Page 86 of The Fallen
I might. Although, I nod, accepting his attitude. It’s not as if I can change it or want to, really. It’s just that this fucking heat, and all this commotion and fuss around me, is beginning to try my patience. Lovely as it all is, I’m the size of a bloody whale, we’ve been at it for hours, and much as I hate to admit it, I probably need to go to bed.
“Utterly shit timing to get me knocked up,” I mumble, looking out at all the guests.
Christ knows who they all are. I’ve never even met half of them, but when Seffi told us she was getting married, Landon went into father mode. Surprising, really, but the speed at which he and Mother managed to turn a small wedding into something the size of a royal one was astounding. Not sure Scott was overly happy about it, but apparently, the first Broderick sibling wedding, the youngest one of us funnily enough, was to be met with gargantuan celebrations.
“From what I remember, it was you that didn’t take your injection,” Blake says, smirking. “Although, I'll happily be held responsible.” I don’t know why I did that, but I was thinking about age and life and Father’s death at the time. It put some perspective on things for me, showed me what could happen if I didn’t grab hold of stuff and get on with the future.
I stare out into the crowds on the dance floor, my own hand now resting on top of our child. A little boy is coming soon. Not a Broderick, a Rhodes. I haven’t told him about that bit yet, mainly because I still haven’t said yes to his proposal. I was going to, and then Seffi announced her own news and, I don’t know, it just didn’t feel right to break her moment. But when this is done, and we’re back in London trying to find our perfect place to live in, I will.
I smile at the thought and run my fingers over his quietly, imaging the look on his face when I eventually do say yes. None of this could be more perfect. Seffi looks radiant, completely stunning actually, considering all the other resplendent women here. She outshines everyone in her perfect, white fairy-tale dress and has never looked happier than she currently is.
And then there’s the Foxton in the situation - Scott. The one we consider the real Foxton anyway. I mean, we all are in the grand scheme of things, but holding onto our name is important to us. I’m not sure we’ll ever get over what’s happened between our two families, but Landon’s doing everything he can to make that make sense with the Davis Foundation.
Talking of Landon - they’re both as beautiful as they always are, of course. I look out at them smiling at each other, Landon’s hand wrapped around Willow’s, as they chat with some other guests. He even managed to get all the men wearing morning suits for this shindig. Which, considering the gold brocade waistcoats, the tailed, midnight blue jackets, and top hats now littered around the place, looks just as expensive as you’d expect for a wedding of this calibre.
Shame my own gold designer dress isn’t cutting the mustard.
Or my body beneath it isn’t.
“Look, why don’t you come and have a dance with me, and then we’ll get out of here,” Blake says, standing. He pulls me up without waiting for an answer, which is the most inelegant move I’ve ever pulled off, and puts his arm around me. “One dance, and then you’re done for the night.”
“I hope you’re not suggesting I’m not capable-”
“Oh, give it a fucking rest, woman.”
I laugh and let him lead me through the crowds, still holding my bloody expensive Louboutins in my hand. Heels and pregnancy don’t mix. I should have thought about that, but Paris has too many shops. Besides, what else is there to do when you’re banned from actually working? Apparently, it’s too dangerous to go flying all over the world while pregnant, and my doctor only signed this trip off because I told him I’d expose his affair in every paper I could if he didn’t.
We arrive at the side of the guests on the dance floor, and he pulls me into his hold. It’s not easy considering this massive child that’s developing inside me, but it is safe. It always will be with him. I know that more than I’ve ever known anything. And I love him for that, more than I’ll ever be able to explain. He’s the one man that makes me feel that way, not only in life, but in the way he feels about me too. I’m safe. I’m secure. And I am loved and adored.
“You do know you’re the most beautiful woman here, don’t you?” he murmurs, pulling me tighter to him. I shift sideways a bit, trying to make the angle work.
“Of course I do because you’ve done nothing but tell me that all day.”
He sways me in a slow circle, making sure my back is away from the other people. “Good. Just wanted to make sure you knew that.”
“I do. And you’re still pretty hot yourself, Mr Rhodes.”
He chuckles and keeps swaying us, letting me rest my head on his chest. I could do this for hours if I wasn’t so exhausted. Actually, I'm not entirely sure I’m carrying my own weight anymore to be honest. Maybe he’s holding it up for me. I suppose he’s always going to do that as well, isn't he?
“Blake?”
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.” His body stops, but I just rub my head into his chest some more, happy to stay right here and not make a fuss of this. “We don’t need to make a big deal of it, not like this. Just a few of us if that’s all you want. The small chapel at Tallington. Family and a few friends. Next year, when this young man is here, and we can be together. The three of us.”
He leans down and rests his forehead on top of mine, his whole body seeming to relax with a sigh. No words needed. No more conversation yet, either. We’ve got plenty of time for that coming soon. For now, this is all we need to be. A little family of our own.
A Broderick-Rhodes family.
NEVE
A Broderick and a Foxton.
A feud now firmly buried, as is the scandal that unravelled everything. After so long, it’s good to be free of last year's drama and just enjoy the occasion.
