Page 36 of Rewrite the Stars
‘Yes, we’ve come such a long way,’ I agree, sipping my champagne, glad to be a world away from hospitals and the medical jargon of the recent past.
‘You’ve played a leading role, giving up all that time to nourish and encourage him,’ he continues. ‘His recovery to date has been a huge team effort of medical staff and a dedicated family, but you could easily have left it to the doctors and got on with your own life, wherever it was leading you to back then.’
Wherever it was leading me to back then … it was certainly leading me in a very different direction to where I am now. A life by the sea in Howth with Tom perhaps, or a busy life in London and America selling my songs? I try to avoid it but, more so since Sophie mentioned it, I can’t help but imagine what my life would have been like had I followed my heart back then instead of what my head felt was best to do. Another version of me might be living a life with Tom, supporting him as his music career soared, writing songs and making a career doing something that comes so easily to me and that gives me such a high. I miss playing music, so I can only imagine how much Matthew misses it too. It’s like we both left that part of our lives behind that evening of the accident and closed a door we’ve never opened since. It’s like we’re afraid to.
‘It’s funny where life takes us, isn’t it?’ says Jack. ‘I mean, after that night in Pip’s Bar I thought I’d never see you again, then it turns out Matthew would become one of my patients and the rest is history. It’s like out of a tragedy came a second chance for us. We’ve had some fun times, haven’t we?’
Wehavehad a fun time together, there’s no way I could ever deny that. In fact, since Dr Jack Malone came into my life everything seems to keep getting better and that’s something I can’t ignore. We’ve laughed so much, we’ve travelled and explored, I’ve made the most wonderful friend in Sophie Darling, we now share a beautiful home in a spectacular part of Dublin city, our social diary is always fresh and exciting and, to top it all off, my family, especially Matthew, adore him.
On paper, Dr Jack Malone ticks every box and I know I’m one very lucky girl to have him in my life, so once again I push any memories or notions of ‘what if’ out of my mind and remind myself how it’s good to be present and mindful.
I look out onto the evening Parisian sky and count my blessings to be here with such fine company. Then I close my eyes and savour this special moment, feeling Jack’s breath on my neck as he gets up and snuggles into me again, his strong arms round my waist from behind.
‘I’ve something to ask you, Charlotte,’ Jack whispers into my ear.
‘What’s wrong?’ I ask, dread swimming in my tummy. ‘Is something wrong?’
I’ve been waiting on the day when he’ll realize my dedication to Matthew was motivated by guilt as much as love and he’ll ask what happened to make me feel that way. He turns me round to face him.
‘Nothing is wrong,’ Jack smiles back at me. ‘It’s the opposite, in fact, because everything is just perfect. Look, I know it’s only been six months since we started dating but so much has happened since then, don’t you think?’
I nod. Yes, it has, I suppose.
Jack is always reflective and dreamy, sentimental even, but tonight he is more emotional than I’ve ever seen him.
‘I’m so madly in love with you, Charlotte,’ he says, ‘more than I think you even know. You’re caring, gentle and you deserve the best that life has to offer. I hope you’ll let me help you to get the very best in life after all you’ve suffered lately.’
I’m just about to crack a joke but I don’t get a chance to as Jack puts his hand in his pocket, takes out a small, black velvet box and opens it to reveal the most exquisite, white gold, solitaire diamond ring that twinkles as it catches the light from the restaurant’s chandeliers.
My hands automatically go up to my face and I lose my breath.
‘Charlotte Jane Taylor, will you marry me?’ he says, shocking me to the very core. I can’t speak. I had absolutely no idea this was coming, and it’s hard to find the words to respond, even if it’s only a simple one-word answer. I’m also aware of the faces of so many other diners who are enjoying their after-dinner drinks in this most romantic setting around us, waiting in anticipation to see what I’m going to say.
I shake my head in disbelief. I try to speak but I almost choke.
I wasn’t expecting this. I’m in Paris, not with the man I thought I’d be here with, and I’ve just been proposed to, but not by the man I’d dreamed of hearing those words from one day. A collage of images flash through my head, a bit like how they say your life flashes in front of you. Suddenly I’m at the sink in my student house again, Tom Farley walks past me, then we are singing together so intensely, we’re out the back of Pip’s Bar, we’re holding hands in the snow, he takes the snowflake from my face, I’m in Howth wearing his T-shirt, I’m driving back to Loughisland, I’m in the bar with Matthew, I’m in the flurry of snow outside, I’m shouting at Matthew, I’m in the hospital corridor.
I’ve got to let this go.
‘Yes!’ I say to Jack, and the entire restaurant bursts into a round of applause, while Jack and I burst into tears. ‘Yes, I’ll marry you!’
I put my arms around him, and he kisses me with delight and relief. I am relieved, too, and inside I hope that by making this decision, by being Jack’s future wife, it will make me realize that this life, this perfectly beautiful life with Jack Malone, is exactly where I’m meant to be right now. I hear Sophie’s words of wisdom.Just because things could have worked out differently, doesn’t mean they’d have been better.
I don’t think I’ll ever get any better than this.
Chapter Ten
Dublin, April 2017
Marjorie and Jack Malone Sr arrive fashionably late to our door in Merrion Square armed with air kisses, fancy drinks with names I can’t pronounce and a hamper of goodies from the very upmarket Brown Thomas department store that probably cost the same as a week’s rent on our apartment.
‘It’s so good to finally meet you, Charlotte, darling!’ says Marjorie with a majestic hug in a generous whiff of Dior. ‘And on such a wonderful occasion, too! We’ve sent an announcement toThe Timesand it should be featured any day soon, isn’t that right, Dad?’
I suppose calling her husband ‘Dad’ is easier than saying Jack Jr and Jack Sr when both men are in the same room …
‘The Times?’ says my mother, who is keen as mustard for an introduction to her new extended family. ‘We’ll have to buy it then. Paddy normally reads only the farming sections of the papers so it’s hardly worth our while getting them half the time. I’m Mary, Charlotte’s mother. I’m so very pleased to meet you, Mrs Malone.’
Mam is really enjoying her second glass of Merlot, having been first to arrive at our engagement party, and I try and signal to her that she has two little black marks at either side of her mouth which do nothing for the newpink nouveaulipstick she bought especially for the occasion.
