37
Ben
Because we aren’t technically having a honeymoon, I decided to splash out on a fancy hotel for the night of our wedding and for the next couple of days.
We are staying at the Crown Towers, Sydney, and it is spectacular.
From our bathroom, we can sit together in the huge soaking tub with views over the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House – unlike the bath at our flat in London, which we can only squeeze into together if we have our knees pressed firmly against our chests with views over next-door’s back garden.
It’s the morning after our wedding, and as I slowly begin to wake up, I feel the beginnings of a potential hangover, although I made sure not to drink too much last night because we have plans today.
The bed is huge, so Saskia and I could literally be a few feet away from each other, but as I open my eyes, I see she is right next to me and looking straight at me.
‘Good morning, sleepyhead.’
‘How long have you been awake?’
‘Not long.’
‘Good morning, Mrs Conway-Armstrong. Are you sure about the double-barrelled name?’
‘I am. You don’t like it?’
‘No, I think it’s great. It gives you a certain gravitas.’
‘And is that sexy?’ says Saskia, moving slightly closer to me, her hand reaching across my hip, and pulling me closer.
‘Very,’ I reply, leaning across and kissing her. Last night we didn’t get in until late and we were both exhausted, so we didn’t have sex. We both wanted to, but it wasn’t going to happen. ‘You know, this will be the first time we’ve had sex as husband and wife.’
‘What are you saying? It should be somewhere memorable, like, I don’t know, the bathtub with views over Sydney Harbour?’
‘If you insist,’ I say, feeling her body in my hands, but she slips out of bed, and walks towards the bathroom.
I’m about to join her when my phone rumbles with a message.
I turn over and reach for my phone that’s been charging on the nightstand.
I pick up my phone and go to Messages. There is one from Will.
Mate! I am in serious trouble! Hannah is spectacular. We had the most incredible night together, and she has invited me to Brisbane. What should I do???
Will is asking me for advice on love! I can’t believe it. I am about to reply when Saskia walks back into the room, completely naked.
‘Ready, husband?’
Will will have to wait for my advice because I have to have sex with my wife in a soaking tub overlooking Sydney Harbour!
Now, that is a sentence I never thought I would say.
I don’t say a word and instead I get out of bed, take off my underwear and walk towards my wife.
It still feels surreal to be here, to be married and so happy.
When we return to London, I know we have so much to sort out.
I want to buy a house, and we have spoken about children – we want two.
Then there’s the prospect of one day moving to Sydney.
It isn’t off the table, and who knows, maybe Will might be joining me if things with Hannah go well.
The soaking tub is full of bubbles, Saskia is already sitting waiting for me, and I have one last look out of the window before I join her.
‘We should do the Harbour Bridge climb before we leave,’ I say.
‘Maybe, although I don’t love heights. We should definitely give kayaking a miss.’
‘Yeah, probably best,’ I say with a smile.
The tub is so big we can both lie down, our legs crossed over each other. I take one of her feet and start giving it a gentle rub.
‘That feels good, Beno. Keep doing that.’
‘Okay,’ I reply, and I keep rubbing her foot and then I take the other one and do the same. ‘Do you ever think about what would have happened if I hadn’t sent you that email by mistake, or you hadn’t replied?’
‘All the time.’
‘And?’
‘You know, I didn’t always believe it, but I think that sometimes in life, things do happen for a reason. I think we would have found a way to each other. We’re like magnets. What about you?’
‘I don’t know about that, but I do know this.’
‘What’s that?’ says Saskia, as I stop rubbing her feet, then I pull myself up and move myself across the bath until I’m lying next to her, one hand going to the top of her leg and another to one of her breasts.
I look across at my wife, and she is the most beautiful woman in the world, and it breaks my heart it took me so long to find her.
‘You are my soulmate. You just happened to live ten thousand miles away, and I think that once we found each other, there was no way I was going to let you go.’
‘Ditto,’ says Saskia, and she leans across, and we kiss.
Of course, things don’t stop there, and we have sex for the first time as a married couple, and it is incredible.
It does mean something more profound, which I think takes both of us by surprise.
We eventually get out, dry off, and then get ready for breakfast, but before we leave the room, I return to my phone and reply to Will’s message.
Always choose love, Will. It’s the greatest thing in the world, and once you find it, you never want to let it go because it might just change everything. As someone very wise once said to me: listen to your heart and you won’t go wrong.
Then I leave my phone, take my wife’s hand, and we head downstairs for breakfast. It’s a new day, a new life, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.