Gooseberry Island (28 page)

Eunice Giles and Bill Stryker find love in the winter of their lives. According to Eunice, “Love can happen at any time in life—young or old—and the trick is to cherish it by living each of its moments to the fullest. One brief moment in love is worth more than a decade wandering aimlessly in solitude.” Taken from the pages of
Pressed Pennies
, Eunice and Bill spend their brief time together proving just that.

The brief excerpt I’ve selected depicts Eunice and Bill’s magical descent into a deep and intense love. In the twilight of their lives, they exchange vows before family and friends. The night is perfect—well, almost.

As winter melted into the spring of their golden years, Bill and Eunice’s each and every moment were spent discovering a young and budding love. They found a laid back nightclub where they danced away every Saturday. They took long rides, stopped to watch children play Little League, and walked miles of rocky east coast beaches. Together, they captured a hundred sunsets, several jars of fireflies and the love of a lifetime over several cozy campfires. And through it all, they devoured gallons of black raspberry ice cream. Their relationship was comfortable, easy—eternal.

On a wrinkled old beach blanket, he finally asked for her hand.

She gave it. “Together forever?” she asked.

“Together forever!” he confirmed. “So what do you say about a summer wedding?”

As if she didn’t hear the question, Eunice asked, “How did you know, Bill? I mean…really know?”

“How did I really know…what?” he asked, his arm wrapped around her.

“How did you know I was the love of your life?”

Bill sat up straight and gazed into her eyes. “That’s an easy one,” he said, grinning. “You like black raspberry ice cream.”

“That’s it?”

Bill chuckled, and then took her other hand into his. “Since the moment I met you, I’ve honestly felt like my life has just begun.” His eyes glassed over with emotion. “…and I’ve forgotten about everyone and everything else around me.”

“Good answer,” she said.

“Honest answer,” he said, and threw his arms around her again. “My love, you have the spontaneity, faith and innocence of a child.” He kissed her on the top of the head. “You really believe the world is good; therefore, it is. You create her own experience, your own reality and as far as I’m concerned anyone caught inside it is blessed.”

She hugged him tight. “I’m the one who’s blessed,” she whispered.

He shook his head and kissed her again. “Your grace, happiness and peace have rubbed off on me and I’ve finally learned that all the best things in life are possible.”

She melted into his embrace.

“In your world,” he concluded, “a man could actually drown in a state of utter joy…and I’m more than happy to go under.” He searched her eyes. “More than anything, you’ve taught me that love, true love, can still exist.”

After a long hug, she looked up at him. “Let’s just go away and get hitched,” she said. “I mean, it’s not like our parents will ever complain.”

“Not a chance,” he snickered. “I want to show off my beautiful bride to everyone.”

~~~

It was the most beautiful experience when Bill Stryker and Eunice Giles exchanged vows in the presence of family—except for Bill’s two daughters—and close friends. During the simple ceremony, Eunice’s proclamation of love for her new husband silenced the crowd.

And then it was Bill’s turn. He looked straight into Eunice’s eyes and vowed, “I love you, Eunice. I mean…I
really, really
love you.” He grabbed both her hands into his. “And you’ll never hear words more honest or important than those coming from my lips.” He half-shrugged. “The rest is no more than white noise that fills the space around us.”

The entire room sighed.

“Time stands still whenever I’m near you, my love,” Bill went on. “But when I check my watch, I realize that the world has completed countless rotations without me ever feeling the movement beneath my feet. I walk on air around you. And you magnify all the goodness in me, making me a better man than I’d ever dreamed possible. That’s always been your greatest gift to me. Like a magnet, you draw out the very best in me, Eunice…and I’m so grateful to realize it.” He kissed her hand. “You came into my life just in time. Thank you for that.”

“Just in time,” Eunice repeated, and wiped her eyes over Bill’s sincere proclamation of love.

Before the pastor could even pronounce them man and wife, the older couple’s passionate kiss told the world that they’d finally become one.

For the best man’s toast, Eunice’s son, Jim, recited his heartfelt gift:

“Crossroads of Love

“Two roads began at separate points

in a time called
long ago

To wonder then where they would lead

was a fate for God to know.

“Each guided children down their paths

of goodness, hope and love

with nothing but the light that shone

from heaven up above.

“The obstacles, the bumps and turns

which stood in both their ways

were merely just a set of tests

that led to better days.

“The rains would pass, the winds subside

and with their labor done,

two roads would stop and take the time

to watch the setting sun.

“But God had other plans in mind:

their trips had just begun.

Two roads began at separate points,

but now those roads are one.”

After a sweet kiss, Eunice and her new husband shared their first dance as man and wife. A circle formed around them, loved ones swaying back and forth. As the final note faded into the distance, Bill and Eunice continued to dance for a few moments more—lost together in the silence.

Applause rang out, prompting them to kiss again.

During one of the night’s many love ballads, Eunice danced with her grandson, Richard.

“I’m so happy for you and Bill,” he said. “I really am.”

She peered into his sad eyes. “Getting older only means better choices,” she whispered, adding a wink. “…and second chances, Richard.”

He nodded, politely.

“So Rose couldn’t make it to the wedding?” she asked.

Richard shrugged. “She sends her best, Grandma, but she’s finishing up a business deal that’s required her to be there in person.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no need for apologies, sweetheart. It’s just too bad,” Eunice said.

“I suppose,” Richard mumbled—just as the song ended.

Eunice watched him walk away, thinking,
There’s nothing worse than a neglected heart
.

Bill appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her hand, yanking her back into the magical night that was before them. “We’ve been summoned to take pictures,” he told her.

Hand-in-hand, they headed out on the ship’s deck to take wedding photos, and paused at the hall mirror. “Look at us,” Bill said, “aren’t we the pair to beat a full house?” The wrinkles, crow’s feet and paunch midsections could not distract from their glowing smiles. He squeezed her tight. “Until you,” he told Eunice, “my heart was known to no one.”

Bill and his lovely bride were in the springtime of their love and celebrated the fact with a long, wet kiss.

~~~

“Are you happy?” Bill asked Eunice one morning, as they cuddled in bed.

She looked into his eyes and decided that there was no better time than the present. “I can’t remember ever being happier,” she said.

He sighed, pleased with her reply.

“Though there is one thing that’s eating at me something terrible,” she confessed.

“And what’s that?” he asked, surprised. He sat up straight, preparing to spring into action.

“I can’t tell you how much it bothers me that your daughters didn’t make it to our wedding, Bill,” she said. “And that they’re not a part of your life…of our lives.”

As though someone had just taken the air out of him, Bill collapsed onto his back. After a few moments of thought, he confessed, “As you know, the girls’ mother passed away some years ago and the tragedy of our parting was that we never really knew each other. I’m ashamed to admit it, but she was an incubator and nanny to my children. I didn’t have time for her. I provided for my family, but we lived separate lives. By the time we had children, I learned that I didn’t have much time for them either. We had two daughters, with just as many houses, but we shared nothing.”

“And you don’t think that can change, Bill?” Eunice asked.

A few moments elapsed before he answered. “I make sure my girls are taken care of, but I really can’t imagine that they’d want anything more than money from me.” He shook his head. “And I don’t blame them in the least. It’s my fault completely.”

“Well, we’re just going to have to do something about that now, aren’t we?”

Bill’s brow wrinkled. “Eunice, I’m not sure they’d…”

“Nonsense,” Eunice said, “they’re your family…our family. I’ll invite them to spend Christmas with us. It’ll be wonderful. Just you wait and see.”

He kissed her. “Okay,” he said, tentatively. “We’ll see.”