Opposing Forces (36 page)

Maisie was in her bedroom pacing up and down in her dressing gown.  Her hair and make-up were perfect, she just needed to slip the dress on.

“Oh God, Julianne, am I doing the right thing?” she said softly.

Julianne smiled back.  She had never seen her friend so nervous, but then it was hardly surprising. In half an hour she would be walking down the aisle of Lausanne Cathedral, which would be packed with over four hundred guests.  Not to mention the press.

“Of course you are. You and Steffen are meant to be together.” She handed Maisie a small glass of champagne.  “You made up a list of characteristic for the perfect man and, as much as it loathes me to say it, Steffen fits all of them.  Even down to taking a bullet for you.  Besides, it’s too late to back out, you’ve already had the civic ceremony so are legally married. The church is just the blessing.”

“I know you’re right, but what I would give for a quiet wedding on the beach in the Seychelles.”

“My idea of heaven.” Sabina waddled in munching on a piece of baguette.  Maisie was amazed that even though she was eight months pregnant, she could still look so classy in a fabulous azure dress and jacket.  “Although not right at the minute.”

Maisie laughed.  “You look great.”  She rubbed Sabina’s stomach.  “How is bump doing.”

“Kicking up a bloody storm today,” Sabina groaned. 

“I had a thought last night.  I love this apartment and have no plans to sell it.  Julianne is moving in with James shortly, so the place will be empty.  You only have a two bedroom apartment, this has three which means you have space for a nursery and a guest room.”

“You want Philippe and me to move in here?” Sabina sounded a little shocked.

“Yes, it would make sense.  You guys would have much more room.”

Sabina thought about it for a very short minute.  She could buy a large house in Lausanne without even breaking a sweat, but she knew Philippe would never agree to it.  However, living here rent free, would allow Philippe to put some money aside so he could eventually have a deposit for a house.

“I’ll speak to Philippe, but I’m pretty sure he’ll say yes.  There are many happy memories here,” Sabina giggled. “Now are you going to put your dress on or is it a streak down the aisle?”

“I didn’t want to put it on too soon in case I spilled something down the front.”

Monique Carrington floated into the room.  “Come on, Maisie dear, we really need you dressed. The photographer wants some photos before we leave the apartment.”

Sabina laughed at the expression Maisie threw her mother.  She removed the dress from its cover and her mother helped her into it.  All the women gasped; she looked exquisite.  The cream silk dress outlined her figure delicately. The bodice was quite ornate with hundreds of baby pearls, but the rest of the dress was elegantly simple with a small train.

“Perfect, Maisie, now out to the living room for the photographer, please,” her mother ordered.

She posed for a few pictures with her mother and father, and then with Julianne and Zara, her two bridesmaids.  Lastly she made sure she had some photos with her and Sabina.

A police officer arrived in the entrance hall.  “The first car is here, Miss Carrington.”

Maisie looked at her friends, it was time for them to go.  Soon it would be just her and her father.  It was only a very short trip to the cathedral from her apartment, barely worth a car journey.

She took one last look around her apartment; she would not see it for a while.  Her days of living here were sadly over, but what memories she had.  Her bags for the honeymoon were already at Steffen’s residence, she just had to collect up a few personal things she needed.  The sight of Philippe standing in her hallway in his dress uniform brought a lump to her throat.

She threw her arms around him.  “It all started here, Philippe, with you in your uniform.”

He hugged her back.  “It certainly did, Maisie,” he kissed her cheek fondly.  “And if you told me back then I would be living with the Chief of Police’s sister and about to become a father, I’d have had you locked up.”

She laughed.  “You did lock me up, temporarily at least!”

“Well, are you ready?  I have the unenviable task of making sure you get to the cathedral. And if you’re late, Steffen will shoot me.”  It sounded so weird calling Chief Grundberg by his first name, but now he was almost family, it was expected.

Maisie glanced at her father.  In his morning suit, he looked very distinguished. “Are you ready for this, Papa?”

He smiled at his daughter.  “Nothing would make me prouder.”

She lowered her veil, picked up her train and followed Philippe and her father downstairs to the waiting car.

Steffen was with his brother in a side room of the cathedral.  He looked decidedly calm.

“Hell, Steffen, I think I’m more nervous than you,” groaned Heinrich. 

Steffen smiled.  “You’re not used to standing in front of large crowds.”

“You seem so certain about this, that Maisie is the one.”

“She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved.  I can’t think of a life without her.”

“Maisie’s great but is she suited to the role of Police Chief’s wife, and perhaps one day Police Commissioner’s wife?” 

“She’ll add colour and life to the role, Heinrich.  And the press absolutely love her.”

Heinrich shook his head and laughed.  “I go travelling and my family goes wild.  Mother divorces Father and lands herself a terrific new partner, Sabina gets herself knocked up by a seriously cool police officer, and my brother proposes to a hell raiser he’s arrested twice.”

Steffen grinned.  “By comparison, Heinrich, your life is positively boring.”

Heinrich took a peak out into the cathedral.  “My luck could change.  Maisie’s rather delicious bridesmaid, Zara, is currently single and I’m hoping she might just rescue me from my staid life.”

The bishop appeared in the ante-chamber.  “I think we’re nearing time, Chief Grundberg.”

Steffen and Heinrich followed him out into the main cathedral and took their place in the front row.  Next to him sat his mother, Pierre and Sabina.  His father and his latest hanger-on were in the row behind.  He glanced at his watch, only a couple of minutes to go.  He was pretty sure Philippe would get her here on time.

As the limo pulled up in front of the cathedral, Maisie thought she might actually vomit.  There were hundreds of people outside and more press that she could ever imagine.  She gripped her father’s hand.  Philippe chuckled at the gesture.  “This is the price we pay for falling in love with a Grundberg.”

“I only expected a few press and well-wishers.” Maisie thought she was going to hyperventilate.

Philippe rolled his eyes.  “This is the society event of the year, decade even.  Not only are you getting hitched to the Grundberg heir, he’s also rather an imposing public figure.”

He opened the door and helped her out.  The noise was deafening as was the clicking of cameras. She turned and waved to the crowd. 

“You nervous, Maisie?” someone called out.

“Who wouldn’t be,” she responded. 

The Bishop appeared at the door and beckoned her in.  Julianne and Zara were waiting for her. 

“Go, take your seat with Sabina,” Maisie whispered to Philippe.

“Not till you’re completely down the aisle, Maisie.  I’m guarding the entrance in case you decide to do a runner.”

She shook her head and waited for her cue.  Her legs felt like jelly as she and her father started down the exceptionally long aisle.  The Seychelles really were appealing right about now.  What kept her going was Steffen at the end.  He looked outstanding in his dress uniform. She was going to have fun taking that off him later; then she blushed remembering where she was having these thoughts.

TheThe

They emerged about forty minutes later and the cameras went wild.  Maisie and Steffen let photos be taken of them before heading towards the waiting car.

“How about a kiss, Chief Grundberg,” one of the photographers called out.

“You’re really not my type,” he responded flippantly.  Maisie gave him a playful slap and he gave the press that they wanted. 

Once in the safety of the car, he pulled her to him and really kissed her.  “You look absolutely divine, Mrs Grundberg.”

Maisie giggled.  “That sounds really quite freaky.”

“You’d better get used to it as you’ll be using it for a lifetime.”

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going on honeymoon now?”

“No, it’s a surprise so you’ll have to wait.” His eyes twinkled.  The car pulled up in front of the Beau Rivage’s ballroom entrance.  “Are you ready for the next round of madness?”

“At least this is one party where I won’t get arrested,” her eyes sparkled.

The doorman opened the car door and helped her out.  The hotel’s General Manager was waiting on the steps for them.  He shook Steffen’s hand and led them both inside before the rest of the bridal party arrived.  The reception room looked fabulous, displays of roses and peonies gave off the most wonderful perfume.  Maisie hugged Julianne and Zara as they walked through the door.  Heinrich lifted her off her feet and span her around. 

“Finally, another trouble maker in the family.”

“Put her down, Heinrich,” Steffen sighed.

“OK, I’ll behave,” he grinned. “But not that much,” his eyes twinkled at Zara.

Steffen shook his head and kissed his mother’s cheek.  “Try and keep him under control, Mother.”

Maisie noticed Sabina was looking a little pale as she arrived with Philippe.  “Are you OK, Sabina?”

“I’ll be fine. The damn baby is doing the cancan, I think.”

“Well, take it easy and no wild dancing.  If you need to rest up, the hotel has assigned us a room that has a sofa in it.”

The reception line seemed to go on forever, but when they were done, they then had a photograph session in the hotel’s garden.  Maisie was pleased when that was over so she could get on and enjoy the reception.  With a glass of champagne in her hand, she felt much more at ease.  She had lost sight of Steffen, he was no doubt talking to the dignitaries present. 

She slipped out the ballroom and headed towards the private room the hotel had given her and Steffen to freshen up in as and when needed.  It was located a short distance from the ballroom, up a couple of stairs and out the way. At least someone on the hotel staff knew how impossible it was to wee in a normal cubicle in a wedding dress!  Inside she found Sabina bent over on an elegant chaise longue.

“Bloody hell, Sabina, what’s wrong?” Maisie rushed to her side.

Sabina looked up, she was dripping in sweat.  “I’m sorry, Maisie. But I think I’m in labour.”

Maisie grabbed her and tried to straighten her up.  “How long have you had contractions and how far apart?”

“They started as I was leaving for the cathedral.  They’re pretty close together now.  And my damn waters broke a few minutes ago.”

“For Christ’s sake, why haven’t you called an ambulance?”

“My bloody mobile’s flat. And there’s no phone in here.”

Maisie snorted in despair and pulled her phone out her small bag.  “Great, barely any damn signal.  The joys of the modern world. I’ll have to track someone down.”

Sabina let out a strangled cry. “Shit, Maisie, it’s coming. I think the bloody baby is on its way out.”