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Chapter Sixteen
Ayla hung up the phone and sighed. This time it had been a two-hour squawk-fest with her mother, Tammy, over the guest list for the wedding. Tammy didn't want to hear anything about a 'small intimate' wedding; she wanted her only daughter to have lavish, grandiose wedding to end all weddings.
"It's all about her," Ayla muttered, "and her stupid competition with her friends. She wants to have the wedding she didn’t, through me. Last week it was her name being on the wedding invitation as Tamara, not Tammy, because Tamara sounds more sophisticated. She’s driving me crazy!"
"Why do you let her take charge like that?" Regan asked grumpily from the couch. It always took a few hours to calm his fiancée down after she talked to her mother. "I try not to," Ayla sighed, "she's just so gung ho and controlling. I've been rebelling against her my whole life."
"No, sweetheart, you've been fighting her. You haven't totally rebelled," Regan corrected her. He was resting on his back, head turned to watch television, as he was still limited in some of his movements.
Ayla curled up next to the big man and snuggled into his comforting embrace. It had been a year since his accident; a year of painful memories and fighting to find their love again, but they had.
"Would you be upset if I suggested eloping?" she asked in a small voice.
"I'd be delighted," he said hopefully. “I’d have suggested it weeks ago, had I thought you’d be agreeable to it.”
Ayla sat up, her gray-blue eyes thoughtful.
"You serious?" she demanded.
Regan nodded. "I don't want a big, fancy wedding, you know that. If it means us running off to Vegas for the weekend, then hell yes, I'm all for it. I just wanted you to have the big frilly wedding that all girls want."
“I don’t need nor really want a big, frilly wedding,” Ayla laughed. She leaned over and kissed him soundly. "I knew there was a reason I fell in love you."
Regan drew her close, kissing her while thanking the universe for the umpteenth time for a second chance. A year ago he was unsure she even wanted him, after his jaunt to rehab and the miscarriage. It had taken weeks, months to find their way back to each other and rebuild the trust and relationship. Harsh words from her, him taking responsibility for his actions, numerous apologies, countless tears and slowly, finally, they began to move forward.
Regan had known he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and with the assistance of Honey Wheeler had whisked her off to the mountains for a romantic weekend trip, and proposal. Honey had helped him select the ring, that was neither fancy nor fussy, a simple white gold band with an antique Peruzzi* cut. Honey had insisted Ayla needed something simple but gorgeous and elegant to match her, and more special than a round cut. The wedding ring that went with it would twist around like a vine to complete the set.
Regan often found himself holding her hand and smiling at the ring. It was a full carat, and looked stunning on her elegant hand. She liked to tease him about his taste in diamonds, and he always answered with he had the best taste in women as well.
He had braced himself for wedding chaos, but the offer of eloping was too good to pass up. All he wanted was Ayla as his wife, for now and forever.
***
Discussion of how to get everyone to Hilton Head instead was a sore point with Regan.
"Regan, honey, it's our special day. The Family is your family. Of course they need to be there. We have enough money. It's not an issue," Ayla sighed. “And knowing Matt Wheeler he’s likely to fly half of them on his jet.”
Regan just glared at her. "You have enough money. I just feel weird about it all."
"It's about to be your money too, so stop fretting," Ayla said crossly. "The money isn't an issue. If you have a problem with me having more than you, then we need to talk this out. Again.”
"It's just-I told you before, I'm an old fashioned kind of guy," he said grumpily
Ayla rolled her eyes. "And I told you, I'm not Suzi-homemaker. I'm a thoroughly modern woman, Bill Regan, and you need to get used to it."
Regan glowered at the TV. Smirking, Ayla pounced on him, straddling his lap and pinning him to the sofa.
"Let's compromise. If they insist on paying for their own ticket, then fine. But I will offer to pay for the tickets."
Regan sighed, completely distracted by her low cut tank top.
"You're using your feminine wiles on me again," he growled in mock anger.
Ayla giggled.
"Girl's gotta use her natural talents," she grinned, kissing him lightly.
Regan's hands slid around her back side as hers began to unbutton his shirt. The shrill beeping of her phone interrupted, but Regan snatched it from her before she could answer, turned it off and threw it on the other chair. Giggling, Ayla surrendered to him.
***
Dan Mangan buried his head under the pillow, trying to ignore his cell phone. He was off duty damn it. Finally, he reached for his work cell phone, only to realize it was the Family's line. Swearing to himself he poked his head out from under the pillow and reached for it. Uncle Bill.
"This better be good," he growled.
"Cheer up, Danny boy, it's your favorite uncle," Regan grinned.
"You're my only uncle," Dan half-smiled sleepily. "What's up?"
"When is your next weekend off?"
"I'm a cop, we don't get weekends off."
"Well, then, you need to request one."
"Why?" Dan rubbed his eyes.
"Ayla and I are eloping. We're going to Hilton Head and the Family is invited."
Dan took a moment to absorb the information.
"What? When? Why? Her family, too? I thought her mom was driving her nuts."
"She is. That's why we're eloping. Just the Bob-White Family. She’ll call her parents the night before and tell them what we're doing so they can be down there in time," Regan chuckled.
Dan grinned. He knew how tired Regan was of the formal planning Tammy had been insisting on, with place settings for the tables, couple dances, and a five course dinner.
"Sound like fun, but Uncle Bill, there’s no way I can afford-"
Regan cut him off. "Ayla, I mean, we, are paying for everyone."
Dan was silent another minute. "Everyone?"
"Well, we're offering. I know Matt and family will insist for paying for their own tickets, but I know the Beldens will probably need some help, and you."
"Wow. You okay with that?" Dan asked.
Regan sighed. "Ayla’s making it very clear I need to be okay with her money. Her father is insisting on a pre-nup, which I’m fine with, but she told him to blow it out his ear.”
Dan chuckled. "You have no idea how lucky you are."
Regan snickered. "Think Jim and the boys can get away from the school for a weekend?"
Dan sighed. "I don’t know. I talked to Mart the other day and he said they were really busy, but knowing them, those guys will find a way."
"I hope so. I want all of you there. Even if it means refereeing between Trixie and Jim."
"They'll behave. Neither would do anything to ruin your day," Dan was seriously wishing he had a nice strong cup of coffee. He hadn't set up the maker last night because he had planned to sleep late.
"You can even bring a girl," Regan chuckled, knowing his nephew's one date policy.
Dan snorted. "Uh-huh. Trix'll be my date more than likely. And Honey. There, I’ll have two dates. Well, no, Brian will want to steal Honey away. Ok, Trix’ll be my date."
"As long as you're there. Gotta have our Best Person."
"Huh?"
Regan chuckled again. "Well, you know, Ayla doesn't really have any close girlfriends, and I wanted you to be my Best Man, so we decided to have you as our Best Person."
Dan rolled his eyes, but was secretly pleased at his traditional uncle doing something modern. And he felt a warm rush of affection towards his uncle.
"I'm flattered, Uncle Bill. I'd love to be your Best Person."
"Then it's settled," Regan was grinning, "We want to do it soon, so let me know if you can swing a weekend. We're wanting to do this in the next couple weeks."
"Wow, that's fast."
"Yep. Not fast enough in my opinion," Regan chuckled.
Dan rolled his eyes again. His uncle was smitten, and it was good, Dan thought. The old Regan was back. Actually, this was a bit new, his uncle laughed and smiled, and actually relaxed when Ayla was around. They had beaten the odds after his addiction.
"I'll check with the Chief and see what I can do," he promised.
***
Regan continued his calls throughout the day, putting up with Trixie and Honey's excited screaming through the phone, Bobby's enthusiastic shouting, and Mart hollering for Brian and Jim and Di to pick up an extension.
Jim promised they would all be there; the school would manage one weekend without them. Matthew Wheeler insisted on the Family using his private jet to fly down there, and providing accommodations. When Regan protested, Matthew insisted it would be part of his wedding present to Regan. He also would swear Madeleine to secrecy, since she and Tammy were often at the same social parties. The Belden clan was delighted, and promised to be there. Edward and Sherilyn Lynch were in Europe the next few weeks, but promised the boys could go once Helen Belden offered to chaperone them.
Regan hung up the phone at the end of the day, his head aching. He had never liked talking on the phone, and squealing girls, no matter how fond of them he was, always bothered him. He knew Honey and Trixie would probably be up at the stables this weekend, offering to help, and demanding the details of the wedding that girls were into – even tomboyish Trixie. Regan fully planned to pawn them off on Ayla.
"Planning a wedding is hard work," he sighed, leaning back against the sofa.
Ayla giggled. "And you say that after only a few phone calls?"
"A few? Other than the girls shattering my eardrum, then Bobby, then Mart-I always forget how noisy those kids are."
Ayla shook her head with a smile as she snuggled with him on the sofa. "Those 'kids' are all grown up, you know, and you love them all dearly, despite your griping."
"I know," he grinned, his emerald eyes sparkling at her. He was looking forward to having children with her, his own kids. He knew one of these days there would be small blonde or redheaded children running around, which meant they would need a house.
Somewhere out of the city, near the stables, he thought. Where they could grow up in the fresh air and appreciate nature. Ayla admitted she had looked at some property out near Glen Road and the Sleepyside area. She adored her apartment, but knew Regan was hoping to approach Matt about expanding the stables and the business. It would make sense to be closer.
“Whatcha thinking?” she asked softly.
“About us,” he replied. “The future. Kids. A house.”
“Mmm, sounds good,” she smiled. They didn’t speak much about the baby they had lost last year. But he wanted to have children with her in the coming years, and she was content with that. They would both have the family they had always wanted, with the person they loved most.
***
Two weeks later, Regan leaned back in the chair on the balcony, staring out over the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean as he held a cup of coffee. Tomorrow afternoon he would be marrying Ayla on the beach. It didn't quite seem real.
The villa she had rented for everyone was gorgeous, an enormous, two-story, crisp, white plantation style house, with lush green foliage and lawn, and a colorful rose garden in the back, with a hot tub and pool. Through the wrought iron gate was the white sand beach and ocean.
Regan and Ayla had rented a private bungalow for just them, and Regan was grateful. The Bob-White Family fully reunited was mass pandemonium. Their place was bright and cheery, well kept and homey, not too overdone with nautical themes, with a full kitchen, balcony off the kitchen and the bedrooms upstairs.
They had their license, and the minister was all set and lined up. Ayla had dragged him out to the spot yesterday, a pretty little rose garden tucked into a curved, privately fenced area but with the ocean in the background.
She had been to Hilton dozens of times with friends over the years, but had only recently found this gem of a spot. It was used for small private parties and weddings, and now was being decorated with white lights and ribbons and chairs.
The New York contingent had arrived a couple hours ago: Matthew, Madeleine and Honey Wheeler, Peter, Helen, Trixie and Bobby Belden, Terry and Larry Lynch, Dan, Margery Trask, and Tom and Celia Delanoy. Margery still ran the Wheeler’s affairs, and Tom and Celia had remained good friends with Regan.
Helen had directed everyone to find their rooms in the villa and get settled in, to Regan's amusement and gratitude. They would all get together for dinner in another half hour or so, and then relax on the beach for the evening before splitting up for their respective parties. Ayla, Regan and Dan would briefly meet with the minister to go over details for the next evening.
They had just sat down to dinner at Eugene's, an exclusive five star restaurant Ayla loved, when Regan noticed there were four empty chairs. Jim, Brian, Mart and Di hadn't arrived yet.
"Don't worry," Ayla squeezed his hand. "They'll be here."
Regan smiled back at her, loving her more and more every minute. She handled the chaos that was the Family gracefully, making sure to engage the three teenage boys in conversation and not leave anyone out. She didn't bat an eye when Terry's threat of flinging his oyster at Bobby became real, but laughed.
Regan couldn't keep track of who ordered what, but everything looked good as it was passed out. Appetizers included different oyster Rockefeller with bacon and shrimp, oysters Charleston with crab meat, cream cheese, and horseradish; shrimp cocktail, calamari and crab cakes, hearty French onion soup and thick, creamy clam chowder.
"Mart better hurry up if he wants to eat," Trixie laughed. "This is his favorite stuff!"
"Did my fair-haired sibling of feminine persuasion just proclaim the dire situation of my esteemed self missing out on such divine culinary creations?" a loud voice boomed.
Blue-eyed, blond Mart Belden was followed by his slender, dark haired oldest brother Brian, the husky, redheaded Jim Frayne, and Mart's beautiful wife, black haired, violet- eyed Diana.
"Mart!" Trixie bolted from her chair to throw herself at her older brother, who grabbed her in a fierce hug. For all their pestering, bickering and teasing as teenagers, the pair had grown into their 'almost twin' identities, fiercely protective of each other, and each suffering silently at their separation.
The room erupted into mass chaos as the Vermont contingent was besieged with hugs and cheers.
Jim desperately tried to catch Trixie for a hug, but she deftly avoided him and smothered her big brother Brian in a hug. Finally, Jim made his way to Regan, hugging the former groom whohad helped them all out, including him, numerous times over the years.
Their dinners came out as they retook their seats and settled in, the Vermont clan quickly placing their orders.
Angus beef steaks, chicken marsala, beef Diane, beef in mushroom and pepper creamy demi glace, and dishes of seafood that included crab, scallops, oysters, shrimp, seasonings and sauces went around the lively table.
The evening continued late into the night as alcohol and dessert, began to be ordered, and tales of Regan's assistance to the Bob Whites began to come forth, exaggerated by many degrees, depending on who was telling it.
***
The morning of his wedding found Regan lying in bed, alone, and boasting a splitting headache and alone. He vaguely remembered being carried up the stairs by Jim and Peter. The girls had, at one point, slipped off for girl time, and Regan remembered the guys taking him away to another bar, and buying him drink after drink. Even Matthew and Peter and Tom had been there, he remembered, but that was all he remembered. Peter and Jim, the only two non-drinkers in the bunch, had brought him back here.
Ayla was probably with the girls, he figured, slowing rolling out of bed and groaning. Making his way down the hallway, he chuckled to see Mart Belden sprawled half on, half off the sofa, snoring softly. Poking his head into the second bedroom, he saw his nephew on one of the three twin beds, passed out on his stomach with one arm dangling over the edge. Brian Belden was in one of the other beds buried under the covers, the other occupied by Tom Delanoy, sprawled on his back, mouth open, but not snoring. Regan suddenly felt a lot better. At least he wasn't the only one to get drunk last night.
Finding the aspirin, he took three, washing it down with a swig of orange juice. He heard the front door open and braced himself for Ayla's temper.
"Oh good, you survived the night." It was Peter and Matthew, the latter looking like hell, his elegant, stern businessman demeanor shot despite the crisp polo shirt and khaki trousers. Jim was right behind them, looking alert and fresh as Peter.
"Barely," Regan grunted.
Dan appeared in the doorway, bleary eyed and with a green tinge on his handsome face.
“Dream of your mystery girl, Dan?” Jim teased.
Dan grunted and made a beeline for the bathroom, where they could hear him emptying his stomach.
“Mystery girl?” Regan asked.
“Dan was so lit last night he was hallucinating. Kept insisting there was some chick he met a couple years ago watching us at the bar,” Jim answered.
Dan finished throwing up for the moment and leaned back against the tub. He had not been hallucinating. He had seen the short, green-eyed girl as clear as day, but when he tried to catch her, she had mysteriously disappeared. Again. Just like the night in the library two years before. *
A loud groan from the room he had slept in distracted his thoughts. He could hear Peter asking, “Brian? Son, you all right?”
“Am I dead?” Brian muttered. “’cause the way I feel, I kinda wish I was.”
“No, after throwing up three times, you should be in the clear,” Jim snickered.
Dan got to his feet and rinsed his mouth before reappearing. “Frayne, don’t you ever offer to pay the bar tab again.”
Jim grinned as Matt shook his head and glanced at Peter.
“Lightweight boys,” he grunted.
Peter laughed as he nodded. “Yes, I don’t recall ever getting sick like these boys in my day.”
“Hell no, we’d have drunk them under the table!” Matt smirked.
"We figured we'd dump all you drunks here last night and see who survived." Jim said cheerfully. "Then Mr. Belden took pity on you and decided we should make you guys breakfast."
"Someone say food?" Mart sat up from the couch, causing his friends to laugh. "What the hell did I drink last night? I feel like a mouse died in my mouth."
"Nice imagery there, Mart." Jim snickered. "I lost track after the seventh round of shots. Dan won the bet though."
"What bet?" Matthew demanded of his adopted son.
Jim grinned.
"We had a bet going on who would crash first. I owe him two hundred bucks. Thanks, Mart," he added sarcastically.
Mart attempted a bow from his seat on the couch and fell off, to their laughter.
"Who'd you bet on?" Regan asked.
Jim chuckled. "Brian. He went down two minutes behind Mart."
***
Regan took the flask from Dan for a sip that turned into a gulp. Coughing as the fiery whiskey hit his throat, Regan handed it back to his nephew, who slapped him on the back.
“Don’t look like you’re going to funeral, okay?” he advised.
Regan nodded. “I’m nervous, Danny. Real nervous.”
“That’s normal. It’ll all be over soon and you and your lovely wife will be united in matrimony and all that crap.”
“Crap?” Regan chuckled as Dan grinned. “At least you got a haircut.”
“I had to. Trixie was standing behind me with a pair of scissors.”
Regan grinned at his nephew. “All right, Danny, let’s go.”
The Bob-White family was sitting anxiously. The women all wore pretty sundresses, the men in slacks and dress shirts. Regan had insisted everyone dress casual. George Martin wore a dark suit, accompanied by a martini in his hands at all time. His ex-wife Tammy Martin, however, showed up in a floor length, shimmery lavender dress, determined to wear the dress he had purchased for the larger wedding. Neither brought a date, to Ayla’s relief. Her mother hadn’t had time to dig up some young beefcake to escort her.
Soft music floated out to them, and everyone looked around anxiously. Regan, Dan and the minister appeared under the floral decorated arch. In black slacks and a long sleeved, soft shirt the color of the ocean. Regan’s red hair was its usual spiky self, and the big man looked a little pale. Dan’s black hair had been trimmed and lay calmly, for once. He was dressed similarly to his uncle, his shirt a paler shade. The Bob White girls couldn’t help but notice his broad chest and the way the pants fit him snugly.
Regan suddenly smiled, the music change and everyone turned. The sun was just going down, and threw its final rays over the wedding.
Ayla appeared under the doorway, smiling softly as the breeze blew through her golden hair. The sides were clipped back, an ivory rose clipped on the right. The long silk scarf was the same color as Regan’s shirt, and wrapped up around her breasts, crisscrossing and tied behind her neck in a daring, sexy manner. Her loose, low riding skirt was matching blue-green silk with white threading in a floral pattern shot through, and she carried a small bouquet of ivory roses.
Regan just drank her in, his emerald green eyes expressing what he couldn’t.
Ayla reached the men and Regan stepped over to her. Taking her slender hand in his, he smiled at her. Her natural beauty shone through the minimal makeup, her gray-blue eyes shining luminously as she smiled up at him.
They stood facing each other as the minister began his speech.
“Loved ones, we come together today to celebrate the union of William Regan and Ayla Martin. The couple has decided willingly and joyously to share their lives together, united as man and wife. Here, under God’s eyes and with your blessings, William and Ayla will begin their new life.”
Regan squeezed her hand and she smiled nervously as they faced each other.
Dan stood holding the bouquet, and Trixie marveled at how he managed to look cool even with a bunch of flowers in his hand.
“William, do you take Ayla to be your wife, to love, cherish, respect and honor, all your days and nights, until death do you part?”
“I do,” Regan said, heart pounding, as he slipped the ring over her finger.
“Ayla, do you take William to be your husband, to love, cherish, respect, and honor, all your days and nights, until death do you part?”
“I do,” Ayla breathed, trying to calm the pounding in her ears as she slipped his ring on his hand.
“Then, as witnessed by myself, God, and all here, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” the minister smiled.
Regan grinned and leaned in, his lips coming together gently once, then more passionately.
The Bob White Family and Ayla’s parents applauded as they faced their friends.
“I give you Mr. and Mrs. William Regan.”
***
They held the reception in the courtyard of the rented villa, with the food catered in. The photographer made sure he had plenty of shots of everyone, and happily snapped candid shots. Music was heard too, with plenty of champagne flowing.
“Okay, uh, I suppose it’s time for me to give the speech,” Dan began.
“Hey, that’s not the beginning I gave you!” Mart called.
“I know. I wanted to be able to pronounce everything,” Dan replied dryly, drawing chuckles from his friends and family.
“All right, as I was saying, since I’m Best Person, I get to toast our newest family addition. When I first met Uncle Bill, I thought he was one of the coldest, roughest, meanest people I had come across, and since he dumped me in the middle of the woods with an old man to chop wood, I wasn’t real fond of him. I was sure he so was ornery and stubborn, no one could ever love him.
“Eventually, even I came to love him,” Dan smiled at his uncle and Regan felt his throat sticking, “and I watched as he sacrificed any chance of a personal life to make sure he set a good example for me. He taught me how to ride a horse, hunt, fish, and gave me a family. I’ve always wanted for him to find a woman he could love, who would love him back, and realize how ornery and stubborn he really is and still love him,” the crowd chuckled and Regan grinned, “and he has. Ayla, I hope you know what you’re getting into,” more chuckles, “but since he met you, I’ve never seen him happier. He’s less ornery, though still stubborn, but he smiles all the time now, and when he talks about you, he lights up. You two had some dark moments, but you made it to the light, and you give him light. Since you came along, he’s mellowed from a cantankerous, grouchy redhead into an almost pleasant, bearable redhead. And that ain’t an easy feat,” Dan drawled.
There was more laughter.
“So, please, everyone join in me in toasting Uncle Bill-er Regan, and Ayla. May they have a long, happy marriage, and children just like Uncle Bill.”
The room burst into laughter as the newlyweds grinned, Regan shaking his head.
***
Many bottles of champagne and dances later, Regan and Ayla departed among cheers and hugs and good wishes.
They returned to their bungalow, where Regan led her inside y the hand, unable to lift her and carry her over the threshold.
“Why Mr. Regan, I didn’t know you were so strong,” she laughed as he kicked the door shut behind him.
“After handling horses all these years, you’re a lightweight,” he grinned.
It occurred to him the lights were on dimly and he knew the guys hadn’t left it that way.
When he carried her into the bedroom, he was as surprised as she was.
“Oh, Regan,” she murmured.
Candles burned on the windowsill, and rose petals were scattered all over the floor. A bottle of champagne was chilling in a bucket of ice, and a tray of chocolate dipped strawberries sat next to the bed.
“It’s lovely,” she whispered, as he stared.
“Cupcake, I didn’t do this,” he set her gently on the bed and reached for the cream colored envelope, reading the card out loud.
“Ayla, welcome to the Family, and congrats to you both. May this night be the first of many hot ones. Love, Honey, Trixie and Diana,” Regan laughed.
Ayla grinned and held out her hand to him. “Well, let’s not disappoint them, my love. Come here and make love to your wife, my pleasant, almost bearable redhead.”
Regan chuckled. “Have I told you how beautiful you looked today?” he asked, kneeling on the bed.
“Once or twice, but feel free to tell me again,” she smiled.
“I’ll tell you a hundred times a day, until the day I die,” he murmured, brushing a loose strand of hair from her eyes.
***
The next morning, Regan rolled over and smiled to himself as he realized the beautiful woman lying next to him was his wife. Kissing her forehead gently, he snuggled closer to her in bed.
A year ago, he had thought any hope of this was lost. A year before that, he had had no hope at all. Finally, he thought, finally.
The End
Author Notes
- a HUGE thank you to my editors, Mary and Ronda, who have helped me wrap this story.
- a HUGE thank you to all my readers, who stuck it with me, Regan and Ayla, to get to the happy ending.
- the girl Dan insists he saw was first seen in Dateless Dan . Will she return? Maybe, but doubtful, because this Universe is now closed, with no planned updates or continuations.
- See Peruzzi cuts at https://www.antiquejewel.com/en/2ndpage.asp?dtn=17129-0010,
-Word Count, 4,820
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