Chapter 11
Standing in the French doors of the balcony to Sandy’s five-star suite, the warm afternoon Caribbean breeze blows in the stylist-perfected waves of my hair, kissing my skin where it’s exposed in my purple dress.
Gregory surprised me but almost floored Sandy and Jackson by hiring the entire resort for the thirty-guest wedding.
The perfect white sand of the resort’s private beach has been transformed into a most picturesque wedding set-up.
Gregory’s mum stepped in to make sure everything was just so and I have to hand it to her, everything looks perfect.
From the four-post altar, strewn with white chiffon and decorated in all shades of white, purple and violet flowers, to the pillar bouquets lining the walkway.
From the wooden chairs adorned with white satin cushions, to the woven beige flooring that creates an aisle. It’s no less than Sandy deserves.
The door to the master bedroom opens and Sandy makes her way into the lounge. Her black hair has been partially pinned up with white flowers and her make-up professionally done.
‘Are you ready for your dress, Mrs Jackson-to-be?’ I ask.
She inhales sharply and slowly pushes an exhale through pursed lips.
I take hold of her hands. ‘Sandy, this is you and Jackson. Forget everybody else.’
She nods tightly in a way that makes me want to hold her and stroke her hair the way she would reassure me as a child.
‘Let’s get that dress on.’
‘I’m here, I’m here.’ Amanda shuffles in a dress identical to mine but for hers being strapless and mine having thin straps that cross behind my back and meet the dress midway down my spine.
She hangs the wedding dress on a doorframe and unzips the bag, revealing Sandy’s three-quarter-length, ivory dress. Amanda unbuttons the back of it and we lift the material carefully over Sandy’s up-reached arms. Once she’s fastened in, I help her into a lace shrug.
‘One more thing.’ I take a velvet box from the dressing-table drawer. ‘Go ahead, open it.’
Tentatively, she peels back the lid to reveal a thin, platinum chain with a small diamond drop and matching earrings.
‘They’re actually your something borrowed.
They’re on loan. For now.’ I turn her away from me to face a floor-length mirror and fasten the necklace around her soft mocha skin.
‘Then they’ll be a gift. A thank you for letting me do you the honour of giving you away.
But I’ll buy them when we get home. I don’t think that’s cheating, do you? ’
Her eyes glaze. ‘You really did grow into a very kind and special woman. Your dad would be so proud of you.’
‘That’s because of the woman who raised me.’ I wrap my arms tightly around her waist and press my cheek against hers.
‘Oh, Jesus, the pregnant lady can’t cope with this.
’ Amanda wafts a tissue in the air theatrically.
‘I’m going to head down and give you two a few minutes together.
You’re going to knock him dead, Sandy; you’re stunning.
’ She pecks Sandy on the cheek and gives her a quick squeeze at the shoulders.
‘And you look a million dollars,’ she says, when she pulls the same move on me. ‘I’ll see you out there.’
‘I’m glad we have a moment alone,’ Sandy says when the door shuts behind Amanda. ‘I want to tell you that I’m glad you and Gregory have worked things out. He makes you happy, that’s plain to see, and let me tell you, that man adores every bone in your body, like you deserve.’
‘Sandy—’
‘Let me finish. I’ve watched you grow up to be a beautiful, clever, wonderful woman and I’m pleased now that we both have someone new to share things with and look forward to a new chapter with.
Seeing you happy has been my goal for more than twenty years and I’m ready to let someone who deserves you take over that job.
And you need to do the same for me, do you hear?
I have Geoffrey to worry about me now. You need to have your own life and stop worrying about other people. ’
‘Sandy—’
She holds up a finger. ‘A-ah, I’m not done. I know why you want to give me the money from your dad’s house. It’s because you’re worried about what I’ll do next. But look outside, Scarlett; I’m going to be just fine. And, I have a little news.’
I raise my brows.
‘Geoffrey and me, we’ve decided we’re going to try to adopt a baby.’
‘What? Sandy, that’s, oh my gosh, that’s wonderful news.’ I forget her hair, make-up and dress, and throw my arms around her.
She chuckles a hearty, chest-wobbling, Sandy laugh. ‘You’ve always worried that I missed out. Well, I’ve never thought that. But Geoffrey and I would like to share a little someone together and we know we’re far from spring chickens but we think we could make a little boy or girl a good home.’
My eyes fill as I tell her, ‘Me, too. I’m not sure this day could get any better.’
‘We’ll see,’ she says, holding my face in her palms.
I add the finishing touch to her outfit – white, crystal decorated, low-heeled Mary Janes – whilst she pops in her something-borrowed earrings.
‘Ready?’ I ask.
‘Let’s do it.’
‘You look incredible.’ It’s true. In fact, she’s never looked more beautiful.
We link our arms, each of us holding a lilac bouquet.
The staff at the hotel have formed two lines and clap as we step out onto the wooden path across the white sand to the aisle.
A steel band begins to play behind the small gathering of guests, now standing in rows, fifteen on each side of the aisle, enough to shield the groom and his best man from sight as we take the final steps towards Sandy’s new life.
The band grows louder and for the first time today, I see the man I love.
Gregory turns in his pale-grey suit and white shirt, open two buttons at the top, just the way he wears his shirts.
A silk pocket handkerchief matching the colour of my dress rests in his jacket and that hair I like to tug is slicked back as he stands with his hands held together behind him.
Jackson keeps his eyes on the female registrar, not looking at his bride until she arrives by his side.
I hug Sandy, take her bouquet and move to where I can enjoy the view of her, ecstatically happy.
Gregory shakes Jackson’s hand, kisses Sandy on her cheek, and moves to a position opposite mine by Jackson’s side.
The ceremony is beautiful. More than once, I look out over the glistening sea and think there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Definitely more than once, my eyes are drawn to the most mesmerising man I’ve ever known.
And whilst I try to keep the thought at bay, more than once, I wonder how happy my dad would be to witness Sandy in love, getting married and about to bring up a child of her own.
* * *
Dinner is served alfresco on the hotel veranda with all guests seated in a square, Sandy and Jackson central and blissfully happy. The whole event is luxurious – exquisite seafood, fine champagne, wonderful music – yet all very intimate and charming, all very much Sandy and Jackson.
Gregory’s mum looks wonderful in a damson, floor-length dress. She’s gone matchy-matchy with Gregory’s stepfather, Lawrence, teaming his cream linen suit with a pink shirt.
We return to the table for speeches and toasts.
I delight in Jackson’s rare public displays of affection for Sandy, and through Gregory’s easy-mannered speech for his bodyguard and close friend.
Even Amanda rolls her eyes because I catch her smiling and laughing in all the right places as Gregory speaks.
He’ll win you over, Amanda Darling, just you wait and see.
There’s a break after the speeches to give the evening entertainment a chance to set up. The steel band strikes up again as the guests spread out around white rattan furniture on the beach.
‘Can I take you for a stroll?’ Gregory asks, holding out his hand.
He’s taken off his blazer and now looks outstanding in just grey trousers, resting invitingly on his hips and across his pert arse. The combination of his thin, white shirt and champagne makes me think of where else I’d prefer to be with this man than on a public stroll.
Brushing it off, I slip my hand into his.
We amble barefoot and hand in hand along a deserted section of the beach until the sound of music is replaced with only the gentle swooshing of waves and synthetic lights are replaced by the late setting sun.
For once, there’s no work, no crazed biological father drama, no Alzheimer’s, no probate issues or trying to sell my childhood home; it’s just us and the vastness of the Caribbean Sea.
As we pause to soak it in, a light wind causes my hair to tickle my bare back and a contented shiver kisses my body. Gregory stands behind me, wrapping me in his arms as we watch the gentle crash of the waves on the shoreline.
‘Thank you for today, Gregory. This whole thing is wonderful. What you’ve done for Sandy and Jackson, flying everyone out here, paying for the wedding. You’re amazing.’
He takes my hands to the small of his back, twisting me and pulling me to him.
‘It’s not just for them, Scarlett. I know how much you wanted Sandy to have the wedding she dreamed of.
’ He brushes my hair from my cheek and I lean into his palm as he speaks.
‘You’ve saved my life, in more ways than one.
’ The sincerity in his gaze is magnetic.
He’s changed so much since we first met, at least with me.
‘I feel reborn with you. Like I get a second chance to live and have everything I want.’ He pecks my nose.
‘Need. And I want you to have everything you want, too.’
‘I already have everything.’
‘If there’s ever anything that you want, just tell me. I mean, do you even want to work? You don’t need to and I would never think any less of you. I’d happily have you as my plaything at home.’
‘And let them call me your gold-digging girlfriend in the next Times Rich List?’
He doesn’t laugh.