Page 92 of Something New

Hayley arrives in an array of worry and chaos, demanding to know what is going on.

I explain everything - then I have to explain again because it sounds unreal.

Through her disbelief and shock - she gets to a point where she grabs me in the tightest hug and screams in delight.

“I’m going to be an aunt.”

“Well, you are going to be an aunt - but right now I need you to be a make-up artist and hairdresser.”

“You’re lucky I’m so good at this. Because if it was left to you, I doubt you would’ve even bothered to put mascara on.” She laughs, grabbing her make up case out of her handbag.

We park at the beach at five minutes past ten and I am acutely aware of the fact that I’m late.

Will he still be there?

That’s stupid. Of course, he will.

Hayley tugs my rickety door open, she was driving because there was no way I could get into the driver’s seat with so many layers around my legs. She holds her hand out to me and lifts me from the seat, careful not to dirty or damage the dress.

“Wow.” She says for the hundredth time.

“There’s no time, we’ve got to go.” I push her forward, slamming the car door behind myself.

Lifting the front of the dress I run barefoot onto the white sand.

He’s going to be there. Just over this dune. Right at the edge of the water.

My heart is beating so fast I’m dizzy with excitement. I can’t believe this is happening.

We’re going to be married. I will be a wife.

“I see them.” Hayley says, as relieved as I am.

And then I see them too.

Tuomo is looking right at me as I step onto the top of the sand dune.

My heart explodes in my chest, like one hundred fireworks all set off at once.

I walk down the dune, onto a white carpet that leads to him.

He looks incredible.

Adrenaline floods me as I walk past his brothers and his sister. I can’t stop smiling.

My decision was so much easier than I thought it would be.

I always knew I was going to marry him, I was just fighting against my logic. But I love him far too much to let him go.

“Little bird.” His voice is low, his eyes on me I feel as though I could lose myself in his stare.

“Tuomo.” I whisper, standing beneath a high arch way of white flowers.

We stare at each, and the priest speaks.

I feel as though I’m in a dream.

Tuomo reaches out and takes my hand, his touch sending sparks through my entire body.

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