Page 126 of Merrily Ever After
‘Anyway, we’re just about to set off for the registry office, but before that, I called for two things,’ he continued. ‘First. If I forget to say this later, I want you to know that I’ve never been as certain of anything in my life as I am about marrying you today. I love you with every beat of my heart. I can’t wait to start the rest of my life with you as my wife.’
‘Oh Cole.’ I blinked hard, and Fliss passed me a tissue quickly. ‘I love you too and I can’t wait either.’
The flickers of self-doubt which had been flashing in my head ever since Cole had proposed had vanished. There would be no more thinking that I wasn’t deserving of taking my place in his family –our family. I knew it wasn’t true now. I’d proved my affection for his children, and, in turn, they were embracing me into their lives too. And look at my unexpected relationship with Emily. I hadn’t had any problems accommodating my new affection for her, or Dad.I might not have had a typical upbringing, but I knew how to love unconditionally and through Cole and my family I’d learned how to receive unconditional love too.
‘And the second?’ I asked, my face already aching from smiling down the phone at him.
He laughed. ‘The second is a quiz.’
‘Excuse me a minute,’ Nell said, darting out of the kitchen and out through the front door.
I looked askance at the others, who shrugged, evidently as in the dark as me.
‘How intriguing,’ I said, sitting back in my seat. ‘OK, fire away.’
‘Question one. What is your favourite Christmas song?’
“Last Christmas’ by Wham!’ I said without hesitation.
‘Correct.’ I could hear the smile in his voice. ‘Question two. Where is your fantasy Christmas holiday destination?’
I smiled, wondering where this was leading. ‘The chalet in the ‘Last Christmas’ music video, with open fires, and the snowball fight. I’d leave out the big hairspray quiffs though.’
‘OK, note to self,’ Cole pretended to mutter. ‘Unpack hairspray.’
‘You’ve lost me!’ I said, laughing. ‘Cole, what are you talking about?’
‘Is Nell there?’ he asked.
‘No, she …’ I turned to see her return, her face beaming with secrets she was obviously desperate to spill. ‘Yes, she is.’
Nell handed me a large silver envelope and nodded for me to open it. Inside was a brochure for a Swiss ski resort, a ski pass and a day pass for a spa. I stared at the contents; the ski pass was dated from Boxing Day. The spa day was for the day after that.
‘I don’t understand.’
‘I’ve booked it. Five nights in the ski lodge in Switzerland from the Wham! video.’ His voice was bubbling with excitement, I could hear how pleased he was. ‘I took a risk and booked your dream Christmas without telling you. Spur of the moment, I know. Not like me, you’re a bad influence. Actually, scratch that; a good influence.’
Cesca, Fliss and Nell linked arms and started singing the chorus to ‘Last Christmas’; they were clearly all in on the secret.
‘Wait?’ I gasped in wonder. ‘Theactualchalet from the video?’
‘Yes!’ Cole cried. ‘We leave tomorrow, back in time for New Year, before Will whisks Emily off to Jersey. We conferred on dates, so no need to start worrying about your dad. All timed with expert precision.’
‘You researched all this? For me?’ A sudden thought struck me. ‘But the children, we can’t leave them at Christmas?’
‘Exactly what I thought you’d say, which is why they’re coming too. Not the most orthodox honeymoon.’
‘But the best,’ I finished for him.
‘Now I need to go and get ready,’ he said. ‘I’ve got a very important appointment coming up.’
After we ended the call, I sat there for a moment in a daze.
‘Just when I thought today couldn’t get any better!’ I said, astounded. ‘The honeymoon of my dreams.’
At last, our hair and make-up was done, and we moved into the cosy living room so that Nell and I could get into our dresses. Nell was dressed in a flash, but my hands wereshaking. I slipped off my dressing gown, Astrid took my wedding dress off its hanger and she and Nell held it out for me as I stepped into it. Nell did up the buttons and then stood back.
The silk felt liquid against my skin, the fabric rustling and swishing as I moved. The fluted lace sleeves fell to just above my wrist, showing off the pearl bracelet Nell had given me last night, so like Tina’s earrings that they could have been a matching set. Emotion welled inside me as Nell handed me my bouquet; I felt beautiful.
