Closer to the Heart (The Heart Trilogy Book 3) (8 page)

“Wow” she said, stepping over to look in the mirror beside me.

“I just need a borrowed item” I said, enjoying our reflections in the mirror.

“Here you are” Sarah said, pulling from her handbag a delicate handkerchief trimmed in blue.

“It can do borrowed and blue” she said, handing it to me. Tears glittered in her eyes as we both remembered back to her wedding day.

Chapter 12

Charlotte and Jack entered as the clock in the hallway chimed eleven. The photographer had arrived and started to take a few pictures as we prepared to head down. Charlotte looked stunning in her chocolate gown and the small bouquet that matched my larger one stood out against the dark material.

“I'll see you later” Sarah said, giving both me and Charlie a quick hug.

“Thanks Sarah” I smiled before we waited a further five minutes.

“Shall we go” Jack asked, holding out his arm to me.

“Yes, I've been ready for years”

Charlotte followed behind and as we took stock at the bottom of the stairs I turned to look at her.

“I love you” I whispered to her.

“I love you too Mum, no
w
let'
s
get on with this before I start to cry”

The doors to the room opened and I glided in, an instrumental version of 'Father Figure' played as I walked towards the man who had always held my heart. I looked at the small gathering of people in the room and smiled at every one. Pam was already dabbing her eyes with a tissue and Sarah looked close. Sophie had
a
wistful, fa
r-
away look on her face imagining how her big day woul
d
look. Waitin
g
for me in a dark, charcoal suit was James, the man in all of my dreams. He was my soul mate, my true love and the adoration shone from my eyes straight into his. As Jack passed my hand to James he gave it a squeeze and a quick kiss on my cheek.

“This is meant to be” he whispered, before withdrawing and finding his seat next to Justin.

We had written our own vows and I waiting until it was my turn. I felt my mouth go dry with nerves but a quick look into James' eyes steadied me.

“James you have always been the only man for me, from our first kiss twenty five years ago to meeting again last year. You are a rock that I cling to, the tide that sweeps me up and carries me and the only one I want to share the rest of my life with. I love you till the end of time”

“Stephanie, you are still that girl who came into my life and showed me what true love was capable of. I see it now in your beautiful blue eyes, I feel it in our every embrace and I am so lucky you gave me this second chance. This time it we will be together, forever”

Then we exchanged the normal vows and rings before the words I had been waiting for.

“James, you may kiss the bride”

To ringing applause James swept me into his arms and his lips claimed mine before we turned to smile at everyone. I reached out for Charlotte's hand, which shook in mine. Tears slid down her cheeks so I passed her my borrowed hankie. I guessed she was feeling, part happiness part despair at her own broken heart. The haunting melody of our song from Top Gun started to play and James leaned into me.

“You loo
k
stunning
,
you really do take my breath away”

We didn't need to walk back up the aisle as our family and friends crowded around us. Pam and Sarah still sniffing back the tears. I saw Justin and Jack embrace before Jack held out his hand to Charlotte and pulled her between them. The meal was a small intimate affair and after lots of short speeches from James, Chris, Jack and even Charlotte managed a few words before she gave way to sobs.

After many more photographs the first of our evening guests started to appear. Charlotte ran to Julia and Simon, her best friend admiring her dress. Nex
t
wa
s
everyone from the radio station as they had hired a mini bus. Greg looked handsome and Lesley hung on his arms, happy for the world to see they were a couple. Leon and Naomi looked gloriously full of the bloom of first love. Paul, Ian and Mark from the Hereford station had even made the trip. The guys and wives and girlfriends from the fire service were next and then Rob and Angela. Shelley and Kyle also showed up and I was pleased to see Charlotte chatting away to her small circle of friends.

Jack had stepped in to provide the music although with the number of DJ's present he didn't spend all night trapped behind the console. Tapping the microphone he caugh
t
everyone’
s
attention.

“Welcome one and all to this celebration marking the marriage of Stephanie and James. Two friends that I hold very dear and I'm sure you all do too” he paused for the applause.

“Would Mr and Mrs Cooke step onto the dance floor so that we can get this party started in the traditiona
l
way”

It had taken us forever to decide what song we should play for our first dance but in the end James had remembered the lyrics I had written in the leaving card from 'Somewhere out there'

“Somewhere out there, if love can see us through

Then we'll be together, somewhere out there

Out where dreams come true“

Gliding around the dance floor I laid my head on James' strong chest. Then as others appeared on the dance floor I switched to dance with Peter, James with his Mum. Then another change as Darren cut in before finally it was Chris.

“I warned James if he ever upsets you again”

“Thanks Chris, h
e
won't”

“He'd better not” and before he could say anymore James was tapping him on the shoulder.

“Can I have my beautiful wif
e
back”

With Jack on the decks Justin did the honours and danced with my daughter until a hand tapped him on the shoulder.

“May I” a deep voice asked, as Charlotte looked up into the intense brown eyes of Zach.

“What are you doing here?” She stammered in bewilderment. Zach's arms held her close as he leant in.

“Your Mum invited me as one of the biggest sponsors of the radio station. I couldn't upset her on the big day”

Charlie struggled in his arms but he just held her a tiny bit tighter as they moved to the music.

“I couldn't miss the chance of seeing you again, especially as you look so gorgeously angelic in this dress”

When the music went up a notch from slow to fast he let her go and guided her off the dance floor.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

“Ok” Charlotte said, as she looked across for help to her best friend Julia or even Shelley. Her Mum and James stood at the bar and she hoped they wouldn't notice his hand on the base of her spine.

“Hey Stephanie, James congratulations on your big day” Zach said, extending his hand to James and then moving in to give her Mum a small kiss on the cheek.

“I see you've found Charlotte, she needs cheering up” I said. Charlie scowled at her Mum's comment, when all she really wanted to do was curl up an
d
die.

“I'll do my best, Stephanie” Zach replied.

Just then a waiter appeared to tell them that the buffet was ready.

“I'll go and tell Jack so he can announce it” I said. James smiled and said.

“Don't be long Mrs Cooke”

Zach took the moment to order drinks at the bar and passed a glass to Charlotte.

“Shall we find a table or join your friends” Zach asked.

“And how shall I introduce you, as my friend, as a sponsor of my Mum's radio station?”

“As you
r
fuck buddy” he grinned “I've never been much good as a boyfriend”

“I don't want a boyfriend” Charlie retorted, trying to hide the shame on her cheeks that the last comment augured.

“What do you want Charlotte?” Zach leaned in closer as the smell of his aftershave evaded her senses. It was the same scent that Mitchell used to wear and her head spun as Mitchell's ghost and Zach's body assaulted her. Today had been an emotional day all round and it was tiring keeping a smile on her face.

“Will you excuse me for a second” she asked, handing him back her glass before walking to the ladies room. Shelley had noted the appearance of Zach and wondered what was going on between him and Charlie. She followed her into the rest room and waited by the sink.

Charlie sat on the toilet seat and put her head in her hands. Why did Zach have to show up? Why did he affect her so much and at the same time infuriate her with his comments? Why did she just want to grab his silk tie and lead him upstairs to her hotel room and feel the physical release that he could illicit from her body? Walking out she saw Shelley applying some lipstick and found a smile.

“Hey Charlie, great party your Mum looks amazing and you're looking pretty hot”

“Thank
s
Shell, sorry I've been distant at colleg
e
it’
s
just been awful since Christmas and....”

Shelley crossed the gap and hugged her tight.

“I'm sorry about what happened
,
I know you miss him. We all do”

He
r
friend’
s
kind words sprung fresh tears to her swollen eyes.

“So what's with Zach showing up” Shelley asked, when they broke apart.

“Long story, but in a nutshell he fucked me on New Year's Eve”

“So what's he doing here, he never normally comes back for a second helping, sorry if that sounds cruel”

“He's helping me find out anything more that happened the night Mitchell disappeared, his mate Daniel is living with Felicity”

“And what does Zach get in return” Shelley arched her eyebrows.

“We haven't discussed that yet” Charlie stammered.

The door of the rest room swung open and Sarah appeared.

“Hey girls, don't miss out on the lovely food”

“Thanks Aunt Sarah”

Zach was still lounging at the bar when she returned to his side. He had a plate of food on the bar and she watched him pick at the chicken wings.

“Help yourself, I bought enough for two”

“No thanks, I'm not very hungry”

“You shoul
d
eat
,
when I first saw you at my club you were much curvier than you are now. Pining away is not going to bring him back you know”

Charlotte turned to walk away feeling the sting of his last comment but he was too quick and grasped her wrist. He reeled her closer so he could lean down and whisper.

“I'll take you out one evening and show you fine dining, with food you will not be able to resist”

“Maybe I'd prefer fish and chips from newspaper” Charlie retorted. Julia appeared at the bar and interrupted.

“Come on Charlie, that dance floor is calling” she said, grabbing her free hand and pulling her towards the small crowd.

Charlotte shrugged as she walked away and left Zach gazing after her. Shelley joined the two girls as they moved, swayed and giggled together. Charlotte glanced across to the bar but Zach had disappeared. Perhaps he had got bored and gone home, she wasn't sure if that pleased or disappointed her. Aunt Sarah and her Mum were also dancing nearby and Paul had taken over on the decks, eighties music ruled for the next hour.

Then before the evening started to wind down Paul bought the crowd to a brief stop.

“I believe this beautiful bride is going to be throwing the bouquet so would all the single ladies like to gather round”

I waited as Charlotte, Shelley, Julia and some of the girlfriends of the other firemen gathered in a group. I looked across to the side and saw Jack standing next to Justin.

“Go on Jack, join in” I cajoled, as Justin gave him a push and Charlotte dragged him in to stand next to her. Amy, Lesley and Naomi from the station were ready and waiting. Turning my back to the crowd I caught Paul's eye and he grinned back as everyone started to shout.

“Five.....Four.....Three.....Two.....ONE!”

I propelled my bouquet into the air and then turned around to watch the scramble.

Charlie caught my eye as she smiled wistfully when the flowers landed right next to her in the hands of Jack.

“Wo
o
Hoo, better plan that wedding Justin” he shouted. Everyone clapped and cheered before the lights dimmed and the love songs began. As the girls all paired off James walked across the floor to pull me into his arms.

“I've chosen all our favourite songs” I whispered, feeling secure as his hands rested on my back.

“Good, because I'm not letting go ever”

“I love you”

“I love you too, till the end of time”