Excess All Areas (36 page)

‘
In case you haven’t realised, I’m a bridesmaid. And there’s a service going on at the beach that I’m meant to be part of,’ Freya stated.

‘
That’s an excuse and you know it. Emma doesn’t need you there. She sent you here to get her flowers remember?’ Nicholas spoke, still holding her arm.

‘
I haven’t got anything to say Nick. Please don’t do this, it isn’t fair. If Emma’s told you what my father said then you know everything and there’s nothing left to discuss,’ Freya insisted.

‘
There’s the rest of our lives to discuss as far as I’m concerned,’ Nicholas spoke seriously.

Freya didn’t respond. She didn’t know what to say. He still had hold of her arm and the strength of his hold, the feeling of his fingers on her bare skin was torturing her.

‘
What did you think I would do when I got back to America Freya? Forget all about you? Pretend you and I never happened? Perhaps drown my sorrows and lose myself in the next female that came along?’ Nicholas wanted to know.

‘
I don’t know. I didn’t think about it. I…’ Freya started.

‘
No, you’re right. You didn’t think about it and you didn’t think about me. All you thought about was yourself and what was right for you. Never mind talking to me about it or asking my opinion. You made your mind up and you ran for the hills. And what was with the interview in the magazine denying those stories about your father - saying what a great relationship you have? That really sucked after all you went through - all the heartache all of us went through. You, me, Emma - Emma’s baby,’ Nicholas carried on.

‘
It was all about you and Emma, my father said…’ Freya began.

‘
Your father said he was going to ruin my career or, if that wasn’t enough for him, he was going to have me killed. I know, Emma told me. But guess what? His threats do not scare me,’ Nicholas informed her.

‘
He didn’t just threaten you, he threatened Emma too and Nick, he meant it. He’s not right in the head. He could do that and get away with it, I know he could,’ Freya told him, tears forming in her eyes.

‘
He’s a manipulator Freya, nothing more. He’s been manipulating you your whole life and he will carry on doing it as long as you let him. When you had the magazine print that article apologising to him, you gave in to him.’

‘
I had to. I didn’t want him to hurt you or Emma. You’re the people that matter to me most,’ Freya admitted, tears rolling down her face.

‘
Well, he couldn’t have hurt me any more than you did when you said goodbye,’ Nicholas told her.

He took hold of her hand and squeezed it tightly.

‘
I didn’t know what to do, I was frightened. And if I’m honest it wasn’t just him, it was everything. It was the being in the limelight again, the constant scrutiny, people pointing the finger and judging,’ Freya began as she continued to cry.

‘
You should have talked to me,’ Nicholas responded.

‘
Well, it doesn’t matter now. You know it all and that’s the end of it,’ Freya answered, wiping at her eyes and trying to compose herself.

‘
The only thing it’s the end of is your father interfering in your life. It stops here and now,’ Nicholas stated firmly.

‘
What do you mean?’ Freya enquired.

‘
I’m not leaving this island without you Freya. I didn’t come all this way on an economy flight to go home empty handed,’ Nicholas said and he put his hand into the pocket of his jacket.

‘
You never came here economy class,’ Freya remarked.

‘
It was the only seat available. Here,’ Nicholas said and he handed Freya a small wooden box.

‘
What is it?’ Freya asked him.

‘
Open it,’ he urged.

Freya opened the lid of the box and her mouth fell open before she could stop it. Her eyes glazed over as she saw the ring inside. It was a platinum band with a cross shape attached to it, encrusted with diamonds and aquamarine. It was the ring from the jewellery shop in Kassiopi -
her
ring.

‘
I don’t know what to say. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,’ Freya spoke unable to take her eyes off it.

‘
Freya,
you
are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen and I can’t lose you. I was going to ask you to marry me, but I don’t want to do anything to make you uncomfortable or make you feel like you need to run. But if you accept that ring, to me that means forever,’ Nicholas told her.

Freya looked up from the box and met his gaze. She could see his blue eyes were filled with tears and the hand that was holding hers was trembling.

‘
I love you,’ he told her, squeezing her hand tightly.

‘
I love you too,’ Freya admitted her voice full of emotion.

He grabbed hold of her and pulled her into his arms, holding her close to him and almost squeezing the air from her lungs as he hugged her. Freya rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes as she savoured the way he felt. The weeks of longing for him hit her like a thunderbolt and she remembered how good it felt to hold him.

He kissed her, deeply, not letting her go and she held his face in her hands, not wanting him to stop. When they parted they couldn’t keep their eyes from each other.

‘
I don’t feel uncomfortable and I’m not going to run,’ Freya stated, looking at Nicholas and then at the ring.

‘
No?’ Nicholas checked.

‘
No,’ Freya repeated.

‘
Freya, will you marry me?’ Nicholas asked her, taking the ring from the box.

‘
Yes,’ Freya answered and she held out her left hand.

Nicholas slipped the ring on her finger and held her hand, looking at the band in place.

‘
Then I believe we have a wedding to get to,’ he remarked with a smile.

When they arrived at the beach the service was over and everyone had moved to the marquee to begin the party. It was a little while before Freya was able to speak to Emma due to a long line of Yiannis’ cousins waiting their turn to kiss the bride.

‘
Found your bouquet then did you?’ Freya spoke, fixing her friend with a glare.

‘
Do you know my mum had it all along! I’m sorry I sent you to the church for nothing,’ Emma said gingerly.

‘
I ought to be really mad with you for lots of reasons,’ Freya stated.

‘
But?’ Emma asked.

‘
I’m getting married,’ Freya announced and she held out her hand for Emma to see.

Emma screamed out loud, causing Mrs Petroholis to drop a plate full of food on the floor.

Emma grabbed Freya and pulled her into a bear hug as they jumped up and down excitedly.

‘
You told him about the ring didn’t you?’ Freya said, admiring her hand.

‘
Yes I did. He was the one who needed to know about the ring. He is the
only
one who’s needed to know about it,’ Emma told her.

‘
Thank you Emma - for everything,’ Freya said smiling.

‘
Don’t be silly. What are friends for? By the way, your fiancé gave us a great wedding gift. I was bursting to tell you this morning but obviously I couldn’t. He’s letting us live in Villa Kamia until our house is built,’ Emma informed her.

‘
My fiancé’ Freya said, looking over to where Nicholas was chatting with Samos.

‘
You deserve this Freya. It’s time you started believing that,’ Emma told her.

‘
And it’s time you started slicing up that four tier wedding cake of yours because I’m starving,’ Freya announced.