Saving Forever - Part 4 (9 page)

Julie handed a bottle she had been holding to Elijah. “Shake that sucker and bless this marriage.” She shot Charity a glance before adding, “Just aim the bubbly toward the water. Don’t want to mess that gorgeous dress your bride is wearing.”

Albert Rapt Bach’s groundskeeper, and his wife, Mia, came forward carrying a tray of champagne glasses. “Congrats, mate.” He handed Elijah a glass before changing his mind and giving it to Charity. “Ladies first.” He handed her the glass and kissed her on the cheek. “He’s done right by you, sweetie.” He began giving everyone else a crystal flute.

Elijah chuckled. “You been hanging out with Simon? I knew something was up last night when the two of you started smoking a cigar together.”

“They had a cigar?” Dr. Thompson’s eyebrows went up. “And nobody thought to invite me?”

Simon nodded at Elijah’s mother. “You were too busy talking with the missus.”

Elijah shook the champagne bottle and pointed it at Simon. “So was I. What are you saying?”

Simon jumped out of the way and gently directly Elijah’s aim toward the ocean water. “Just crack that bloody bottle open, please.”

POP!!

An arc of champagne shot out of the bottle, creating a sparkly rainbow against the sun, water and wind. Bubbly foam ran down the neck of the bottle. Elijah held it at arm’s length as he poured it into the two glasses Charity held. Albert and Simon opened the other bottles and poured them into the other glasses.

“To my beautiful bride,” Elijah toasted, holding his glass up. “I never dreamed I could be this lucky.” He tapped his glass to Charity’s.

She smiled and savoured the ice-cold bubbly liquid.

“Cheers,” everyone said in unison as glasses clinked. They all sipped on the champagne as the harpist finished a song and began another.

The wind picked up, a gust sending some of the white cloth on the ground into a rumple. The bright sky carried fluffy white clouds but dark grey ones hovered off in the distance.

Elijah finished his glass. “Seems nature is telling us we should head inside.” He reached for Charity’s hand. “Coming Angel?”

His mother groaned. “Please don’t call her that.”

Charity couldn’t agree more.

Elijah grinned, scooping Charity up in his arms and carrying her toward the house. “What about ‘Angel of love’?”

“No. Please no.” She couldn’t be happier than this moment. “Maybe you should put me down, you’re going to strain something before we get to the house.”

“Nope. He-man can carry you over the threshold.” He grunted as he reached the small hill before the grass. “Okay, maybe you can walk a bit.” He set her down. “But I’m still carrying you over the threshold.”

She laughed. “Isn’t that supposed to be a tradition for a bride and groom when they are walking into the house they live in?”

Elijah scratched his head. “Maybe. Maybe we’ll live in this house one day. It is ours.”

She smiled and glanced behind her as the others followed them. “Maybe. Who knows? Maybe we’ll have a bunch of rug-rats running around to fill up all the massive empty space.” She meant it as a joke but the thought didn’t seem like such a terrible idea.

“Maybe.” His eyes lit up and he grinned at her. “I love you.”

“Me, too. To the moon and back.”

Chapter 12

When they reached the large interlock patio that led up to the house, Elijah picked up his pace. He glanced up to the darkening sky. “I pity the people who were hired to clean up the beach.”

“I…” Charity paused as she watched Albert race past them in a golf cart with the harpist in the back and the harp beside Albert. They drove around the house to the garage area. The poor girl bounced up and down in the back while trying to keep the harp from falling to the ground.

Elijah watched as well. “That’s something I’ve never seen before.”

“Maybe she has another gig.”

Elijah gave her a look, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. “A plinker in high demand?”

They burst out laughing.

Charity held her stomach. “We are so sad. That’s not even funny.”

“I’m only laughing because you are.”

“Just trying to be polite?”

He snapped his fingers. “Exactly!”

Simon and Julie caught up with them. “I hope your mother paid that poor girl well. She might sue from whiplash,” Julie joked.

“We’re all doctors,” Simon said. “He probably figures it’s all covered.”

Charity had a small flash of jealousy. She shouldn’t. She loved her job. “Not all of us are doctors.”

“Oops, I forgot.” Simon put his arm around her. “Close enough.”

Julie swatted him on the arm. “It’s a good thing for you she’s not.”

“Why’s that?” Simon asked.

“She’d have your job.”

“Uhhhh… that burns.” Elijah clapped his hands. “Especially coming from your wife.”

Simon held Charity tight. “You wouldn’t do that to me, would you?”

“I might,” Charity teased.

Everyone stopped walking to stare at her.

“What?” She looked at their surprised faces.

“Would you seriously consider going back?” Julie recovered first. “If you did, you could have Simon’s job.”

“Hey!”

Julie ignored Simon. “We talk about it all the time. You would be such an amazing doctor.”

They talk about it all the time? Charity didn’t know what to say. “Did my father put you up to this?” She looked over Simon’s shoulder. Her father and Elijah’s mother were making their way toward them.

“No.” Elijah pulled her toward him. “He’s never brought it up since… since before the Diamond Gala.”

“If you’re thinking about it, you have all our support.” Julie tucked a windblown strand of hair behind her ear. “Once you move back up to New York, you’ll have time and the perfect place to finish.”

“I’m still under contract with Forever Hope Hospital in Atlanta. I won’t be doing anything until that’s finished. I still have about a year left.” She was actually nearly at the fundraising goal. She could finish a lot sooner. Why was she even considering this? And why did it sound so tempting? The possibility so exciting?

Elijah nudged Simon. “Can you get the door for me, buddy?”

Simon moved ahead and opened it.

Elijah lifted Charity again into his arms and carried her over the threshold as Simon held the door. “We can talk doc later. Let’s get this party started.” He kissed her before setting her down once they were inside. “Love you,” he whispered.

Her father and Elijah’s mother stepped inside just as the heavens opened up. From sun to instant downpour. In seconds the patio was covered in water.

“Timed that one perfectly,” her father commented.

Julie moved over to Margaret. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Margaret shook her head. “It’s all organized. The grand room’s all set up.” She glanced at Simon. “I might have to get the bartender to pick up a few more bottles of champagne.”

Simon grinned. “Already covered, Mrs. Bennet.”

They headed into the grand room. The room had been transformed. For Elijah’s father’s funeral, the room had been set to move around and hold a lot of people. It was a massive room so it wasn’t hard to picture. Now, Margaret had somehow set the room so it had a wedding reception appeal with a large, long table set up in the middle. She’d had the furniture moved around so it seemed smaller, like they were dining with royalty at a castle.

“It’s beautiful,” Charity said. “You’ve done a wonderful job, Mar-Mrs. Bennet.”

“Margaret, please.” Elijah’s mother smiled, pleased at the compliment. “You’re Mrs. Bennet now too.”

“Mrs. Thompson-Bennet,” her father corrected.

Charity felt Elijah’s hand squeeze hers and she gave him a quick squeeze back, not daring to look at him.

“Mia’s done all the cooking. I can’t wait to see what treats she has in store for us.” Margaret chattered on about the food.

Rain pelted against the large windows but no one seemed to notice. The room was brightly lit, giving the effect of a brilliant, sunny day. The photographer asked them to gather at the stairs in the entrance for pictures. He took a shot of the whole group and then had Charity and Elijah move to several places for more pictures. Hopefully he had managed to get some good ones down at the beach. It didn’t look like they would be heading outside again today.

Finally satisfied he had taken enough, he packed up his gear and congratulated the two of them. Albert offered to walk him out, to the back of the house, by the garage and indoor pool. He could take him on the golf cart to his car. Nobody said a word as they left, not even Albert’s wife who gave an “oh-no” face behind them as they left the room.

Margaret clapped her hand and motioned to the bartender to bring them champagne glasses. “I believe Simon had a toast he said he wanted to do.”

Everyone sat at their assigned chairs, with Elijah and Charity at the head of the table.

Simon pulled out his chair and stood. He coughed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I was honored when Elijah asked me to be his best man. When he said he and Charity wanted to get married down here in New Zealand there was no way Julie and I would miss it. They are both incredible people and I’m glad they are together.” He held up his champagne. “To the two of you.”

They toasted and Elijah got up to shake Simon’s hand. Charity went over and hugged him.

Julie stood and held her glass up. “I’m proud to stand at the ceremony for Charity. She’s had quite the journey and I’m happy to be her friend.”

“Her
best
friend,” Charity added.

“And my best friend too.” Julie tapped her glass to Charity’s. “Now hurry up and move to New York so we can hang out all the time!”

“You aren’t in New York?” Elijah’s mom asked.

“I’m in Atlanta at the moment,” Charity said, not sure what Margaret would think. “There’s another year on my contract.” She felt a wave of confidence as Elijah came around the table and put his arm around her. “It’ll be weekends in New York for a little while.” She planned on surprising Elijah with the news of her new “floating” contract later. She had it all planned out to tell him when they got back to New York.

“Or a few days in Atlanta when I’m off.”

Margaret turned to Dr. Thompson. “Kids these days.”

Charity’s father shrugged and looked to Elijah for help. He understood the life of a doctor better than anyone. There had been days where Charity didn’t see her father growing up. It never seemed to phase her mom… or her dad. “I have something I’d like to say also. A toast.” He pulled out a sheet of paper from his breast pocket and his little vial of aspirin. He took a glass of water and two pills.

Charity made a mental note to ask him later if he was having headaches. It was probably from the jetlag. He was a doctor so it wasn’t like she needed to question him.

Dr. Thompson waited until everyone was seated in their chairs again. He smiled at all of them, immediately knowing how to capture everyone’s attention in the room. Her mother always said it was a gift Charity had inherited. “I have been waiting for this moment for…” he chuckled, “for a few years now. Not that I have always looked forward to it, because for most of those years I worked hard to protect my daughter from making this decision – well any decision really – too young in her life. But I can truthfully say that I knew that this day would come and where most fathers would have been thinking about what to say in terms of counsel and wishes, I was fortunate to have the most loving and intelligent wife to help me. To be honest, she wrote most of this speech, leaving a few blanks to make sure I did my part.” He smiled before clearing his throat. “She passed nearly seven years ago and not a day goes by that I do not miss her. She would have been so proud of the woman that stands before us.”

Charity had to blink several times to hold back the sudden misting in her eyes. Her father never spoke of Mom. Now, on this day, to stand in front of her and Elijah, open his heart and be so vulnerable, she couldn’t help but feel emotional.

Elijah reached for her hand under the table and squeezed it. He knew her father was passionate about his work, not about feelings.

Her father looked directly at her, his face showing the pride and love she had strived to achieve all her life. “This next part is written by your mother. These are her words, her blessing, on your marriage.” He glanced down, the paper shaking slightly in his hands. “Charity, I love you. I’m sorry I had to leave, but know I have always been proud of you; your strong-will, your ability to make the right decisions, your intelligence and your beauty. I know you will find someone to match your talents and keep you on your toes. Be true to each other always; share your joys and your burdens; love much and laugh much; be each other's best friend. Always speak well of one another, even in private. And when things don't go well, forgive as often as it is required. Married life is an adventure and you embark today on that adventure together. Even though you are individuals, your covenant today makes the couple more important than either of you separately. Love your mom.”

A silent tear slid down Charity’s cheek. She had a feeling there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Who would not want a mother as beautiful, talented and loving? If she could be half the mother her mom was, she would do a fantastic job.

Her father waited a moment and casually put a hand in his pocket. He had a gift of being able to turn a room full of sadness into hope. She’d seen him do it with cancer patients and others ever since she was a kid. “Now here is where Charity’s mother left a blank in the speech. I’m guessing she knew I wouldn’t be able to top that closer. She was right. But I’ll give it a shot because she would’ve been mad at me if I didn’t.” He straightened and set his written speech down on the table. “This newly married couple before us are two remarkable individuals. Together they become an even more amazing couple.” He looked at both of them and smiled, his eyes wise beyond years. “Let me pass on a piece of advice my father gave me when I married your mother. Love constantly, accuse slowly, forgive quickly and share everything. Open your hearts to each other and put your marriage first. May God bless your union and bring you the greatest of joy today and always.” He raised his glass. “With all my heart, I offer you my congratulations and warmest wishes.”

He walked over to them, hugging Charity tight before shaking Elijah’s hand.

“Thanks, Dad,” she said, her voice full of emotion.

“I love you, sweetie. I might not always show it, but I do.”

“Great speech, Scott.” Elijah hugged him while shaking his hand. “I have no idea why you always say you can’t do speeches at conferences. I believe that’s the best one I’ve ever heard.”

Dr. Thompson chuckled. “That’s because it was about you.”

Julie and Simon burst out laughing. “Touché,” Simon said.