“Both,” she said, smiling. “More chocolate, please. Then you.”
Teasing her, he pulled the chocolate chunk away, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Do you remember yet?”
She flung her arms out. “I give up, totally and completely, to you.”
He laughed. “It’s our anniversary.”
She bit into the bitter dark chocolate and looked at him quizzically. “Didn’t we just celebrate that? Or has the year flown past, and the renovation is miraculously complete?”
They’d marked the occasion with a dinner at Beaches just a few weeks ago. Then, she burst into laughter. “This is the anniversary of our second marriage, isn’t it?”
“Thanks to you. Double the pleasure.”
She lobbed a grape at him. “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing twice.”
“If that’s what it takes, I’ll gladly marry you twice a year for the rest of our lives,” Bennett said, sealing that promise with a kiss.
She leaned against his shoulder, remembering how their first attempt at marriage had almost gone sideways because her out-of-state driver’s license had expired. The county clerk made no exception, even if Bennett was a mayor.
With their family in attendance, they’d proceeded with a commitment ceremony on the beach, performed by Brother Rip, so named after his surfing handle,riptide. A gentle giant with braids past his shoulders, Brother Rip was a popular beach minister who held sunrise surfing services along the beaches.
Since this religious ceremony was their first, Ivy considered this with their family and friends as their wedding date for anniversary purposes.
Their legally binding marriage had come a little later after her updated identification arrived in the mail. It was only a formality, so she’d arrived in a simple white sundress at the Summer Beach City Hall for their quick ceremony during Bennett’s lunch hour. Their families and friends had celebrated the first occasion with them, so they’d thought this was the easiest way to settle the outstanding legal issue.
Bennett’s colleague in the building department, Boz, served as a witness, and Nan surprised them with a shower of rose petals. After sipping smoothies in the village, they returned to work. Later that evening, they enjoyed dinner on the patio at the Coral Cafe with friends.
“Most people have to wait years for their silver anniversary,” Bennett said, refilling their flutes. “We’ll get to it twice as fast. Twelve and a half years.”
“I’m glad I married such a practical man.”
Bennett’s expression warmed. “Here’s to the visionary woman who taught me to see beyond practicalities to what couldbe. I’m glad life brought around a second chance for us.” He raised his glass and clinked hers. “To many more anniversaries. At least twice a year.”
The sun touched the horizon as they kissed, bathing them in fiery splendor. Bennett pulled away. “So, my darling, what do you wish for this coming year?”
She hesitated. What she’d recently poured her heart into had been denied at City Hall, not that it was Bennett’s fault. “A smooth, uncomplicated renovation is probably enough. No high drama, so we can reopen for business.”
Why sour a lovely evening? Besides, the community didn’t have the budget for a replacement library. She’d collected resident signatures and made a second plea to the city council, but there weren’t enough funds to build and restock a library. Summer Beach was a small town. Many communities their size couldn’t support a library either.
It was the loss for residents she still mourned. After all the townspeople had done for her and her family, she owed them a debt of gratitude. In her mind, a library would have the most meaning to them and their families.
“Are you still with me?” He took her hand and kissed it, drawing her attention back. “The renovation should be complete before summer.”
Ivy nodded. “I better be, or we’ll lose money on reservations.”
He nodded in understanding and shooed away an encroaching seagull that seemed particularly insistent upon joining them. “You always find a way to make your dreams happen. Here’s to not losing money or love.”
“That last part will never happen.” She smiled at him over the rim of her glass.
“Neither will the first part, even if we need to pick up hammers again. I will love you through it all, darling.”
Sliding her hand around his neck, Ivy echoed his sentiment with a kiss. After a few moments of enjoying each other in their arms, Bennett brought out his guitar and began to play.
Listening to him strum his guitar, she inclined her head, recalling all that she and Shelly had done to make the old beach house habitable and turn it into a thriving business. Bennett arrived to help later when he and other locals sought shelter there after the fire. That was the beginning of their second chance in life.
When he paused, she asked, “What is your wish for the coming year?”
“That we remain as happy as we are this moment.”
