TouchStone for giving (The Story of Us Trilogy) (49 page)

forward, swapping and changing cameras from around his neck. Now I know how it feels to be a

celebrity. A minor one at that.

I’m positioned front and centre, Charlie a yard behind and Celine fussing around my feet and

flattening my veil as it lifts, caught up in the midday breeze, mumbling something in French that

sounds like, “Merde.”

We’re led to a side room. I can’t see Ayden anywhere or his bodyguards, which I take as a good

sign. “Where’s Ayden?” I ask Celine.

“He’s already in the Chapel Beth. He’s waiting for you.”

I accept her reassuring smile and feel her warm hand and on my arm. “Alright, I’m ready.”

Charlie comes bounding in like a streak of white light, breathless for some reason.

“What’s wrong Char?”

She’s straightening her dress and fixing her hair. “Nothing. Nothing at all. I just took a peek in the

chapel, that’s all.” She’s nodding manically. “If you ask me, you’re one very lucky lady. He looks …”

She leans into me for effect. “So hot in that suit.”

I’m giving her my best startled stare. “Do you mind? That’s my future husband you’re talking

about.”

For a moment she actually considers I might be offended. “Listen, Beth. I’m not telling you

anything you don’t already know, am I?”

I shake my head. “No. He’s always been Mr. P for perfect, hasn’t he?”

She’s still nodding. “I remember when you told me about him. Back then he was Mr. P for

potential, remember?” I’m nodding now, remembering my exact words. “You said, ‘I think I’m going

to marry this guy,’ and here we are.”

“Yes. Here we are.”

“Are you ready to get this show on the road?” She takes my elbow. “You look stunning, by the way,

hon.”

Her words mean everything. “Thanks.”

She opens a side door leading to the chapel and gives a suited man the nod to our left. He, in turn,

nods to someone in the chapel and the music starts up. I’m expecting the wedding march but there’s

the rumbling of music and then a single chord. I recognise the song instantly. It’s
Diamonds
by

Rihanna.

As I turn the corner I enter the chapel; a huge room decorated in white, with enormous sheets

billowing from left to right across the vaulted ceiling. Attached to the sheets are lights that sparkle

and shine like diamonds dotted in rolling clouds, streaked with colours cascading through stained

glass. Tall, swaying palm trees and greenery add natural beauty to this romantic melange.

The walkway is arched in polished wood but cut out like giant letter A’s, around which are white

roses and lilies. Along the aisle are white rose petals, sprinkled like breadcrumbs in an enchanted

forest, leading me home; leading me into the arms of the man I love. And there he stands, smiling,

motionless, hands behind his back, sexy as hell in his signature suit and blue and white striped tie. I

know he has chosen this song. It’s profound; each word conveying his love for me and reinforcing the

divine nature of our fateful marriage.

The scene is picture perfect. Not Ayden’s taste at all; much too fussy and flamboyant for him. But

precisely what I want. It’s magical.

Just when I think it cannot get any better, the enchantment continues. Patrick appears to my right

and holds out his arm to walk me down the aisle. After signing a grateful thank you, I take it with both

hands, trembling a little. He places his hand over mine and leaves it there until I pause, struck down

by a blinding light. All eyes are on me. I take a few more tentative steps and falter again. I’m drifting

from this place …

I’m Alice in Wonderland. Everything is so large; the billowing sky, the shimmering lights, these

arches … I feel so small.

“Beth.” Charlie’s voice wakes me from my daydream. “Are you alright?”

The dream fades. I return to the here and now, to Ayden who is watching and waiting patiently for

me to reach him.

“Yes. I’m fine.” I breathe deeply and place my right foot forward, willing my left to follow.

When we reach the altar, Patrick places Ayden’s hands on top of mine and my hands steady, feeling

his protection so deeply. He looks at me with devotion, as if paying homage to a goddess. He’s lost in

the moment.

“You look so beautiful. You take my breath away,” he whispers.

“You don’t look too shabby yourself, “I reply, trying to disguise my nervousness with a smile.

He arches a brow. “Are you ready to do this?”

“I was born ready Ayden.”

He laughs out loud, realising better than anyone just how untrue that statement is. I laugh too. In a

move worthy of the great romancers, he traces the shape of my jaw with the forefinger of his right

hand, I close my eyes and raise my chin to receive his touch like a purring cat, feeling more connected

to him at this precise moment than at any other time in our love affair.

The music plays out and I open my eyes, only to be swept away into a cerulean sea, floating,

buoyant. In his eyes I see something new … something indescribable that belongs in a dream or a wish

… and then it’s gone.

The Ordained Minister welcomes the gathering and begins the ceremony. Playing in the background

is another favourite of mine.
Because You Loved Me,
by Celine Dion. The words resonate with us and I

see Ayden struggling with a hard swallow. I’m patting away a tear that threatens to tumble from my

eye with a finger. It’s so moving. The service is well delivered and the words chosen by Ayden are

spoken from the heart.

Ayden concludes: “ … and I solemnly promise to cherish you and to keep you safe from harm; to

love you from this moment on as I always have, for as long as we both shall live.”

Jake produces the rings on a white cushion but, before Ayden places it on my finger, he turns over

my left hand.

“Close your eyes Beth.”

I do as he asks, feeling the air still as the congregation holds their breath.

He places something in my hand. “Open.”

I look down and see a pale pink ribbon. It’s not new and it’s tied into an untidy bow. Surprised by

the gift I look up into his eyes, unsure of what to say.

“Wake up baby,” he pleads, coaxing me to make sense of it.

As time stands still I use it to look around waiting, hoping to rediscover a memory …

I see the giant sheets, the sparkle, the petals and … the fog begins to clear. I see ladders and a

beautiful boy with sea green eyes and he’s rescuing me from a wicked witch, and lifting me down

from a tall tower.

I settle my teary eyes on the pink ribbon and I’m so small. The ribbon was mine. I gave it to my

prince for his tenth birthday. It was my best and only possession … When I raise my eyes to meet his,

I see a single tear roll down his handsome cheek. I wipe it away with my thumb at the moment of

realisation …

“Saffi…”

He nods. “Frannie. We did it baby.” I wrap my arms around his neck and he picks me up off the

floor. People are standing. There’s applause.

“It only took me 22 years. But I found you,” he whispers softly so no-one but me can hear.

“Yes, you did”

“Come on, let’s get this ring on your finger before you change your mind.”

I’m laughing and crying with more delight than is conceivable for one person. “You too.”

He’s shaking his head assuredly. “Oh, I’m not letting you get away from me again.”

With rings exchanged, Ayden is free to kiss his bride. He cradles my face in both hands and kisses

me tenderly, waking me from a sleep that has lasted 22 years.

“I have always loved you Beth.”

“And I’ve always loved you and the promise of you Ayden.”

He takes my hand and the gathering surrounds us. Charlie is blowing her nose and Celine is handing

another tissue to Sylvia. The atmosphere is charged with nervous excitement and relief. Did everyone

but me know what was happening?

Out of the corner of my eye I spot two unwelcome guests: Ayden’s bodyguards. Do they seriously

think someone would try to assault him here? They’re walking towards us.

What do they think they’re doing?

“Excuse me, Mr. Stone …”

The tallest of the two is reaching through our family gathering for Ayden’s arm.

“Mr. Stone, it’s time …”

Time for what?

Ayden pulls his arm away and holds it aloft, as if he’s wielding a deadly weapon. His face is

contorted into a scowl. “You’ve got to be joking! Give me a minute.”

Our group scatters, leaving Ayden and I standing by the altar.

“We need to talk …” He takes my hand and leads me to a quiet corner.

I pick up my train and scoot over to join him. “What’s happening? Are you in danger?”

Looking like a bearer of bad news, he takes my face in his hands, staring regretfully into my

panicking eyes. “Look. I’ve got to go.”

I back away, crippled by a single thought. He’s leaving me, again. “Go where?”

“Back to the UK with these guys.”

“Why? Can’t they protect you here? Why can’t I come with you?”

He steals himself away and massages his neck with a firm hand; a sure sign that something is

wrong. “Those guys, the ones who’ve been following us around … they’re not bodyguards. They’re

agents. They work for the British Security Services, MI5.”

I try to speak …

His fingers rest on my mouth. “Hush. I want you to listen. Can you do that?”

I nod, wide eyed, feeling helpless and overwhelmed.

“I made a deal. I agreed to go back with them as long as they left me alone to get married. I needed

this Beth. We needed this.” He’s arranging my veil, framing my face with a transparent shroud. “Look

at you. You’re a vision. You know, in my wildest dreams I never imagined you would have grown up

to be such a beautiful woman.”

I wrap my arms around him, feeling the shuddering pulse of his heart against my cheek. “I can’t go

back to being alone Ayden.”

His hand cups my head. “I know baby. It’ll only be for a short while. But, I have to tell you

something.”

I release him from my embrace. “Something bad?”

“No! The opposite.” He rests his hands on my bare shoulders. “Remember when we were in Rome

that last night and I asked you what you wanted?”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember what you said?”

“Of course I do. A baby. Just the thought of it scared the life out of you.”

He sniggers. “Yes. At first it did and then you explained about how we could combine the best of

both of us and create life.”

We share an intimate smile born of a thousand nights spent longing, waiting for this very moment.

“I want to tell you about something I did and you need to know. Just in case.”

“Just in case? In case of what?”

“This investigation doesn’t turn out the way I expect it will.”

“I don’t understand. Do you mean you might be arrested and imprisoned?” I feel the colour

draining from my face at such a rate it may be difficult to see where the veil ends and I begin. “Why

are you telling me this now?”

“Because you could be pregnant Beth.”

A moment of utter calm envelops us. “How do you know that?”

“Because I didn’t use protection when we made love.” He’s mouthing the words but they’re not

registering. “I wanted you to have everything, I still do. I wanted to give you the best of me.”

I hold back a sob with my left hand and caress his adoring face with the other. “Oh, Ayden. You

should have told me. This past week I thought something was wrong with me. I haven’t started my

period. I’m almost a week late. I put it down to the shock of the attack but …”

“Do you feel pregnant?” He asks, excitedly.

What a silly yet wonderfully sincere question.

I can’t disguise my happiness. “Ayden, you don’t feel pregnant at this stage,” I explain, smiling.

“But I could be.”

“I hope so …”

“Why? Because you will have given me what I wanted?” I ask, seeking reassurance.

“No. Because it’s what I want for us. To be a family, finally.” He speaks with the candour of a man

on death row, the truth exploding from his lips in a passionate admission, heating up the stagnant air

that circulates this private corner.

Unable to tear myself away from those glittering orbs of his, I press him further. “When did you

know you’d found me?”

A lightweight thumb draws a horizontal line across my chin. “From day one.”

“You knew I was Frannie and said nothing? That must have been so hard for you.”

With a shake of his head he declares, “You have no idea.”

I whisper, “Yes, I do.”

He fixes me with a serious stare. “You knew who I was all along?”

“No, not exactly. But there was something familiar about you, comforting. I just couldn’t put my

finger on it. I felt safe with you.”

He smiles warmly. “And you are.”

“Yes.”

“And this is just the beginning Beth. Once we get through this, we can start really living and loving

each other; making up for all those lost years when we should have been together. I shouldn’t have

given up looking for you.”