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  “When the music begins,” Cindy said, “you’ll simply walk up the aisle between the chairs and then take a step off to the side—about the distance that the best man is from the groom.”

  The best man. The cute best man. I wondered what he thought about me when we met. Probably not much. Maybe it was a good thing that Julie wasn’t coming with me. She’d always been more outgoing than I was. Without her along, I’d be forced to be more assertive, meet people, and engage in witty dialogue. I wouldn’t be able to sit back and let Julie take the lead. I’d have to be the one in control.

  My mouth grew dry, my hands began to shake, and my knees weakened. Why I was suddenly so nervous was beyond me. It wasn’t my wedding. I wasn’t the one who was going to exchange vows. Yes, my life was about to change, but still, I knew I wasn’t the one whom everyone would be gazing at. I would get a passing glance, and then everyone would start looking around me, trying to catch a glimpse of the bride.

  At least that’s what I did when I attended weddings. So I had no reason to be anxious about the next few minutes. They were totally my mom’s.

  The strains of Here Comes the Bride suddenly filled the air. I took a deep, calming breath. I could overcome this unexpected nervousness.

  “All right,” Cindy whispered. “That’s your cue.”

  I walked up the aisle, trying not to look at the best man but finding myself looking at him anyway. He was incredibly hot. He certainly didn’t look like a baby-sitter to me. Why did Walter think I needed looking after? And why was this guy so willing to do it?

  I took my place, and turned so I was looking toward the rear of the deck where my mom was waiting. My heart tightened when the music deepened. Mom began strolling up the aisle. She wore a big, bright, glorious smile on her face. I hadn’t expected to feel tears stinging my eyes, hadn’t realized all the various emotions that would cascade through me at this moment: joy, loss, fear of leaving the familiar behind, apprehension of all that was going to change.

  My mom was actually getting married. I felt as though the reality had only just now hit me. And it was quite a powerful blow.

  Mom truly did look beautiful and happy. She smiled at me briefly, and then it was as though her whole focus, all her attention, settled on Walter as she came to stand beside him.

  The captain’s voice rang out, “We are all gathered here this evening…”

  I slid my gaze over to Ryan. He was studying me, almost as intensely as I was studying him. I didn’t think he was much older than I was. I found myself wondering if he had a girlfriend, if he had a list of things he wanted to accomplish on this cruise. Would he like the Lindsay who was standing before him now? Or would he prefer the one I planned to change into at midnight—the wild, carefree, always-having-a-great-time Lindsay?

  Then I noticed that Mom was extending her bouquet toward me. Taking it from her I paid the wedding more attention as she and Walter exchanged their vows, their rings, and a kiss.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” the captain announced, “I introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hunt.”

  The music started up again. Mom and Walter began walking back down the aisle, and suddenly I was staring at an awkward moment. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was supposed to do. Ryan stepped forward and extended his bent elbow.

  I hooked my arm through his, and walked down the aisle with him.

  “Your mom looked really pretty,” he said.

  I glanced up at him. “Thanks.” And then I realized that was a silly thing to say. I didn’t have anything to do with the way she looked.

  “So you’ve known Walter a long time,” I said.

  He grinned. “Since I was born.”

  “I didn’t know—”

  “Oh, Lindsay.”

  Mom was hugging me before I realized we’d come to the end of the walkway. I hugged her back. Then I turned to Walter.

  “Welcome to the family,” I said quietly, just before I hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

  The guests began gathering around us, passing along to Mom and Walter their well wishes. Since this event was a little on the informal side, I managed to slip away from the receiving line virtually unnoticed. It wasn’t long before Julie joined me.

  “Ryan didn’t take his eyes off you the entire time,” she whispered.

  “Because Walter asked him to keep an eye on me.”

  She laughed. “No, silly. I think his interest is more than that.”

  I wondered if that was true. And if it was, what should I do about it? My plans for this cruise revolved around me having fun with people I’d never see again so I could be a little crazy. I would probably see Ryan again.

  Waiters were walking around carrying trays with flutes of champagne on them. I didn’t hesitate to take one when it was offered to me. Neither did Julie.

  Walter caught my attention, and signaled for me to join him, Mom, and Ryan.

  “I’ll be back,” I promised Julie.

  I walked over to Mom. I was happy for her. I really was. But I was so ready for this wedding to be over so my real vacation could begin.

  “Does everyone have a glass of champagne?” Walter asked.

  There must have been almost a hundred people murmuring “yes” on the deck and nodding.

  “Great!” Walter said. “Then I’d like to make a toast to the beautiful woman who changed my life, and her lovely daughter. Tonight I’m truly a lucky man.”

  He clinked his glass against Mom’s, then mine, then Ryan’s. Then Mom and I touched glasses. Then Ryan reached his glass toward mine. Clink.

  I took my first sip of champagne. My lips kinda puckered and my tongue went up to the roof of my mouth.

  “Wait a few bars, then you two join us,” Walter said quietly.

  Wait a few bars? What was he talking about?

  Then I heard music. Older people’s music. The kind Mom listened to in the car, and I would never program a button for on my radio. I wasn’t familiar with the song that the band was playing. It certainly wasn’t a song that I’d danced to at our prom.

  People moved back as though an invisible hand had shoved them aside. Walter led Mom onto the empty space and began dancing with her.

  Suddenly I realized what kind of bars Walter had been referring to. He expected Ryan and me to join him and Mom in the dance area.

  “Let me know when you’re ready,” Ryan said.

  “I’m not familiar with the music.”

  “Me either, but I figure we can fake it.” He furrowed his brow. “You started to say something earlier.”

  I nodded. “Right. I didn’t realize—”

  “Ryan?”

  Ryan looked over his shoulder. Walter was motioning us over.

  “Guess that’s his signal that we didn’t start dancing when we were supposed to,” Ryan said, taking my glass and setting it on a nearby table along with his.

  Wrapping his hand around mine, he led me out to the dance area. Then he smoothly took me into his arms. I had my hands on his shoulders. His were on the small of my back. His lead—and the song’s rhythm—was easy to follow.

  I really enjoyed dancing with Ryan. We were completely in sync, and I loved the way he held me.

  Ryan made a girl feel like dancing with her was the only thing that he wanted to do. He had such intense, blue eyes. They gave the impression that he was giving his partner his total attention.

  “All right,” he said. “One more time. What were you going to say?”

  I smiled, but it seemed so silly to say what I had wanted to. “I didn’t realize Walter had made arrangements to have someone watch over me. I don’t need a baby-sitter.”

  Ryan shrugged. “That’s cool. I’m not really into baby-sitting.”

  I felt a sense of relief. “Good.”

  “So is your friend traveling with you?” he asked.

  “My friend?”

  “I think her name was Julie.”

  “No, like most of these people, she’s just here for the ceremony.”