Barefoot by the Sea

“It’s not,” Tessa assured her, reaching for the dress hanger. It was the perfect way to get Ian a legitimate marriage certificate without anyone the wiser.

“They did seem a little underwhelmed,” Jocelyn said, gnawing on her lower lip. “I wonder what we’ve done wrong.”

“Nothing,” Zoe insisted, fluttering the anklet in front of Tessa. “Put this on. And don’t anyone fall into a worry spiral. Let’s get this show on the road.”

With little urging, Tessa stepped into the dress and the silk sighed over her skin at the same time her three best friends circled her with a chorus of appreciation.

Tessa turned to the mirror and stared, a little light-headed at how pretty she looked.

“Wow,” she whispered.

“He’s going to love that,” Lacey said.

That was the problem: He already did.

But Tessa smiled and took the steadying hands offered by her friends. “You guys, I…” She blinked, hating that the tears welled. She was an emotional wreck lately. “I have to tell you something.”

Not the truth, but something close to it.

“What?” they asked in unison.

“I don’t think you three know how much I love you.” Because if she didn’t, she’d probably leave on Monday and never look back.

“Oh!” They embraced in a group hug that lasted long enough for Tessa to remember why she had to stay.

Because this was her real family.

When Tessa appeared across the beach in a pale pink dress and bare feet, her hair blowing in the late afternoon breeze, her three closest friends hovering like mother hens, Ian forgot everything.

He forgot that he’d somehow orchestrated this surreal event.

He forgot that he wasn’t truly marrying the woman he deeply loved.

And, best of all, he forgot that he’d done this once before, a long time ago.

He flat-out forgot everything but how beautiful Tessa was and how insanely nervous he’d become.

A slow smile pulled at his lips as she walked over the sand toward him, her gaze down like she was still looking for that damn junonia shell. Didn’t she know she could buy one in any tourist shell shop in Fort Myers?

She finally looked up and caught his eye, and it felt like someone took a mallet to his chest and cracked it wide open, exposing the raw reality of what was happening.

He was using her to get what he wanted. “I can’t do this,” he murmured.

Instantly, the mayor’s hand was on his arm. “Sure you can, son. Cold feet are natural, but that there is a lovely young woman. She’ll make you happy and give you babies.”

Exactly. That was exactly what she should do. For some deserving man who didn’t have the devil on his back and a price on his head. He had no right to do this to her, this selfish act that was purely for his convenience. No matter that it was on paper only; he was about to take vows and sign that paper, just so he could have a life on the run and in hiding with Shiloh and Sam.

It was such a stinking ugly betrayal of love. But…

“Who do I love more?” he muttered.

“Exactly,” the mayor said. “No one. That’s the woman you love and if your feet are cold, son”—he gave a squeeze and looked down at the hard, wet sand and their bare feet—“it’s natural.”

But was what he was doing natural? Dragging her into this, using her, and leaving her? Yes, he wanted to be with Shiloh and Sam, but he also wanted Tessa. Why, good God, why couldn’t he have both?

Maybe he could. He hadn’t really asked her, and she hadn’t offered. Maybe now was the time to ask—in front of everyone. Without anyone but Tessa knowing. How could he do that?

How could he not?

“Here’s your bride,” the mayor said under his breath.

As she reached him, the small crowd hushed and a wave splashed and off in the distance a seagull squawked his own wedding song. Without thinking, Ian reached out his hand, only a little stunned that it trembled, and Tessa did the same.

A little electric shock jolted when they touched.

“Dearly beloved…” Mayor Lennox’s words were loud, but they sounded like Ian’s head was underwater and he…couldn’t…breathe. The mayor went on about lifelong commitments and joined hands, but Ian didn’t listen.

He looked at the woman he loved and loved her even more for what she was doing for him.

Tessa looked as pale as he felt, her chin quivering a little, her palm damp against his hand. Every cell in his body wanted to scream his love for her and howl that leaving her was the number-one biggest mistake he’d ever made.

“I have the copies of your vows.” The mayor pulled two cards from his pocket, leaning in to whisper, “I’ve yet to meet a couple who remembered them even when they swore to memorize.”

“I don’t need that,” Ian said, waving off the card, his gaze locked on Tessa. “I know what I want to say.” The certainty of that pressed on him, and the weight felt good.

“I’ll take the card,” Tessa said softly. “I don’t think I could remember my name right now.”

The guests in the front laughed softly, but Ian didn’t. “I can’t remember mine, either.” Because John Brown seemed…right.

“John?” The mayor said. “Can you state your vows to Tessa?”

“Yes.” He cleared his throat, and took both her hands, lifting them a little, clutching them too tightly. “Tessa Galloway, I want to marry you.”

The mayor let out a soft laugh, but Tessa frowned at the words, a question in her eyes. He could read that question. Was this real?

“For real and forever,” he added.

Her mouth opened in an “O” shape, so he squeezed her hands again to underscore how serious he was.

“I don’t want to live even a day without you.” Another squeeze. “I don’t ever want anyone or anything or any…circumstance to come between us. Not time or space. I love you and I want you to be my wife and partner and mother of…” He swallowed. “Our children.”

Would she understand what he was asking her to do?

A few of her friends “aahed” audibly but the color continued to drain from Tessa’s cheeks as if she did understand.

He stood silent, not at all certain what else to say. That was it, right? After an awkward beat, he added, “Okay?” and got another laugh from the mayor.

“Very much okay,” Mayor Lennox said. “Heartfelt. Tessa?”

She stared at him, glancing down at her card, then back up as she let it flutter to the sand. “John Brown, I want to make you happy and whole and help you find the things you’ve been looking for all this time.”

His children. That was what she meant, but he wanted—her.

“I’m vowing to do whatever it takes even if, sometimes, I don’t…understand.” He heard the soft undercurrent of surprise from the people close by and felt the mayor bristle, but Ian knew what she was saying. She’d do anything—even give him up—so that he would be happy.

Would she give up everything?

“Is that all?” the mayor asked after a beat.

“Yes. No! I also want to say publicly and officially that”—she glanced to the crowd—“no matter what happens I think you are the finest man I’ve ever met…” The words caught, but she swallowed again and finished. “And I love you.”

He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed her fingers, closing his eyes to fight his own tears.

“Do you have a ring?”