SEALed Under the Mistletoe

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

VICKIE

T he morning sun streamed through the large windows of the resort’s chapel, illuminating the simple wooden pews and casting a soft glow on the altar adorned with white lilies and greenery. Vickie stood at the front of the aisle, holding her bouquet of fake flowers as the wedding coordinator, an older woman with an air of brisk efficiency, directed the groomsmen and bridesmaids on their procession.

“Alright, let’s run through this one more time,” the coordinator said, clapping her hands. “This is your last chance to iron out any last-minute kinks before tomorrow.”

Vickie glanced down the aisle and caught Knox’s eye. He was standing with his brothers and Gage, laughing at something Campbell said. He wore a collared shirt and khaki pants. In business casual attire, he looked effortlessly handsome.

She turned her attention back to her own group. Her sisters, Eve and Eliza flanked her, their voices lowered in conspiratorial whispers.

“What’s the update? Are you and Knox official yet?” Eve asked, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “I saw the way he was looking at you last night.”

Eliza smirked. “Yeah, he was undressing you with his eyes.”

“Shh!” Vickie hissed, her cheeks flaming. “Nothing gets past you two, huh?”

“You’re not exactly subtle,” Eve teased, bumping her shoulder.

Before Vickie could reply, the coordinator called out, “Bridesmaids, groomsmen—take your positions! Let’s get this timing down!”

Knox strolled up beside Vickie as her sisters fell into line. He offered her a playful grin. “Nervous about your big debut down the aisle tomorrow?”

“Oh, terribly,” she quipped, her lips twitching in amusement. “Good thing I’m just a supporting role in this production. As long as I don’t trip and fall and make it in one piece, everything should be fine.”

Knox chuckled, leaning closer. “You’d steal the show if it were ours.”

Vickie’s stomach fluttered as the coordinator barked, “Alright, music!” The piano began a soft rendition of Canon in D, and the pairs began their slow march.

Lewis came up and offered his arm. “Shall we?”

They walked together in sync, Lewis small talking and making jokes as they went. “Don’t worry, Vickie, I won’t let you fall. Knox would have my ass.”

“Him? Have your ass?” Vickie asked. “You are the oldest.” Not to mention the largest. Lewis was definitely a bodybuilder.

“Don’t underestimate him. If someone hurt you… well, they wouldn’t live long enough to talk about it.” Although Lewis was joking, Vickie shivered. There was a hint of truth in his words.

As they reached the altar and turned to face the rest of the group, she stole a glance at Knox. He winked, and she had to bite back a laugh.

By the time the rehearsal dinner began, everyone was in high spirits. The resort’s dining hall was transformed back from tacos and ugly Christmas sweaters to romantic and classy, and the long buffet tables were laden with an impressive pasta bar. Steam rose from trays of marinara, Alfredo, and pesto sauces, accompanied by bowls of penne, fettuccine, and spaghetti. There were platters of garlic bread, bowls of Caesar salad, and every topping imaginable, from grilled chicken to roasted vegetables.

Vickie, however, approached the red sauce with caution, opting for a safe plate of Alfredo with a heaping side of salad. She maneuvered back to her seat, careful to avoid any spills.

“Careful,” Knox teased as she sat beside him. “I hear red sauce has a vendetta against cream dresses.”

“Very funny,” she shot back, rolling her eyes.

As dinner went on, the laughter and clinking of glasses filled the room. Speeches followed, with Gage’s brother delivering a heartfelt toast. “It's great to be up here today because, after all these years, Gage has finally admitted that I am the best man.” Everyone chuckled. The speech went on to discuss memories the boys had together and how wonderful it was to see him find his partner. “Watching you with Melody this week was a reminder of how important it is to find a partner who makes life brighter. I know you two have a bright future ahead of you.”

After the speech was over, Knox leaned toward Vickie. “Even though our dads are identical twins, mine went into the military and his didn’t. We saw each other as often as my dad could get leave, or during deployments when we’d spend the summers at their house. We used to joke and say we were really brothers because of the DNA connection.”

Vickie snorted, nearly choking on her pasta. “Is that true? I never gave it much thought.”

Knox shrugged, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Maybe. If we did a DNA test, they’d appear as close as half-brothers. Once, my dad told us the story of when he and Gage’s dad were kids. Apparently, my dad made Gage’s dad cry. Do you want to hear the funniest part about it?”

“Sure,” Vickie said, enjoying the banter.

“My dad called Gage’s dad ugly.”

Vickie’s mouth dropped open. “Wait. Aren’t they?”

“Identical twins,” Knox finished. “Yep. My grandmother still tells that story to this day. She had to calm down Gage’s dad after my dad hurt his feelings by calling him ugly.”

Vickie laughed at the story. She could totally see Eliza calling Eve ugly and one of them crying over it.

As the speeches wrapped up, Vickie excused herself to the bathroom. On the way, disaster struck—a server accidentally bumped her, sending a splash of marinara across her dress.

“Oh no!” she exclaimed, staring at the crimson stain spreading across the delicate fabric.

“I’m so sorry!” the server stammered, handing her a napkin.

“It’s fine,” Vickie assured them, though internally she cringed. She hurried to the bathroom, grabbing paper towels in a futile attempt to dab the stain away.

Her mother appeared moments later, a look of concern softening into a smile. “Red sauce casualty?”

“Unfortunately,” Vickie sighed. “It’s like Knox jinxed me.”

Elizabeth chuckled, pulling a stain stick from her purse like a seasoned pro. “Let me help.”

As they worked on the dress, Elizabeth glanced at Vickie. “You know, I’ve been watching you this week.”

Vickie raised an eyebrow. “Uh-oh. That sounds ominous.”

“Not at all,” Elizabeth said warmly. “I’ve seen how happy you are. How you light up when Knox is around.”

Vickie hesitated, her fingers brushing the stained fabric. “I am happy, Mom. But...I’m scared.”

“Of what, sweetheart?”

Vickie met her mother’s gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’s thinking about deploying again. It’s his career, his calling, but...what if I’m not strong enough for this life?”

Elizabeth cupped her daughter’s face. “Vickie, you’re one of the strongest women I know. You’ve built a successful business, cared for Grams without complaint, and faced every challenge life’s thrown at you. You’re more than capable of handling this. And Knox? He’s worth it.”

Tears pricked Vickie’s eyes. “You really think so?”

“I know so,” Elizabeth said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “When has Grams ever been wrong? Now, let’s finish cleaning this up and get you back out there.”

Later that evening, as the party wound down, Vickie found herself standing with Lewis on the balcony. The crisp night air was refreshing after the warmth of the dining hall.

“I heard about the dress,” Lewis teased, nudging her with his shoulder. “Rookie mistake.”

“Ha-ha,” Vickie deadpanned. “I don’t suppose SEAL training covers avoiding marinara?”

“Not explicitly,” Lewis said with a grin. He grew more serious, his eyes searching hers. “Knox told me about the deployment offer. I take it you’re worried?”

Vickie nodded, grateful for his directness. “I think I might love, Lewis. I really do. I know it’s soon and all…”

“But when you know, you know?” Lewis asked.

She nodded. “My Grams told me I loved him a few days ago. I thought she was nuts but…”

Lewis smiled at her. “My parents knew each other for a week before they got married.”

They stood in silence for a beat and then Vickie broke it. “But the idea of military life—it’s daunting. The uncertainty, the danger, the absences...I’m not sure I’m cut out for it.”

Lewis leaned back; his expression thoughtful. “The SEAL life isn’t easy, Vickie. It demands sacrifices, not just from us but from our families. But it also comes with something incredible: a family of its own. The SEAL partners, the other spouses, they’ll have your back. And Knox? He’ll love you with the same fierceness he brings to everything he does. That kind of love is rare.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. “But he needs this, Vickie. It’s who he is. If you ask him to stay, he might do it—but he’ll resent it. And that’ll eat away at him, at both of you.”

Tears welled in Vickie’s eyes. “So, what do I do?”

“You support him,” Lewis said simply. “Encourage him to follow his heart, even when it’s hard. And know that you’re not alone. I’ve got friends in Little River—good people who’ll help you navigate this. You’ll be part of something bigger, Vickie. I know you have a family and a lot of support, but with Knox you will have two more families. You will have us. Campbell and Carson might be a bit goofy, but they are supportive. And, you will have a third family, a SEAL family. The SEAL family is one forged by a common bond, not blood, and it’s not one easily broken.”

His words were a balm to her frazzled nerves. She nodded, a tentative smile breaking through. “Thank you, Lewis.”

He smiled back, his usual mischievous glint returning. “Of course. And hey—next time, maybe don’t wear white to a pasta dinner.”

“It’s not white, it’s cream,” she corrected.

He simply shook his head at her.