The excitement at Gull Cottage was wonderful. The home had been built for happiness and as you walked around the rooms of the home, you could almost feel the love. Carolyn and Daniel were to be married, and the house was finally going to be complete. As Carolyn walked by the spare room, she thought of what can be now. She hoped that her love wanted to have a child. They had the alcove that could be made into a bedroom if needed and a spare bedroom. The house was ready for them.
But for now she had to make a call. This was the only phone call about the wedding that she did not look forward to. She wanted to call her husband Bobby's parents Marge and Ralph Muir. Although Marge was a wonderful caring woman Ralph could be difficult to deal with. But Ralph did have a good heart and only wanted what was best for her and the children. They had both wanted Carolyn and the children to move in with them, but Carolyn had turned them down and moved to Schooner Bay, Maine.
When they had come up for a visit the month before, she had introduced them to Captain Gregg. They both had been very impressed with the man and had left happy. Ralph had worried that Jonathan did not have a manly influence but was satisfied after he met the Captain. As Marjorie Muir went to answer the phone she smiled when she heard Carolyn on the other end of the line.
As Carolyn told her of her marriage Marge smiled and congratulated her. Ralph was very excited and reminded Carolyn that he and Marjorie had offered to take the children while she and the Captain were on their honeymoon. 'Yes Carolyn did remember that and told him "Of course, just try not to spoil them too much. The call that she had dreaded was over and Carolyn breathed a sigh of relief. They had not even seemed surprised by the news, in fact they sounded almost happy.
The next person that she called was the happy one. It was a call to her mother and father, Brad and Emily Williams. She dialed the number and was thrilled to hear her mother's voice on the other end of the line. As she told her of her plans to marry the Captain. Emily was thrilled she and Brad loved the captain and were thrilled to hear that their daughter would be marrying him. "Yes, your dad and I will be going to the wedding. Just let us know the date when you decide." Her dad got on the line and told her how happy he was. They would let cousin Harriet and her sister about the wedding too. Carolyn cringed at that thought but knew that they would be terribly hurt if they were not invited.
Captain Gregg had no family, but Claymore. He thought of not inviting him to the wedding, but realized that he was going to have to be there. Carolyn would never allow him to ignore his cousin. As he looked over at the sea from his balcony he smiled. He had a good life when he had been out to sea and now he was looking very much forward to his life with Carolyn and her two children Jonathan and Candy. He wanted to adopt them and make them his. It also crossed his mind how he would like to have another child. He wondered how Carolyn would think about that. 'Yes, he would talk to her about that.'
That afternoon Captain Gregg came calling at Gull Cottage. Jonathan answered the door and showed him the knot that he had been working on. His small hands could not make a tight not as of yet, but his knots were getting much better. The Captain had also shown Candy how to make one, but she had been polite about it, but obviously had not been interested.
As Carolyn came down the stairs to meet her loved one she smiled. He was so handsome and she loved him so much. She had never felt this way about anyone. Oh she had loved Bobby when they had first married, but not like this. This love touched her soul. She and Daniel could speak to each other without even moving their lips. Her heart ached for him when he was not there. When they touched it was like touching an electrical outlet. She was deeply in love with this man.
Carolyn and Daniel decided to go for a walk on the beach. The weather was nice that day and as it was just the beginning of the summer, Carolyn hoped that they would have many more warm days that summer. She thought that she would like to get married while it was warm. She had so many things to talk about with this man who walked in silence next to her with his hand tightly holding on to hers.
Daniel Gregg walked with Carolyn and thought about when would be a good time to have the wedding. The summers were relatively short in Maine, and he would like to have an outdoor reception if possible. It would be nice to hold the reception in the front yard of Gull Cottage. The area was perfect for a wedding and there could be pictures taken of them on the beach.
As they came back to Gull Cottage Jonathan and Candy were out in the front yard playing a game of two person baseball with the dog Scruffy. The Captain picked up the ball and agreed to throw the ball to them so that they could each practice hitting. Carolyn took a seat on the steps and laughed as she watched the three of them playing together. 'Yes they were going to make a good family.'
That evening once the children had gone to bed Carolyn and the Captain went out on the front porch and took a seat on the swing. It was their place to sit many times and the weather and the smell and sights of the ocean made it very romantic. The Captain put his arm around his love and relaxed. As the two of them sat there and enjoyed the time together he thought of what they had to decide. It was then that Carolyn spoke.
"I called my mom and dad today and my mother and father in law. I told them about our engagement and everyone is thrilled. You have made a good impression on everyone. They were asking for a date, though. I promised them that I would get back to them when I knew. What do you think?" she asked him.
The Captain looked down at his love and smiled. "The weather here does not stay warm for long, but we must give people time. I was thinking of the end of August perhaps so that the children do not have any school and the weather is still warm." he told her.
It was strange as that was the time that Carolyn had been thinking of. The twentieth of August was a good day. School would not be starting until September sixth this year. That would give them sixteen days before school. That would give them plenty of time for a honeymoon and Marge and Ralph would have the time that they wished with Candy and Jonathan. Unfortunately that only gave them nine weeks before the wedding and things were going to have to move fast if everything was going to be ready.
"I agree with you totally. But, we are going to have to work fast if we are to be married in eight weeks. I want to get a wedding gown and to get it fit and ready for the wedding, I will have to hurry. But this will be fun and I can't wait. Yes, that will be a good day. I was thinking of having the reception here. What do you think" she asked him.
"Oh, my love I would marry you anywhere and this is where we all belong. You, me Martha and the children. It is exactly what I was thinking. The beach would make a great place for pictures. " he told her. With everything set and things agreed upon the two of them sat back and enjoyed their time together alone. As he left for the night Carolyn felt much better. Everything was wonderful once more at the home of Gull Cottage.
Carolyn asked her friend Linda to go with her to Boston to pick out a wedding gown. Candy was so excited to go and chose a gown . She loved to go to Boston and this was where she was going to be getting her junior bridesmaid gown. Linda was going to be the maid of honor. Ed Peevy was going to be the usher and Claymore the best man. The Captain had balked a little at that idea but had agreed to it.
As the three women went from store to store looking for the gown that was perfect, Candy saw a gown in the window. It had an empire style dress with short sleeves. It had lace that went down the entire length and was absolutely gorgeous. As Carolyn tried it on she knew immediately that this was the gown for her. The dress would need very little alternations and then it would be good to go.
For the bridesmaids dresses they chose a lilac color. They also had an empire style and both Candy and Linda looked wonderful in their dresses. The wedding clothing had been chosen. As the three of them headed back to Schooner Bay, the mood was very happy.
As for the Captain and Claymore and Ed they would chose their tuxedos from the local store. Claymore was so cheap that the Captain had to agree to pay for the cost of the suits. He would have liked to have to told him to forget it but he had bitten his lip for Carolyn, and only her.
As the days game closer and closer to the wedding, the excitement grew at Gull Cottage. Martha had turned down the offer of being a bridesmaid because she wanted to do the baking and cooking for the wedding. Carolyn was honored that her friend would want to cook for such a large party. There were to be over fifty guests there on Saturday and Martha was a champion.
The summer had been a wonderfully warm summer and the children and the Captain had grown even closer. Once the Captain and Carolyn were married, the Captain was going to adopt them. They had explained to them that Marge and Ralph were still going to be their grandparents. The adoption would not change anything in their lives but their last name. But it would give them the right to call the Captain dad. Something that both of the children had been dreaming of for years.
The day of the wedding finally came and the weather was perfect. The reverend did a wonderful traditional wedding and as they said their vows everyone in the crowd was quiet. They had chosen to stay traditional and when they kissed as man and wife for the first time a little mermaid watched from the ocean. She had done these people a good deed.
A special star lit in the sky that night. It was the star of love, and as everyone danced and dined, the world around Gull Cottage lit up. It had been a wonderful day indeed.