Chapter Thirty-One
Hayley
W ith a deep breath, Hayley approached the crowd at the door, ignoring the thumping pain in her chest. The agony of knowing Oliver was alone stabbed her almost as thoroughly as if Finlay and Genevieve had run the cake knife through her instead of their magnificent three-tiered cake.
‘How are you?’ a deep voice said, and she turned to see Brann smiling beside her.
‘Good. You?’ She brushed down her dress, composing herself. ‘You still on your own?’ She checked around.
‘As ever.’ He gave her a shrug with that crooked grin of his.
‘Aw.’ She patted his arm. ‘I take it Finlay and Genevieve are still having their pictures done?’
‘Apparently there’s a stile somewhere, and the photographer wants her to sit on it.’
‘You’re very knowledgeable about it.’ Hayley eyed him over.
‘I was listening in.’ He winked, then scanned around. ‘Are you here on your own too? Or are you and the best man hooking up? He looked like he had his eye on you.’
‘It’s not happening.’
‘Oh dear.’ Brann’s smile faded. ‘Why not?’
‘He’s got a job in London.’
‘Ah. I see. A career man.’ His eyes travelled over her shoulder.
‘Most definitely. His career is what matters, and it’s a lot more important than—’
Brann coughed and raised his eyebrows, nudging her to look behind. Hayley spun around. Oliver stood close, but his eyes were on Brann. ‘Do you mind if I have a word with Hayley… in private?’
‘Go right ahead.’ Brann winked at her. ‘I got a good feeling about this.’ He did a funny shake of his kilt and moved away.
Hayley let out a little laugh, then turned to Oliver and put her hands on her hips. ‘What do you want? I’ve said everything there is to say.’
‘Come with me, just for a moment, please.’
She sighed and glanced at her feet. For a few seconds, she breathed slowly then looked back at him. ‘Why? I’m not sure I want to.’
‘Ok… Then I’ll say it here.’
She’d never been any good at holding a grudge. ‘Oh fine. Let’s go over there where it’s quieter.’
His hand touched her lower back as they moved, and it felt so good. So right, but she had to remember this was just temporary.
‘I heard what you said to him about my career.’ He stopped beside a bush close to one of the large windows. No one was about to hear, but people inside must be able to see out. Were they watching this?
‘Good, because it’s true.’
‘No, it’s not. There’s always been something missing from my life. For years, I thought it was my mum. But as I got older, it changed. I’ve never been great at talking about my feelings or even thinking about them. It’s been easier to bury them away.’
‘Yeah, you’re good at that.’
‘I am. But that needs to stop. I’ll do what I need to. It might mean going back to counselling. It might mean just talking more to my friends. Because it’s you, Hayley.’
‘What’s me?’
‘You’re what’s missing. The love…’ His voice faltered, and he took a deep breath. ‘The love you’ve given me is what’s missing. My work isn’t the most important thing in my life. You are.’
She pressed her lips together, barely able to look at him. These were noble words, but did they mean anything?
‘I’m so sorry.’ He took hold of her arms and leant his forehead on hers. ‘I’ve been an idiot.’
She tried to nod but couldn’t move her head. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes. ‘You’re far from being an idiot.’ She forced out the words. ‘You just don’t know what it’s like to be loved.’
‘I want to.’ His voice was hoarse, and he looked at her like he was trying to smile, but his eyes glistened. ‘I really do. It terrifies me. But ever since I’ve got to know you, it’s been what I wanted. It took me a long time to recognise it or admit it.’
‘But what does it mean? I want different things from you. I want to get married and to have a family. You don’t.’
‘I didn’t. But that was before you. It was easier not to want these things and kid myself life was better on my own, but I’m not. When I’m with you, that’s when I feel most alive.’
‘Oh god, Oliver.’ She reached up and took his face in her hands. ‘Do you really mean all this?’
‘Every word. I swear.’ His eyes shone.
She wrapped her arms around him, and he pulled her tight against him. ‘You know I can’t promise everything will be ok all the time.’
‘I know. But together we can be strong.’
‘Yes. We can.’ She peered up at him.
He clutched her face in his hands, then kissed her with his wonderfully soft lips. ‘I want you so badly. I can’t bear the thought of being apart. Who was I kidding thinking going back to London without you would make everything better?’
‘Just yourself.’ She rubbed her hand over his back, and he increased his hold on her. ‘But the fact is, you are going back to London.’ Her heart squeezed. ‘I want to be with you, but—’
‘I don’t want you to come to London.’
‘Why not?’ She frowned.
‘Because I’ll come back here.’
‘But what about your job?’
‘I’ll find one here. This is where I really belong.’
‘What about London and—’
‘All of that is replaceable, but you’re not. Your life is here, so that’s where my life needs to be. I told you. You’re the missing piece. The thing that’s been missing from my life forever. There’s nothing more important. We have a life ahead of us together, one with a wedding, a house in the suburbs and kids to make lots of noise and mess.’
A smile nudged her weary muscles and light and sparkle returned to the world.
A tapping on the glass caught her attention, and she saw Brann through the window. He gave her the thumbs up, and she laughed.
‘There’s Finlay and Genevieve.’ Oliver pointed back to the main door. ‘We should go and get our pictures taken.’
Hayley smiled, and warmth filled every chamber in her heart. ‘Will you manage a smile?’
‘I definitely will.’
They joined the bridal party and followed the photographer back into the rose garden.
‘This is where it all started,’ Finlay said with a grin. Genevieve beamed at him and led little Mitzi along the path on a diamante lead, which was super cute.
Hayley’s mum caught up and took her arm. ‘I’m not looking forward to having my photo taken with your dad,’ she muttered, then glanced at Oliver. ‘Are you ok?’
He was smiling so broadly, Hayley almost laughed. No one was used to seeing him so cheerful – no wonder her mum couldn’t work it out.
‘Never better.’
‘Oh… That’s great.’ Lisa smiled back, though her brow was a little furrowed.
‘Parents first,’ the photographer called.
‘Great,’ her mum muttered, but she pulled out her best smile.
‘She’s doing a good job keeping it real,’ Oliver said.
‘She’s the best.’
When she returned to Hayley, she said, ‘I’m sure Liz is a lovely woman, but she gets on my nerves.’
‘She’s best in small doses,’ Hayley admitted.
‘Bridesmaids and best man!’ The photographer called. ‘Gorgeous.’ He gently nudged Oliver’s arm. ‘If you ladies could stand on either side of him and maybe you could link arms.’ He pointed to Hayley. ‘You’re nice and tall. And you’ – he directed Cressida slightly in front of Oliver’s arm – ‘perfect.’
Hayley loved how good it felt to be on his arm again, and she couldn’t stop smiling.
‘Lovely,’ the photographer said. ‘Now, just the two bridesmaids. Then we’ll get the best man and the chief bridesmaid together.’
Hayley posed with Cressida, catching Oliver’s eye, and smiling even more.
When it was their turn together, Hayley’s heart raced a little faster than normal. This was oddly like it could be their own wedding. Everyone was watching. The poses seemed a little stiff. Then Oliver took both Hayley’s hands in his and turned her to face him. Before anyone could say anything, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips.
‘Oh my god,’ Genevieve squealed, and someone wolf whistled.
‘I bloody knew it,’ Finlay said.
‘Aw,’ her mum cooed, and the photographer’s camera clicked.
But Hayley couldn’t focus on any of it. She was too busy enjoying the heat of Oliver’s lips on hers. When he pulled back, he was still smiling. ‘I love you.’
‘I love you too,’ she said.
‘Aw, you two.’ Genevieve stepped up and hugged them. ‘I never thought today could get any better, but it just did.’
‘Explain yourselves.’ Finlay joined the hug.
‘Yes, do,’ Lisa added.
‘Oh, this is intriguing.’ Liz nudged Hayley’s dad, and he looked on, totally bemused.
‘Oliver’s coming back to live in Glenbriar,’ Hayley said.
‘And we’re getting together.’ Oliver kept his hand tight on Hayley’s shoulder.
‘Are you serious?’ Finlay looked between the two of them.
‘Always,’ Oliver said.
‘That’s his name, after all.’ Hayley beamed at him.
‘What will you do?’ Finlay ran his fingers through his hair.
‘Nothing right now,’ Oliver said. ‘Except kiss your sister and maybe some other things that you don’t need to know.’
‘Damn right. Keep that to yourself.’ Finlay smiled at them both, then at Genevieve.
‘This is so great.’ She wrestled them all into another group hug, and Hayley laughed.
At the meal, Hayley was at the top table beside Oliver, and she just couldn’t stop smiling.
‘What are you going to say in your speech?’ she asked.
‘Wait and see.’ He winked.
Finlay and Genevieve had elected for the speeches to be before the meal. Geoff Harrington went first with a humorous and affectionate speech about Genevieve.
Finlay went next, getting a huge round of applause when he announced, ‘My wife and I would like to thank you all…’ No one missed his joke about third time lucky… He’d already been engaged twice before Genevieve.
‘He did well to keep it together,’ Hayley said. ‘You know how emotional he can get.’
‘Yeah, I do.’ Oliver squeezed her hand. His turn next.
He stood up and adjusted his tie, his eyes landing on Finlay. He smiled, and it was infectious, lighting up his whole face. He’d always been handsome, but now he was beyond gorgeous. Hayley rested her chin on her hand, gazing up at him like a dreamy-eyed puppy. How could she help herself?
‘I promise to keep this short,’ he said. ‘Like my patience for Finlay’s jokes.’
Finlay slow clapped as everyone else laughed.
‘I’m sure Genevieve understands what I mean, though I’m not sure she’s grasped just how many years of those jokes she’s signed up for. I hope you know a good divorce lawyer.’
Finlay pulled a face.
‘That’s the only divorce lawyer joke, I swear. Today, we gather to celebrate the union of two wonderful people – Finlay and Genevieve. I’ve known Finlay for what feels like an eternity, and believe me, it’s been an adventure. We’ve been through highs and lows, but amid all the chaos, there’s one constant – his loyalty and unwavering friendship.
‘Finlay, you’ve always been the kind of guy who jumps headfirst into whatever life throws at you. Sometimes that’s meant dragging me along for the ride, quite literally when it involves a cycle run, and other times it’s led to questionable fashion choices… again I return to the cycling. I’d never even touched a piece of Lycra before we met and now it’s my go-to weekend wear.’
Hayley covered her face to laugh. Oh god, the Lycra!
‘But hey, it’s been a blast. Today, you’ve embarked on a new adventure, one that I hope will be filled with magic moments. I can’t offer enough congratulations or put into words how happy I am for you both.
‘Genevieve, I don’t know you as well as Finlay, but since you and he got engaged, I’ve never seen him so happy. You’re the perfect match for him and I’m delighted you found each other, even if it all started with a very unusual proposal.’
Genevieve nodded and she and Finlay exchanged a look.
‘I doubt there’s anyone in this room who doesn’t know the story and it’s definitely one to tell the grandkids… though maybe wait until they’re over sixteen.’
Oh yes. Her brother’s drunken proposal that Genevieve inadvertently caught on film was the stuff of legend.
‘So, let’s raise our glasses to this beautiful couple. To Finlay and Genevieve. May your days be filled with laughter, your nights with beautiful dreams, and your marriage blessed with happiness. Cheers!’
Everyone raised their glasses and clinked them on others nearby, mumbling, ‘Cheers’ or ‘Sláinte.
Hayley drained her own glass as Oliver sat back down.
‘Was that ok?’ he said.
‘More than. I’d say you’ve made up for your lack of assistance before the wedding with that.’
‘Thanks.’ He pulled her in for a side hug. ‘Just one more duty for us to do.’
‘What’s that?’
‘The dance. We’ve got to lead the way after their first dance.’
‘Well, we’ve had lots of practise and we’re hot, remember?’
‘One of us certainly is.’ He ran his fingers around her chin, gently raising it. ‘You’re so beautiful.’
‘And you’ve turned into a sap.’
‘It’s your fault. You’re so hot, you’ve melted me.’
She burst out laughing. ‘How cheesy are you?’
‘Very, apparently.’
By the time the dance came around, Hayley was so drugged up on love hormones that she and Oliver might have been the only people in the room. And the best bit was, everyone was too busy watching Finlay and Genevieve to care what she and Oliver were doing.
‘Thank you.’ Oliver slipped his arms around her.
‘What for?’ She placed her hands on his wide shoulders. He was so smart and sexy in his kilt ensemble, and he drew her close, pinning her against his sporran.
‘For giving me a chance after I messed up.’
‘What changed your mind?’
‘I was looking at that fountain and… Well, I started thinking about things, my life, what I’d lost and what I’d achieved. Then I realised I could change things if I stopped dwelling on those things. All the stuff you tried to tell me made sense. The counsellor I had at school after Mum died told me grief wasn’t a straight line but a messy scribble – kind of like what you said about the journey to happiness. She said there would be good days, bad days and everything in between. My life has been so focused on trying to achieve what I thought were good days that most of them have become bad days. Now I need to focus on the mess in the middle. But instead of trying to unravel it, I’ll run with it.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah. Why not? You can help me.’
‘Sounds like something I’d be good at.’
‘Because you know how to seize the day and live.’
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. ‘I do. And I’m ready for whatever life throws at us.’
‘Me too.’ He pulled her close, and slowly they revolved on the spot. Hayley sighed and closed her eyes, enjoying the heat of Oliver’s hand on her back. This was the perfect end to a beautiful day and the start of something new and wonderful.