Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
C ole
“Good morning Mr Andersson.” I wake to Johan nuzzling into my neck. I don’t think I’ll tire of being called that anytime soon.
I turn over and face him. “Good Morning to you too, Mr Andersson.” He smiles in that soft way that he has. I know he loves that I took his name, and I love it too. I am still a Walker professionally, as the practice is named Walker, but in every other way I’m all his.
“Are you ready for today?” He asks, with a look I now know means he’s concerned. “Will you be okay?”
Today will be the first time we’ve seen anyone except for family since we returned from Sweden two days ago. I’m pretty sure word will have got round the village about our marriage by now, but still, facing everyone will be a challenge. Today isn’t about us, it’s Jackson and Luca’s wedding day and there is no way we want to draw attention away from them on their special day.
“I think so, but promise me you’ll stay with me.”
“Forever, baby.” He runs a hand down my cheek and I snuggle closer to kiss him, and rest in his arms before we need to get ready.
“Wow!” I catch sight of the huge marquee set out in the Larchdown grounds. There are waiters and caterers and all sorts of people milling about.
“Do you wish we had had something like this?” Johan asks.
The marquee, filled with tables and chairs, is decorated in white with accents of silver, pink and lilac. It looks like something from a classy society magazine and in a way it is. Luca is still well known as an artist and they are trying to promote the Larchdown gardens, so some of this is for show as there’ll be photographers present. Not just for the glossies but to promote the gardens as a wedding venue. It is beautiful but not for me.
“Of course not.” I smile, taking his hand and interlacing our fingers. “Ours was perfect.” And to me it was. We had obtained a special licence and married in a Swedish registry office. Johan’s parents were present and my parents, Tom, Ben and Keith had flown over to be with us. They had returned the following day, but we’d stayed on for a few days in Stockholm, partly as a honeymoon, and partly to wait for a visa for Johan. Now he is here, he’s applying for citizenship. Something I am in awe of him for, to do that for me.
We will have a blessing ceremony to include our friends but it will be very lowkey. I certainly wouldn’t want to go through something like this.
We’re congratulated by our friends, and lots of other people, as it looks like the whole village and beyond are attending, including many clients of my practice. I’ll return to it in a couple more days and I’m keen to get back to work. But I’ve enjoyed the last couple of weeks more than I thought I would, and am prepared to not work quite so hard and take more time off in the future. I certainly want more time with my husband.
I still catch myself smiling at that word. I love how it sounds, I love what it means, and I love the man who it represents.
“Are you doing okay, baby?” he murmurs to me when there is a lull in the people coming over to wish us well.
“I could do with a little break.” I lean against him slightly and sigh.
He places an arm around me and steers me away from the rest of the crowds. There’s still a little time before the ceremony so we wander through the gardens. The trees and the flowers are in the full bloom of spring and they’re looking beautiful. The gardens won’t be opening to the public yet, not until Jackson and Luca return from their honeymoon. Finding a bench, Johan sits down and pulls me down to sit next to him. He leans forward, resting his arms on his knees.
“You know, the first time I saw you was at Luca and Jackson’s engagement party. I was nursing a broken heart and a bruised ego, I had decided to never get involved in another relationship. Though you did catch my eye that night, you looked so sexy all grumpy and brooding, I never expected that by the time their wedding took place, I would be married.”
I lean my shoulder against his, and he puts his arm around me.
“All I remember about that night was being angry with my brother for making me go out when I didn’t want to, so yeah, I was pretty grumpy.”
“Did you notice me?” he asks, giving me a nudge.
“Yeah course I did, I mean you take up so much room, you practically block out the sun.”
He gives one of his big belly laughs and turns to me.
“You never cease to surprise me, Cole.”
“In a good way, I hope.”
“All the good ways, baby.”
He stands and offers me his hand. As I stand, he catches me in an embrace and I lean into his hug. Then I stand back and grab his hand, interlacing our fingers.
“C’mon, we’ve got a wedding to go to.”