Learning to Love (New Zealand Sailing #1)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Sam

“I must say, if anyone had told me this time last year that I'd be Best Man at your wedding, I would have told them to lay off the booze”.

Everybody laughs at Corey's remarks, particularly my side of friends and family. He's dressed up to the nines in navy suit trousers, white shirt, and beige waistcoat, with his sleeves rolled up.

“Ellie, now put your hand on the table please”. Corey gestures to us. “Now, Sam, put your hand over hers”. Ellie has small, delicate hands. Mine are big, full of calluses and generally unappealing. I wonder where Corey's going with this.

“Enjoy this moment, because this will be the last time when you have the upper hand”. Guffaws ensue, and even Ellie finds this funny.

Good ol' Corey, eh, working the room. It was obvious from the beginning I'd ask him to be my Best Man, even after what happened two weeks ago, right after he came back from the Round the World Ocean Race.

“I'm ending my speech on a serious note to say I'm very happy you've found your soulmate in Ellie, because she's a rare one, and you've got to treasure her. Parteeeey on now, people``. He comes and gives me a hug.

“I'm going to miss you, man”. Corey's being surprisingly emotional.

“I'm not leaving anywhere. We're still doing the Sanders Cup in three months time, and the Olympics in nine months time”. We have a tight schedule, which means I won't be able to take Ellie on honeymoon until after the Olympics.

“You know what I mean. You've said goodbye to the single life”. Is he drunk? Again? I can feel myself getting angry on my wedding day.

“No more drinking today, ok. I don't want a repeat of what happened two weeks ago”. His eyes look hurt for a moment but he shakes it off.

“Nah, bro, all good”. Corey pats me on the back, signs peace out, and goes to mingle with guests. He stops to say hi to his two brothers. His mom stayed at home with his sister, Rosie.

Ellie

“I don't know HOW you pulled off all of this in such a short time. It's totes amazing”. Corinne wears the most fashionable hat I've ever seen, all feathers and geometrical shapes, putting the mother of the bride, my mum, to shame. She's sipping on our signature wedding cocktail, and checking out the eligible bachelors.

She’s right. As soon as Sam proposed, we both knew it would have to be at my parents’ winery in Matakana. Private, intimate, family-oriented, and very much us. My aunts traveled from the UK, his nana is here with her carer, even Corey brought part of his family along.

“At least the venue was sorted, and the stars aligned, so 15 September it was”.

I'm feeling self conscious in my wedding dress, as it's definitely the most expensive outfit I've ever worn in my life, but it was worth it alone when I saw Sam's face light up as my father walked me down the aisle.

“Where's Tayla? I haven't seen her in a while”. I scan the small crowd but don't see her, instead I see my husband coming towards us.

“Hey husband. Have you seen Tayla?” He kisses me gently to not smudge my makeup. What a gem. Corinne waves and moves away to get some more drinks.

“No, wife. She must be around. I'm looking for Corey. I hope he hasn't had too much to drink”. Sam looks concerned, and he's got every right to be, after what happened two weeks ago. It could jeopardize everything, from their entry at the Olympics, to their income. I try not to think about it.

Then, out of the blue, Tayla emerges from the vines, followed by Corey, both looking a picture. Tayla's makeup looks worse for wear, and Corey's light colored waistcoat has green marks on it.

I burst out laughing. “No fucking way. Look”.

I nod towards them, and Sam's just as shocked as I am.”What the heck. What's going on? What were they up to?”.

I whisper in Sam's ear. “You know exactly what they were up to”.

He puts his arms around me and places kisses from my jawline, to my lips, to my neck, and I gasp softly. “Let's take this party somewhere else, Mrs Northcroft”. Sam picks me up, and carries me in his arms, like a feather.

“Don't mind if we do, Mr Northcroft”.

As he carries me away, I think I'll never get enough of Sam, and look forward to a lifetime of love together.

THE END