Chapter 99

Chapter 99

We woke up early on Sunday morning for a quick breakfast before we had to start getting ready for the wedding. Eliza’s younger sisters helped me get her into her wedding dress, while Andrew and a couple of Nikolas’s friends helped Nikolas with his tuxedo. Afterwards, Andrew and I quickly changed into our suit and dress, then rushed to the beach to set up the wedding.

for

With the help of some of the guests and the priestess officiating the wedding, we raised a traditional Moon Goddess altar facing away from the ocean. A pure white cloth aisle stretched between four rows of six white folding chairs, red rose petals sprinkled across the fabric and ending at the crescent–moon–shaped altar. A local string quartet had been hired to play “Here Comes the Bride“.

With fewer professional hands on deck to set up, it took longer than normal to finish, even with the smaller ceremony. However, we were able to finish just before Nikolas arrived. His jaw nearly dropped at the sight before him.

“Crystal. Andrew, it’s beautiful!” he exclaimed. “Eliza is going to love it.”

“I’m sure that she will,” I said as I adjusted his bowtie, “but she’ll love her handsome groom

even more.”

Nikolas stood up straighter and gave me a tight–l*pped but broad smile.

“Now, let’s get you in place,” Andrew said, putting his hands on Nikolas’s shoulders. “The ceremony should be starting any moment.”

“Which means that your beautiful bride will be here any moment,” I added, entwining my arm in Nikolas’s elbow.

Together, Andrew and I escorted Nikolas to his spot at the altar. I announced that Eliza was on her way, and everyone took their places either at the altar or in the folding chairs. The quartet got into position and waited for their cue.

Just before the sun began to set, the limo conveying Eliza and her sisters drove up on the road running parallel to the beach. When they stepped out of the limo, Eliza was the image of a fairytale queen.

She wore an elegant dress designed and handstitched for her by Nikolas himself. With a sweetheart n*eckline, the silk, cream–colored dress hugged tightly to her form and stretched to just above her ankles. A pair of cream flats allowed her to walk on the sand with ease, her red rose bouquet stood out dramatically from the rest of the outfit, and a lacy veil with a hip length train completed the ensemble.

With a sister on each elbow, Eliza walked down the aisle as the quartet played. She was so eautiful, so composed, that she could have passed for a bride half her age. She seemed to

she approached the altar and Nikolas.

Chapter 99

As they reached the altar, Eliza’s sisters released her, unofficially giving her away to their new brother–in–law. With quick k*sses on Eliza’s checks, they took their seats in the front row on Eliza’s side of the aisle.

“Ladies, gentlemen,” the Moon Goddess priestess began, “we have gathered here today, under the blessing of the mighty Moon Goddess, to witness the union of Nikolas Vanderbilt and Eliza Preston. They have come here under the guidance of our wise Moon Goddess, after many trials and tribulations, and have decided to make this lifelong commitment to each. other. If you should feel so guided as to object-”

“Yeah, we object!” called out an unfortunately familiar voice.

Pete.

He and Chuck came sauntering up the beach to their father’s side of the aisle. They were dressed as sloppily as before, not caring for the reverence of this day. They began to approach Nikolas, but Andrew stepped between them.

“What are you doing here?” Andrew asked, his voice even but firm.

“We’ve come for our father,” Chuck said.

Pete raised his hand to silence Chuck.

“I thought I warned you before about interfering with Nikolas and Eliza’s union,” Andrew

said.

“He’s our father. He needs us,” Pete said simply.

“No, he doesn’t.”

Pete took a daring step forward. Andrew merely lifted his chin in warning. Pete did not move. again.

“Father,” Pete said, looking around Andrew at Nikolas, “you’re coming with us. Now.”

Nikolas looked from Pete and Chuck to Andrew to Eliza. Eliza lowered her bouquet, as though she expected him to bow to Pete and Chuck and was resigning to that reality. Nikolas’s face turned stern, then he looked at Pete and Chuck again.

“No,” he said firmly.

Excuse me?” Pete replied.

You heard me. I said, ‘No. I’m not going with you.”

We made to charge Nikolas, and Andrew held his hand out at Pete’s chest.

bank twice before you tried that,” Andrew warned.

Chapter 99

Pete growled but stepped back.

This isn’t over.”

Sirens blared in the distance. The color rushed from Pete’s and Chuck’s faces.

“I think it’s over.” Andrew called over his shoulder, “Thank you, Jeffrey.”

I was surprised to see Jeffrey in swim trunks and a t–shirt, sitting on a folding chair several yards away. He waved his acknowledgement to Andrew before returning to his fake suntanning routine.

After Pete and Chuck were arrested, the rest of the wedding went off without any problems. Nikolas and Eliza k*ssed, tear–stricken, just as the sun set. One of Eliza’s grand–nieces caught the bouquet, and everyone gushed about how she and her boyfriend would be the next ones to get married.

Following the wedding was a small picnic–like reception in which groups of four shared a basket of food. Andrew and I were lucky enough to share a basket with the bride and groom. It was filled with Eliza’s homemade fried chicken, pasta salad, potato salad, steamed carrots, slices of red velvet cake, and champagne.

Thank you, Crystal,” Nikolas said as he poured us a third round of champagne, “for making this the perfect wedding.”

“Well, almost,” I said with a cringe.

Eliza waved her hand dismissively.

“Andrew took care of that for us,” she said. She leaned over and k*ssed Nikolas on the cheek. “And so did my brave hubby.”

Nikolas squirmed uncomfortably.

“I hardly did anything…”

“What you did was very brave,” Andrew argued. “Don’t you forget that.”

Nikolas shifted again, so I decided to change the subject.

Let’s go for a walk,” I said, grabbing Andrew’s hand as I stood up. “It’s a beautiful evening. I don’t want to waste it.”

“Me either!” Eliza said. She stood up, then helped Nikolas to his feet. Surprisingly, they were both able to keep a hold of their champagne.

We started off walking together, Andrew and I entwined and Nikolas and Eliza hand–in–hand, ut soon became apparent that Nikolas and Eliza would be walking more slowly than us.

“Go on ahead, Nikolas said. “We’ll see you back at the picnic area.”

Andrew and I shrugged and continued on our walk, gradually leaving Nikolas and Eliza behind. We drank our champagne as we went. Between the sand and my heels, it didn’t take long for me to start swerving and falling all over Andrew.

After I stumbled over him for the fifth time. Andrew laughed at me and shook his head.

“Just take the shoes off.” he said as he came to a halt. “Here, I’ll help you.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking, wearing heels to the beach,” I grumbled as Andrew helped. me pull off my shoes. I sighed in relief as my feet touched the cool sand. “Much better.”

“I bet. I wouldn’t wear these to the beach.”

“I’d hope not. You’d look hideous in heels.”

He laughed heartily and threw back the last of his champagne. I followed suit. He smiled down at me and brushed a strand of hair out of my face.

“This was all you, you know,” he said.

“What was all me?”

“This wedding. If it weren’t for you, it would’ve never happened.”

I smiled shyly and blushed. He ran his hand across my cheek.

“It wouldn’t have happened without you, either,” I countered. “I wouldn’t have been able to handle those sons of his on my own.”

“You would’ve found a way. You always do.”

“You have an astounding amount of faith in me.”

“Yes, I do.”

My eyes met his. I didn’t need Susan to tell me how he felt about me in that moment. I already knew.

He loved me.

I reached up and k*ssed him passionately on the l*ps.

I loved him, t00,