Chapter 26
26
BEN
Ben stood at the end of the wedding aisle under a stunning arbour created from vibrant pink pansies, crimson dahlias and white roses.
Beside him, Marco adjusted the collar of his shirt as Ben’s throat tightened.
Being here, waiting for his best friend’s bride, should have brought back a barrage of awful memories.
But he could barely summon an image of Sophia now – instead, all his mind would conjure was Rose.
He hadn’t seen her since their fight.
He’d returned to his bedroom, intent on packing his bags and leaving for England, only the idea of going anywhere without her was just…
wrong.
Which showed he was as much of an idiot as he’d been two years ago.
Beside him, Marco fidgeted with his tie looking anxious.
‘I’m so nervous,’ he confided, blowing out a breath.
‘Less than twenty-four hours ago, Luna was determined not to marry me, now…’ His gaze returned to the end of the long aisle which had been lovingly created by the Marino family.
Cesare had laid down a row of white wooden planks that ran parallel to the sparkling swimming pool.
Then Elena, Aurora and Francesca had embellished the edges with multicoloured ribbons and flowers to match the ones on the arbour and bomboniere .
Leonardo had filled the sunny garden with rows of white chairs too, ready for guests, and they were slowly filling up with family and friends.
A low buzz of excited voices overlapped in the warm fragrant air.
‘Are you worried Luna won’t turn up?
’ Ben asked as his eyes glued themselves to the villa and refused to budge just in case he caught a glimpse of Rose.
‘No, but—’ Marco paused.
‘I’m sorry, is this bringing back bad memories?
I didn’t even think.
’ He sounded horrified.
‘It’s okay. I hardly remember that day now.
’ Ben turned and took in his friend properly.
Marco was dressed in a cream suit, light blue shirt and a patterned tie which Francesca had picked out for the wedding.
He looked handsome and concerned.
‘You never asked me what made Luna change her mind,’ Marco said thoughtfully.
‘Why is that?’
Ben shrugged.
His friend had burst into his bedroom late last night and gleefully informed him that the wedding was back on before disappearing into the bosom of his rejoicing family.
Ben had meant to go and join them to find out more, but he’d been too heartsick.
He couldn’t bear putting a dampener on the celebrations so had decided to stay away.
‘I…’ He couldn’t think of an excuse.
A reason that didn’t include, I’m happy for you but talking about your wedding just makes me realise what a mess I’ve made of my own life.
‘It was Rose. The wedding’s back on because of her,’ Marco said, watching Ben’s face as he absorbed the blow.
‘What do you mean?’ he asked, confused.
‘She told me the wedding was off, that you and Luna were all wrong for each other.’ That Ben was all wrong for her too – or maybe it had been the other way around?
It didn’t really matter now.
His heart was starting to ice over again – or at least it would once he was back in Bristol.
Then this whole thing would feel like a bad memory.
In time, he’d forget all about Rose.
At least he hoped so…
‘This is all because of her,’ Marco said passionately, waving a hand at the aisle.
‘She convinced Luna to forgive me, encouraged her mother to fly to Pisa this morning.’ His attention strayed to the rows of chairs.
‘Deborah’s in a taxi now, she should arrive any minute.
I can’t wait to meet her.
’
‘Did Luna’s mum find the necklace then?
’ Ben asked, surprised.
He’d been led to believe it was hopeless.
‘No.’ Marco shook his head.
‘Rose drove herself to Montotta and brought a replacement for Luna to wear.’
‘Hang on…Rose did what?’ Ben’s heartbeat skipped up and he turned to gape at the villa as if expecting her to appear and explain.
‘But she’s terrified of being in a car.
Was she alone?’ Or had she taken someone with her?
He ignored the hit of jealously that it hadn’t been him, as he imagined how frightened she would have been.
Trying not to think about all the things that might have happened.
What if she’d had an accident again?
Just the idea of her getting hurt made his body go cold.
‘Apparently, Coco went with her,’ Marco told him, arching an eyebrow.
‘Coco?’ Ben choked. ‘The demon from hell who hates her?’ Had she gone mad?
‘I know.’ Marco shrugged.
‘Aurora saw them just before Rose headed off. Told me she drove there and back by herself. She returned last night with an antique necklace and spoke to Luna. Told her she’d made a mistake.
’
Marco paused. ‘Apparently, Rose said I was an idiot – which is true.’ He shrugged nonchalantly.
‘But she told Luna that I loved her and she should give me another chance.’ He let out a puff of air.
‘Luckily, Luna did.’
Ben’s head was spinning, and he felt sick as his mind began to mull all the terrible things he’d said to Rose yesterday.
All those awful accusations had obviously driven her to prove him wrong.
What did it mean that she had?
Did it mean she cared about what he thought?
His jaw dropped when he suddenly spotted Isabella and Cesare making their way towards them across the lawn, holding hands.
‘Am I dreaming?’ he rasped.
He must be. None of this could be happening.
He’d clearly wandered into a parallel universe, powered by Disney.
‘No.’ Marco chuckled.
‘That was your Rose too.’
His Rose.
His .
The words beat a tattoo in Ben’s mind, branding themselves through to his insides.
Rose should be his. Would be if he hadn’t messed everything up.
‘She somehow got Nonno to convince Nonna to look at the olive tree, then she got him to give up his phone because, apparently, that’s what’s been wrong all along,’ Marco marvelled.
‘Who knew?’
‘She did…?’ Ben shook his head feeling desolate.
Rose had done all that to fix her best friend’s wedding after he’d told her she didn’t believe in love.
He should have been more understanding, instead he’d criticised her and left.
He knew about her parents – he should have understood what drove her, why she found it so difficult to trust. She’d only ever had Luna’s best interests at heart.
Instead, he’d been like an open wound, desperate to protect himself by pushing her away.
‘I need to speak to her. To apologise,’ he said urgently, swinging his gaze back across the lawn and taking in the new guests who’d arrived and were now waiting for the wedding to begin.
In the front row, Francesca waved at him and mouthed that he looked magnifico .
‘Where is she?’ he asked.
‘She’s with Luna. They’re getting ready, so you can’t talk to her yet,’ Marco said, reaching out and patting him on the shoulder.
‘You should relax. Everything’s okay.
If Luna’s forgiven me, I’m sure Rose will do the same for you.
’
‘I doubt it,’ Ben said, his voice as dry as brick dust. How could she?
Marco shrugged. ‘Stranger things have happened. Besides, she’s a Love Doctor – if she can’t forgive the man she cares for, who can?
’
‘I wish that were true,’ he muttered, thinking about all her rigid rules.
Then music began to play, and Ben saw Elena leading a woman who looked like an older version of Luna towards the empty chair next to Francesca, while Leonardo hefted a suitcase into the villa.
Had Deborah Kennedy arrived?
He didn’t get a chance to find out because the music got louder, and Marco straightened and patted his back again.
Ben mirrored his friend and turned to face the villa just in time to see Luna looking stunning in a floaty white wedding dress covered in hundreds of tiny heart-shaped sparkles walk slowly out of the patio doors — her elbow linked with Rose’s.
He watched as they took their time descending the steps, his heart in his throat as he took in every detail.
Rose looked beautiful.
She wore the long dress Francesca had picked out for her on their shopping trip.
He hadn’t seen it when Rose had tried it on, but his knees went to liquid as he watched the strawberry-coloured material flow like water around her legs and the ribbon straps of the bodice hug her elegant shoulders.
Someone – Aurora perhaps – had sprinkled her collarbones and bare arms with sparkles, making her look almost unworldly.
His stomach went fluttery, and he suddenly felt giddy, like all the air had left his lungs.
In his mind, Ben begged Rose to look up so he could somehow signal that he was sorry, that he’d been wrong.
But she avoided his eyes.
‘To the bride and groom,’ Ben said, holding up his champagne glass as his audience — who were sitting at various tables dotted across the lawn — drank before starting to clap loudly.
He sat again, relieved he’d completed his best man’s speech.
The guests had all laughed and cheered in the right places and he knew he’d done his friend proud.
But being on form – trying to remain happy and joyful — had taken its toll.
Rose still hadn’t looked at him.
Ben gazed over at her again and he felt desolate.
He had to fix this somehow; it wasn’t something he could brush off or joke about.
He couldn’t repair it with cake or a lifetime of toasters.
This wasn’t pretend and he couldn’t fake it until he made it.
Not this time. This was real — and he had to do something before it was too late.
‘Um.’ Ben stood abruptly, making his chair scrape on the grass as the guests fell silent.
‘With the bride and groom’s permission,’ he said loudly.
‘I wonder if it would be okay if I said a few words?’ He cleared his throat feeling self-conscious.
‘To Rose.’
‘Hell yes,’ Marco said, raising his glass.
‘I thought you’d never ask!
’ Luna cheered.
When Ben glanced over at Rose again, he saw she was looking at him, her expression confused.
Then she gave him a tentative smile and his insides reacted immediately.
It was like his blood had suddenly returned, flooding every available space with warmth.
What had been lying dormant – even frozen – suddenly reanimated.
He felt hope creeping into his limbs.
His throat still felt dry and he had a lot to say, so he took a quick sip of the champagne.
‘Aldo says to say what’s in your heart, bello ,’ Aurora piped up from one of the tables, waving her glass.
‘Unless you want me to get my crystal ball, and tell you which words to use?’
Ben shook his head, smiling.
‘That won’t be necessary,’ he said, turning his whole body to face Rose, trying to pretend their audience had disappeared.
‘I have an apology to make. I accused you of a lot of things yesterday.’ He paused when she started to shake her head looking uncomfortable.
‘You don’t—’ she began.
‘I said you were scared of love.’ He took another moment to gather his thoughts, hoping the perfect words would come to him.
‘Keep going!’ Luna whispered in a very loud voice.
‘You’re doing brilliantly, caro ,’ Elena added.
Ben sucked in a breath.
‘But what I should have said is that I was the one who was afraid.’ He pulled a face as some of the crowd let out a hushed ahhhh .
‘I got hurt two years ago and it was easier for me to shut down and not get close to anybody.’
‘ Sophia ,’ Francesca spat angrily.
‘Then I met you and everything changed,’ Ben said, his voice gruff.
‘Suddenly, I started to feel things. I began to fall for you. Despite my best intentions.’
Rose stood abruptly too and held up a palm.
‘And I ruined it.’ Her cheeks glowed with embarrassment as her gaze swept across their audience before she turned back to him.
‘Because you were right. I was scared. I did look for problems – with us and with Luna and Marco — and I needed you to point that out.’
He smiled at her as relief flooded his bones.
‘I needed you to help me feel again,’ he said, suddenly not caring that everyone was listening.
‘I’m not sure anyone else could have got me to open my heart.
I know it seems crazy – we’ve only known each other a few days – but I love you, Rose.
’
‘Of course you do!’ Aurora boomed.
Ben put his empty glass back on the table because suddenly he wanted to be beside her, wanted to hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay.
Rose must have felt the same because she shoved back her chair.
You could have heard a pin drop.
None of the guests made a sound as they both walked around the table, their eyes glued on one another.
Then suddenly Rose was in Ben’s arms and he was kissing her, hugging her closer, wishing they were alone.
He tipped her to the ground, deepening the kiss, as everyone watching them began to clap, cheer and stamp their feet and he felt Rose’s answering smile against his lips.
‘I said they were meant to be together!’ Ben heard Aurora yell over the din.
But he didn’t pull away – he couldn’t – instead he continued to hold on.
Knowing whatever happened from this day forward, he and Rose — his Love Doctor — were never going to be scared of loving each other again.