Chapter 4 #2
Riley didn't acknowledge Maia, he was used to being around Alfie's security and treating them like they were invisible. Should I be doing that too? Would Alfie expect me to behave like that once I was his wife?
Riley gave my arm a squeeze. “Do you want to get settled in your rooms first or should I show you around the grounds?”
“What do you think?” We shared a grin and set off. Maia followed like an ever watchful ghost.
For the next few hours, we explored the gardens together.
I gasped at the Rose Garden filled with hybrid tea roses and white phlox that would flower later in the year.
I got lost in the maze and walked in awe through the serpentine hedges and kitchen gardens.
I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. Everywhere I looked there was so much beauty.
My hand went to my necklace, to rub my thumb over the bleeding heart encased in glass. My mother would have loved this place.
Eventually, we arrived at the entrance to my Evergarden.
“It’s not completely ready,” Riley said, hesitating. “It won’t be perfect until next summer but you should see it now. It’s beautiful.”
“Will Alfie like it? Have you sent him pictures?”
“No, no pictures. You can see for yourself if you think he’ll like it or not.”
He let me enter alone. My heart beat a little faster as I kicked off my shoes, the sun-warmed grass caressing the soles of my feet. Years I’d been waiting to see this garden come to life and now it was finally happening.
The giant flower wheels had been installed on the grass-covered stairway and they were bright with honeysuckle and jasmine. I stepped through them, walking down into the haven I'd created for the man I loved so much.
I’d told him about this garden while we were in the jacuzzi together, while he lay against my chest and I held him close.
I’d told him about the honeysuckle grass, about the waves of forget-me-nots and pansies.
I’d told him about the cherry tree overlooking the koi carp pond, and about the plinth that would sit in the centre adorned by bleeding hearts, the plant of my mother, the plant of my heart.
My heart had bled for him so many times.
The last time I'd been here, an obsidian statue of a bleeding heart had sat in the centre of the garden, the garden that Alfie had left to rot and die after we separated. But now it was gone and in its place was the beginning of my garden.
My flowers and plants had been introduced and most were in full bloom.
The cherry tree had taken root but it would be years before it reached the height of its beauty.
The pond, big enough to swim in, had been built and filled with water lilies.
The fish I knew would come later when all the work was done and there was nothing left to disturb them.
I wrapped my arms around myself and stood there in the dappled sunlight, basking in the beauty, in the deep love that had created this place.
I knew then, as surely as I knew my own name, that I would marry Alfie here. Not in a church, or a courthouse, or some expensive private club, but here, where our love had begun.
Our first kiss had been here. The first kiss of our marriage should be here too.
With reluctance, I returned to my companions who were waiting patiently, if not a little awkwardly with each other.
The day was wearing on and I let Riley lead me to the house.
I was just as awed by the interior of it now as I had been years ago.
I felt as though I had stepped back through time into an old regency novel.
To my left I could see the gold ballroom, I remembered the painted ceiling from the first time I’d been in here and Alfie had asked me so intently if I’d liked it.
As Riley led me up the grand oak staircase, I felt like I was walking with ghosts of my own.
I’d forgotten how much of mine and Alfie’s story had been written here.
Our laughter and anger and breathless cries of pleasure echoed everywhere.
I followed Riley through the maze of hallways until we reached the west wing.
I don't know why I’d thought I’d be staying in a simple room.
Of course Alfie had arranged a private wing for my visit.
When Harrington officially opened as a hotel, I imagined these would be the most expensive rooms for the most expensive visitors, but for now they were mine.
The wing consisted of a bedroom, bathroom, a sitting room and a small library with a desk to work at.
The rooms were decorated in a soft cream with deep green accents and plush rugs.
Of course, Alfie had arranged for vases of bleeding hearts to be scattered about the place.
The bed was large enough to fit four people and in the sitting area were deep green velvet couches.
There was a small reading area and a very comfortable window seat overlooking the grounds, including the trees hiding our Evergarden.
I smiled as I looked around. I’d be happy living here.
Maia had her own room close by and she left to settle in and get some rest after her drive.
I unpacked and once my closet was full and I’d explored the rooms with the giddy excitement of a little girl, I sat in the bay window, staring out at the cluster of trees where our garden was hidden.
It was a few hours before I was due to be at my old home and in this place, of course my thoughts wandered to Alfie.
I wanted him. I always wanted him, but I especially wanted him now. It felt wrong to be here without him.
I pulled out my phone and sent him a text, telling him that I missed him. As always, he replied almost immediately. Just ask, I'll come to you.
It was tempting. So tempting. But Alfie had an empire to run and I had work to do. We would have to exercise a little self-control. I told him I would see him this weekend, then I put my phone away. I still had some exploring to do.
Enjoying the break from having Maia on my heels, I explored every inch of the interior of Harrington House. I found the office where Alfie had once teased me to tears and we'd eaten Chinese food.
I found the room that was now newly decorated, but once had been covered in dust sheets, where we'd made raw, passionate love.
I went up to the roof where we’d had our very first meeting together with Riley.
Where Alfie had watched me and every word that I spoke.
Where he had been so annoyed by the squeaking of my chair and I'd squeaked it more just to annoy him further. He'd offered to take me to Paris, he’d tried to seduce me and I’d asked him what kind of girl he took me for.
I smiled thinking about it. I'd known then, from the second that I met him that my life had been u-turned in a new direction but I’d had no idea just how wild that ride would be.