into the grand room. The room had been transformed. For Elijah’s father’s funeral, the room had been set to move around and hold a lot of people. It was a massive room so it wasn’t hard to picture. Now, Margaret had somehow set the room so it had a wedding reception appeal with a large, long table set up in the middle. She’d had the furniture moved around so it seemed smaller, like they were dining with royalty at a castle.
“It’s beautiful,” Charity said. “You’ve done a wonderful job, Mar-Mrs. Bennet.”
“Margaret, please.” Elijah’s mother smiled, pleased at the compliment. “You’re Mrs. Bennet now too.”
“Mrs. Thompson-Bennet,” her father corrected.
Charity felt Elijah’s hand squeeze hers and she gave him a quick squeeze back, not daring to look at him.
“Mia’s done all the cooking. I can’t wait to see what treats she has in store for us.” Margaret chattered on about the food.
Rain pelted against the large windows but no one seemed to notice. The room was brightly lit, giving the effect of a brilliant, sunny day. The photographer asked them to gather at the stairs in the entrance for pictures. He took a shot of the whole group and then had Charity and Elijah move to several places for more pictures. Hopefully he had managed to get some good ones down at the beach. It didn’t look like they would be heading outside again today.
Finally satisfied he had taken enough, he packed up his gear and congratulated the two of them. Albert offered to walk him out, to the back of the house, by the garage and indoor pool. He could take him on the golf cart to his car. Nobody said a word as they left, not even Albert’s wife who gave an “oh-no” face behind them as they left the room.
Margaret clapped her hand and motioned to the bartender to bring them champagne glasses. “I believe Simon had a toast he said he wanted to do.”
Everyone sat at their assigned chairs, with Elijah and Charity at the head of the table.
Simon pulled out his chair and stood. He coughed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I was honored when Elijah asked me to be his best man. When he said he and Charity wanted to get married down here in New Zealand there was no way Julie and I would miss it. They are both incredible people and I’m glad they are together.” He held up his champagne. “To the two of you.”
They toasted and Elijah got up to shake Simon’s hand. Charity went over and hugged him.
Julie stood and held her glass up. “I’m proud to stand at the ceremony for Charity. She’s had quite the journey and I’m happy to be her friend.”
“Her best friend,” Charity added.
“And my best friend too.” Julie tapped her glass to Charity’s. “Now hurry up and move to New York so we can hang out all the time!”
“You aren’t in New
Elijah nudged Simon. “Can you get the door for me, buddy?”
Simon moved ahead and opened it.
Elijah lifted Charity again into his arms and carried her over the threshold as Simon held the door. “We can talk doc later. Let’s get this party started.” He kissed her before setting her down once they were inside. “Love you,” he whispered.
Her father and Elijah’s mother stepped inside just as the heavens opened up. From sun to instant downpour. In seconds the patio was covered in water.
“Timed that one perfectly,” her father commented.
Julie moved over to Margaret. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Margaret shook her head. “It’s all organized. The grand room’s all set up.” She glanced at Simon. “I might have to get the bartender to pick up a few more bottles of champagne.”
Simon grinned. “Already covered, Mrs. Bennet.”
They headed into the grand room. The room had been transformed. For Elijah’s father’s funeral, the room had been set to move around and hold a lot of people. It was a massive room so it wasn’t hard to picture. Now, Margaret had somehow set the room so it had a wedding reception appeal with a large, long table set up in the middle. She’d had the furniture moved around so it seemed smaller, like they were dining with royalty at a castle.
“It’s beautiful,” Charity said. “You’ve done a wonderful job, Mar-Mrs. Bennet.”
“Margaret, please.” Elijah’s mother smiled, pleased at the compliment. “You’re Mrs. Bennet now too.”
“Mrs. Thompson-Bennet,” her father corrected.
Charity felt Elijah’s hand squeeze hers and she gave him a quick squeeze back, not daring to look at him.
“Mia’s done all the cooking. I can’t wait to see what treats she has in store for us.” Margaret chattered on about the food.
Rain pelted against the large windows but no one seemed to notice. The room was brightly lit, giving the effect of a brilliant, sunny day. The photographer asked them to gather at the stairs in the entrance for pictures. He took a shot of the whole group and then had Charity and Elijah move to several places for more pictures. Hopefully he had managed to get some good ones down at the beach. It didn’t look like they would be heading outside again today.
Finally satisfied he had taken enough, he packed up his gear and congratulated the two of them. Albert offered to walk him out, to the back of the house, by the garage and indoor pool. He could take him on the golf cart to his car. Nobody said a word as they left, not even Albert’s wife who gave an “oh-no” face behind them as they left the room.
Margaret clapped her hand and motioned to the bartender to bring them champagne glasses. “I believe Simon had a toast he said he wanted to do.”
Everyone sat at their assigned chairs, with Elijah and Charity at the head of the table.
Simon pulled out his chair and stood. He coughed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I was honored when Elijah asked me to be his best man. When he said he and Charity wanted to get married down here in New Zealand there was no way Julie and I would miss it. They are both incredible people and I’m glad they are together.” He held up his champagne. “To the two of you.”
They toasted and Elijah got up to shake Simon’s hand. Charity went over and hugged him.
Julie stood and held her glass up. “I’m proud to stand at the ceremony for Charity. She’s had quite the journey and I’m happy to be her friend.”
“Her best friend,” Charity added.
“And my best friend too.” Julie tapped her glass to Charity’s. “Now hurry up and move to New York so we can hang out all the time!”
“You aren’t in New
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