Somewhere on Maui (an Accidental Matchmaker Novel) (22 page)

BOOK: Somewhere on Maui (an Accidental Matchmaker Novel)

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EPILOGUE:

Zoe’s hands trembled as she held the bouquet of tropical flowers, walking deliberately to the altar on
bare feet down an aisle defined by rows of plumeria. The skirts of her simple white silk dress fluttered over the grass to the music from Adam’s friends on ukuleles. The tuberoses, red ginger, and trailing vines of stephanotis she carried wafted fragrance over her, making her dizzy.

It was the
sight of Adam in the distance, resplendent in a white tux draped with maile lei, that kept her moving forward. Her friend Michelle was grinning and gorgeous in teal silk beside him, holding a matching bouquet.

In front of her, Serena, adorable in frothy tulle, tossed more flowers on the path, Sylvester bouncing beside her. Rose, Zoe’s mother, walked beside Zoe on the right, holding Sylvester’s leash. Diego walked on the left, carrying the ring pillow, his tux a miniature of Adam’s.

The kids’ custody had come through two weeks ago, just in time to make sure they were totally included, and they’d jumped into their roles with more enthusiasm than Zoe would have believed possible.

Adam stood in front of a bamboo archway draped with plumeria lei situated by the cluster of familiar black boulders on the beach near
their favorite restaurant. Palms waved in the breeze, and friends and family lining the pathway, their forms bright in the sunshine, were a blur—nothing was in focus for Zoe but Adam’s face.

Zoe walked up to stand with him inside a heart design made of pieces of white coral set on the sand. His splendor brought tears to her eyes. Gazing into hers, his welled too, shining amber in the sunlight reflecting off his dazzling tux.

Led by the family’s longtime minister, Zoe and Adam spoke the ancient promises that, no matter how many times made, never grew old.

“You may kiss the bride.”

Adam took her in his arms. His kiss, filled with the fierce love that had never wavered since he first spoke of it in the shadow of these very rocks, knocked the
haku
lei of pikake blossoms off her head, filling the air around them with laughter, applause, and Sylvester’s barking.

And as they turned to face the crowd of well-wishers, Zoe felt the first fluttering kick of the new person they had indeed formed of
their own substance, just as she’d somehow known might happen. She took Adam’s hand and slid it around onto her silk-clad waist, hoping he would feel it too as she tossed her flowers into the crowd.

The bouquet landed squarely on Tami and Brad, to the hilarity of all.

Acknowledgements:

Why did a mystery writer tackle a romance? Because I’m a hopeless romantic, and over the course of writing ten books, realized I wasn’t even capable of writing a book that didn’t contain at least a romantic element. It goes back to my own reading habits—I read in every genre from sci-fi to thriller to literary, and the books I enjoy the most have a vibrant romance in them.

I’m a mental health therapist in private practice, and this year a series of heartbroken clients looking for love have passed through my office. One day as I recommended to the second or third one in a row that they try Internet dating, I wondered what would happen if Client A met Client B on an Internet date, or passing in the lobby of my office—and the idea for Somewhere on Maui was born.

I was inspired by a new friend (you know who you are, you amazing woman you!) who is trying Internet dating and shares some characteristics with Zoe, and an incredible young man I know who’s still single and has a lot in common with Adam. While I know better than to try to set up these friends in real life, I still hope for each of them the kind of heart-pounding, healing love I will never stop believing in.

I want to thank beta readers Holly Robinson (for admitting she cried over my first draft) Bonny Ponting, Noelle Pierce, Sue Wilson, and Shannon Wianecki for your valuable input. Tawny Neal, thanks for your “technical support” in my foray into online dating research—under a fake persona, I had a sample of the online dating experience (but no hearts were broken in the course of my research!) Penina Lopez, as usual you cracked down on my inconsistencies (yes, she was driving a CRV in one scene and a Beetle in the rest) and to my “Typo Hunters” Bonnie and Don and Shirley, a sincere thanks for your time and attention to detail. All of you had a hand in making my first foray in to Contemporary Fiction/Romance one I feel proud of! Much mahalos.

To my readers, thank you for your support, and if you liked the book, it so helps others discover me as an author to leave a review—
I read every single one and your opinion matters!
And you might like my mysteries too, now that you know they’ve all got love stories woven into them.

Until next time, I’ll be writing!

Much aloha

Toby Neal

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