Island Promises: Hawaiian Holiday / Hawaiian Reunion / Hawaiian Retreat

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She recognized enough similarities between the older man’s features and Shane and Cara to realize this must be their father and his new wife.

She thought of the pain she’d heard in Shane’s voice that afternoon as he talked about his father’s behavior. Even though it happened many years ago, she had to fight the urge to head over to give him a piece of her mind.

She controlled herself, forcing her attention back to the conversation between the twins’ grandmother and aunt.

An older woman she also hadn’t met yet approached the wedding party, greeting a few of Cara and Shane’s other relatives. She was heavily made up and appeared to have had recent Botox injections, judging by her falsely placid expression.

Out of the corner of her eye, Megan watched the woman approach the other group and give Cara a big, overly dramatic hug. Megan didn’t miss the scathing look she sent Shane’s father and the younger woman with him.

This must be the mother of the bride, she guessed. For Cara’s and Nick’s sake, she really hoped their parents could manage to keep the peace until the wedding was over.

As she didn’t have a direct role in the wedding—of course—during the rehearsal Megan mostly sat on the sidelines and did her best to prompt Grace and Sarah in their responsibilities as flower girls. Grace used her walker and moved with her somewhat labored gait, though she seemed to relish her role, pretending to toss flower petals with abandon.

Megan made a mental note to advise her to pace herself during the real ceremony and not empty her whole basket in the first few feet.

After the rehearsal, the wedding party moved to a small reception room inside the hotel for the catered dinner. Nick’s sister and mother took charge of the girls, leaving Megan feeling a little at loose ends.

She was contemplating taking the girls after dinner and returning to their cabana when the mother of the bride approached her, drink in hand.

“I understand you’re Nick’s first wife,” she said without preamble.

She wasn’t quite sure what to say or why she’d been singled out for the woman’s scrutiny. “Yes,” she answered carefully. “I’m Megan McNeil.”

The woman’s forehead furrowed as much as she could manage and she took a healthy drink.

“I’m Donna Porter, Cara’s mother. I have to say, I was stunned—just stunned—when my son told me who you were. I can’t believe you actually flew to Hawaii for your ex-husband’s wedding to my daughter.”

She blinked a little at the woman’s temerity. What business was it of hers why Megan was there? She didn’t have to explain herself to anyone, especially not the half-drunk mother of the bride.

As much as she wanted to bluntly tell the other woman off, Megan decided starting a confrontation would only complicate an already sticky social situation.

“My daughters wanted to see their father get married,” she answered. “As you can probably see, one of my twins has special needs. I couldn’t just send her to Hawaii on her own.”

Donna appeared to digest that, glancing at the girls and then back at her. “Wow, you’re a bigger woman than I am. I never would have dragged my kids to one of their father’s many weddings. Of course, I would have gone broke trying to make it to all of them. He’s on, what, his fifth?”

“I don’t know,” Megan answered.

“He is. That’s him, over there. My delightful first husband, Hal. Have you seen that little tramp he married this time? Ridiculous. She’s half his age! Doesn’t he know he’s making a complete ass of himself?”

Again, Megan didn’t quite know how to respond and settled for making a noncommittal sound.

“I’ve half a mind to go tell him so.” Donna picked up her drink and started to slide her chair back. Megan shot a quick look at Cara, busy talking to a couple of other wedding guests. Donna had obviously had a little too much to drink. The last thing the bride needed right now was the stress of her mother causing a scene at the rehearsal dinner.

Megan looked around for someone to help her rescue the situation, but Shane was busy talking to Nick and a couple of Nick’s friends, and Cara was distracted with her father and his new wife.

She would have to take things into her own hands, she realized. She quickly placed a hand on Donna’s arm. “I love your earrings. Where did you get them?”

“Oh, these? I made them. I took a beading class at the community center in my condo development. Aren’t they beautiful?”

“Yes. I’d love to know how to do that.”

“It’s not hard.” Donna launched into an explanation that was mostly over Megan’s head. From there, Megan moved on to asking about the Florida community where she lived, what books she liked to read, and interesting people she’d met, all while trying to substitute Donna’s drinks for water.

Forty minutes later, Megan’s eyes were gritty and sore with fatigue, as if somebody had tossed a handful of beach at her.

She couldn’t blame her sudden tiredness on lingering jet lag. Keeping the mother of the bride distracted and happy was more exhausting than dealing with the twins on a sugar high.

People were beginning to leave, and Megan decided she should take the twins back to their lodgings to get some rest. She was just about to make her excuses to Donna when Shane approached them.

As soon as Donna spied him, she jumped up and slipped an arm through his.

“Megan, this is my son, Shane,” she said, her voice only slurring a little. “Isn’t he a gorgeous one?”

Despite her exhaustion, she had to hide a smile at the embarrassed look in his eyes.

“Absolutely,” she answered with total truth.

“Girls started calling him at home when he was twelve years old. Can you believe that? And they haven’t stopped for a minute since. He ought to be the one getting married, don’t you think?”

This time her smile broke free. “I think that’s for Shane to decide.”

“Mom, can I walk you back to your cabana?”

She pouted a little. “Already? I was thinking I would hang out at the bar for a while.”

“Are you sure?” he pressed. “Tomorrow will be a big day. You don’t want to be off your game for Cara’s wedding. You know you’ll want to look your very best in the pictures. And aren’t you spending the day helping her get ready?”

“I guess you’re right. It was lovely talking to you, Megan.” She gave Megan a rather sloppy hug and kiss on the cheek. Apparently they’d bonded over talk of beads and books.

“You know what my son needs?” Donna said suddenly. “A nice girl like you!”

Shane looked horrified—by his mother’s behavior or her words, Megan wasn’t sure. She tried not to be hurt by the possibility that he was horrified at the idea of needing someone like her. Still, she couldn’t help being annoyed that he obviously didn’t appreciate the energy she’d just expended on his and Cara’s behalf.

“Come on, Mom. Let’s get you home.”

“If I have to,” Donna huffed, gathering up her purse.

After a long look at Megan—one she couldn’t quite analyze—Shane gripped his mother’s arm and led her away from the reception room.

Megan sighed and went to gather her daughters, wondering if she would turn out like Donna someday, alone and unhappy.

* * *

AS WAS OFTEN the case, Megan somehow found an extra measure of energy after she helped the girls through their evening routine—medication, bath, pajamas, story—and settled them into bed.

After they were asleep, she sat out on the lanai with the video monitor and a book, listening to the whispering palm fronds and the soft, soothing sound of the waves.

All the craziness of the evening seemed to fade away out here in the breeze. She drew in a deep breath, relaxing her neck, her shoulders, her trunk. She leaned her head back against the cushions of the settee and closed her eyes, letting the quiet peace seep through.

She might have dozed off. She wasn’t sure. But when she opened her eyes, she found Shane standing a few feet away, watching her.

He still wore the dress slacks and the Hawaiian shirt he’d worn to the wedding rehearsal, and he looked strong and handsome in the moonlight.