Chapter 5
T he moment Annie reached the shaded entrance, the buzzing stopped. She leapt inside, startled by a man in his early twenties in a white uniform emerging from a side entrance carrying a round tray full of porcelain bowls filled to the brim with a variety of sauces and dressings.
An aroma of ginger and cinnamon lingered in the air for a long minute after he disappeared into the crowd. She took a few more steps into the building, intrigued by the metallic clatter, hissing, and a deep male voice singing Mamma Mia alongside the radio.
Annie peaked through a double door on the left-hand side and discovered a temporary kitchen with portable stoves full of pots with bubbling content and a row of coffee makers filling the glass pots with golden liquid.
A big man with a bushy beard wearing a white apron danced between pots, pans, and serving platters, whistling under his breath and joining with the chorus. On his next turn, he spotted Annie, and his face lightened up.
“Isn’t that our beautiful bride? How can I help you, Miss?” He strolled toward her, holding a ladle dripping with gravy.
“Thank you, I’m fine. I was looking for a restroom.”
He raised the ladle, pointing deeper into the building, and Annie dodged, barely avoiding a thick dollop of gravy landing on her dress.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Miss.” He took a step forward, but Annie raised her hand to stop him.
“I’m fine, so far. Thank you.” She smiled and dashed away from him and deeper into the building. When she reached the ladies, a gust of fresh-scented air cooled her down. She followed that scent and, in a few steps, stood in another doorway leading to the back of the building. A refreshing smell of basil made Annie take full lungs of air and search for the herbs patch. She couldn’t spot any herb garden, but less than a few metres away, a wooden bench stood with its back against an old and branchy oak tree.
With every step closer to the bench, the bustle of the party and the kitchen clatter became more muffled and distant until only the crickets remained.
Annie wrinkled her nose. The brown-painted bench was covered with fallen leaves and acorns. Instead of sitting, she simply rested her purse against it and searched for the basil scent again with her senses. Basil smelled like home. Whenever she had returned from her trips, Grandma Ann would have welcomed her with her signature tortellini with creamy bacon and basil—a dish she had always called food for the soul.
If only Annie had stayed in touch with Louise. She might have had a chance to say goodbye to Grandma Ann. Annie’s shoulders sagged and tears well off in her eyes, from grief but also guilt. She had missed the funeral of the most important person in her entire life. She would never forgive herself for that. If only ...
Annie blinked and brushed the wetness with her hand. She couldn’t turn back the clock and she had grieved long enough over her grandma but also her miscarriage. Annie swallowed hard and shook her head, brushing off an unwanted thought. Going back to that dark place where she had spent months of her life would not change a thing.
And her life had a new purpose now. Annie traced squiggly lines on her belly with her finger. She didn’t know if it was a girl or a boy, but she knew she loved that little person with all her heart and would do anything to protect that life.
Taking another deep breath, she retrieved her phone. The number that called her had no name associated with it, and it could only mean one thing. It must have been Darren.
She stared at the phone, expecting it to ring any minute now, but it stared back at her in silence and then pinged. Another message arrived. Annie tapped the notification and gasped.
There were a dozen new messages from him. He hadn’t signed them, but only Darren would beg her to stop playing games and come back home, in one sentence, only to threaten she would regret she had ever left the moment he found her in the next.
He knows.
A sudden shiver ran through her and goosebumps covered her forearms while a few drops of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Annie had thought she would have at least three more days before he found out. The note he had left on the fridge had mentioned a two-week long business trip.
When she had decided to help Louise with her marriage trouble, she had banked on having those three more days to leave town and find a new home somewhere far away.
Somewhere he could never find her. Them. He could never find them.
While flipping through the messages, one made Annie’s heart hammer in her chest.
Darren: “Who is he?”
How had he found out about this wedding? Annie shrunk in herself, tensed, and glanced around. A peaceful afternoon, with a light breeze on her flushed cheeks and the sun peeking through the leaves. No dark figures hiding in the shadows. She exhaled, licking her dry lips.
With trembling hands, she returned to the messages.
Darren: “I forgive you Just come back to me I miss you”
Annie smirked. That was the biggest lie one could tell. He had never missed her. He only missed the power he had over her. At first, Annie hadn’t recognised it, mistaking it for protectiveness—and even cherishing it. It was so different from her ex-husband, Liam, who had only cared about his next adventure and Annie’s money, which he could splurge on a new gadget or his gambling habit.
Darren, on the other hand, had always bought her expensive things and convinced her to quit her job. Well, not exactly—she hadn’t had a choice after he had punched a customer to ‘protect her dignity.’ No one had ever stood up for her like that before. He had made her feel like a modern princess, whisking her away for weekends to watch plays in the West End or dine at posh restaurants in London.
Annie forced a grim cackle, shaking her head over her own naivety. Little by little, he had lured her into his trap and then had locked the cage, throwing the key away.
Annie straightened up, raising her chin. She wasn’t in that cage anymore. She had realised her prince was an ordinary thug, and fate had given her the opportunity to escape.
And now, even though the clock started ticking again, there was still time. Darren had no clue about the wedding. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so forgiving.
But what if he could trace her phone? Annie swallowed hard and reached for a power button when her mobile rang—an unknown number.
It could be him. It would be him. She wiped her sweaty palms against her dress, leaving a darker smudge.
She couldn’t avoid him forever. With a shaking finger, she accepted the call and uttered a faint, “Hello?”
“How is the ex-bride doing?” Louise’s chirpy voice washed over Annie, and she felt dizzy. Without thinking, she pressed her hand on the rough bark with a cushy moss as she worried her legs might give way.
After a few deep breaths, the dizziness subsided. “Where are you?”
“Oh, you wouldn’t believe it. It’s the most magnificent place on Earth. And so peaceful, and nobody frowns at me and Meggie holding hands or embracing each other. They simply mind their own business.”
Annie smiled, imagining Louise and her girlfriend wading in the shallow waters with sandals in hand and squinting in the warm sun.
“I’m so happy for you, sis.”
“But enough about me. How was the wedding? Has Mother made a scene?”
Annie chuckled, remembering the horror on her mother’s face. “It was close, but no. Father talked her out of it.”
“Of course he did. What about Conrad? It must have been a shock. I feel a bit sorry for him.”
“Oh, don’t be. That smug man told me I couldn’t find a better deal. Can you believe that? He thinks he owns me.” Annie’s weakness was a thing of the past, her eyes ablaze.
Louise laughed wholeheartedly. “Oh, Annie, don’t be so hard on him. Poor bloke didn’t know what hit him. Put yourself in his shoes. After all, you ditched him at the altar.”
“No, I didn’t. And he had the nerve to tell me we could take it slow.” Annie waved her hand and whimpered in pain when her palm hit a poky branch.
“What happened?”
“Nothing. I just grazed my skin.” Annie licked the drop of blood from the wound.
“To take it slow? What do you mean? I don’t understand?”
“You know, the whole marital intimacy thing.”
“How come you even talked about it? When?”
“After we left the church, and then he ambushed me, and the guests cheered and demanded a kiss. And I told him, don’t you dare, but he wouldn’t listen, would he?”
“Slow down, Annie. What are you saying?”
“That bastard snogged me! Said we can’t disappoint the guests.” Annie huffed.
“What!” Louise gasped. “But you’re not married!”
“But we are.”
A thud followed by a rattling noise came from the receiver.
“Lou? You there?”
“Just dropped my phone. Say it again. You are what?”
“We got married. Accidentally.”
A longer silence on the other end. “How on earth does one get married accidentally?”
“Well.” The sound of approaching footsteps made Annie look toward the entrance. A figure in a polka dot dress strolled toward the bench. “Need to go. Mother’s coming. Love you.”
Annie ended the call and slid the phone into her purse before her mother reached her.
“Here you are, gossiping on the phone while your guests wait.”
“It was a voicemail from work. I had to check it.” She wasn’t in the mood for another lecture; besides, Mother had no idea Louise had flown away on her well-deserved holiday with Meggie.
“Oh really, are you in a habit of talking on your phone when nobody is listening?”
“I had to confirm my password to access the voicemail. But what are you doing here?” The sooner Annie changed the topic, the better. “Have you got lost on the way to the bathroom?”
“I never get lost. Your husband is worried about you, and the quartet started playing.”
“So?” It was time to get back, but Annie would never pass the opportunity to rattle her mother.
“Do I have to spell out everything to you?” Maureen narrowed her brows. “It’s time for your first dance. What would it look like if you missed it?” She pressed her hands against her chest.
Annie sighed and grabbed her purse, then marched toward the building entrance. “Indeed, what would people say?”
The sooner she ended this, the better. There was no way to tell when Darren would find out about this wedding, but that he would, Annie was certain of it.
A sudden gust of wind twirled the leaves under her feet and sent chills down her spine. And she’d better be as far away from here as possible by then.
But where could she go? Without money, and a place to stay? And with a baby on the way, who would hire her? Annie took a few deep breaths, glancing at her mother gliding with her head held high a few steps ahead.
Asking her parents for the loan was probably out of the question right now. Annie shivered. Not that she would ever want to do that.
Unless I played along.
If she played along, she wouldn’t have to ask them for anything. As her father had said, there would be an inheritance for Annie, maybe enough to rent something and live for a year without worrying.
But how could she look in the mirror if she had done such a thing to another person?
She raised her eyes to the blue sky, praying silently to a deity she had never believed in, to help her, because what other choice did she have?
***
?
A s the last notes of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” filled the air, Conrad swayed gently to the music, his palms lightly pressed against the lacy fabric on Louise’s lower back. Her body felt delicate in his arms, and he sensed an underlying sadness within her.
Conrad could feel the heaviness of her hands wrapped around his neck like she was a wreck survivor, and he was a drifting piece of wood on open waters. She let out a soft sigh, her eyes gazing into the distance, her forehead creased as if she had abandoned all hope of being rescued.
These emotions and protectiveness he was feeling seemed strange even to him. Not that long ago, she had been shouting at him and calling him names, and all he had cared about was surviving the day, somehow. Now, she seemed so vulnerable and fragile that he would do anything to see that fierceness in her eyes again.
Trying to lift the mood, Conrad joked, “You know, most people get cold feet before they say ‘I do,’ not after.”
But there was no retort, just a faint smile that never reached her eyes. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her, one a bit lower than the other, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath the dress. A spark of desire kindled within him, but he shook his head to dispel the feeling. This wasn’t that kind of intimacy.
She’s not into you.
Of course, she wasn’t. Although, he had not imagined her lips giving in earlier. During that first kiss, it had shocked him. Conrad had expected a peck, but instead, he had met those full, welcoming lips.
And then later, despite reacting with anger afterwards, he could swear she had enjoyed their snog. Both times, Louise had acted like she fancied him.
It’s your imagination, mate. Shut it off.
What if it wasn’t? He caressed her back with his fingers, risking a slap—his jaws tightened, expecting it any second now. Instead, she leaned closer, brushing her hips against his and making his blood boil. Conrad looked at his wife’s face, expecting to meet her eyes, but found Louise gazing in the distance, her eyelids half closed, like she was in a trance, not even aware of her surroundings.
Bloody hell.
Her body did things to him without her even noticing. That was bad. Pretty bad. He needed to cool off and find a way to keep her—well, convince her to stay. And maybe with time, her mind would catch up with her body, and maybe he would stand a chance. Just maybe.
Conrad inhaled through his nose and counted to three to clear his mind.
The physical aspect wasn’t important at the moment. As much as Conrad enjoyed this dance, it wouldn’t last forever, and his only chance was to convince Louise to give this marriage a go. Almost against his will, Conrad loosened his grip, shifting his hands higher and creating a bit of space between their bodies, then glanced around at the smiling faces of their guests. They looked like they expected something. But what?
Say something, man.
“Your father wants me to sign the paperwork on Monday so you can get on with that inheritance.” Despite trying, he couldn’t hide a hint of bitterness in his voice.
“I bet he does.” She laughed. A hollow kind of laughter.
“I saw you talking to your parents earlier. Was it about the deal?” Conrad looked at her, genuinely curious.
His wife nodded but remained silent. Her hands slid down over to his shoulders, loosening her hold.
Speak, woman.
Conrad gently brushed her cheek with his fingertips to make her look up at him. “And what do you think?”
She clicked her tongue. “From a strictly business point of view, it’s a sound idea and beneficial for both sides.”
But?
He waited. His wife swallowed, parted her lips to speak, and then closed them again without a word. It was like trying to squeeze juice from a dry lemon.
“And from your personal point of view? How do you feel about it?”
“Since when do you care about my feelings?” Her tone was more curious than hostile.
“Since you became my wife, for better or for worse.” He chuckled, but his eyes searched hers intently.
His wife blinked, and her gaze became focused. “I need to tell you something.” She stopped halfway through the turn and took a small step back, her hands falling to her sides. “Actually, everyone needs to hear this.”
She raised her hand, cutting the song short.
“Could you please take your seats?” Her voice was loud and clear, like the evening air.
“Good idea. I have something to say as well.” Conrad took her warm hand and pulled her gently toward the centre of the stage with a microphone.
Holding her delicate, small hand in his callused one made him feel for a second like they were an item. While he waited for the chatter and laughter to subside, a longing awoke in him for something solid and real.
When Conrad gazed at the gathered faces, he realised that there was nobody here he truly cared about, no family to speak of—just two business associates and Colton, his faithful driver, who was probably the closest to a family member he could get.
A memory of his grandpa’s warm presence by the fireplace filled Conrad’s mind. He recalled the evenings they had spent together when Grandpa George had told him about the love of his life, Louise’s grandmother Ann. They had never got together, but his grandpa had loved her all the same.
Conrad knew his grandfather had wanted to give the cottage back to Louise’s grandmother, but she had been married, and it hadn’t seemed right. He remembered his grandpa’s words on his deathbed like it had been yesterday.
“This cottage is full of memories. I wish for you to keep it or gift it to the love of your life. Never sell it, my boy.”
Funny how things turned out. Work was always the love of Conrad’s life—his chain of inns, now in peril. He loved the cottage, but there was no other way. As long as he made Louise stay. At least for a few days. So, he could show his wife how good her life would be with him.
The clinking of a spoon tapping at a glass captured Conrad’s attention. A hush fell over the guests as they turned their faces toward the couple on the stage. His wife retrieved the microphone from its stand and cleared her throat.
A sudden thought crossed Conrad’s mind, and he leaned over to his wife. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to say something first.”
She nodded with her eyebrows raised, and Conrad took the microphone off her hand.
“Thank you all for joining us here on this wonderful day. As most of you know, my wife and I haven’t had the chance to get to know each other yet.”
Guests murmured and nodded. Conrad raised his wife’s hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss before continuing.
“To remedy this, I’d like to take my beautiful wife for a honeymoon where we could get to know each other better, sharing great food and drinks while taking in the local sights.”
With a hopeful glint in his eyes, he asked, “What do you think, Louise?”
Surprise flitted across her face as she glanced at her parents. He followed her gaze, noting their alarmed expressions. This wasn’t part of their plan, but it would buy him some time. He needed to ensure she would honour her end of the bargain.
Uncertainty clouded her eyes, and she shook her head ever so slightly.
“We deserve a bit of a holiday, a week maybe?”
He almost pleaded, and the guests joined him, chanting, “Do it. Do it. Do it.”
She bit her lip, glancing at her parents again, who were shaking their heads so vigorously that Conrad worried they might spin away.
“We could go anywhere you wanted, to an exotic location or hide somewhere where nobody could bother us? Not even your parents.” He took both her hands in his. “Please,” he whispered so only she could hear him.
A gasp escaped Louise’s mouth, and she glanced up at the sky with a bright smile on her face before focusing her gaze back on him. “Of course! This is exactly what I ... we need!”
While the crowd cheered and whistled, her father shouted. “Excellent idea! We’ll organise something for you, and you can go even for a month in a week or two!”
That wasn’t what Conrad wanted.
“How about now?” He laughed, his eyes focused on the emeralds sparkling again.
“Now?” she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and excitement.
“Yes, why don’t we leave now?” The thrill of spontaneity rushed through him.
A mischievous twinkle appeared in her eyes, and dimples graced her cheeks.
“Actually, why not? Let’s go!” She creased her forehead. “But where?”
Good question. He hadn’t expected her to say yes, and now he wasn’t sure where to take her. An exotic beach? A mountaintop retreat? He knew nothing about this girl. But he knew they had to leave before her parents could change her mind.
“No idea, but we’ll figure it out.” Conrad waved at Colton and grabbed his wife’s hand, pulling her toward the gazebo’s exit.
The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the marquee as they hurried through the rows of tables. A warm breeze ruffled their clothes and carried the scent of magnolia and the night stocks. Balloons bobbed around them as if cheering them on, and the quartet struck up a lively tune in celebration.?