Love Changes Everything (40 page)

As they emerged from the church into the spring sunshine the street was packed with well-wishers. In addition to regular members of the congregation who'd known the family for years there was a crowd of Ella's neighbours who had seen both Ivy and Jake grow up. There was also a bevy of girls and women that she and Ivy had both known at the biscuit factory waiting to shower them with confetti.

At Ella's suggestion, and because it was the right thing to do, Trixie had invited both Daisy and Sam.

‘You know what I think of Cat'lics and their popish carrying on,' her father said angrily. ‘I told you not to have anything to do with that lot and if you defy me and go ahead and marry him then you're no longer a daughter of mine.'

Far from feeling upset because they had no intention of attending Trixie breathed a sigh of relief. That part of her life was over for good; she'd never go back to Virgil Street ever again and she wanted nothing else to do with either of them.

Her one regret was that her mother wasn't there to see her being married. Maggie had always liked Jake and they had got on so well together when he'd helped to look after Cilla and little Jimmy.

Trixie deplored the fact that she had let herself be so infatuated by Andrew that she had caused Jake so much heartache. She should have known, when he had done so much to help her, that it was more than mere friendship and that it was because he had deep feelings for her.

It had taken her a long time to grow up and realise how much she cared for him. There had been times in the past when she'd wondered how she could ever manage without him, but she had only thought of it in terms of him being such a wonderful friend, not that it was an expression of love for her. The feeling of happiness it had brought she'd attributed to the fact that he not only accepted Cilla but was also genuinely fond of her and always anxious to help her in any way he could.

Now she knew better; it had not just been the feeling of safety and security that had made her feel so relaxed and contented in his company but also the love between them that was growing more forceful every day.

She rarely thought about Andrew nowadays but whenever she did she mentally cringed at how stupid she had been to become so infatuated by him that their relationship had eclipsed her true feelings for Jake.

Andrew had never truly loved her and she'd been lucky that things had fizzled out when they had. Her mother had been so right, when she'd said that Jake was worth twenty of him. She'd been able to see right from the start that Jake's feelings were deep and genuine and always would be.

It had taken her a long time to find this out and to realise what a sweet and generous man he was. Now she looked forward to their future together, knowing that he would always be devoted and loving; always ready to shoulder her problems and do anything he could to make life easier for her. Most important of all, he accepted Cilla; she was almost as much family to him as Ivy or his mum.

Living with Ella would be an added bonus. They had always got on well and Ella had always had a special spot in her heart for Cilla. She'd done so much to help bring her on, to teach her things and make sure that she was able to understand and cope with the world around her.

Life with Jake would be very special. From the very first time he kissed her she wished she'd listened to her heart so much earlier. He had a wonderfully warm way of cradling her with his arm that made her feel safe and secure.

When they had a family of their own Ella would be there to help and advise her; just like her own mother would have done.

They'd grown so much closer in the last few weeks, ever since she'd been aware of the feelings she had for him and he had for her. It was as if all the shadows and sadness had gone from her life. The awakening of her sense that at last she'd found true love gave her a grand and glorious feeling, and she constantly found herself staring at him in silent joy.

It was as if she and Jake were in some wonderful magical world; every kiss and every embrace entwined them closer together. There were no secrets between them and she never had to struggle to get his attention because she never felt neglected; their laughter or even casual remarks took on a new meaning. He'd become the most important person in her life apart from Cilla.

As, one by one, the guests and well-wishers started to depart Trixie could feel the excitement mounting inside her. Quite soon now, when all the celebrating was over, when Hadyn and Ivy had said goodbye and gone home to their flat and Cilla and Ella were both tucked up in bed, she and Jake would finally be alone.

That was the moment when they could both express their deepest feelings for each other and when, at long last, they would finally know the bliss of complete fulfilment.