Chapter 11 #2
"Stop this nonsense right now." He ordered. Taking her by the shoulders, he eased her away so he could look into her eyes. "You deserve everything. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you and our children. Nothing."
"And I promise that for the rest of our lives, I'm going to show you how much you deserve." He kissed the moisture of tears on her cheeks, his touch gentle. "You deserve the very best."
She dissolved. She couldn't help herself. She simply burst into tears. He held her close, his arms wrapped around her. He found himself looking forward to her reaction when she discovered what else they had in store for her.
*****
She was in rare form. This was her familiar territory, and even though she was waddling instead of her usual graceful strides, she did not allow it to stop her.
She was everywhere. To her shocked surprise, professional performers had been included in the package. There was gambling at the casino, with his family losing big and then winning it back.
The food was sumptuous, the music loud. They made port at the Bahamas, and they went shopping. They also stopped at the Cayman Islands, places she had been before, but never as a tourist.
Now she was able to stroll along the narrow streets with the vendors hawking their wares and feel the sun on her skin.
On the day of the wedding, she wasn't allowed to sleep with her groom. Christos had been whisked off the night before, much to his annoyance, by his brothers, his dad, and the male members of the family. The women threw her a fabulous shower complete with outrageous gifts.
"Who knows when I'm going to be able to wear this!" She held up a skimpy see-through black teddy and shook her head.
"Hopefully very soon." One of the women called out.
There was champagne, buckets of it, and for her, non-alcoholic wine. And the cake was a delicious combination of butter cream and chocolate.
Now it was her wedding day, and she was up early. And as soon as she opened her eyes, she was bombarded. A staff came in beaming and bearing a tray, followed by the women.
Mary-Ann had cream on her face and her hair in a wrap.
"Jacques is an excellent stylist and will be starting on the girls while you eat breakfast." She smiled at Leanne. "How do you feel?"
"A little nervous." She admitted, pressing a hand to her jumping stomach. "And starving."
"Something light. We don't want to get you all queasy." Mary-Ann instructed as her daughters-in-law discreetly blocked the view from the porthole.
"How's my fiancé?"
"Chomping at the bit and pouting that he's not able to see you before the ceremony." Grace told her with a laugh as she adjusted her robe. "He knows the deal."
"Bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony." Mary-Ann clucked. "We're a family of Irish and Greek and believe wholeheartedly in that sort of thing. Now--" She clapped her hands together. "Eat your fruits and scrambled eggs and order those adorable grandchildren of mine to behave."
"I already had a strong talking to just a few minutes ago." Leanne assured her as she lifted her teacup to her lips.
*****
"I look like an elephant." Leanne turned from the mirror to face the four women.
"You look like a very beautiful pregnant bride." Mary-Ann corrected, clapping her hands to her throat. "That dress was a perfect choice."
The thin floaty material swirled around her from neck to just below the knees and was a combination of colors. A hint of blush rose pink, matching the gauzy dress Grace was wearing. The lime green was the same color as Lilly's dress.
The springtime yellow was the exact shade of the one Lori had on, and the baby blue was a replica to Mary-Ann's.
"I have something borrowed and blue." Mary-Ann stepped forward. Unwrapping a pristine white handkerchief, she revealed a stunning diamond and sapphire brooch, the same one she had seen on each of the wives, including Mary-Ann.
"This has been passed down through the family. It belonged to my great-grandmother." She pinned it on and patted her hand over the brooch, her eyes moist. "I could never have chosen a better bride for my baby boy."
Tears shimmered in Leanne's eyes. "Now you're going to undo the excellent work Jacques did."
"There's more." Lori stepped forward with a smile and opened a black oblong-shaped box. "From your groom."
"Oh, he cannot possibly--" A gasp escaped her as she stared at the exquisitely made necklace and matching earrings. A set to her rings. "He's too much. It's too much." She whispered.
"He adores you." Mary-Ann said whimsically. "As it should be."
"Let's hurry up and get me ready to go and meet my man."
They insisted on blindfolding her. "What's this about?" She demanded.
"You'll see."
"I know we stopped somewhere."
"We did." Lori grinned at the others. "You're going to be pleasantly surprised."
They led her carefully down the stairwell and waited until they were outside. Petros, wearing a huge smile and casual pants and cotton shirt, came forward to do his part as giveaway father.
"Ready, my dear?" he asked gently.
"I am."
Sweeping off the scarf from her face, he allowed her to take in the scene. And she was left speechless. For once, the very noisy family had remained silent, even the children, so that she never suspected a thing.
The crunching under her feet became obvious. Miles of white sand led toward a sea so blue, it hurt the eyes. The sky was the same brilliant color, the sun a golden orb in the center. And several hundred guests stood around drinking champagne.
"We're--" She caught her breath when she noticed the sign. "Negril. We're in Negril. On the beach. How?" She whispered.
"Your man wanted you to have the wedding of your dream, so he sent his mother and sisters fishing." Petros grinned at her.
Her eyes flew to the achingly handsome and familiar face standing beneath an arch. He was wearing a pair of dark blue cotton pants and matching shirt, his thick dark hair blowing in the breeze.
"He did this for me. The hotel--"
"Everything is rented out for the day. The guests were transferred to another hotel. We have the place to ourselves."
She thought of the enormous expense and trouble and felt the lump growing larger. Tears shimmered in her eyes. "Take me to him. Please."
"With pleasure."
The live band started the music. Slipping off the sandals, she clutched the posies in one hand as she drifted toward her soon-to-be husband.
He met her halfway, green eyes searching her face. "What do you think?"
"I could cheerfully kill you." The huskiness in her voice belied the threat and had him grinning.
"Kill me later. For now, I just want to marry you."
The ceremony was through in minutes, the vows said and the rings blessed and exchanged. Christos had also invited the press, and pictures were taken.
This was deliberate. He wanted her mother to see and regret and envy what her daughter now has.
"I want to make a speech." Leanne held up a hand, rings that her groom put there flashing in the strong sunlight. "This is the most important day in my life." She turned to him. "You accomplished that. You've also made me realize that I deserve love, the kind that you've shown me."
She turned to look at the sea of faces staring at her. "I've gained a family. A mother." She smiled at Mary-Ann, who was sniffling in her handkerchief. "A dad." She smiled as Petros winked at her. "Sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews, and a slew of others. I'm grateful."
She turned in his arms. "I love you, darling. The words we just spoke seemed so trivial to what I feel for you, and for the rest of my life, I promise to show you much you're loved."
Amidst the cheers, she walked into his arms and lifted her face for his drugging kiss.
"Slow down." He captured her around the waist and brought her toward him. "Darling, you're going to tire yourself out."
The cake had been cut. The food, so much food, was being consumed along with the buckets of champagne and other liquor. She was especially enjoying the jerk chicken, a Jamaican cuisine, despite the spiciness.
"Okay." She laughed up at him, eyes sparkling. "Your grandfather tried to cop a feel while we were dancing."
His eyes glowered as he lifted his head in search of the culprit, who was now whirling his wife around in the sand. "I'm going to have a strong talk with him."
"Why bother?" She tipped her head up to meet his lips. "It won't make a difference." Her eyes sobered. "I love you so damn much, Mr. Kostas."
"And I adore you, Mrs. Kostas."
"I am, aren't I?" She mused. "And I think we should go swimming. The water looks so inviting."
"We should check with Dr. Henderson--"
"Oh, please don't spoil it." She begged. "I happen to swim like a fish. Let's go." She started to whirl out of his arms when he caught her.
"Wait! We need to change."
"What for?" Laughing, she tugged him along and stepped into the warmth of the stunning blue sea. Resigned to getting his clothing wet, he tread water, his arms firmly clasped around her.
"It's so beautiful." She was content to stay like this, leaning against him as the water shoved at them. "Everything is so perfect."
He turned her to face him, fingers gliding through the wet strands of hair at the nape of her neck. "I love you, darling." He whispered before crushing her lips with his.