Page 72 of Harry

“Was I throttling any of them?”

She laughed shakily and blew out a breath. “I’m becoming paranoid.”

“That’s the word for it.” He tilted her face up. “You don’t need the stress. “We’re getting married on Saturday and that’s enough excitement. You’re going to be fine darling. I want you to repeat after me. I will be okay; nothing is going to happen to me or our babies.”

“I will be fine. Nothing is going to happen to me or our babies.”

“I said “okay”.

“What?” She blinked at him.

“You were supposed to repeat everything I said. Nowhere in the sentence did I say fine.”

She simply stared at him until he grinned. “But that is also accepted.” He brushed his lips against hers and felt her responding.

“No.” Lifting his mouth from hers, he tucked her face on his chest. “We cannot indulge in anything like that.”

“I know.” She sank into him and closed her eyes. “And you’re right. I will be fine. We will be fine.”

“That’s the spirit.”

But later that night after making sure that she was fast asleep, he slipped out of the room and donning workout clothes, he took to the gym. The stress was inside him and he was bottling it up.

Using the weights and the heavy boxing bag hanging from the roof, he worked up enough sweat that by the time he was through, he was almost dropping from exhaustion, his clothes sticking to his wet body. The sweatband around his forehead was soaked, enough to have the water dripping down his face.

Steadying the bag, he winced as he pulled off his gloves and saw that his knuckles were swollen. Pain radiated along his shoulders and his arms felt like rubbers. He had overdone it, but at least, he felt marginally better.

Grabbing a bottle of water from the mini fridge, he sat on the bench and guzzled it down in one go, tossing the bottle into the recycle bin and just sat there with his hands loosely clasped between his thighs.

Her dream had disturbed him because he keeps seeing her laid up in bed and looking still. He had his own dreams of her dying and leaving him alone to take care of their babies.

“Bloody hell to all of it. That is not going to happen. She would not dare leave me.” With that affirmation, he went to get another bottle of water and a shower. It was time to go back to her.

*****

The snow was drifting dreamily from the sky the day of the ceremony. But with the couple comfortably ensconced inside where there was warmth, it was perfect. They had decided to have the wedding at the manor at Madelyn’s insistence.

“It makes more sense darling.” She told her son. “There is more room. We could use the Great Drawing room for the occasion and have it decorated accordingly. It would serve to chase away some of the awful memories and replace it with something wonderful.”

Janelle had agreed wholeheartedly, so he had reluctantly succumbed.

Besides, she had been on her best behavior leading up to the day. Staying in bed and getting some much-needed rest.

The hearth took up one entire side of the wall and was heaped with firewood. The glow from the fire chased the darkness away and turned the massive room with its antique furnishings into something almost akin to cozy.

Madelyn had been true to her word. The decorations were simple – champagne and baby blue balloons, yards of ribbons draped over the chairs- flowers (in winter – no less), were everywhere- giving the space a summer look and atmosphere. It managed to look natural instead of contrived and delighted the eyes.

The bride was wearing a champagne-colored wool dress with a cape-like top and loose skirt that had been designed for her and suited her perfectly. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, the curls dark and glossy. Her makeup was flawless and as she had told Rosie earlier, “She did not look like a whale for a change.”

The woman had beamed at her, with a suspicious brightness in her eyes and assured her that she was a beautiful bride.

The groom happened to agree.

His first sight of her had his chest expanding with pride and overflowing with love. He had not been with her physically for close to a week and the banked passion and desire was becoming more than he could bear.

But seeing her walking towards him looking radiantly beautiful more than made up for the lack of sex. She was his or would be his completely as soon as they said their vows.

The ceremony took fifteen minutes and before long, they were husband and wife. With the formalities dispensed with, they were able to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon.

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