Neptune's Ring (39 page)

“This dress is too beautiful to remain in a
closet,” he said. “I would be proud to see you wear it,” he
said.

“I will agree with one condition,” Levi
said.

Roberto laughed. “I am almost used to your
conditions, but what would you have me do, Levi?”

“Would you walk me down the aisle and give me
away to Vanessa?” she asked.

The smile left Roberto’s face when he heard
those words. He turned and slowly placed the dress back in the box
leaving everyone waiting for his answer. When he turned back to
face Levi he smiled and said, “I would love to,” he said and hugged
her tightly.

“I will have the dress cleaned on Monday and
if you will come to town tomorrow you can try it on and we will
make any alterations needed,” Julia said.

“I will be there after lunch,” Levi
promised.

“Thank you, Levi,” Julia said.

“Thanks to you and Roberto, I will make a
beautiful bride,” Levi said.

“We will see you tomorrow then,” Julia said
as Roberto took her arm and led her back to the cart.

“Thank you, Levi,” Carlos said and then
joined them on the cart.

“Be back soon,” Cat said as they rolled
away.

Levi sat down and Vanessa’s arms wrapped
around her. “You will look gorgeous in that dress baby.”

“Yes, she will,” Liz said.

“Everything is falling into place so
smoothly, it almost makes me worried,” Levi said.

“Don’t worry, my love, I will probably lose
the rings or some other disaster before the ceremony is through,”
Vanessa teased.

“You better not,” Levi said as she finished
her beer. “If you all don’t mind, I am going to take my lady to the
shower and then call it an early night.”

“Not at all, we will see you both for
breakfast in the morning,” Nat said. “Liz is making pancakes.”

“Goodnight, friends,” Levi said and took
Vanessa’s hand and walked inside.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Liz and Levi went across to the mainland the
next afternoon as planned and when Levi stepped into the wedding
dress it fit perfectly.

Julia stood in front of Levi and then circled
her examining the fit closely. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” she
said with a smile.

“I wouldn’t either,” Liz said. “You look
beautiful, Levi.”

Levi looked in the mirror and she was amazed.
She really did look beautiful.

“I have a quick errand to run, I will be back
in five minutes,” Liz said.

“What about shoes?” she heard Julia say as
she went out the door.

“Is there a place in town I can buy some?”
Levi asked.

“When Liz returns we will track down Cat and
get her to take us to Morales,” Julia said. “The selection there is
so much better.”

Liz walked quickly to the small jeweler who
had the wedding bands ordered for Vanessa and picked up a small
package holding the two rings. When she stepped back onto the
street, Cat met her. “You have got to come see Levi,” she said.

Cat followed her back to Julia’s home and
Levi was just about to change out of the dress. “Wow, that looks
fantastic on you,” Cat said.

“Were your ears burning, Cat? Julia
asked.

“No, should they have been?”

“I was just telling Levi we needed to find
you to get you to take us to Morales,” Julia said.

“I need shoes,” Levi said.

“I agree, the tennis shoes must go,” Cat
said. “Let me go get the car and I will be right back.”

Levi changed back into her shorts and polo
shirt while they waited for Cat. She pulled up in the driveway and
honked her horn.

Vanessa spent the afternoon assisting Nat
with keying the electric door keys to the guest rooms, in preparing
for the grand opening.

“Are you nervous?” Nat asked.

“A little yes,” Vanessa said. “I love Levi
deeply, but changing careers is a little terrifying.”

“You won’t think so after tomorrow,” Nat
said.

“Why, what happens tomorrow?”

“Your wedding present arrives,” Nat said.

“Which is?” Vanessa asked.

“You will have to wait to find out,” Nat
teased.

Nat, Liz, Cat and Cass had gone in together
to purchase a private charter fishing boat for Vanessa as a wedding
gift. With the boat, she could rent out privately to the resort
guests or visitors to the mainland and still spend a great deal of
time out on the water.

“What more do we need to do to prepare for
the opening?” Vanessa asked.

“The staff are being trained this week, the
rooms are ready, check in packages are set, the kitchen is ready,
the bars are stocked, the transport boat is ready, so I think we
have things covered,” Nat said.

“I will have to leave Wednesday to take the
Sappho back, but I will fly back Friday morning,” Vanessa said.

“Good. Liz and I are making arrangements for
one of us to come over in a month when you return so you and Levi
can take a honeymoon.”

“I guess I had better get busy planning,”
Vanessa said with a soft laugh.

“I have things in hand here, so why don’t you
go back up to the house and get on the computer up there to see
what options you have,” Nat said.

“Will you be up soon?” Vanessa asked.

“I won’t be much longer, I hear a plate of
leftovers calling my name,” Nat said.

Monday and Tuesday was so busy the time flew
by. After a tearful goodbye to Vanessa Wednesday, Levi settled in
to focus on the grand opening. The beautiful gift her friends had
given Vanessa reminded Levi that she had not thought of a gift for
her love.

Carlos came over later that day and Levi
asked to speak to him. They walked into her office and sat down on
the loveseat.

“Carlos, can you draw house plans?” she
asked.

“I am not architect, but I know construction,
Levi, what do you need?” he asked.

Levi had already asked Nat, Liz and Cat about
she and Vanessa building a smaller home just for the two of them
and they all agreed that Levi would have first choice of building
spots on the island.

“I want you to design a home for me to give
to Vanessa as a wedding present,” she said. “I know a home can’t be
built quickly, but I would like to have a blueprint to show her
with a promise to build it in the early spring.”

“Tell me the basics of what you have in mind
and show me where you want it built,” Carlos said.

He took a notepad from Levi and jotted some
notes as she described the rooms she wanted and then they walked
through the garden to find the path that led to the spot that took
her heart when she first saw it. The house would be built on the
east side of the island where Levi found the conch shell.

“This will be the perfect spot,” Carlos said.
“I have a friend in Morales who can draft out a blueprint for us
and I think we can get it done by Saturday,” he said. “If not, I
have a solution,” he said with a chuckle. “If we can’t finish the
blueprint in time we will buy the lock set for the front door and
give her the key, with a promise to build the house to go with
it.”

“I really like that idea,” Levi said. “I even
think we should go with that and not try to rush a blueprint,” she
added. “Will you bring over some catalogs and help me pick out a
lock?”

“I will bring them over first thing in the
morning, if that’s good for you.”

“That’s perfect and thanks for the great
idea,” Levi said.

“You are most welcome,” Carlos said.

Friday morning Roberto and Julia came to the
island to deliver the dress. Levi placed it in her office closet
where she would get dressed before the ceremony.

“You will look beautiful,” Julia said as she
kissed Levi’s cheek.

“We will be here early, in case you need help
with anything before the wedding,” Roberto said.

“Thank you both,” Levi said.

“We will see you tomorrow,” Robert said and
they left the office.

Levi was getting nervous and paced until
Vanessa and Killian arrived on the island.

Levi rushed to her and kissed her
passionately.

“Were you worried I wouldn’t return?” Vanessa
teased.

“No baby, I am just glad to have you back,”
Levi said.

“You look great,” Vanessa said.

The first of the guests would begin arriving
at three that afternoon and Levi had changed into a pair of black
slacks and a white blouse. The staff would be wearing tan shorts or
slacks with a variety of colored tops for their uniforms, but as
the General Manager, Levi would dress more professionally.

“Thank you, baby,” Levi said. “I am so
excited.”

“I have a few things I need to do up at the
house and then I will shower and come back to help you welcome the
guests if you would like,” Vanessa said.

“I would love that,” Levi said.

“I will be back shortly then,” Vanessa said
and after kissing Levi left the room.

The first night at the resort went well. The
guests were treated to a gourmet meal and then spent the evening
lounging out by the pool. Celeste’s Garden would not open until the
following evening when it served as a reception spot for Levi and
Vanessa, but the night was so beautiful no one missed the music and
dancing.

Business the next morning would be handled by
Liz, Nat and Cass as Levi and Vanessa were told to try to relax and
enjoy the morning. Killian and Vanessa took out the boat to
distract Vanessa while Levi and NeNe spent the morning talking in
the garden.

“Killian is seriously considering leaving the
ship as well,” NeNe said, surprising Levi.

“After she has worked so hard to finally
become a Captain,” Levi said.

“She says it won’t be any fun without
Vanessa,” NeNe said.

“You sure she doesn’t want to be here with
you full time?” Levi asked.

“I would hope that would have something to do
with it, but she does love working with Vanessa.”

“I am sure Vanessa would take her on as First
Mate,” Levi said.

“Don’t be surprised if they are talking about
that very thing right now,” NeNe said with a smile.

NeNe looked at her watch to check the time.
“I think we should head into the house to shower and then go to the
resort,” she said. “Are you nervous?”

“A little,” Levi said. “No, actually a lot,”
she admitted.

“Just try to relax and enjoy the moment,”
NeNe said as she draped her arm around Levi’s shoulder.

An hour later, Levi and NeNe left the house
and walked down to the resort. The wedding cake was being delivered
and when they saw it, Levi’s stomach began to flutter with nerves.
“This is really the day,” she said to NeNe as they walked into her
office.

Vanessa and Killian returned from the water
and Vanessa rushed to find Liz. “I know I was teasing Levi before
about losing the rings, but I cannot remember what I did with
them,” she said on the verge of panic.

Liz chuckled. “You gave them to me for
safekeeping,” Liz said. “Now get up to the house and get dressed,”
Liz said. “I have the rings tucked safely away.”

“I can handle things here if you are ready to
go get dressed,” Nat said. “Cat and Cass are already up at the
house.”

“Okay baby, I won’t be long,” Liz said as she
walked up with Vanessa and Killian.

Liz, Cass and NeNe would stand with Levi
while Killian, Carlos and Nat would be on Vanessa’s side. Carlos
teased Vanessa saying he would stick out like a sore thumb in the
wedding party, but Levi poked him in the ribs and told him, “Be
thankful you aren’t on my side and have to wear a dress.”

Carlos roared with laughter when Levi told
him that and he felt more comfortable being a part of the wedding
party, keeping his masculinity intact.

Cat would be performing the ceremony,
qualified as a Justice of the Peace, so every partner would be
involved in the ceremony.

As the time approached, NeNe and Julia helped
Levi get dressed. “You look beautiful,” Julia said as NeNe put a
light curl in Levi’s hair. The guests were assembled in the
courtyard and Vanessa and the wedding party took their places in
front of the crowd.

NeNe rushed to join in after kissing Levi on
her cheek. “You are beautiful.”

Julia followed NeNe out of the office and
took the seat reserved for her, leaving Levi alone for a few
minutes. She stood at the patio doors looking out at the water as
she tried to control the racing of her heart. She noticed a pair of
dolphins frolicking in the water, sending her good luck. She heard
a light knocking on her door and walked to find Roberto waiting for
her.

“You are beautiful, Levi,” he said when she
opened the door. “Are you ready?”

Roberto was dressed in a white tuxedo and
held out his arm to Levi. “Your love awaits you,” he said.

Roberto guided her to the entrance of the
garden and when the wedding march music began all heads turned to
look at Levi and Roberto who threw his shoulders back proudly as he
prepared to escort Levi down the aisle. Levi caught movement to her
left and nearly fainted when she saw who was waiting just outside
the door.

Simone had rushed and barely made the last
boat over to the island. She had not been an invited guest, but she
would see Levi one last time before she and Vanessa were wed. She
had no intention of causing a scene even though she was convinced
Levi should be with her instead. Simone urged the boat driver
faster and when they arrived she stepped onto the dock carrying her
gift.

Simone dashed through the lobby and made her
way to the garden, but arrived too late to take a seat. She stood
to the left of the door, out of sight of the guests and was
surprised and yet delighted when she saw Levi walking toward
her.

“Don’t do this,” Simone said as Levi
approached with Roberto. “I can make you happy.”

He felt Levi’s body tense up. Roberto softly
whispered to Levi. “Is this a problem?”

“No, not at all,” Levi whispered back.