Page 91 of A Seaside Escape
Greg took Mallory’s hand and held her back for a moment. ‘Hey, I hope you didn’t mind me proposing here on the bridge.’ He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and tilted her chin up to kiss her. ‘I want this to be our place too.’
She touched his face tenderly. ‘Itisour place. I have so many memories of you and me here now. And we can keep making them.’
He curled his arms around her. ‘Come on, you’re freezing and I’ve an icy breeze blowing around places I would rather I didn’t have, let’s go have champagne before it’s all gone,’ he chuckled.
Mallory shook her head. ‘Champagne… who would’ve thought it, eh? I didn’t even realise Stella stocked it.’
Greg grinned sheepishly. ‘Erm, she doesn’t usually. I went out with Brad and bought a boot load just in case you said yes. Stella knew all along.’ He squeezed her to him.
‘Oh yeah? What if I’d said no?’ she poked him playfully.
He rolled his eyes. ‘Don’t joke. I’ve been terrified and wondering if they did sale or return.’
As they arrived back inside the pub, they were greeted with the beautiful lyrics of Bruno Mars’ ‘Marry You’ and the whole place sang out the chorus in unison. Some were in tune and some were certainly not. But it was hilarious and sweet all at the same time and at the end of the song the whole crowd of friends were baying for a speech.
Greg took the microphone from his stand. ‘All right, all right! I’m guessing you’ve all figured out that it’s over between me and Mallory.’ Boos and laughter roared around the place. ‘Okay, okay, so I asked her to marry me and I’m totally and utterly in shock because this beautiful,’ he pulled her next to him, ‘sexy, amazingly talented woman who I am utterly, irrevocably in love with has said yes!’ Everyone in the place whooped and cheered and Greg waved his hands to quieten them down. ‘Now of course you’ll all be invited along to the wedding, but you have to promise one thing as a collective.’ Everyone clapped and whistled. When the noise had calmed he shouted, ‘NO MORE BLOODY SINGING ALONG!’
The place exploded in laughter and applause again and Greg kissed Mallory passionately, much to the delight of the crowd.
Everyone went back to their celebrations but Josie and Brad appeared beside the couple to hug and congratulate them.
‘Listen honey, me and Brad have arranged to stay here at the pub just for tonight so you too lovebirds can celebrate in private, if you know what I mean.’ She gave them a salacious wink.
Greg hugged Josie. ‘You’re a bloody star, Jose. Thanks, you guys. We appreciate that.’ He shook hands with Brad, the handshake turned into a masculine, back-slapping hug.
They said their goodnights and the crowds began to dissipate so Mallory and Greg made their way home. Ruby and Angus were waiting to greet them with frantically wagging tails and yips of delight. It was as if they knew their mum and dad were getting married.
The dogs were let out and subsequently put to bed in the kitchen. Greg lit the logs in the fire and switched on the tree lights. He then produced a bottle of champagne from outside the back door and brought it into the lounge with two flutes.
‘Where has that come from?’ Mallory asked quizzically.
‘Ah, the joys of hidden, natural, outdoor refrigeration.’ He smiled as he popped the cork. ‘I kept a bottle back in the hope that things would all go according to plan.’ He poured a glass of the sparkling liquid and handed it to Mallory. Then he poured one for himself. They sat together on the rug in front of the roaring fire.
‘A toast,’ he held is glass aloft, ‘to my beautiful fiancée, you’ve made me happy beyond words.’ He leaned closer and rested his forehead on hers. ‘I want you to know I’ll love you forever.’ He clinked their glasses together and kissed Mallory lightly on the lips.
‘May I make a toast too?’ she asked politely, feeling a little coy. He nodded. ‘To my wonderful husband-to-be. We’ve had some pretty steep ups and downs but at least that proves we can handle anything. I hope I can continue to make you as happy as you make me. I love you, Greg.’ They clinked glasses again.
Greg took both glasses and placed them on the hearth. He pulled Mallory into his lap and took her mouth with his own, his hands in her hair. Mallory gazed down at him. His hands moved to her face where he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs.
‘I have another little gift for you.’ He reached out to the hearth and pulled out a red velvet box from behind the stack of kindling. He handed the box to her and she opened it and gasped. Inside the box was a silver chain with a beautiful pendant hanging from it. It was similar to the first necklace he had bought her, only this was two of the symbols linked together.
‘Oh, it’s beautiful.’
He took the chain from the box and reached behind her to fasten it around her neck. ‘The first necklace I bought you, for your birthday, was the symbol for friendship. But this one… the Serch Bythol… this is for everlasting love.’
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked down at the intertwined knots. She lifted her gaze to find him unbuttoning his shirt.
‘I have my own version too. You know how I disappeared with Brad earlier today?’
‘To buy the champagne?’ Mallory asked.
‘Actually I have a confession. The champagne was already sorted at that point. No I went with Brad into Oban. And I had a little ink done, especially for you.’ He removed his shirt and there was a large white dressing covering the space above his other tattoo. He gently peeled the dressing back to reveal a stunning, intricate tattoo of the Serch Bythol on his chest. ‘Now you’ll always be near my heart and I’ll always be close to yours.’
Mallory gasped as the saltwater she had become very much accustomed to lately welled up and overflowed from her eyes. After replacing the dressing, being careful not to hurt the raw skin, she cradled him in her arms.
In the glow of the twinkling tree lights and the fire in the hearth, they undressed each other and lay back down on the rug.
There was an urgency to their lovemaking this time. Neither could quite get close enough nor take enough of one another. The flames cast a golden glow over their bodies as they worshipped each other, both climbing higher and higher until they were sky-bound with the dizziness of passion; two people desperately in love giving themselves to each other whole-heartedly; forever.
