‘I’ve sort of made an appointment for us,’ he admits. ‘I thought you wouldn’t mind. I can’t really cancel now.’
‘Oh, Aiden.’
‘Half an hour,’ he pleads.
‘I can’t get on the Tube, I’m all poshed up. I haven’t really got time to get changed again.’
‘Stay as you are. It’ll be fine. Jump in a taxi.’
‘Are you changed and ready for Nadia’s party? Then we can come straight back here.’
‘I will be,’ he promises.
I give in. It’s so rare that he actually asks me to do anything for him that I can’t really argue; it must be something essential.
‘OK. Where are you?’
He gives me the address and I jot it down. ‘I’ll be there in ten minutes, if I can hail a cab easily.’
‘I love you,’ he says. ‘See you soon.’
I hang up. Now I’m really stressing. And it was all going so well. I have a quick whizz round the room. Is there anything I’ve forgotten to do? I don’t think so.
Oh, I wonder why this couldn’t wait? Then I smile to myself. I know exactly what Crush has done. I’m onto his game. I bet you a pound he’s found premises where we could have our own café. Grinning to myself, I dash out into the street and wave frantically at the first cab I see.
Chapter Sixty-Four
The taxi pulls up at my destination. I see Crush waiting for me on the pavement on the other side of the road. He looks so handsome in his smart grey suit that my stomach flips. He’s really pushed the boat out for Nadia’s party. I thought he might just rock up in his jeans and a decent shirt. But no. He’s really gone to town. His hair is freshly washed and I watch him as he runs a hand anxiously through it and paces up and down.
Fumbling with my change, I settle the taxi fare. ‘Thanks, love,’ the driver says. ‘Enjoy the wedding.’
I look blankly at him and then he drives away and leaves me standing there.
It’s only then that I realise Crush is outside the register office we’d previously booked for our ceremony and my mouth goes dry. When I glance up, Crush is grinning broadly across at me and I hitch up my skirt and weave my way through the traffic to reach him.
‘Hi,’ he says, bashful.
I take in the beautiful Georgian building that’s so familiar. ‘Is this what I think it is?’
‘If you think that you’re going to be marrying me in . . . ’ Crush checks his watch, ‘ . . . ten minutes, then yes.’
I feel as if all of my breath has been knocked out of me and put a hand to my chest. ‘You’re kidding me?’
‘No.’
Throwing my arms round his neck, I whisper, ‘Thank you. Thank you.’
‘You’re not cross?’
‘No. Why would I be? This is the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to me.’
Crush blows out a wavering breath. ‘You don’t know how relieved I am to hear that.’
‘So the party at Chocolate Heaven, that’s going to be our wedding reception?’
He smiles. ‘Yeah.’
‘Nadia knows?’
‘She does and I don’t think she minds one bit that we’ve hijacked it. Cunning, eh?’
Almost as cunning as one of my own very cunning plans. And they really can be quite cunning.
‘Well,’ I laugh. ‘I’m glad I made it look so pretty. It certainly looks fit for a wedding.’
He takes in my dress. ‘You look every inch the beautiful bride.’
‘Thank you. It couldn’t be more perfect.’
‘I nearly cracked and told you as I know you’d want to look your best. But that’s really stunning.’ He looks thoughtful. ‘However, maybe something is missing.’ He punches a number into his phone and says, ‘OK.’
A second later, Chantal, Nadia and Autumn plus entourage pour out of the coffee shop a few doors down. They dash up the road and swamp me with a group embrace. Of course they’re all here! How could I be married without the Chocolate Lovers’ Club being present? They all hug me tightly.
‘I’m going to have words with you lot,’ I tease. ‘Fancy not telling me! I thought you were my friends.’
Autumn and Nadia are wearing their bridesmaid dresses from Chantal’s wedding and she has one to match.
As well as Jacob, Miles and James, Clive and Tristan are here.
‘You came all the way from France?’ I shriek as I see them.
‘It was a close call,’ Clive says, ‘but we made it.’
‘How could we stay away?’ Tristan adds.
I squeeze the life out of them both. Then, standing at the back, I see my mum and dad. Mum’s crying. That makes my eyes prickle with tears as well.
‘Don’t cry,’ I tell my mum as she takes me in her arms while Dad stands and looks awkward. ‘You’ll start me off.’
‘I’m so pleased for you,’ she says. ‘You’ve got a lovely man there, darling. A keeper.’
‘That’s the plan.’ I pull away, shaky and look round my friends. ‘So you knew? All of you knew?’
Much nodding and giggling.
‘It was very short notice,’ Chantal says. ‘But we thought it was for the best. I hope we were right. I’m so glad Aiden took it in hand.’
‘Me too,’ I say tearfully.
From behind her back she produces a bouquet and presents it to me. The bouquet matches the flowers I’ve just put out in Chocolate Heaven.
I gape at Chantal. ‘How did you know?’
‘I spoke to the florist yesterday. She told me what flowers you’d bought and I asked her to make up something to match. Do you like it?’
‘I love it.’ By some miracle, the colour of the roses matches my dress and the smell of the sweet peas is heavenly. ‘It’s gorgeous.’
‘We’d better get inside,’ Crush says. ‘They know I’m here, but I was on tenterhooks that you’d actually come.’ I put a hand on his arm. ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’
‘You’ve got so much on at the moment that the wedding was becoming just another stress. I thought I’d take that away from you. All that matters is that we’re married. The rest is just fripperies. I want you to be my wife, Lucy Lombard, and I want it now.’
I reach up and kiss him. ‘So do I.’
‘When we’ve got time, we can go on a wonderful honeymoon and maybe even renew our vows on a white sandy beach or with Elvis in Vegas, if that’s what you want.’
Putting a finger to his lips, I say, ‘Nothing could be better than this.’
We hold each other tightly.
‘But I’ve no idea how you managed it without me finding out.’
‘I didn’t actually cancel our booking, I just rang them and postponed it. All the paperwork was still in place. Luckily, they had a space come free at the last minute and I was able to coincide it with the party you’d got planned for Nadia.’
‘You’re so clever,’ I tell him and, suddenly, it all hits me. I get a flush of excitement and do a little dance on the pavement. ‘I’m getting married!’ I shout out, startling a few innocent people passing by. They smile indulgently at my outburst.
The girls do a happy dance with me.
‘Let’s go,’ Chantal says, looking at her watch. ‘We don’t want to miss your slot.’ She ushers us all inside.
Our guests go ahead of us, but Crush and I hang back on the pavement. He tilts my chin and looks into my eyes. ‘Are you absolutely sure that you want this?’
The love I see in his face almost has me undone. ‘I’ve never wanted anything more in all of my life.’
He takes my hand and, grinning like loons, we head into our wedding.
Chapter Sixty-Five
The Mayfair Library is a truly beautiful place for a wedding. I don’t know why I didn’t realise how stunning it was when Crush and I first viewed it. The sun streams through the stainedglass windows, lighting up the small but chic space. The walls are the most delicate shade of blue and there’s an imposing, ornate oak fireplace. There are shelves of vintage,
leather-bound books on either side of it. It’s the best place ever for a wedding.
But, do you know what? We could be getting married in a swamp and I’d be happy. It’s not how great the venue is or how much you’ve spent on the cake, it’s the love in your hearts – and we have that in abundance.
My heart’s pounding like a drum as Dad and I stand in the doorway at the back of the room.
Our guests are waiting in their seats and I can already hear my mother sobbing again. More importantly, the groom is here. And that’s not always been a given at this stage in my previous wedding experience. Jacob is by Crush’s side as his best man.
‘Ready, Lucy?’ Dad asks.
I nod.
‘You look gorgeous,’ he says.
‘Thanks, Dad.’
‘There’s still time to back out,’ he whispers. ‘No one will think any the worse of you.’
‘Get a grip, Dad,’ I mutter. ‘This man is the love of my life. I can’t wait to be his wife.’ It’s all I can do not to run down the aisle and jump into Crush’s arms.
‘As long as you’re sure.’
And I am. Completely sure. Mr Aiden ‘Crush’ Holby is all that a husband should be. We’ll have a long and happy life, half a dozen kids – well, maybe two – and we’ll still hold hands when we’re ninety.
The music starts. We don’t have a song that’s ‘ours’ as such, but I smile when I hear the tune. ‘I Knew I Loved You’ by Savage Garden. It’s ideal.
Yet, when Dad and I set off, in step, I realise that I’m shaking. I feel as if I’ve waited all of my life for this. I always thought I’d marry Marcus, but I know now that I’ve found my soulmate, my partner in life, the man I want to grow old with. A tear rolls down my cheek and I hurry my dad up as I just can’t wait to get on with the ceremony.
Then Aiden and I are standing alone together in front of the registrar and my heart is so very happy that I think it might burst. I have never before felt such elation. Not even after masses of chocolate!
Chantal stands and reads a beautiful passage that Crush has chosen from the novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, about two lives growing together and becoming entwined like the roots of a tree.
I hardly hear the words of the ceremony. All I can see is Aiden. Everything else is a blur.
While I’m feeling all dream-like and high, he says, ‘Stop gazing at me, Gorgeous. It’s your turn.’
‘What?’
Everyone laughs.
Then I take a deep breath and with a voice that’s loud and clear say, ‘I, Lucy Lombard, take you, Aiden Holby, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death us do part.’
Now everyone’s crying; Aiden says his vows and I can tell from the love in his eyes that he means every word.
The registrar smiles benignly at us. ‘I now pronounce you husband and wife.’ She turns to Aiden. ‘You may kiss your bride.’
And Crush takes me in his arms and kisses me deeply. Our guests cheer and burst into applause.
I’m married. And it was as simple as that.
I turn and look at our friends and family and feel the love in the room. These people will support us for the rest of our days.
‘Are you ready, Mrs Holby?’ Crush says.
‘I am,’ I answer my husband.
He threads my arm through his and the music plays again. This time it’s The Cure and ‘Friday I’m in Love’.
And, with joy in my heart and the man of my dreams on my arm, I step forward to start married life.
Chapter Sixty-Six
We all burst out of the register office and onto the pavement, giggling and laughing. Then I’m pulled up short. Across the street, Marcus is standing there alone. He has a red heart-shaped balloon in his hand with the words I’ll always love you written on it.
Crush puts his arm round my waist. ‘I phoned him,’ he says. ‘Told him that we were getting married.’
‘Why?’
‘I thought you might want him here.’
My throat closes with emotion.
‘Go and talk to him,’ Crush says. ‘If he wants to come back to the reception, then I’m cool with that.’
I kiss my husband for being so kind and go across to Marcus.
‘Hey,’ he says softly, as I approach. ‘Congratulations.’
‘Oh, Marcus.’ I tenderly brush his lips with a kiss.
‘I couldn’t quite hack coming for the ceremony.’ He raises an eyebrow.
‘You never did like weddings,’ I tease gently.
‘No.’ He studies his feet and we each know what the other is thinking. No matter what happens, the fact that he ran out on our wedding day will always lie between us. That’s the moment I knew deep down in my heart that I could never be with him. ‘I’m going to Dubai next week. I wanted to wish you well and to say goodbye.’
‘We’ll still speak,’ I tell him. ‘There’ll be things to discuss about the business.’
He pulls an envelope out of his pocket and gives it to me.
‘What’s this?’
He gives me a wry smile. ‘A ridiculously extravagant wedding gift.’
I laugh, sadly. ‘Only you, Marcus.’
‘I’ve signed over Chocolate Heaven to you,’ he says. ‘Completely. It’s yours now.’
‘Don’t be silly, Marcus. You can’t do that.’
‘Am silly. Have done it.’
The envelope is burning in my fingers. ‘You’re not serious.’
‘I owe you, Lucy. This is for all the times I let you down, that I hurt you. I want this to make amends, to draw a line under us.’
I’m so choked that I can hardly speak. ‘What can I say?’
Our eyes brighten with unshed tears as we look fondly at each other’s faces. I want to reach up and stroke his cheek, but I daren’t. I would fall to pieces completely.
‘Say that you loved me once,’ he asks. ‘And that a part of you will always love me.’
‘Of course.’ Tears spill over my lashes.
‘He’s a lucky man,’ Marcus says with a nod towards Crush. A single tear trails slowly down his cheek. ‘I hope he loves you as I should have.’
‘I want you to be happy, Marcus. I want you to find someone to love.’
‘There’s already someone that I love very much,’ he says bleakly. ‘I just never knew quite how much until it was too late.’
‘Let’s stay friends,’ I say. ‘Come to Chocolate Heaven. We’re having a lovely party. Come and drink some fizz with us.’
He shakes his head. ‘I’ve got things that I should be doing and I’ve said all I need to say.’
I glance back at Crush, who’s waiting patiently for me.
Marcus takes my hands and pulls me towards him. He kisses my cheek, lightly, lingeringly. I can feel the pain and loneliness in his heart radiating through me and I ache for his sadness.
‘You should go to your husband,’ he says and I’ve never heard him sound so desolate. He hands me the balloon. I will always love you. ‘Goodbye, Lucy.’
And, as he walks away from me, he doesn’t look back.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
We have many, many photographs taken on mobile phones in Mount Street Gardens next to the register office and then head back to Chocolate Heaven.
The café looks fantastic and it’s the perfect place to celebrate our love. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. No months of planning. No squabbling over seating plans. No stressing over table favours.
The girls get the rest of the food out of the fridge to put on the buffet and someone warms the cheese muffins in the oven. Alexandra brings along the fabulous cake and places it centre stage on the table. Jacob pours us all fizz, we switch on the music and soon everyone is laughing and having fun.
Crush comes and snakes his arm around my waist. ‘Happy, Mrs Holby?’
I’ll never get tired of
hearing that.
‘Yes,’ I say. ‘Very.’
‘Was everything OK with Marcus?’
‘I felt sad for him,’ I admit. ‘Beneath all that bluster—’
‘And bullshit,’ Crush adds.
‘And bullshit,’ I agree. ‘He’s quite a lonely man.’ ‘It’s of his own making, Gorgeous.’
‘I know that, but I can’t be too harsh on him. He gave me this.’ I hand over the envelope that I’m still clutching.
Crush gives me a quizzical look.
‘A wedding present.’
He opens it and scans the paper. Then he looks up at me, agog.
‘I’m the owner,’ I say, still reeling. ‘He’s signed this over to me lock, stock and barrel.’
‘I can’t believe it.’
‘Me neither.’
‘There has to be a catch. This is Marcus.’
‘I don’t think so. He seemed very sincere. He’s leaving for Dubai soon.’ I look up at Crush. ‘He’s gone from our lives.’
Aiden pulls me to him. ‘I know what you’ve felt for him and this must be hard. And I can’t give you fancy presents like this.’ He gestures at the café. ‘But I can promise that I’ll always be there for you. I’ll never make you feel second best.’
I rest my head on his shoulder. ‘I’d live in a tent with you,’ I tell him, honestly. ‘Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be.’
‘We’re lucky,’ he says. ‘Many people search for a lifetime for love like ours and never find it.’
‘How true.’
I look round at my family and friends. I’m glad that we all seem to be settled now. Chantal and Jacob are in the corner cuddling Lana. She’s started her chemo – only one treatment so far, but she’s holding up well. Ted, Stacey and Elsie have come along to the reception as well, and they all seem to have an easier relationship now.
Autumn looks so happy with Miles – and not only have they brought along Flo and Willow, but also her parents are here. It’s the first time that I’ve seen them. I hope this means that they’re building bridges. They look a little awkward – and very posh – but they are, at least, smiling.
The Chocolate Lovers’ Wedding Page 31