Chapter 57
57
Libby didn’t think she’d ever seen a happier newly-wed couple as Harriet and Joe.
She watched as Harriet beamed from ear to ear as she sipped her champagne and hung on to Joe with her other hand, staring around as if she couldn’t quite believe that it was her wedding day.
Libby had to admit that Katy had outdone herself with the decorations for the wedding reception in Platform 1, with Flora’s artistic help, of course. In the early evening, it looked magical, with fairy lights twinkling from every corner of the waiting room and sprigs of lavender dipped in silver glitter glistening from crystal vases on every table.
Relaxed conversation and laughter floated all around her as their friends and family enjoyed the happy atmosphere. The drinks were flowing and everyone had enjoyed Ryan’s delicious Italian cuisine. Libby thought it had been one of the best meals that she had ever eaten.
In fact, the ambience was so relaxed that nobody minded too much when Paddington the dog helped himself to a large chunk of the amazing wedding cake that Maggie had made, which was thankfully only Victoria sponge. He was now hiding in semi-disgrace under one of the tables, but his golden tail was thumping along to the soft music playing over the speakers.
Libby found her eyes searching out Ethan’s across the crowded room, laughing at something that Nico had just said. She sighed with contentment, still reeling from Ethan’s declaration of love. Had that really happened? Had he really, finally, told her that he loved her and that they were together for all time? The smile that she could feel on her face confirmed that he most definitely had.
‘Well, look at you, Libby Jacobs, smiling and happy at a wedding,’ said Flora as she came up to give Libby a nudge with her elbow.
‘I know,’ added Katy, as she joined them. ‘It’s like she’s changed into a whole different person. Evil twin swap, do you think?’
‘Overdosed on too much cocoa, I reckon,’ replied Flora. ‘Is there such a thing as too much chocolate?’
‘Possibly, but what a way to go,’ said Harriet, coming to join them.
‘Can’t I just enjoy my best friend’s wedding?’ Libby told them, laughing as she drew them into a group hug.
‘Miss Cynical, can’t stand romance, hit it with a shovel and bury it in the back garden Jacobs?’ Katy laughed.
‘Yeah, her enjoying a wedding?’ added Flora. ‘Sounds fishy to me.’
Libby rolled her eyes but was smiling as they all giggled with their arms around each other.
‘Only one thing can make a person smile like that,’ said Harriet, glancing at her wedding ring before looking back at Libby. ‘Love.’
They all looked at her expectantly and Libby couldn’t help but throw her hands up in the air in resignation.
‘Fine! You win!’ she told them. ‘I love Ethan Connolly and he loves me!’
She was suddenly aware that she must have said it far too loudly as the room came to an abrupt halt as everyone looked over to her group of friends.
‘Now you’ve done it,’ murmured Flora, even though she was smiling.
But Libby found that she didn’t care. There were only two people in the room whose reactions she cared about.
She found the first as she looked around, saw her dad seated nearby and knew from his expression that he had definitely heard her declaration of love. He nodded his head as they locked eyes before smiling warmly and raising the champagne glass in his hand at her.
Libby sighed with relief. It was his blessing and she was grateful for his love and support.
She was about to look around for Ethan but found she didn’t need to as he suddenly materialised next to her.
‘Weren’t we just going to pretend to be really good friends for now?’ he asked her, with a grin.
She took his hand and pulled him close to her. ‘How about friends that kiss?’ she told him.
In the soft light, she saw his eyes gleam as he stepped forward to take her in his arms. His head dropped down to hers and their kiss was just as sweet as all the others that had come before.
Except this time it appeared to come with a round of applause and whooping, she realised as they drew apart.
But she couldn’t stop smiling as he took her hand. ‘Shall we take this private exchange outside for a moment?’ he asked.
‘Absolutely,’ she told him as he led her away. ‘Back in five minutes!’ she announced.
They walked outside hand in hand and onto the platform. Shivering at the sudden blast of snowy cold air, she was grateful when he enveloped her into his jacket, wrapping around them both.
‘I can’t believe you kissed me in front of everyone,’ she told him, running her hands around to his back.
‘You were the one who declared our love to the world,’ he reminded her.
‘But they might have mistaken that for something else,’ she said. ‘Your act of kissing me was the deal-breaker.’
‘So I’ve got, what, thirty seconds until you break a marble slab over my head?’ he asked, bending down so that their foreheads touched.
‘It didn’t work the first time, did it?’ she replied, with a soft smile.
‘So what now?’ he asked.
‘Shut up and kiss me,’ she said.
Seconds later, Ethan did exactly as he was told.