Page 93 of A Seaside Escape
Chapter Nineteen
March 2016
Greg’s divorce papers had dropped through the door at the end of January which meant all systems were good to go. Much to Greg and Mallory’s relief, things had been resolved quickly on account of how long they had been apart.
Alice made one last-ditch attempt to get Greg back and was astounded when she discovered that he had become engaged to Mallory. She told him he was making the biggest mistake of his life. Mallory was sitting beside him when she rang.
‘Alice, the biggest mistake I ever made was giving you a second chance. Do you honestly believe you deserve a third? I’m head over heels in love with Mally and nothing you say will change that.’ He gave Mallory’s thigh a reassuring squeeze as he spoke. It seemed she relented and eventually hung up.
‘Was she okay?’ Mallory asked when he threw his phone onto the cushion at the side of him.
‘Oh yeah, she was fine. Faked a few sobs, but she’ll get over it. She has no choice. I’m utterly yours, gorgeous.’
‘And are you okay about it all?’ she asked tentatively.
A frown creased his brow. ‘Me? Of course I am.’ He began to sprinkle her with kisses in between his words. ‘I have never… ever… been… happier… than… I am… now that… I’m… with you.’ He kissed her more deeply with hunger.
To reiterate just how fine he was about the whole situation, he made love to her there and then on the squishy old sofa, slowly and lovingly, cherishing her with everything he had to give.
*
Renee Ryan and Cara had been so wonderful about the engagement and had promised to fly over for the wedding which was set for Saturday the fifth of March. Greg’s two brothers and their wives had jumped at the chance to catch up with him and both sent acceptance RSVP cards within days of the invites being sent. Greg booked the beautiful nineteenth-century Kilbrandon church just after the engagement and the couple were so excited to be committing themselves to each other that the wedding couldn’t come soon enough.
Wedding dress shopping had been great fun. Mallory had visited Leeds, where she looked in every shop that she and Josie could find. Eventually, they ended up back at the very first one. Mallory knew she had found the right dress when her best friend was utterly speechless on seeing her in it.
‘Oh, Mally, oh… you look… oh.’ Josie had wiped tears from her eyes and hugged the bride-to-be so hard, Mallory almost passed out. But that was all the confirmation she needed. The dress was a done deal.
The honeymoon was going to start two days after the wedding when Greg and Mallory were flying back with the Buchanans and Mallory was excited to show Greg the sights of Kingston.
On the night before the wedding, Greg stayed at the pub where Stella cooked him her famous steak pie. The Buchanan family was staying at the little cottage they had hired last time they stayed. Josie and Brad were staying with Mallory, and Colin had agreed to give Mallory away whilst Brad had been signed up for Best Man duties.
The day of the wedding arrived at lightning speed. Josie, Brad and Mallory drank champagne for breakfast along with their toasted bagels and cream cheese. Although Mallory struggled to eat anything, she was so very nervous. She disappeared upstairs to get ready but after around an hour of hearing nothing from her, Josie appeared outside her room.
‘How are you getting on, Mally?’ she called through the door.
Mallory was standing in the bathroom staring at her reflection. She was trying so hard to fight back her mixed emotions. The dress really was stunning; ivory fabric and off shoulder with a fitted, beaded bodice with crystals adorning the front. The skirt was just the right level of fullness; not meringue-like but not straight. Her hair was partially pinned up, but the tendrils that hung down framed her face beautifully. She adored Greg and couldn’t wait to marry him, but she also remembered Sam and howthisday, herweddingday, was originally supposed to be her marrying him. The fact that Sam’s family were here made matters more difficult than she could ever have imagined.
Josie knocked on the door. ‘Mally, you’re worrying me.’ She tried the handle, but Mallory had seen fit to lock it. ‘Mallory, what’s going on?’ Josie knocked harder.
Mallory unlocked the door and sat on the side of the bath as Josie walked in. ‘Sorry… I… I just needed some time on my own.’ She sighed as Josie looked on.
‘Why? Are you getting cold feet?’ Josie asked bluntly, folding her arms across her chest like a chastising parent.
‘Not exactly… just thinking about Sam.’ She nipped the bridge of her nose as if it would halt the tears that were threatening to make an imminent appearance.
‘Thinkingwhatabout Sam, honey?’ Josie sat beside her on the roll-top bath in her pretty, knee-length, purple bridesmaid dress and held her hand.
‘Just that this should’ve been me andhim. Maybe it’s too soon? Maybe I shouldn’t go through with this? What will people really think of me?’
Josie sighed. ‘Mallory, you know how we always tell each other when we are being ridiculous?’ Mallory nodded. ‘Well… and I know maybe you don’t want to hear this right now… but it’s one of those times.’ She took a deep breath, ‘If Sam was still alive, maybe we wouldn’t need to be having this conversation. Or, maybe you were meant to be with Greg all along and it was Sam that brought you to him. Have you ever thought that? Maybe Sam was your guardian angel. After everything that’s happened between you and Greg, I’m beginning to believe in fate. Mallory, you stuck it out here when it would’ve been so easy to just run back to Yorkshire. You came here because of Sam… but you stayed because of Greg.’
Mallory had certainly never contemplated such a thing, but hearing the words now made her heart swell and tears pool in her eyes.
Josie continued, ‘Do you love Greg?’
Mallory didn’t hesitate in her answer. ‘Of course I do, with all my heart.’
‘Well then, let’s go and get you married to him, eh?’ Josie stood and pulled her friend to a standing position. ‘You and Greg are meant to be together. He adores you… always has. He had a bloody tattoo on his boob for you!’
