Levi had made it out, too, and upon meeting Lauren in the flesh had whispered to Ben that he must have gone a little crazy six years ago to even think of leaving a babe like her behind. He’d been initially intrigued to learn that Lauren had an identical twin, and then just as quickly dismayed when he’d been told that Julia was a newlywed of barely four months. Knowing what a ladies man his old friend had always been, however, Ben was willing to take bets on the fact that Levi’s visit here would not be spent alone.
And of course the entire crew was here – Karl and Tamsyn, George and Nadine, Chris and Mindy. Even now Chris was busy video taping the guests as they arrived, and trying not to bug Lauren’s Uncle Malcolm – one of Chris’s professional idols – too much.
Speaking of idols, it was difficult not to notice all the stares being directed towards the very tall, very buff, dark haired man who’d arrived with the twins’ best friend Angela – a man who looked decidedly ill at ease in these surroundings.
“I can’t believe that Lauren’s best friend is actually living with Nick Manning,” murmured Karl, awestruck. “I was at a Tennessee Titans game once when the 49ers were in town. Manning put a hit on our quarterback that echoed through the whole stadium. The guy was a beast.”
“Still is,” acknowledged Nathan. He and Karl had been chosen as Ben’s groomsmen. “I made the huge mistake of working out with the guy a few weeks ago. I was ready to crawl to the car – or puke – while he was still going strong. Nick could probably suit up and play ball today if he wanted.”
Ben smirked. “I wish Lauren was here right now to see how this is going to unfold. Because I’ve got a feeling Nick is about to make the acquaintance of our boy George, and I can see the stars in his beady little eyes from here.”
The three men watched in amusement as George eagerly took a seat next to the brooding, hulking Nick and proffered his hand. Astonishingly, though, Nick not only returned the handshake but continued to converse with a starstruck George until the ceremony began.
Robert had arranged for a local string quartet to play the music for the ceremony, all four of the musicians longtime friends of the McKinnons. Ben had never been much of a classical music aficionado, and didn’t recognize most of the pre-ceremony pieces that were played. But once Nathan had escorted Natalie to her seat, the quartet struck up a tune that Ben not only knew but one that brought a huge grin to his face.
It was a Beach Boys song, entirely appropriate considering the setting they were marrying in. The song was one of the band’s lovelier, more poignant ballads – God Only Knows. The forty or so guests stood as first Angela and then Julia walked down the “aisle” – in this case a length of burlap fabric that had been stretched out along the sand. Both bridesmaids carried simple bouquets of wildflowers, and wore more of the same blooms in their hair. Angela was wearing a dark red cotton print maxi dress that made her look like a 1960’s flower child, especially given the long, straight fall of her raven hair. Julia’s dress was a froth of pale blue and lavender tiers, and the caramel curls that were identical to Lauren’s tumbled in lush abandon over her shoulders.
But it was Lauren to whom everyone’s eyes – especially his own – were drawn as she stepped onto the beach just as the music reached a crescendo. She was clutching Robert’s arm affectionately, her gorgeous face alight with happiness as she waved, winked, and beamed at each of their guests, blowing kisses to her Aunt Madelyn and her beau James, and then to Natalie. She looked so beautiful that she took his breath away, her simple cotton dress a hundred times more appealing to him than any designer gown of tulle and lace would have ever been. She, too, wore a wreath of flowers in her hair – white roses and yellow daisies to match the beribboned nosegay she carried – and she reminded Ben of some Greek goddess of the spring or the forest.
Halfway up the aisle her gaze met his, and her eyes lit up with pleasure as she gave him a quick onceover. He’d been relieved as hell when she had scoffed at the idea of him wearing a tuxedo or even a tie, and she had been the one to select the plain white dress shirt and tan slacks he wore instead. His two groomsmen were similarly attired, and, of course, all of them were barefoot.
Robert cupped his daughter’s left cheek in his hand as he pressed a lingering kiss to the right one. He whispered something in her ear that made her smile but that also brought a shimmer of tears to her luminous eyes. And then Robert was placing Lauren’s hand in Ben’s as the pair of them turned to face the shaman.
Ben had been greatly relieved upon meeting the man – whose name was actually Jeff and not something mystical like Golden Eagle or Oberon – to realize he was just a normal guy. Lauren, in fact, had met Jeff years ago while surfing, and he was part of the regular group who went out on their boards each morning. And instead of some weird ceremonial robes, Jeff was wearing cargo shorts and a Hawaiian shirt.
The ceremony itself was also quite normal, save for a couple of the blessings that Jeff invoked, and the burning of some incense that smelled like rosemary and sage. As for their own vows, Ben and Lauren had opted to keep them simple, pledging only to love each other with all their hearts, to make every single day of their lives an adventure, and to cherish every moment they would get to spend together.
They exchanged their rings – identical bands of gold that had been delicately etched with the sun, moon, and stars – and shared a lingering kiss – to the delight of their guests who clapped and cheered.
And then, as Jeff pronounced them husband and wife, the string quartet began to play the recessional – another Beach Boys tune – and Ben laughed with delight as he recognized the strains of “California Girls.”
***
The reception went on for hours, long after the sun had set, the meal had been eaten, and the cake cut. The night was surprisingly balmy, and most everyone had gravitated out to the deck where a fire blazed in the outdoor pit. Karl was strumming his guitar, humming a tune or two, and rather unexpectedly Robert’s voice rang out in song.
Ben recognized the song as Ray Lamontagne’s Trouble, and smiled a little as he thought how the lyrics could have been written with Lauren in mind. Not just the part about her being trouble – which he’d known from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her – but the line that talked about being saved by a woman. And there was no question that Lauren had saved him – from a life of loneliness, from never knowing the love of a family or a woman like herself, from merely existing as opposed to actually living.
Karl and Robert were singing together now, their voices in perfect harmony, and Ben looped an arm around his brand new wife’s shoulder.
“It’s been a day for very appropriate music, hasn’t it?” he murmured against her hair, inhaling deeply of the fragrant roses she still wore in a wreath around her head. “Though I still don’t understand how you knew about the California Girl connection.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Well, duh. When your buddy Levi there called the apartment looking for you one day and I answered, he said “Oh, so you’re California Girl. The one Ben was all gaga over for so many years.” I figured it would make a nice little change from some traditional classical piece that most people have played at their weddings.”
Ben chuckled, hugging her a little bit tighter. “There is nothing the least bit traditional about this wedding. Or about the bride. But I wouldn’t have had either of them any other way, you know. Because in addition to being unique, you are utterly unforgettable, Mrs. Rafferty. Just ask Levi if you don’t believe me. I’m pretty sure he got real sick of seeing me moping over you.”
Lauren arched a brow at him. “Mrs. Rafferty, is it? You’re just assuming I’m going to take your name, are you?”