Chapter 22 Charlotte
Charlotte
The solemn notes of the organ drifted out of the church, and I braced myself to walk up the stone steps alone.
Tiff helped me with my makeup this morning.
She’d offered to walk me down the aisle, but I’d said no.
We’d both know that it should have been Dad.
It would have been too much unspoken. Better to do it alone so I’d have some chance of holding myself together.
I took a breath, but before I could open the door, Cole emerged from the church.
A smart tuxedo jacket wrapped around his broad shoulders.
A small spray of lilacs poked from his buttonhole.
I’d never seen a man more handsome in my life.
A rush of nerves gripped me. What was he doing out here?
He didn’t want to go through with it anymore?
“What are you doing?”
He stared at me as though lost in thought. “You look . . .” He swallowed and cleared his throat. “You like the dress?”
“I like it. You did well.” I toed his shiny brogue with my ivory satin slipper. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
It was the understatement of the century. He looked like he’d stepped off the cover of GQ.
“Thanks.” His face remained impassive as he offered his arm. “Shall we?”
My puzzlement must have shown on my face because he spoke in a low, soothing voice. “I saw Tiffany sitting in there. I didn’t want you to have to walk in on your own.”
Really? That was more thoughtful than I would have expected from him. Dad should be doing it. Tears pressed at my eyes. Oh God. Think of the mascara.
“You’re supposed to meet me at the altar. This has to be bad luck.”
Cole raised a sarcastic eyebrow and whispered low. “I’d hate to start off our fake marriage with bad luck.” He motioned with his arm. “Come on, Miss Ackroyd. Let’s make an honest woman out of you.”
This was it. The point of no return. It had been a mistake not to do this in a registry office. The solemnity of the church made my knees tremble. We were about to lie to an entire room full of people.
“Everyone is going to be pissed off if they find out we’re lying,” I whispered.
“I have no intention of lying when I say those vows.”
“What? This is just admin for you. You said it yourself.”
“So? That’s what a marriage is. Admin. We make promises and we work to fulfill our contractual obligations.
I won’t let you down, Charlotte. I’m signing up to be your husband.
This is a marriage of convenience, but it’s still a marriage.
I’m a man of my word. You’re doing me a favor. I won’t forget that.”
Cole slipped his arm through mine and guided me gently toward the stone steps.
Panic spiraled through me. This shouldn’t have been like this.
It should have been real. It should have been Dad walking me down the aisle to stand before a man who loved me deeply.
The last time I’d been in church, it had been to say goodbye.
The weight of my grief pinned me to the spot. “I can’t do this without him.”
Tiff’s voice played in my head. Think of the money.
My voice came out a desperate whisper. “I don’t want to cry. My mascara will run. Please tell me something funny. Please don’t let me cry. Not now. Please.”
Cole watched me with a serious expression. “When Theo was little, I found him eating a couple of the cat’s biscuits. I managed to convince him he was going to turn into a cat.”
“What?”
“He believed it hook, line, and sinker. Lucas pretended to call an ambulance. Theo burst into tears when Lucas told the imaginary doctor on the other end of the phone that we could see whiskers coming through.”
A small laugh bubbled up. “That’s really cruel.”
“This is the family you’re joining. Prepare yourself. I’m an arsehole, and I’m still the best of the bunch.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. If we’re doing this, then I should probably warn you that I’m a terrible cook, like really bad.
Once I made a pad Thai that I had to throw in the bin because it was so bad, but it still smelt so terrible we had to put the bin outside.
Tiff told me she’d never emotionally recover from how awful it tasted.
Also, I have a weird phobia about automated car washes.
I don’t know why. It’s the noise and the huge, soapy rollers. ”
“Noted. Good job we have a chef.” He lifted a wry eyebrow. “Also, this really explains a lot about the state of your car.”
Birdsong filtered around us. A hysterical wave went through me. Marriage? My breath came in shallow gasps. Being trapped in a car wash would have been preferable to this feeling.
He gripped my hands. “Breathe. Just breathe.”
“I’m breathing.”
He raised a sardonic brow. “As a vampire, I don’t need to breathe, so I’m fine. Of course, there is a chance I could combust when I step inside the church.”
He held the heavy, arched wooden door open.
Cool air and the scent of lilies engulfed me.
Candles on tall plinths flickered light against stained glass and painted stone in a wash of vibrant watery colors.
It looked beautiful. A sea of faces turned to look at me.
These had to be all the people Cole was trying to impress.
I focused on my side of the church. On Tiff and my nieces.
I didn’t have many people I could invite.
My social life had died a death a long time ago, but I had a scattering of aunts and cousins and extended family I hadn’t seen since Dad’s funeral.
“Now we walk. One foot in front of the other. Focus on me. I’ve got you. Let’s take this day one step at a time.” Cole’s low voice in my ear reassured me. “OK?”
A wave of gratitude passed over me. He hadn’t let me cry. My grief wedged in my chest as something bittersweet but manageable. I could get through it. At least for the next step. And then the next.
“I’m going to have to keep checking in case smoke starts pouring from under your collar.” I sniffed the air. “I think I can smell burning.”
He smirked as we glided up the aisle together. His low whisper against my earlobe sent a warm shiver through me. “I haven’t combusted yet. Maybe you’re my redemption, Charlotte.”