Chapter 23

~Saturday September 27, 2025~

Warm sunlight filtered through the open terrace doors, the rays slowly waking Steven. He could hear the ocean in the distance as he groaned softly and stretched. Megan was still asleep, curled against his shoulder beneath the blankets. Steven smiled as his arm tightened around her waist. Waking up in bed with his girlfriend was a dream come true.

It took Steven a moment to realize what was missing. Normally, vacation mornings began with tiny feet, unreasonable enthusiasm, and demands for immediate access to the ocean. Carter was nowhere to be seen or heard. The villa was quiet. Suspiciously quiet.

At least until he heard the whispering at the door, causing his eyes to shoot open immediately.

“Yes?” he called out.

“Carter would like to come in and wake you!” Nell’s voice replied.

“I’m not waking them, they’re already up!” Carter protested.

“Please, come in,” Steven chuckled.

The bedroom door opened, revealing Penelope and Carter standing in the doorway. Nell wore a flowing sundress, her long blonde hair flowing freely down to her lower back. Carter had on shorts and a t-shirt with a cartoon shark on it. Both were grinning widely as Steven sat up.

“Oh good,” Nell said, “you’re conscious.”

“Barely,” Steven grumbled.

Carter gasped dramatically. “He’s alive!”

Megan groaned softly beside Steven. “Please tell me it’s still early.”

“It is,” Nell replied.

“Then why are there so many people in my bedroom?” Megan sighed.

“Today’s wedding day!” Carter declared immediately.

“Of course,” Megan covered her face with one hand.

“I’ve been awake forever!” Carter whined.

“It’s only seven,” Steven chuckled after checking his phone. “You have not been awake forever.”

“I have,” the six-year-old argued.

“Forever’s a long time, bud,” Steven replied.

“How long? How many years?” Carter questioned.

“Five million, three hundred eighteen thousand, eight,” Steven said with a straight face.

“Whoa,” Carter gasped with wide eyes.

“Whoa, indeed,” Steven agreed.

“I did try to stop him,” Nell said, giving Steven an incredulous look.

“No, you didn’t,” Carter responded immediately.

“No,” Nell admitted. “But, I thought about it.”

“Traitor,” Megan laughed into her pillow. “Ugh, we’ll be right out.”

“Okay,” Penelope smiled, taking Carter’s hand. “Let’s give these two a moment to wake up.”

“Steven,” Megan began once Carter was out of earshot, “where did that number come from? Did you just pull it out of your ass?”

“If you enter that number in an old seven-segment digital calculator and turn it upside down, it spells ‘boobies,’” Steven grinned proudly.

“I wanna break up,” the heiress joked flatly.

Twenty minutes later, the five of them were gathered on the villa terrace overlooking the ocean. Isaac had joined them and was sitting beside Penelope in casual clothes. Room service had brought an amazing breakfast that included: coffee, fruit, pastries, eggs,, pancakes, bacon. Carter sat cross-legged in a chair as he attacked a stack of pancakes with alarming enthusiasm.

“I have a question,” Carter said between bites.

“Yes?” Megan drew the word out as she looked up from her coffee.

“Why do people get married?”

“That’s a good question,” Megan nodded. “Someone gets married when they find a person they want to spend their entire life with.”

“And they want the whole world to know it,” Steven added.

Carter stabbed another piece of pancake. “Do you think Preston and Ashley are nervous?”

“Probably,” Nell said.

“Even though they already know each other?” Carter wondered.

“Especially because they already know each other,” Megan answered.

“Huh,” Carter said, looking between Megan and Steven. “If you guys get married someday can we have dinosaurs?”

Silence. Complete. Absolute. Silence.

Then Nell bent forward and burst out laughing. Megan closed her eyes. Steven stared at his coffee. Isaac just cleared his throat while looking uncomfortable.

“I’m ah, I’m not sure bringing stuffed dinosaurs to a wedding is something people do,” Steven eventually said.

“What about real ones?” Carter suggested.

“They’re extinct, buddy,” Steven reminded him.

“Mommy’s rich, she can bring them back,” Carter reasoned. “They made movies about it.”

“They did, and those movies showed us that’s not the best idea,” Steven pointed out.

“Hey Nell, wasn’t your mother in one of those movies?” Isaac suddenly asked.

“Yeah, she was that creepy dinosaur that spit venom,” Nell deadpanned.

“Dilophosaurus,” Steven answered immediately.

“Your mom isn’t a dinosaur, Aunt Nell!” Carter insisted.

“She just spits venom like one,” Nell stuck out her tongue.

“Carter, did you know the real dilophosaurus didn’t actually spit venom?” Steven asked, eager to explore a safe topic.

“No way!” Carter gasped.

“Yeah, the neck frill was just in the movie, too,” Steven answered. “And the real dilophosaurus was over twenty feet long, much bigger than the movie suggested.”

“Nerd,” Nell teased, making everyone laugh.

The ocean sparkled beneath the morning sun while Azure Cay came alive around them. Staff crossed distant pathways carrying flowers and decorations. Final preparations for the wedding were well underway. Despite the coming ceremony, the wealthy guests, and everything else the day would bring, Steven was smiling. Because for the moment, it was just breakfast with people he cared about.

The villa became increasingly chaotic as the morning disappeared. Around 9:00AM the room service trays were replaced by garment bags. Nell and Isaac returned to their villa to get ready while Steven, Megan, and Carter also prepared for the ceremony.

By ten, Carter had declared formal clothing a violation of basic human rights. By ten-thirty, Steven was fully reminded of why wedding days drove people insane. Carter’s shoes were the wrong size, forcing Megan to frantically call for replacements. Steven also noticed his tie was missing, causing another delay.

Standing in the living room, Steven helped Carter put on his tie while making sure both of their tuxedos were perfect. Penelope and Isaac walked in, both of them fully dressed. Nell was wearing a soft blue dress that was elegant and stylish. Her blonde hair had been pinned back partially, allowing the rest to fall over her shoulders.

“Isaac, you’re staring,” Steven observed.

Nell rolled her eyes. “He thinks he’s subtle.”

“Nah, he just thinks you’re beautiful, Penelope,” Isaac declared, smiling at the blonde.

“Blech,” Carter fake-gagged, sticking out his tongue.

Penelope blew a raspberry at Carter as the bedroom door opened. Steven’s breath caught as Megan stepped into the room wearing the dress she’d chosen for the wedding. His lips parted slightly as he gasped, admiring the absolutely stunning creature that stood before him.

The deep emerald fabric complimented Megan’s height perfectly, her heels letting her reach a full six feet. Subtle gold accents on the dress caught the light, sparkling as she walked. Her raven hair was styled the same way as Penelope’s, with half of it pinned backed while the rest fell down her back. The stress of always having to deal with a business emergency was gone from her face, making her look less like Theodore Bauer’s daughter and more like the woman Steven had been falling for.

“Now look who’s staring,” Isaac chuckled.

“Eww,” Carter made a face.

“Don’t be rude, Carter,” Megan admonished gently while smiling at Steven. “Mommy’s happy.”

Carter adjusted his tie dramatically. “I’m handsome, too.”

Megan walked over to Carter and mussed up his hair. “I know. You’re my handsome little man.”

“I wish I looked half as good as you, bud,” Steven said.

“I know.”

“Handsome, yes,” Nell giggled. “Humility, however, remains a challenge.”

Outside, the entire island had transformed. Beautiful flowers lined the pathways and resort staff in crisp uniforms moved briskly between buildings. Prestigious guests in formal attire made their way toward the ceremony venue. The Brinkerhoff wedding had finally arrived.

The ceremony venue occupied the highest point on Azure Cay. A winding stone path carried guests upward though tropical gardens and carefully maintained overlooks until the island opened before them. Steven froze, his eyes wide as he beheld the stunning sight.

Hundreds of white chairs were arranged beneath a canopy of flowers overlooking the ocean. Palm trees framed the edges of the venue while cliffs dropped away behind the altar. Everything worked together to create the illusion that the entire structure floated above the endless blue water.

“That’s a lot of wedding,” Carter observed with wide eyes.

“That’s an accurate description,” Steven agreed with a nod.

Guests moved toward the seating area while musicians played softly beneath the flower-covered pavilion. Resort staff guided people toward their assigned sections with practiced efficiency. Everywhere Steven looked he saw flowers, linens, crystal: astonishing displays of wealth that managed to be beautiful instead of flashy.

Steven spotted Theodore Bauer speaking with Chester Brinkerhoff and several family members. The old billionaire looked as imposing as ever. At least until Carter waved enthusiastically, drawing a genuine smile from the well-dressed businessman. Megan slipped one hand into Steven’s, her other taking Carter’s to lead both guys to the right section.

A few minutes later, the venue settled into silence. The ocean breeze softened, as if nature itself were celebrating the couple. The musicians shifted into a new piece, causing people to straighten in their seats. The wedding had begun, and even Carter became quiet. Mostly.

“Steven?” Carter whispered. “Can people ride dinosaurs at weddings?”

Megan immediately sighed and covered her eyes.

“They’re extinct, buddy,” Steven reminded him. “I think in India some people ride elephants at weddings.”

“I wanna do that at my wedding!” the six-year-old gasped.

“No,” Megan whispered immediately.

“That’s discrimination,” Carter responded.

“Against who?” Steven questioned.

“The elephants.”

“Report me to HR,” Megan advised. “Until then, if you stay quiet during the ceremony, I’ll personally make sure you get extra cake.”

Carter considered the offer. “Deal.”

Preston Brinkerhoff stood at the altar looking nervous. The kind of nervous that couldn’t be faked and showed how much this mattered to him. Guests rose to their feet as the procession began. Everyone watched the wedding party make their way down the aisle while sunlight sparkled across the ocean.

Then the bride appeared. Ashley Sullivan looked stunning. While the dress helped, it was the expression on her face that brought her beauty to another level. The beautiful blonde was showing off the kind of happiness that couldn’t be purchased with any amount of money.

The ceremony proceeded quietly, with the officiant speaking about partnership and trust. He spoke about choosing someone every day, about the importance of of compassion and understanding and kindness. Simple ideas, but powerful ones. Steven found himself listening more closely than expected. Megan reached out and took his hand, lacing their fingers.

Ashley and Preston had prepared their own vows. They were short and heartfelt, making people smile softly. Steven glanced at Megan, noticing she was watching the couple intently. He was feeling it, too. Marriage. Commitment. Future. A wedding wasn’t about flowers or venues. It was about standing in front of everyone important in your life and saying: “I’m choosing this person.”

The second time Steven looked at Megan he found her already watching him. She gave him a small smile; the kind meant for exactly one person. Steven smiled back.

Then the final question. The final promise. The final answer. Moments later, as the ocean stretched endlessly behind them and the guests erupted into applause, Preston and Ashley shared their first kiss as husband and wife. The crowd rose, cheering and applauding.

If the ceremony site had been beautiful, the reception area was a scene from paradise. Lanterns hung from palm trees and pergolas overlooking the water. Long tables stretched beneath a canopy of lights while musicians played. Tropical flowers were everywhere, and the polished dance floor seemed to float above the water.

The cocktail hour occupied a series of interconnected terraces overlooking the ocean. Staff circulated with drinks and appetizers. Actual drinks for the adults. Tiny food for Carter. Everyone was happy. Carter grabbed a couple of cheeseburger sliders and melded with a cluster of children under the watchful eye of several resort childcare staff.

A soft ocean breeze moved through the space while guests mingled beneath the Fiji sun. A group of executives were talking business, likely involving numbers that could purchase small countries. Vivienne Brinkerhoff seemed like she was already drunk as she staggered around talking loudly about going swimming later.

Nell and Isaac were talking with a few of the women from the big Europe trip, the girls all laughing about old times and pretending to still like each other. Jessica Romano approached with her girlfriend, Eliana Buckley. Despite being the party twin, Jess had an amazing head for numbers and wound up in a heated discussion with Megan.

“How are you adjusting?” Ellie asked Steven before taking a sip of champagne.

Eliana’s dress was beautiful and her posture was confident. Yet, Steven was sure he spotted some of the awkwardness he was experienced. The feeling of not belonging in high society. Ellie seemed relieved to have found another civilian, a fellow number nerd who wasn’t filthy rich.

“I’m doing alright,” Steven replied smoothly. “How about you? You’ve survived another Brinkerhoff event.”

“It’s not even dinner yet, still plenty of time for craziness,” Ellie pointed out. “We haven’t survived yet.”

“That’s true,” he chuckled. “Every second feels crazy in a place like this.”

“I know!” Ellie giggled. “Sometimes it seems like they’re just like us, then a topic comes up that completely changes it.”

“Exactly,” Steven agreed. “I’ll be sitting on the couch with Megan and suddenly remember one of the most famous pop singers in the world once lived in the same building.”

Ellie stood beside him as they watched the crowd. “Last month I spent twenty minutes discussing yacht maintenance with someone who owns three islands.”