A Wedding Long Awaited
Chapter forty-two
“Ilove this idea!” Harriet exclaimed as Christopher watched her and Jack walk arm in arm through the gardens toward the pavilion. “We should have done this. Don’t you think?”
Jack laughed, and Christopher wondered about Juliet’s newest brother-in-law.
Indeed, as stoic and stern as he sometimes seemed, the moment his fiery-haired wife was nearby, he seemed to transform.
To Christopher, it almost felt as though he were watching someone come alive.
It was a thought that echoed within him, for he, too, felt as though his life had only just begun.
Now.
With Juliet.
“Get married outside?” Jack asked, reaching out and twirling a fiery strand of Harriet’s hair around a finger.
He gazed down at her in a way that made Christopher smile, that made him feel absolutely certain that Harriet had indeed found her perfect match.
It was a look of utter devotion, of awe and disbelief, one that stated loud and clear that Jack knew how lucky he was to have Harriet by his side and that he would never even dream of taking her for granted.
“Yes, this is beautiful!” Harriet replied with a wide sweep of her arm.
She quickly winked at Christopher as she spotted him standing half-hidden behind the trunk of an old oak before quickly redirecting her attention toward her husband.
“Whenever I sneaked away to meet you, it was in a meadow, wasn’t it?
” She pushed closer, her hands sliding up his shoulders and snaking around his neck. “Our meadow.”
Inhaling a deep breath, Jack drew his wife closer. “Our meadow.”
“We should have gotten married there. Among the wildflowers.” A faraway look came to Harriet’s eyes, and she sighed deeply.
Christopher grinned as his gaze swept over their pavilion, Juliet’s and his.
No, there were no wildflowers here, especially not this time of year; however, the groves of trees randomly dotting the estate’s garden here and there looked all but aflame, most of their leaves colored a brilliant red, mingling with orange, brown and gold.
Heaps had already fallen to the ground while others still remained upon the branches above.
It was a beautiful sight, as though the world had put on its best for today’s occasion.
Bash and Sam were chasing each other through the leaves, tossing them about so that it almost appeared to be raining leaves.
Their laughter echoed across the garden, welcoming more and more Whickertons as they made their way outdoors.
Dressed warmly against the cold, their cheeks shone rosy and their eyes glowed with joy.
“I’m so happy for you, dear brother,” Nora told him when she arrived, a smile upon her lips and tears misting her eyes. “I know how long you’ve been waiting for this.” She embraced him, and he hugged her close.
“Thank you,” Christopher whispered, relieved that she had come. Mourning or not, this was his wedding day! And he needed her here!
“Mother understands,” Nora murmured as she pulled back and her eyes looked up into his. “Don’t worry. She understands. This is your day, and you need to do what feels right.”
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Christopher nodded, uncertain how to reply.
And so, he remained quiet, relieved to see Nora greet the Whickerton sisters after more than a year.
There was something hesitant in her demeanor, as though she was uncertain how she would be received after her long absence.
Yet Christopher was not surprised to see Harriet and Louisa pull her into their arms without a moment’s hesitation.
Drawing in a deep breath, Christopher moved toward the pavilion, casting smiles at all those already gathered there. Yet his mind replayed his sister’s words. Indeed, he had sent an invitation to Nora, but not to his mother. Of course, he ought to have, but he had not wanted to.
“Then don’t,” Juliet had said, not a hint of doubt in her brilliant green eyes.
“She will understand. I promise you. Too much has happened. Staring over takes time.” She had pulled him close then, enfolding him in her arms and the soft caresses of her fingers along the back of his neck had soothed away all Christopher’s concerns.
And she had been right, had she not? Had Nora not just told him that his mother understood? Was it true? Perhaps it was. Perhaps she truly knew that he could not enjoy his wedding day with the reminder of all that had happened staring at him.
Perhaps.
Christopher knew that that day would come that he would speak to his mother. But that day was not today. No, today he would marry Juliet. Finally! He ought to have married her years ago, and he would not wait another day.
Not one.
Everything else simply had to wait.
Juliet could not help but pinch herself, and a chuckle drifted from her lips as she saw the red spots dotting her arm.
Indeed, she had been pinching herself all morning, afraid that this day would prove to be nothing more than a dream.
Oh, how often had she dreamed of this! How often had she imagined the day she would marry Christopher!
Only to wake and feel as hollow as she had the moment she had closed her eyes.
“I assure you you are awake.”
Spinning around, Juliet found Leonora’s husband, Drake, standing in the doorway, his gray eyes watchful as he moved closer. He was a man who rarely smiled, rarely spoke; yet he had a way of seeing things other people missed. “Is it so obvious?” Juliet asked with a bashful smile.
The corners of Drake’s lips twitched. “Perhaps not. Perhaps I simply know the feeling.”
Juliet regarded him curiously, knowing that he had been the one who had helped Leonora banish her demons, who had seen her pain and known exactly what she had needed.
Indeed, he often appeared distant and even cold; however, beneath that reserved exterior beat a compassionate heart.
“You love her very much, do you not?” Juliet heard herself ask, surprised at her boldness; yet it seemed fitting.
Drake nodded slowly. “Yet every day I wake and for a moment I cannot believe that she is mine.” Awe swung in his voice, and Juliet knew Leonora had found a man like no other. “Your betrothed feels the same.”
Juliet blinked, and for a second, she forgot to breathe. “Do you…Do you truly believe so?”
“It is easy to see,” Drake assured her, a rare smile tugging upon his lips. “You’re his dream come true, and yet there are still moments he is reluctant to open his eyes for fear of seeing it snatched away.”
Inhaling a deep breath, Juliet nodded. Yes, she had observed that as well. Even more than herself, Christopher seemed fearful. Afraid to trust that she loved him, that he was worthy of love. His parents’ rejection had hurt him, broken something in him that still needed time to heal.
“Thank you,” Juliet said quietly, grateful for Drake’s assessment. She smiled up at him, feeling a new connection to the man, who barely said two words. “Thank you.”
Drake nodded in return.
“There you are!” came Leonora’s voice as she rushed into the room, the look upon her face quite different from the rather serene expression she often bore. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Her wide blue eyes moved from Juliet to her husband. “Is something wrong?”
Exchanging a look with Drake, Juliet smiled at her sister. "No, everything is wonderful.”
Leonora hesitated for a moment, clearly aware that something meaningful had passed between the other two. Then she grasped Juliet’s hands. “Well, then come quickly. They’re about to begin.”
Rather uncharacteristically, Drake chuckled. “Don’t fret, love. They can’t start without her. She’s the bride.”
Looking up at her husband, Leonora laughed. “I suppose you’re right.” She embraced Juliet. “Oh, I’m so happy for you.”
Juliet smiled, suddenly feeling inexplicably happy, as though the meaning of this day had only just sunk in. “Thank you, Leo. Why don’t you two go ahead? I’ll be right out. I promise.”
A knowing look came to Leonora’s face. “Very well.” She tugged a curl back behind Juliet’s ear. “You look beautiful.” Then she accepted her husband’s arm and, heads bent toward one another, they stepped outside.
Exhaling a deep breath, Juliet closed her eyes. This was it! Today was it! Her wedding day! In a few short moments, she would be Christopher’s wife! And he would be her husband!
Joy flooded Juliet’s being, and suddenly her feet moved, unable to wait a moment longer.
She flew outside, feeling the stiff wind sting her heated cheeks as she all but danced down the path toward the pavilion.
She glimpsed Leonora and Drake down the path from her and past them the rest of her family.
Laughter drifted to her ears, and she smiled as she saw Bash toss an armful of leaves at Sam.
The girl shrieked, leaves clinging to her curls in a deeply endearing way.
Juliet sighed. This was happiness, was it not? And then her gaze met Christopher’s, and she knew it to be true. This was it! The beginning of the rest of her life!
Of their life.
The smile that claimed Christopher’s lips the moment he beheld her told Juliet everything she needed to know. Indeed, this was a dream; but it was one she would never wake from.
Never.
This was a dream come true.
Finally!