Complete Indelible Love Series

by Cee, DW

  “Go slowly and explain everything.”

  “While talking to the men at Reid Place, I thought it might be a good idea to start planning our wedding. I knew you’d pick either the villa or the castle. Once we got to talking with Nick and Bee, I believed you wouldn’t mind if I planned our wedding. In fact, you appeared taken with the idea of your groom surprising you with a wedding.”

  “OK...”

  “However, I do understand that you are a premiere wedding planner and what I come up with might not suit your fancy. With that in mind, I enlisted your helpers to plan your dream wedding.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “You know, your legion of men—Andre, Pietro, Frank, and Adnan? They’re all in Fife right now coordinating to your liking, hopefully.”

  “What? But how? How did you find them?”

  “Easy. I called Katie, your assistant.”

  “How’d you know who my assistant was? How’d you even know I had an assistant?”

  “Simple. I called your office. I know your body is here with me, but I do hear you making calls to your employees. I figured if I called your office and explained my plan, everyone would be on board to help me. I wasn’t wrong. There were so many men and women who offered to help, I put Katie in charge of enlisting everyone.”

  “You are...just too much...” My bride-to-be was breaking down. “What am I to do? How do I accept something this generous and thoughtful and awesome?”

  “Well, it would’ve been even more awesome had you walked into your wedding without knowing a thing. Considering you’re carrying my child, and considering you were fretting about being barefoot and pregnant at your own wedding, I thought the kinder thing to do would be to clue you in on the plan. I know you can be a bit of a control freak. You might want a say in your own wedding.”

  “Michael.” This was where she bawled. “I’m so happy!” With the way she was crying, she didn’t appear happy. “I can’t believe you went through all this for me.”

  “For you and for us, Chlo-No. This is how much I love you. This is just the beginning of how much I’ll love you the rest of my life.”

  “Michael,” the crying wouldn’t abate, “all those years I felt sorry for myself, wondering if I’d ever find my happily-ever-after. I can’t tell you how grateful I am you called and forced me to meet with you in Paris. Thank you.”

  I held her until she stopped weeping. “Thank you for giving me a second chance. I just wish I would’ve gotten my act together sooner.”

  “All will be perfect now that we’re together, Michael.”

  “If you’re ready, Mrs. Bennington, I believe the plane has landed and we need to pick up some of our belongings, not to mention your new family.”

  “I’m ready.”

  We drove to my home first and packed a few more bags for our trip to Fife. Chloe’s belongings were at her parents’ and they had offered to bring them to the wedding.

  We still had a few more topics of discussion to finish. “What do you want to do about our living situation after we’re married? You also need to tell me where you want to go for our honeymoon.”

  “Honeymoon? The last two months have been no different than a honeymoon. I don’t think we need to head anywhere after the wedding.”

  “Then what would you like to do?”

  “Who will be attending the wedding? Will it be your family and mine?”

  “Yes, plus all our newfound family and some friends and colleagues. I had Katie invite some of your friends and colleagues as well. You can ask her for the invite list and add more people.”

  “When you say newfound family, are we talking the Reids, Taylors, and Davises?”

  “Who else?”

  “You mean they’re all coming back? But, they were just with us. How can they make it to Scotland?”

  “Chlo-No, haven’t you discovered how tight they are as a family? They’ve enveloped us in their fold; we have no chance of escaping. They, as in the entire family, will be at our wedding—kids and all!” Chloe’s delight was wonderful to watch. “Speaking of kids, do you want anyone at the altar with us? I asked Niles to be my groomsman. I assume you’ll ask your sister and Rubes. Do we want to see if Lilah wants to be a flower girl and ask one of your nephews to be a ring bearer?”

  “That would be perfect, Michael. Why don’t you call and ask her?”

  I did just that. Laney answered the phone and immediately put Lilah on speaker.

  “Hello, Lilah. How are you today?”

  “Fine, Uncle Michael. How are you today?”

  “It’s a great day now that I get to talk to you. Have you been a good girl or have you been fighting with your brothers again?”

  She giggled. “I don’t fight with them. They pick fights with me. They bug.”

  “What will you do when you get another brother or sister?”

  “I won’t. Daddy says I’ll be his baby forever.”

  “You think so, huh?”

  “I know so!” she insisted.

  “Are you ready to come visit me in Scotland?”

  “Is this the castle Mommy told us about? Will I be a real princess when I sleep in your castle?” she asked excitedly.

  “Aren’t you always a princess?”

  “Yes, but Auntie Bee is making me a boooootiful princess dress. I’m going to be as bootiful as Sleeping Beauty.”

  “I think you’re even more bootiful than Aurora.”

  “How did you know her name?” she asked in amazement.

  This girl was the epitome of cute. I couldn’t wait to have one in the likeness of my future wife.

  “I’m calling because I have a question for you, Lilah.”

  “OK. I have a question for you, too.” Before either one of us could ask, she said, “No, I have two questions for you, Uncle Michael.”

  “All right. You first.”

  “Do the beds in your castle have a pea under each mattress? I don’t want to be an uncomfortable princess. I need my booty sleep.”

  She was just too much. “I promise you there will be no peas in the castle at all—not even for dinner. Would that be all right?”

  “Uh-huh,” she answered in a nasally tone. “The next question is...” she hesitated then asked, “Will there be a present waiting for me when I come to your castle?”

  “Delilah Rose Taylor!” I heard Laney scold. “We do not ask people for presents.”

  “I’m not asking, Mom. I’m only reminding Uncle Michael.” There was so much sass in her tone, I knew Laney would have another word or two for her. Whatever she wanted to say would have to wait. Lilah continued with, “He told me there would be another bracelet waiting for me if I came to visit him.”

  “I think you need to get off the phone so we can have a little chat.”

  “But Mommy, Uncle Michael says he has a question for me. Please, Mommy. Can I listen to his question? It would be rude not to give him an answer.”

  I heard the sigh. It was my turn to help. “Laney, this will only take a moment and Chloe and I really do have a question for Lilah.”

  “All right.” The resignation was hilarious.

  “First of all, I do have something shiny for you when you visit my castle.”

  “Hurray!” Lilah yelled.

  “And, if you’ll agree to be our flower girl at our wedding, I might have two shiny somethings for you.”

  “Flower girl???” she asked with maximum excitement before screaming, “Finally! It’s my turn. It’s always Ellie who gets to be a flower girl, never me. Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!”

  “I think you just made her year, Michael.” Laney stated the obvious.

  “So I guess that’s a yes, Lilah?” Suddenly it got very quiet. “Lilah?” I repeated.

  “How about three shiny somethings? Then, I can be your flower girl.” The mother of this precocious child was mortified as I was howling. “Momma. Don’t shake your head.” She told her mom.
“This is called negotiating. Daddy told me all about it and said I’d make a fine lawyer one day. What’s your answer Uncle Michael?”

  “My answer is...” I chose to play chicken to see who’d cave first. Lilah stayed quiet on her end too. Comically, I had lost to the will power of a five-year-old. “I think that when you come visit my castle, there will be a small jewelry box with many shiny somethings. Is that a good enough answer, Lilah Taylor?”

  “Uh-huh Uncle Michael. You have yourself a deal!”

  To think—I was “girl”-handled by a five-year-old. What an entertaining day.

  What a perfect wedding this would be.

  Chloe: Baby Celebration

  “We’re going to be sisters! I knew it. I’d always known you and I would be siblings one day.”

  “I thought so too when I was younger, Rubes. But the last ten years, I doubted I’d be anyone’s wife.”

  “Thank God my brother came to his senses. He’s changed since you agreed to marry him. He’s more carefree and the smile is never-ending.”

  “I’m so happy, Ruby. I don’t know that I’ve ever been this happy!” I declared.

  We had all been in Fife for a few days planning my wedding. It was unreal that I was getting married—and to Michael! We were also expecting a baby! My life was a series of exclamation marks.

  “You’re awfully relaxed for a bride about to get married. You really aren’t going to have a say in your wedding?”

  “I decided to trust all my friends. By now, they know what I like. Since your brother planned this as a surprise, I decided to be surprised till the very end.”

  “Wow. That’s pretty amazing considering I know how much you like control.”

  “I know, huh? It’s not good for me to stress out so the best thing to do would be to let it all go.”

  My future sister-in-law stared at me. “Who are you?” she asked with a giggle.

  “I’ll be Mrs. Bennington in a few days, and about seven to eight months after that, I’m going to be a mommy.”

  It took Ruby a few seconds to process all that information. “You’re what?” she yelled.

  I whispered, “I’m pregnant. Michael and I are having a baby at the end of summer.”

  “MUM! DAD!” This yell was even louder.

  “What’s the matter with you?” My future mother-in-law hissed. “You’ll wake Sarabeth.”

  “Do you both already know that you’re having another grandchild?”

  “You’re pregnant again, already?”

  “Mum!” Ruby’s impatience fed their curiosities. “Not me. Chloe and Michael. They’re having a baby!”

  Mayhem descended upon the room. Sarabeth started howling in protest. Ruby appeased her daughter by rocking her.

  “Chloe! We’re so happy for you.” Michael’s mother couldn’t decide between hugging me and caressing my stomach/her unborn grandchild. “We didn’t think Michael would ever settle down and have kids. I can’t believe we’re going to have another baby in the family.”

  “You’re not disappointed that we did this backwards?”

  Ruby answered for her parents. “Do they appear disappointed? They went from scolding me for almost waking up my baby to jerking her awake, themselves. I can see whose child will be the favorite already.”

  Michael’s dad said, “This wedding will be a double celebration. When are your parents arriving? I can’t wait to tell them.”

  “Tell us what?” I heard my father ask. Shoot! I thought I’d have some time to prepare them for this shocking news.

  “Mum. Dad. You’re early.”

  Michael understood my dilemma and cleared the room for us.

  “Hello, Dear. We are ecstatic that you and Michael are finally tying the knot!” Mum declared. “Are you ready for your big day?”

  “I am. You know this is a dream come true for me. We are both excited for the future.”

  “What’s the big news you have for us, Chloe?”

  This was seriously difficult. “Well...Michael and I are having...I am kinda...UGH...!” There was no better way to do this. I decided to stop the pain with a quick response. “I’m pregnant. Michael and I are expecting a baby toward the end of summer.” It was done. I couldn’t look my parents in the eyes.

  As expected, they were quiet. Damn! I knew they’d be disappointed. “Did you say you were pregnant?” Mum asked.

  “Yes. I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you and Dad. Michael and his family are thrilled, so I’d be grateful if you hid your disappointment from them.”

  “Oh, Honey. We’re not disappointed,” Mum stated with a hug. “Your father and I are just surprised.”

  “I know how old-fashioned you are and I know this isn’t the best scenario days before my wedding.”

  “Chloe.” Mum continued the embrace. “I didn’t think you’d ever get married. We’re ecstatic with the wedding and even more so with news of a baby.”

  “You are?” I couldn’t believe it.

  “We are.” Dad agreed with Mom.

  “I know women are having babies later and later, but at your age, the chances of you getting pregnant are slimmer. The fact that you got pregnant immediately is a blessing. We’re going to have another grandchild!” Mum spoke, but it was Dad’s turn to hug me.

  “Michael is betting that we’re having a girl.”

  “Girl or boy, we’ll just pray for healthy.”

  “So you’re both all right with the pregnancy?”

  Surprisingly, they laughed at me. Dad declared, “We are more than all right. Now let’s go see how we can help with this wedding.”

  That was easier than I imagined. Who knew my parents were liberals when it came to having grandchildren? Something about this wedding had everyone in the best mood.

  Michael: Bachelor Celebration

  “Are you ready to become a married man?”

  “He’s already knocked up the bride. He better be ready.”

  “Like you’re one to talk, best friend.”

  One minute I was quietly having coffee in my office. The next minute, Jake and Donovan were sitting next to me behaving as if they’d been there the entire time.

  “How do you feel?” Donovan asked. “I was damn stressed on my wedding day.”

  Jake countered with, “That’s because you showed up the morning of your wedding. We had no time for a bachelor party for you.”

  “Yeah but what could I do? That damn company wouldn’t sell until the very last minute. Though, that was money for our house on the cul-de-sac, so it was all worth it.”

  “You ready for your bachelor party?” The conversation turned back to me.

  “Um...I didn’t know I was having one, Jake.”

  “I guess you’re still new to the Reid traditions. Since Harry married Estelle, you’re now a part of our traditions. Let me fill you in.”

  This explanation happened with all of us in a car heading to who knew where? “Where are we going, Chaps?” I asked Jake, Donovan, Max, Nick, Niles, Adair, and Ron.

  Jake explained, “We thought you might like a little rematch at the Old Course. We’re driving to St. Andrews for your bachelor party.”

  That sounded awesome. “You mean, you and Donovan want a rematch? I believe it was your game to lose and you lost it?”

  “It was that wife of mine who made us lose. She played mental games with us and we fell for her ploy.”

  “No Laney this time?” I asked. “She plays a mean game of golf. I assume she’s not as good as she used to be?” Jake, Donovan, Max, and Nick chuckled at the question. “What’s so funny?”

  Nick talked this time. “My freakishly talented cousin still has a single handicap and tried her damnedest to attend both your party and Chloe’s. She begged Gram to move Chloe’s bachelorette celebration to tomorrow so she could join us today.”

  “I assume Gram said no?”

  “To my wife’s chagrin, the answer was a flat out no.”
<
br />   I joined the men in their laughter. “So what are the women doing today?”

  “Gram usually takes all the girls out for a spa day and somewhere during that time, she’ll take Chloe shopping and buy her all new lingerie,” Jake explained. “Be ready to see Chloe in some skimpy negligees. I hate to admit this but Gram is spot-on with lingerie.”