Previously…
– Loved ones gathered for Tempest and Samantha’s wedding.
– Alex discovered that Trevor has been floating half of Finn’s rent every month.
– Spencer gave Natalie an ultimatum: accept his new, unfavorable divorce agreement, or he’ll go public with the news that she paid Sonja to impede his recovery.

Jason Fisher stands beside Alex Marshall in the main hall of the King’s Bay Maritime Exchange, adjusting the cuff of his suit jacket. The bandages are gone from Jason’s hands, though the skin is still pink and tender in places. The worst of the burns on his neck are healing, too, but he is not quite back to normal yet.

Alex gives him a once-over. “You’re looking better.”

“There was definitely nowhere to go but up,” Jason says. He flexes his fingers carefully. “I’m getting there. The doctors are happy with my progress. I’m just tired of being reminded every time I reach for something that I’m not quite there yet.”

“But you’re here to stand up for Tempest and your niece,” Alex reminds him. “That’s big.”

Jason nods. Alex shifts his weight, glancing around the hall as guests continue to fill the rows of chairs. There is a whirr of excitement in the air, an anticipation of that moment when the music will strike up, the crowd will hush, and the brides will appear. But what Jason most notices is the dark cloud hovering just behind his best friend’s forced smile.

“How are you doing?” he asks. “Really?”

“I’m fine.”

“Ah. The universal answer for people who are absolutely not fine.”

Alex shakes his head. “I’m just trying to enjoy the day. Samantha and Tempest deserve that much.”

“They do.” Jason waves to his nephew, Caleb, who is settling into a seat with his date, Jasmine Knight. “And Tempest has earned every bit of this. I still remember when she came to work at the arena. She had a million questions and an opinion about everything.”

“Some things never change.”

“No, and that’s a good thing,” Jason replies with a fond smile. “She’s come a long way. I’m proud of her.”

“I am, too.”

Jason studies him for a moment. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

Alex meets his gaze. For a second, it seems as though he might take him up on the offer. Instead, he glances across the room at Trevor Brooks, who is chatting with Molly and Brent.

“It’s complicated,” Alex says finally.

“Most things worth worrying about are.”

Alex lets out a loud breath. “I just wish people understood that being in a partnership means taking responsibility for your choices. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when it means admitting you’ve done something wrong.”

Jason tracks his gaze toward Trevor. He doesn’t ask the obvious question, but his expression makes it clear that he has noticed the connection.

“That’s true,” Jason says carefully. “Although I suppose some people need a little more time than others to figure that out.”

“Mm-hmm,” Alex intones noncommittally.

—–

In the room behind the ceremony space, Samantha Fisher stands in front of the mirror, evaluating herself once more. A face full of make-up and a pure white dress are not exactly her style, and she keeps questioning if she looks silly playing the bride.

“There’s my favorite sister,” comes a voice from the entry. “And she looks incredible.”

“I’m your only sister,” Samantha comments as she turns toward Travis Fisher.

“That does make the competition easier,” he says, approaching to greet her with a warm hug. They separate and look at each other, the teasing giving way to something more tender.

“You really do look amazing,” Travis says. “I’m so happy for you guys.”

“Thank you.” Samantha smooths a hand over the same spot on the front of her dress that she has smoothed a hundred times today. “I can’t quite believe it’s happening.”

“That’s usually how it goes when you spend months planning something. All of a sudden, it’s real and it’s weird.”

“I don’t know what my mom is going to do with herself now that the planning’s over,” Sam says with a snort.

“Diane always seems to find ways to keep herself busy. I wouldn’t worry.”

Samantha’s expression softens. “I’m just so glad you’re here. I mean, we wouldn’t be doing it if you weren’t… but after the whole thing with Loretta…”

“That’s behind us now.” Travis squeezes her hand. “What matters is that I’m here today to watch my sister marry the woman she loves.”

The sound of someone clearing their throat causes them to turn, and they see Spencer Ragan entering the room.

“Interrupting a family moment,” he says. “Sorry.”

“You’re family, too,” Samantha tells him.

“I wanted to wish you well before the ceremony.” His expression is sincere. “You and Tempest deserve to have a beautiful day. I hope it’s everything you’ve both imagined.”

“Thank you, Spencer. That means a lot.”

He nods, then looks to Travis. The two men regard one another with the wary familiarity of people who have spent considerable time on opposite sides of a very complicated history.

“Travis,” Spencer says.

“Hi, Spencer.”

“Congratulations on getting your name cleared. I’m sure that must feel good. And on the birth of your son.”

Travis’s jaw tightens slightly, but he keeps his voice even. “Thanks. It’s nice to have my life back, and to be with my wife and son.”

“I can imagine.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for your loss,” Travis adds.

“Thank you,” Spencer says.

“See? Nice and civil,” Samantha comments, a little too cheerfully.

Spencer shrugs one shoulder. “Enjoy your day, Samantha. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” she says again.

He backs out of the doorway. Travis eyes him until he is gone, the door slowly closing behind him.

“Amazing how he can still make me feel like I did something to him, even as he’s acknowledging that I didn’t do anything to Loretta,” Travis says.

“Let’s just get through the day.”

“I promise.” He pulls her into another hug. “Today is about you and Tempest.”

—–

Back in the main hall, the soft, nondescript orchestral music ends, and a louder, cello-and-piano version of Pachelbel’s Canon in D begins to play. The wedding planner softly but efficiently nudges guests toward their seats. Conversations quiet.

The ceremony is about to begin.

Just as Spencer steps into the hallway from the bridal room, he spots his soon-to-be ex-wife slipping into the venue through a side door. Natalie Bishop is dressed for the occasion in a satin and chiffon Pucci print dress but looking as though she’d rather be anywhere else. For a moment, the two of them simply stare at each other.

“You’re cutting it close,” Spencer says.

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Physically. That’s about the extent of your commitment to this family lately.”

Natalie glances toward the room behind him, where Samantha is still preparing for the ceremony. “I’m not doing this here.”

“Neither am I. I’m simply reminding you that the clock is ticking.”

“I haven’t forgotten your little deadline.”

“Good. Then you understand what’s at stake.”

Natalie’s eyes narrow. “You keep talking about Peter as if you’re the only one who cares about him.”

“Then start acting like his mother instead of someone who sees him as a bargaining chip.”

The remark lands harder than Natalie wants to let on. She looks away briefly, then meets his gaze again.

“You really know how to make a person feel welcome.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel anything, Natalie. I’m giving you a choice. What you do with it is up to you.”

A beat passes. From inside the room comes the sound of Samantha laughing at something Travis says. Spencer glances toward the doorway, his expression softening for just a moment.

“Today is about Samantha and Tempest,” he says. “Whatever happens between us, don’t make this day about you.”

Natalie stiffens. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Make sure you don’t.”

Spencer steps past her and continues down the hallway. Natalie watches him go, her jaw set, before turning toward the main hall. For a moment, she seems to consider whether she can face them all: Bree, Claudia, Diane.

Then she draws a breath, straightens her shoulders, and enters.

—–

Moments later, music swells as the last of the guests settle into their seats. At the front of the room, Trevor stands waiting, looking every bit the confident, polished officiant in his dark suit. Jason is the first down the aisle, accompanying his teenage daughter, who wears a dress in the same sage green as her father’s tie. Alex follows, walking alongside Bree Halston. Trevor catches his husband’s eyes, but Alex gives him only the most cursory of grins before taking his place beside Jason.

“Oh, I just love weddings,” Paula Fisher says quietly in the front row as she turns back toward Molly. “Samantha and Tempest have waited so long for this.”

“It’s beautiful,” Molly says, moved by the emotion of the occasion.

Canon in D continues to lilt gracefully through the air. Travis and Tori Gray turn the corner and make their way up the aisle. As they walk, Rosie Jimenez waves at her husband from her seat, and Landon Esco joins in beside her, giving his best friend a thumbs-up and then blowing a kiss to Tori.

Tori’s cheeks go pink at her boyfriend’s gesture.

As Travis takes his post as Tempest’s best man and Tori joins Bree and Sophie on Samantha’s side, the audience continues to watch as Chase steps out in his suit, carefully carrying a pillow with the rings upon it. The boy keeps his focus on his fathers at the front of the aisle as he completes his work with the utmost seriousness. By the time he takes his seat in the front row, he lets out a loud sigh of relief, drawing a chuckle from those seated around him.

An audible “Awwww!” then rises from the audience as Noelle and Isaac Banks appear. Isaac holds the basket of flowers as his young daughter carefully reaches into it and then sprinkles pink rose petals along the aisle. Sienna Ridley, seated in a chair on the aisle, waves warmly to her daughter.

“Hi, Mommy!” Noelle exclaims, eliciting another laugh from those gathered. Sienna smiles warmly as she watches Isaac and Noelle make their way to the front. From the front row, Diane Bishop scowls for the briefest of moments before refocusing her attention on the wedding. Chase dutifully helps Noelle into the chair beside him, as Isaac assumes his position on Tempest’s side of the wedding party.

Then the music changes, and the room falls quiet.

Samantha appears first, accompanied by Tim Fisher. The bride’s face lights up as she looks out at the room, where so many of her loved ones have gathered. Father and daughter walk down the aisle slowly, just the way the wedding planner coached them, even though Samantha swears that her heart might beat out of her chest as she does it. When they reach the top of the aisle, Diane stands and wraps her daughter in an emotional hug.

“I’m so proud of you,” Diane says quietly.

“So am I,” Tim says, before giving her a kiss on the cheek and taking his seat.

Moments later, Tempest appears in back in her black suit, her expression a mixture of anticipation and barely contained emotion. When she sees Samantha, the tension in her shoulders eases, and a smile spreads across her face. Claire, dressed in a boat-neck gown in a soft burgundy color, loops her arm through Tempest’s, and the two proceed through the crowd of onlookers.

When they reach the altar, Claire turns toward the woman who came into her life as an angry, lost teenager all those years ago.

“You deserve all the happiness in the world,” Claire says softly. Her voice brims with emotion.

“Thank you,” Tempest tells her.

“I mean it.”

“No. For everything.” Tempest inhales sharply, surprised by the power of the feelings overcoming her. “This is all because of you.”

Claire shakes her head. “It’s all because of you.”

They hug, and then Claire assumes her seat beside Tim. Immediately their hands come together, clutching one another as the brides step up to face each other in front of Trevor.

—–

In a row toward the back, Natalie sits with her Dior clutch in her lap. She feels it begin to vibrate and quickly opens it, reaching for the iPhone inside. But when she sees the familiar number on the display, she keeps staring at the phone even after she has pressed the side button to stop the vibrating.

It is the prison calling.

She waits, breath held tightly in her lungs, as the call rolls to voicemail. Within seconds, the visual voicemail begins to unroll its half-reliable transcription of the words on the other end.

Do you accept this call from an inmate at County Prison? Say YES or NO.

Natalie stares at the message. She has been waiting 24 hours for this call — and now she can’t even answer it.

—–

At the Maritime Exchange, Samantha and Tempest stand face-to-face at the altar.

“Hi,” Samantha whispers.

“Hi yourself,” Tempest replies, smiling.

A quiet ripple of laughter moves through the guests, easing the tension in the room.

Trevor steps forward. “Friends and family, we’re gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Samantha and Tempest. And I think we can all agree that there’s something special about watching two people who have chosen each other, who have built a life together, and who are ready to take the next step.”

Alex fixes his gaze on the couple, determined to focus on them rather than the man speaking.

“Marriage is more than a ceremony or a promise made in front of the people we love,” Trevor continues. “It’s a commitment that we renew every day. It’s choosing to stand beside someone when life is easy, and when it’s difficult. It’s being willing to listen, to be honest, to admit when we’re wrong, and to trust that the person beside us will do the same.”

Alex’s jaw tightens. He shifts his weight slightly, clasping his hands in front of him. Jason notices but keeps his attention on Tempest, who is listening intently, her fingers intertwined with Samantha’s.

“Love isn’t about finding someone who never disappoints us,” Trevor says. “It’s about finding someone with whom we can face disappointment, someone who makes us want to be better, and someone who reminds us that we’re never alone in this world.”

Alex looks at Trevor again. His husband speaks with such ease, such apparent conviction, that Alex almost wishes he could believe every word. Instead, he forces himself to look away, focusing on the brides.

Trevor smiles at Samantha and Tempest. “The two of you have already shown everyone here what it means to choose each other. Today, you’re simply making that choice official, surrounded by the people who love you.”

Samantha’s eyes glisten. Tempest gives her hands a gentle squeeze.

In the front row, Diane dabs discreetly at the corner of one eye, laughing at herself for crying. Isaac smiles at her with warm amusement, and she catches his gaze and gives him a look that says, Don’t you dare hold this over my head later.

Trevor pauses, giving the words a moment to settle.

“And now,” he says, “let’s hear from the two people who brought us all here today.”

Tempest turns toward Samantha, her smile widening. The room grows still once more, and for the first time since the music began, Alex manages to forget about Trevor. This moment belongs to the brides.

For most of the attendees, anyway. In a row toward the back, with everyone’s attention fixed firmly on Samantha and Tempest, Natalie slides out of her seat, on the side opposite the aisle, and ducks into the same hallway where she encountered Spencer earlier. Then she gently pushes open a side door and steps out into the cool autumn air.

“Sorry, Samantha,” she mutters as she hurries toward her car. “But I need to take care of this. My future depends on it.”

END OF EPISODE 1320

What is Natalie running off to do?
Will Samantha and Tempest become wives?
How long can Alex hold his tongue?
Talk about it all in the comments below!