Page 131 of Merrily Ever After
‘Can I?’ Freya said excitedly.
‘Yes please, darling,’ I said, smiling at the little girl.
Barbara opened the door wide enough for her to slip in and Freya skipped up the aisle to where Astrid was sitting beside Fred.
‘What’s going on?’ Nell murmured.
‘Nothing to worry about, you’ll see.’ I gave her a mischievous grin and she shook her head bemused.
Seconds later, Freya reappeared holding Astrid’s hand.
‘Was ist los, mein Schatz?’ Astrid’s eyes scanned mine, her face pinched with concern.
‘There’s something I need to ask you,’ I said, catching her hand. ‘Astrid, you’ve been in my life, guiding me and caring for me, longer than anyone else I know.’
My dear old friend cupped a hand to my cheek. ‘And it has been my pleasure,Liebling.’
‘Which is why I’d really love you to be by my side as I walk down the aisle to Cole.’
Astrid’s mouth fell open. ‘What? I don’t … What are you saying?’
‘I’m saying,’ I began, my eyes sparkling, ‘that I’d be honoured if you would give me away? I’m sorry it’s such short notice.’
Astrid’s eyes blinked away tears. ‘Mein liebes Kind. Don’t apologise for paying me the greatest compliment of my life. But your father is here, and your sister?’
We smiled at each other, my old art teacher and I, and I thought about the teenage girl I’d been, desperate for love, for connection with someone, for someone to callmine. There had been hundreds of kids in my school, but she had seen me and cared for me.
I shook my head. ‘I want us to have this moment together, you’ve been a special part of my life for more than twenty years and I hope you always will be. There’s no one else I’d rather have at my side today as I start a new life with Cole.’
‘Merry, I think this might be the happiest and proudest day of my life,’ she replied.
Barbara handed her a tissue and cleared her throat softly. ‘If everyone’s ready, let’s get this show on the road. Give me two ticks to get in position and in you come.’
The registry office sparkled with Christmas joy, from the twinkling trees we’d arranged at the front, to the festive flowers hung at the end of every other row, bunches of holly, trailing ivy and sprays of white roses tied with pink ribbon. And on the table where we’d be signing the register was a trio of candles, only one of which was currently lit.
Everyone’s heads turned as the doors opened. I took Astrid’s arm and we walked to the threshold of the room, Nell and Freya falling into position behind me. Cameras flashed and my friends waved. My dad stood up to see what the fuss was about, and Emily mouthed ‘HELP’ and persuaded him back to his seat. And there standing at the top of the aisle waiting for me, with his back turned, was Cole. I took in a sharp breath, light-headed with joy.
‘Good luck, my angel,’ Astrid murmured.
She pressed a hand to my cheek, and I leaned against it, and then the time for talking was over as ‘Somewhere in My Memories’, the beautiful piece of music John Williams wrote forHome Alone, filled the room. Chosenby me, not only because that was my favourite Christmas film, but because of its message of love and hope and family.
Everyone stood up and before I knew it, we were walking forward. And as the choir sang about precious moments and special people and magic and home, Cole turned to look at me, his chocolate-brown eyes widening as they found mine, and he flashed me that devastating smile which could lift my spirits in a heartbeat. Barbara was right: he was dashing and, somehow, this wonderful man was waiting for me. It was all I could do not to sprint up the aisle and leap into his arms.
‘Hello, beautiful,’ Cole murmured when I reached his side.
‘Hello,’ I whispered back. ‘Fancy meeting you here.’
‘Someone told me if I hung around for a while, the most wonderful woman in the world would appear,’ he said with a casual shrug.
I looked over my shoulder. ‘Is it OK if I wait here until she shows up?’
He touched my face, his thumb rough against my skin. ‘She showed up. Thank goodness.’
I leaned around him to grin at Harley, who flashed the ring box at me from out of his trouser pocket. My almost stepson, already turning into a man. And next to me, smiling from ear to ear was Freya, my almost stepdaughter. My heart was bursting with love for this little family.My family. I couldn’t be prouder of them.
Barbara coughed lightly and Astrid and Freya melted away to sit by Fred, Nell took my bouquet from me, and the service began.
The registrar spoke about the precious gift of marriage and the love which had brought us all here today, and in between gazing lovingly at Cole and trying not to cry,I noticed the candles weren’t the ones I’d selected for today, the scent was different, the perfume intoxicating and romantic, of orange blossom and white jasmine. I frowned, wondering how the mix-up could have happened. I’d packed the candles myself. Cole looked at me, his eyes questioning, and I smiled back to reassure him, pushing the candles out of my mind. In the grand scheme of things, it was irrelevant.
