New Zealand Brides Box Set

by Diana Fraser

  “Sure, I’m sure. I’ve been in touch with Kelly who assures me Laura has been waiting for the three months to be up. But when it happened she was scared you didn’t want her because you hadn’t contacted her.”

  “I was waiting for her. It was up to her.”

  Chelsey rolled her eyes. “You guys! So… what are you going to do?”

  Max didn’t answer but walked across to the laptop and typed out a one word reply and sent the email. He rose with a grin and rolled back on his heels, hands in his pockets, feeling the wedding ring which Laura had returned to him all those months ago. “Well,” he said to Chelsey. “What are you waiting for? You’ve another wedding to organize.”

  Outside the Queenstown Lodge, the avenue of cherry trees swayed in the spring breeze, shedding their abundant blossoms over the gray-white stone-flagged driveway.

  Last time she’d been here, the bare branches of the cherry trees had been white with snow. Laura couldn’t help remembering looking down on them from the upstairs bedroom, watching the snow collect and become heavy on their boughs, the night she’d made love with Max. It seemed every moment of that night was etched in her memory. And now, seeing the trees which were witness to that night, made her feel she was home again.

  She turned away from the window. Home. That was something she’d been running from for what seemed forever. Who’d have thought she’d find it thousands of miles away from the place of her birth, in the mountains, with a man who was as crazy as she was?

  “Laura!” called Kelly. “Please, just a little makeup? Think of the photos,” she pleaded.

  “No photos. I don’t want photos. And, no.” She smiled at the makeup artist, who’d just finished Kelly’s and Chelsey’s nails. “Really, no makeup.”

  “Well, if that’s how you want to play it…” said Kelly.

  “It is.” She smoothed down her white summer dress, its simplicity alleviated only by a lace trim and flirty cut. She peered into the mirror. She didn’t seem to have any problems looking at herself now. She smiled at her reflection and shook her hair. It fell back into place, unhampered by either hair spray or styling gel. Just straight with a bit of a kink in it so it flicked away from her face. It was shorter than she’d worn it last time she’d been in New Zealand. She’d decided on the short, choppy bob, as a statement of her new beginning. The child had gone; long live the woman.

  A woman who had never been more nervous. “Do you think my hair’s okay?”

  “Since when have you cared about your hair?” asked Kelly, giving it a brief glance.

  “Since I’m about to re-take my wedding vows. That’s when.”

  Kelly sighed and gave her a critical look. “I guess the best you could say is it looks natural. Chelsey, what do you think?”

  Chelsey finished persuading the make-up artist that the bride really didn’t want to wear any makeup. “Darling, you could wear a beehive or a onesie and Max would still think you looked fabulous. Although”—she glanced at Laura’s tanned arms and shoulders and low top—“on second thoughts, I think he’d be less pleased with a onesie.”

  Chelsey’s phone rang and she walked out the room, leaving Kelly alone with Laura.

  “Don’t forget your shoes,” said Kelly, indicating the flat ballet pumps Laura had decided on.

  Laura glanced at the neglected shoes and frowned.

  Kelly came and sat down and slipped her arm around Laura and gave her a hug. “What’s the matter? Aren’t you happy?”

  “I don’t know. I think so. I mean, of course I am. Oh Kelly, am I doing the right thing?”

  “What do you mean? You love Max, don’t you?”

  “Of course I do. You know I do. Not a day, or night, has passed when he hasn’t been front and center of my thoughts. I love him, like I’ve never loved anyone else. I love him like he’s a part of me. I love him like, together we’ll be better, like he’ll make my life bigger if I’m with him.”

  “Then you’ve answered your question.”

  “But does he love me?”

  “He told you so, didn’t he?”

  “Yeah, right before he told me to leave and not contact him for three months.”

  Kelly waved her hand dismissively. “Phh! That? That’s not about him not loving you! That’s about him being as daft as you and giving you the space to think things through.” Kelly leaned into the mirror and smudged away a dab of errant mascara before sitting back and checking the results critically. “Besides, he agreed to all of this, didn’t he?”

  “Yes, but…” Laura rose and paced across the room before turning and pacing back again.

  Kelly sighed. “But what?”

  Laura stopped pacing. “But maybe I should have seen him, talked to him before the ceremony. Maybe I shouldn’t have relied so much on what Rachel told me.”

  “About how Max cried like a baby in the hospital? Of course you should. It proved that whatever he might say or not say, he adores you. Laura, don’t worry! He loves you and you love him and you’ll live happily ever after.” The phone rang and Kelly answered it.

  Laura paced to the window and looked out. Was Kelly’s glib response right? Laura knew she loved Max. With each passing day that knowledge had grown.

  When she’d first returned to the US, she’d thrown herself into becoming strong physically. Thanks to the physiotherapy and the gym, she was now stronger than ever. Thanks to her parents and friends she was stronger emotionally.

  During the long evenings out on the porch of their San Francisco home, she and her parents had talked like they’ve never talked before. Their lives had been unraveled and opened up for inspection. It had been hard for all of them to talk over what had happened to Laura—her illness, her subsequent, relentless traveling, her fame—but talk they had, until they’d finally lain to rest the old ghosts which had haunted their relationships. And once the wound had been opened it had healed cleanly.

  Now, as Laura looked out to the garden, where Jim Connelly stood talking to her father, and her mother looked slightly bemused as she listened to some story of Amber’s, Laura finally felt she’d arrived. Max had been right. She had needed that time to herself to put her life in order. She’d owed that much to him, that when they did get together it was for the right reasons.

  Her breath caught in her throat, and she clutched her necklace as Max came up to his father and put his arm around him. Seems she wasn’t the only one healing family rifts. Jim’s face widened into a beam as he continued to talk to Laura’s father who stood quietly listening.

  It was the first time she’d seen Max since her arrival early that morning. His hair was longer. Somehow it shocked her. She’d imagined him a certain way over the last three months, and he’d changed. Stupid, she chided herself. Nothing stood still, not ever. She’d changed her hairstyle after all. And that was only a part of it. Fear gripped her stomach. If she’d changed, then so, maybe, had he. And if so, how? Had his feelings toward her changed at all?

  As her traitorous thoughts niggled at her, her hungry eyes sought every detail of his appearance, from his open-necked shirt—at her request, she sighed at the thought of his chest, warm against her lips—to his casual stone chinos. He was tanned from the hot New Zealand sun, and, as he looked over, toward something or someone standing near her window, she could see his intense tawny eyes. She swayed and gripped the stone windowsill. There would be hot times, tempestuous times, but there would be a lot of loving, a lot of fun, and ultimately, a future she couldn’t be without.

  The door opened and Kelly popped her head round. “Ready?”

  Laura didn’t turn around immediately, but continued looking at Max. “Ready? Definitely.”

  * * *

  It wasn’t exactly as Max had imagined as he looked around the grassy mountainside above which snow still lingered. Snowdrops and early mountain flowers trembled and swayed in the fresh breeze. Beneath the lone tree stood a marriage celebrant and a small gathering of people. A quick scan showed that Laura had yet to app
ear. His nerves hitched up a notch.

  He knew she’d arrived that morning but hadn’t seen her. Despite her withdrawal from the limelight, she couldn’t avoid publicity. There was a buzz around the place since her arrival which had nothing to do with his nerves and all to do with Laura. He reckoned it would always be that way.

  He went and spoke to his father, his brothers and sisters before taking his place. This wasn’t a wedding. It was a renewal of vows. But it was the real wedding. There was no sign of Laura’s entourage. Then he heard that laugh and he turned to see Laura and Kelly walking up the hill. Laura radiated sunlight. There were bright flowers in her hair and she wore a long flowing dress and was barefoot. She waved to Max and all of Max’s fears and doubts vanished. He was only aware of her, her unwavering gaze fixed on him, her smile answering his.

  She came closer, and her hand reached out and clasped his. This was real, then, he thought, as they both turned, unable to tear their eyes from one another.

  “You’re here,” she said with a smile. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

  “It’s not every day I receive a proposal of marriage from my wife.”

  He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. The wind blew her hair into her face. She pushed it behind her ears. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, just as he liked, just as she liked.

  The music stopped and the marriage celebrant began to speak. Max was hardly aware of what was being said, only that Laura was here, beside him, holding his hand, and looking healthier and stronger than he’d ever seen her. It was as if a light had been turned on in his heart. The marriage celebrant coughed and both Max and Laura looked at her.

  “Laura,” prompted the celebrant.

  “Oh, right!” Laura laughed.

  The small group of friends and family who surrounded them burst out laughing.

  “Max,” she said squeezing his hand. “This has come as something of a surprise, I know, but there are things I want to say, with everyone who is important to us around us.” She took a deep breath. “Our last marriage was a sham. And I’m sorry about that. I’m not saying I regret it, because I don’t. After all, without it, we wouldn’t be here.” She bit her lip. “But it was a sham nonetheless. And I want to start afresh. I want this ceremony to be special, not just for us, but for all our loved ones.”

  Max looked around at his beaming family and friends. “It is special.” He pushed a stray lock of hair back from her face. “You’ve made it special.”

  “When I’m with you, I feel special.” She tried to rein in the soppy grin which she knew was forming, and concentrate. “I told you once that you should simply take my love, that it would be easier for us both. And you said—”

  “That your heart, your love, was yours to give. I couldn’t take it from you. I’ll never take anything from you that’s not freely given.”

  “I see that now. I understand. You gave me space to understand and that’s yet another reason why I love you, and always will. And I want to say to you now, all those things which we didn’t say last time, which we can say now, because I—”

  “We,” interrupted Max.

  “Because we mean them. Max, I pledge to love you and be faithful to you, for better or worse, forever. Max?”

  Max hadn’t prepared anything. He’d wondered what form the ceremony was going to take, but it seemed informal was the order of the day. Just as well.

  “Laura, I think I loved you the moment I set eyes on you. It probably took me a couple of weeks to know for sure and from that moment on, I’ve been yours and I want you to be mine. But I know you needed space to recover, to get well again, to become strong again and you have. And now you’re here, I want our families and friends to know that I adore you, and will always do my best to make you happy.”

  There was a general sniffing and clearing of throats by their families and friends before the celebrant spoke again. But the words were lost on Max and Laura who had said all they needed to say to each other

  He bent down and kissed her gently, before pulling away, and retrieving the ring from his pocket.

  “Laura, with Dad’s blessing I give you my mother’s ring. If she were here, she’d have more than approved of what we’re doing today. Her life was about love and this ring”—he held it up in the sunlight—“bears testament to that.”

  He pushed the ring onto her finger which now went smoothly, her body no longer rebelling against her ailing heart. He brushed her cheek and she stood on tiptoes and kissed him. He caught her in his arms and the kiss deepened. Finally they pulled away and were aware of everyone cheering and clapping.

  “I don’t think we’re going to be in this marriage on our own,” murmured Max.

  “No, we’ve our families—”

  “Friends–”

  “And let’s not forget Telltale Girl!”

  As they walked down the wild flower meadow to the Lodge, Max asked. “Did you ever discover Telltale Girl’s identity?”

  Laura shook her head. “Uh-uh. But whoever she is, wherever she is, she’s one true friend. Like Kelly, over there.” Laura laughed. “Even if she is glued to her phone. No doubt telling the world about the wedding.”

  “Come on, the sooner the dinner is over with, the sooner the family’s gone to bed happy—”

  “Then we can go to bed—”

  “And be very happy,” said Max with a suggestive raised brow.

  But they hadn’t progressed far before someone passed Laura her phone. “She’s done it again! Telltale Girl has commented on your second wedding.”

  Laura took the phone and glanced at the message:

  “The lovely Laura’s second wedding to the handsome Max went without a hitch, so Telltale Girl understands. And Telltale Girl is especially touched to hear that Laura gratefully acknowledged Yours Truly for her encouragement into marriage. My reply to Laura is that Telltale Girl is truly ecstatic to see Laura happy again.”

  Laura laughed and was about to give the phone back before something struck her and she looked at the message once more. “The time! That’s only thirty seconds ago.” She looked up at the small group of people who had been the only witnesses to the wedding. “But no one here…” Her voice trailed off as she watched Kelly grin to herself and slip her phone back in her bag.

  Kelly? Laura was stunned. Could her best friend really have begun this whole journey for Laura? Could she really have continued to prod and push Laura forward when she least wanted to? Could it have been Kelly who had made Laura face the future with a strength that she hadn’t known she had, but which Kelly—aka Telltale Girl—obviously believed in?

  Laura fingered the heart locket her best friend had given her when she was recovering from rheumatic fever. Kelly gave her a friendly wave and a warm smile. Of course it was her. Who else would want her to be truly happy, who else would make her face her emotional side—the part of her she’d been avoiding her whole adult life? Who else but her dearest friend? And she’d repay her. She’d make sure, in turn, that Kelly found someone like she’d found Max.

  “Laura!” Max turned from talking to his father, his hand still firmly encasing hers. “Are you ready?”

  “Are you kidding? I think I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment.”

  “Strange. Dad said much the same thing about me.”

  “What did he say?”

  “That I’ve been treading water, but that now the journey’s about to begin.”

  “I think he’s right,” she said, falling into step beside Max, while the people she loved walked beside and behind them, down the flower strewn meadow, ringed with mountains, to her new home below.

  It had only just begun alright.

  Epilogue

  “I know when I’m no longer needed! But what’s next for TellTaleGirl? Another project, maybe?” @TellTaleGirl #theend

  “That’s it! Eighteen thousand feet! Ready?”

  Laura nodded and passed her oxygen mask to the crew member. She gave the thumbs up to the pilot and
jumped. The sudden rush of air nearly winded her. She fell through the air at over a hundred miles per hour in an ecstasy of fear, awe and excitement. She’d parachuted many times but always solo, and never this high. She looked around and suddenly Max came into vision. He maneuvered himself, and reached out and grabbed her hand.

  She swung around and took his other hand. For thirty seconds, there was only her and Max, their bodies flat against the wind, holding onto each other as the earth rushed rapidly towards them. She looked down at the world which was getting bigger with each passing second, and marveled at the beauty of the land below them—the distant mountains, the bright blue flashes of lakes, snaking rivers and the towns like toys nestled into the folds of the valleys. Then she looked back into his eyes and saw another whole world of which she knew she’d never tire.

  Then it was time. They separated and pulled their parachutes open and their hurtling descent was suddenly halted by the sheltering umbrella of silk overhead. Time slowed and they each steered themselves to better admire the beauty of the land below them and each other. In the form of a graceful dance, they descended and returned to earth. Max landed first and then Laura, who ran straight into his arms.

  “Okay?” he asked.

  “That was fantastic!”

  “No cameras around to witness the highest group skydive in the world,” said Max as he swept his knuckles down her cheek and lifted her chin. “Does it lose some of its thrill, having only me here to witness it?”

  She enjoyed any opportunity to tease and so assumed a thoughtful expression. “You know, maybe you’re right. Maybe I should have tweeted about it. And maybe I should invite people into other aspects of my life… more personal ones. I’ve heard an audience can do wonders for one’s sex—”

  Before she could finish Max growled and pulled her hard against him and kissed her possessively, leaving her under no illusion as to his opinion on the matter.

  Eventually she pulled away with a sigh. “Or maybe not.”