They were both laughing when Jenson gave them the thumbs up. As soon as they were up by the band that had been playing, Jenson, with his famously loud whistle, got everyone’s attention. Lizzy was nearly shoved into Clay’s arms when she was close to where the other couple was standing.

  “As many of you know—or not, I have no idea who knows what about my family anymore—my brother is engaged too. To Elizabeth Sharple. Everyone, meet Lizzy.” They all applauded, and she felt her face heat up. “Isn’t she just perfect for him? Anyway, we, Jade and I, have decided that we’re going to make this a double wedding today. We’ve set it up so that these two will be tying the knot as well. We think that everyone should be as happy as we are at this moment. And even if I have to force this on him, I’m going to make sure that at least one of my brothers knows what it’s like to be a husband today.”

  In less time than it had taken for his brother and Jade to be married, she and Clay were man and wife. Grannie Strong had given Clay a wedding band that had been hers when she’d married Grandda Strong. The well-wishers were so happy to see the two of them so embarrassed and now married that Lizzy wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to show her face again around town.

  People were so nice to them. Even before they were married, they only had nice things to say about the family and how lucky Clay was to have found her. She noticed, too, that they were handing Clay money as they were mingling around, and she thought it funny. Giving money to a man that could well buy out any one of them without missing a beat was just silly. She wondered what he’d do with it all and asked him.

  “I’m going to give it to your dad.” She just stared at him. “He’s going to need something to start out with. Not that I’d ever let him be without, but I think, and you tell me if I’m thinking about this the wrong way, he might take it if we tell him that since he wasn’t able to make the wedding, this would be a gift from us for not waiting on him to return. I’m going to make sure that he has a good home to live in. Unless you want him here.” She said that she didn’t think he’d be all right with that. “No, I’d think not either. He’s been a loner, I think, most of his life. Besides, I believe that if he wanted to stay over sometimes, there will be plenty of room for him to do so.”

  “Yes. Even when he lived with Mom, he would take long walks. I guess now I know why. There is no telling what sort of things she might well have said to him to upset him.” He lifted her chin up and kissed her when she had to wipe away tears. “Do you think I’ll ever be able to think of her and not be hurt?”

  “I don’t know if I can answer that for you. I hope so. But she seemed like she meant every word of how she felt.” Clay kissed her on the mouth again. “Let’s not get either of us upset by thinking about your mom and how cruel she was to you. She’s made her decision, and we’ll let her have her way. So, Mrs. Strong, what do you think of being married? So far, it seems like a good thing to me.”

  “I love you, Clay.” He said that he loved her as well, very much so. “I don’t know that I’ve ever said that to anyone before. But I do love you. You make my heart beat, and I want to tell the world what you mean to me.”

  “Once my brother comes home, and things are settled up with your dad, you and I will take our honeymoon to anyplace you want to go. You name it, we’ll go there.” She said she’d have to give it some thought. She’d not been anywhere. “Really? I guess I can understand that. Then we’ll have to stick a couple of pins in a map and go where it will lead us. Hopefully, it’ll be warmer where we go.”

  “Oh, that would be wonderful. I’m already sick of the snow. Your dad was telling me that around March, we’ll get a huge snowstorm that will have us homebound for a week. I hoped he was kidding, but your mom said the same thing.” One of the guests told her that it was like that here. “Really? I had hoped that once it started to warm up, it would stay that way.”

  “No. It’s crazy weather around here. One day it could be about ten, and the next day in the seventies.” People around them started talking about the big storm in the seventies. She didn’t say anything as she’d not been born then.

  It had been horrible for everyone, especially travelers. While she didn’t think that most of the people here had been around in the seventies, she knew that it had been a big deal when they pulled out their cell phones and showed her pictures of it. She’d never seen so much snow piled up along the streets and alleys.

  As the guests started to leave, she noticed that the table where gifts had been laid was being moved to another part of the building for safekeeping, she supposed. Furniture was being moved back into the rooms quietly, and tables were being put away to open the place back up. And she was beginning to see that this family was used to having large gatherings around all the time. They had moving things around down to a science.

  Making her way to the kitchen just to get herself a drink, she was surprised to see that the rest of the family had gathered there too. They were helping the caterers pack up the dishes and such into boxes. She hadn’t noticed the large dishwasher like she’d seen in restaurants in the kitchen area, but the men and women seemed to be thrilled about not having to handwash everything they’d used.

  “Here you are, my dear.” She hugged Grannie and told her that it was nice of her to let them use her ring. “I should have given it to Clay years ago. But I, we have a wedding gift for the two of you. Now, don’t you say a word but to thank us. Barkley and Lisa put into it as well. You just need to show up at the airport, and they’ll have everything ready for the two of you to have a nice stay.”

  “Does Clay know about this?” She said that he didn’t have to know everything right away and hugged her again. Then she told her that he’d been made aware of the plans, yes. “We were going to have a honeymoon when Jenson and Jade returned. You guys didn’t have to do that for us. Thank you so much.”

  “No reason for that. The two of you don’t have anyone to answer to for a while, I’m to understand. I also heard that your father won’t be arriving until Monday late sometime. He’s taking some time to himself, he told my son. Anyway, it’s only for a few days, and it’ll be good for the two of you to get away.” Thanking her for the gift, she went in search of Clay. His dad was talking to him about the gift too.

  Jade and Jenson had left about an hour ago, she realized when she went to find her and let her know they’d be going on a honeymoon as well. Lizzy was excited to think that when she returned, her dad would be around to hang out with.

  “We’ll have to return home and pack us some warm clothing dad said. Or we could just leave and buy it there. I’m all for leaving and buying it there. That will make it all the more special since neither of us will know where we’re going until we get there.” He wiggled his brows at her while grinning. “Not that I think we’ll be looking around all that much after arriving, do you? I plan on making sure that you know that we’re in love.”

  “I think I’m well aware of that.” He tickled her, and she laughed with him. “You’re supposed to be romantic. Tickling me isn’t all that romantic if you asked me.”

  “It’s better than tossing you onto the table there and having my way with you. I’m just happy to be touching you at this point.” Again with the brows. “I love you, Lizzy, and cannot wait to get you alone where I can touch and taste every bit of you.

  “Then why are we still here?” They left about an hour later. Lisa hugged his parents several times. Grannie, what she insisted she call her, told her how happy she was that Lizzy was part of her family now. “I’m feeling like the luckiest woman alive with all of you as my new family. Thank you so much for welcoming me with open arms. And as soon as I can manage it, we’ll have a grandbaby for all of us.”

  “Oh, that would be lovely. Just lovely. I’m not even going to beg you to try and have a girl. It’s been forever since anyone has brought us a baby girl here to hang out with me.” They were both laughing when she met up with Clay and his dad at the door to the building. “You two have a lovely time, and be safe for us. We’ll pick you up at the airport on Monday afternoon and have dinner together. All right?”

  “Yes. That sounds good, Grannie.” After more hugs were given, they got into the awaiting limo and were off. Where they were going, she didn’t have a clue, but she was going to have the time of her life while there.

  The airport wasn’t all that busy, but there were a few people standing around when they arrived. After getting onto the plane, a private jet that had no markings that it belonged to the Strong family, they were given champagne and tiny sandwiches. Lizzy told Clay she thought she could get used to this kind of life.

  “I hope you do. I’d very much like to have you get used to having whatever you want when you want it.” He moved to sit with her on the couch when they were able to move around the plane. “I have an idea where we’re going, but I’m not sure. Mom and dad bought a house a few years ago in the Cayman Islands that they just had updated. Dad told me to tell him what it was like when we got back.”

  “Again, I’ve never been anywhere, but this sounds like a wonderful place to be while it’s so cold here.” They sipped their drinks and talked about how beautiful the wedding at been. When they were told to buckle up, she looked out the window and saw the clear blue waters and white sandy beach. Yes, she thought, she could really get used to this kind of life.

  As soon as the plane landed, they were greeted by the staff they’d be using while there and given a quick tour of the island. When they arrived at where they would be staying, she could only stand and stare at the house.

  “Yeah, I’ve never seen it, but this is as big if not bigger than the Manor at home.” Lizzy agreed. “I’m going to have to call dad and let him know that it’s much larger than I thought it would be. I think they bought it sight unseen. Then when they had it renovated, I think I remember seeing that they expanded it by quite a lot and had a pool put in. I’m not sure why they’d do that other than it was a part of the plan, to begin with.”

  They walked through the house twice before ending up in the living room. The butler, Mr. J. told them they had a feast for them and also more champagne if they’d like to have a nice walk along the beach and gardens. Not only did they have plenty of seafood to eat, but they also had a pretty wedding cake that the two of them shared.

  Starting out on the decking and walking to the water’s edge a mere five feet from the back door, they could see the mana rays and other sea creatures, such as turtles, as they made their way around the waters. It was the most beautiful setting she’d ever dreamed about.

  ~*~

  Clay held Lizzy’s hand as they walked around the house. It was wonderful to have her so close all the time and him not worrying about work or the man who had screwed things up—he supposed he’d not screwed anything up but had put it on hold for a while. He hadn’t been guaranteed the job, but at the time, he thought, he’d wanted it bad enough to think it was his.

  Clay was enjoying himself by pointing out flowers that he knew the names of, as well as showing her the creatures they came upon. The colors were so bright and the scents so amazing that he thought he could live the rest of his life here and never be bored.

  “You never pick the flowers.” He asked Lizzy if she wanted him to. “No. It was just an observation. Why is that? I mean, there are so many here. You could make a heck of a bouquet and never have two of the same flowers.”

  “If you wanted, I would pick every bloom from every tree, stem and bush. But then, what would you have to look at tomorrow or the next day. If we leave them here, then everyone can enjoy their beauty. Besides, picking them would only make them wither and die, and to me, that would be the saddest memory of them.”

  “What a magnificent thought. No, don’t pick them.” Clay watched her get close to one of the more fragrant flowers to smell it, then step back. “Now, that is a scent that I think I could get lost in. It’s very heady, isn’t it?”

  “It is. A great many of the plants here have been replaced several times over. When a hurricane comes through and destroys everything in its path, this island starts over right away. There are a lot of monied people here. And they live or come here for the right to always have it beautiful. Dad told me once that because of the people here, it’s a very elite group of islanders. And they pay for it.” She asked him if he would ever consider living here full-time. “I’ve thought about it for the last few hours. However, I think because my parents have a home here, we can come here when we want and not be overstimulated by living here.” Clay laughed. “I don’t think that came out right, but I think you understand.”

  “I do. It’s the thrill of coming here to visit that makes the place so special. Living here wouldn’t give you that same feeling. For me, anyway. I agree.” She sniffed another couple of flowers before turning back to him. “I’m not on any kind of birth control. It never occurred to me to get on anything while back home. In telling you this, I don’t want to be on anything either until we have our first child. If that’s all right with you.”

  “It is.” He felt his heart rate pick up when she moved, more like gliding toward him. “I would never presume to tell you what to do with your own body. When you want a child or even to stop having children, I will abide by your wishes because I love you so much.”

  “I’d like to not wait. I would very much like to have several children with you.” He grinned. “Why do I think you’re going to tell me something profound. Are you?”

  “Twins run in my family. There is a set born to every family since way before my great too many times to count grandparents were born. My brothers Barkley and Barton are twins.” She asked him why Jenson wasn’t named after his father. “Oh, that’s a wonderful story. I’ll tell you while we go inside and eat.”

  As soon as they were settled around the table and platters of fresh seafood in front of them, he thought about living here again. To have this daily would lose its specialness, too, he thought. Digging into the fresh lobster tails and mussels, he told her about the reasons for his brother’s first name and his family.

  “When my dad was born, he was the sixteenth Strong with the same name. My grandda, I called him Pops, named him that, it was to keep the family peace, he always told us. According to Dad, his great grandda was lying on his deathbed, holding onto life until my dad was born. To make sure that he was named the sixteenth. Pops wasn’t happy with doing it, I suppose.”

  “He talked your dad into not calling his sons the seventeenth?” Clay told her sort of. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet your grandda, but your grannie says he was a pistol.”

  “Oh, he was that and more. All through Dad’s growing up years, he told him about how he didn’t think that there needed to be any more Strong men born with numbers after their names. He thought that after about five of them, they should have been naming their firstborn anything they wanted. So Dad was fine with naming Jenson his name. He’d sort of been hearing about it most all of his life by then about how much his dad disliked naming his firstborn because of some kind of tradition.” She asked him where the name Jenson came from. “It’s my grannie’s maiden name. Pops was thrilled beyond words when I was born, and my dad named me Clay. I’m named for my Pops’ brother, who died in wartime.” He thought about his relatives and how pissy they’d been for his family not carrying on the name. “Then, when mom had the twins—I have no idea why twins are called ‘the twins’ all the time. Anyway, Pops asked if he could name them. Dad was so overwhelmed to have twin sons on the third go around that he told him to go ahead. So they’re carrying on the family name. Barton and Barkley Strong. They’re named for the first and middle names of the relatives that have passed before them.”

  “That’s a very romantic story. You should write it down so that generations after us will know the story. In fact, you should start getting stories from your grannie so that you can keep a record of your Pops and her that our children can read and get to know them.” He kissed her and then thanked her for the great idea. “My pleasure. I’ve decided that when we get back, I’m going to see if Grannie has any old pictures of the family. It would be nice to have some in our home, don’t you think?”

  “Yes. Excellent idea. I’m betting that Grannie has a lot of them stored away somewhere. She’d more than likely be thrilled to talk to you about them too.” He laughed a little. “I think, now that you’ve brought it up, that Grannie has several storage lockers around the world that she has stashed things in when she and Pops would sell off some property they had. I’ll talk to her about that, too, when we return home.”

  He had started a list of things that he wanted to get with his family about while they were on the plane. Clay supposed that he’d been making fewer lists since he’d been home from college and had forgotten how useful they could be when there was a lot to get done. Now that he thought about it, he was reasonably sure that was why he’d stopped making them. Sometimes they were more consuming than the job itself. But with the two of them working on it, he hoped it would never get to that point. Only time would tell.

  Chapter 6

  Lizzy couldn’t have been more in love with Clay than if she’d had a million years to fall more in love with the gentle giant. She held onto his hand like a lifeline as they walked up to the bedroom they were finally going to share. Which she realized holding onto this man really was. Her life, a lifeline.

  She’d not been in the big bedroom yet, and when Clay opened the door, she was in love with the beautiful room immediately. Lizzy was ready to enter the room when Clay stopped her, picking her up from the floor and holding her.