Chapter 7
‘Glad that’s settled.’ Robin marked First Dance Song as done. ‘Right,’ he went on. ‘Got something else to show you.’ From the briefcase at his side, he pulled out a small paper-wrapped parcel. Putting it on the table in front of Jax, he watched her face melt into a puzzled frown.
Her hair, silver at the front, the rest a colour Robin had only ever been able to describe as mink, fell around her face as she looked down.
Jax’s hair always looked as though she’d walked through a windstorm.
It had been her hair that Robin had noticed first, all those years ago; that and her eyes, now the exact same colour as the silvery grey strands that framed her face.
‘What is it?’ she said.
‘Open it.’
Without waiting to be told twice, she ripped the paper away to reveal a tiny rectangular box in the shape of a coffin. Her eyes opened wider and her mouth made that tiny movement he knew meant she was biting her bottom lip. He watched her lift the lid and read the Gothic script on the inside.
I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine.
Jax had broached her plans for a Gothic Steampunk wedding months ago, had drawn together a Pinterest board of images that matched her vision.
Since then, the two of them had planned every detail together.
The black, red and gold colour scheme, the specially dyed black flowers for the arrangements and bouquets, the masks, feathers, mock skulls, clocks, keys and trails of lace that would decorate the tables.
‘What’s the text?’ she asked. ‘It’s beautiful but I don’t recognise it.’
‘It’s from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.’
Tears filled her eyes and she reached out a hand to grasp his. ‘God, I adore you.’
He swallowed. ‘I wasn’t sure they’d arrive on time, so I didn’t say anything. We can fill them with anything you like but I’d suggest cherry liqueurs with dark chocolate might work best. Right, have you written your vows yet?’
‘I have them in my bag.’
‘Want to run through them?’
Suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to hear Jax pledging a lifetime of devotion to him, right here and now.
‘No, they’re a surprise. How about you? You all set?’
‘Always.’
A text message alert sounded on Jax’s phone. She looked down. ‘I’ve got to go. Thanks so much, Robin.’
Every time she said goodbye something inside him died a little. He stood up when she did, so that she could kiss him.
She leaned in and kissed him on first one cheek then the other. ‘See you in church, gorgeous man. Love you.’
‘Love you too,’ he replied, knowing that he, at least, was speaking the absolute truth. Jax was his first love and his last. Love began and ended with her. It was that simple.
He watched her walk out of the restaurant.
She moved with such unconscious grace, drawing eyes as she went.
Outside in the street a blue BMW had pulled over, hazard lights flashing, holding up traffic.
The driver, a great-looking guy in his late forties, climbed out of his seat and met Jax as she strode across the pavement.
They kissed for long seconds before he turned and opened the passenger door for her.
As she disappeared inside, Jax’s fiancé, Neil, caught sight of Robin watching and gave him a mock salute.
In just a couple of weeks, Robin would officiate at their wedding. In over twenty years as a wedding planner and marriage celebrant, it would be the first time he’d do so while his heart was being ripped in two.
As he waited for the bill, he went through the post that had arrived that morning.
His heart stopped when he saw the classy-looking cream envelope with embossed italic script and the postmark indicating it had come from a firm of solicitors.
What fresh hell was this? He almost didn’t open it, but inside was something small but heavy that was sliding around. Curious, Robin pulled it open.
This is your token. Keep it safe. Tell no one. On the event of my death, it entitles you to an equal share of my wealth. Good luck.
Logan Quick