Bridge Over the Atlantic

by Lisa J. Hobman

  “Oh, Mally, oh…you look…oh.” Josie had wiped tears from her eyes and hugged the bride to be so hard, Mallory almost passed out. But that was all the confirmation she needed. The dress was a done deal.

  Mallory had messaged her friends in Canada to tell them of her impending nuptials. Reece had left her a virtual scream of delight on her timeline. She had laughed when he posted a photo from his cell phone of him actually screaming. Crazy man, Mallory had giggled.

  Carl had been very sweet about the engagement. He had said he wished it was him she was marrying, but that he wished her every happiness all the same. He had a girlfriend, but apparently he didn’t think she was ‘the one.’

  Renee, Ryan, Cara and Dylan were flying in for the wedding and the honeymoon was going to start two days after the wedding when Greg and Mallory were flying back with the Buchanan’s. Everyone was very excited.

  On the night before the wedding, Greg had stayed at the pub where Stella had cooked him a lovely meal. The Buchanan family was staying at the little cottage they had hired last time they stayed. Josie and Brad were staying with Mallory. Colin had agreed to give Mallory away and Brad had been signed up for Best Man duties.

  The day of the wedding arrived at lightning speed. Josie, Brad and Mallory drank Champagne for breakfast along with their toasted bagels and cream cheese. Although, Mallory struggled to eat anything she was so very nervous. She disappeared upstairs to get ready. After around an hour of hearing nothing from her, Josie was beginning to worry.

  “How are you getting on Mally?” Josie called through the door.

  Mallory was standing in the bathroom staring at her reflection. She was trying so hard to fight back her mixed emotions. The stunning ivory dress was off shoulder and had a fitted, beaded bodice with crystals adorning the front. The skirt was just the right level of fullness; not meringue-like but not straight. Her hair had been partially pinned up, but the tendrils that hung down framed her face beautifully.

  She adored Greg and couldn’t wait to marry him, but she also remembered Sam and how this day, her wedding day, was originally supposed to be about her marrying him. The fact that Sam’s family were here made matters more difficult than she could ever have imagined.

  “Mally, you’re worrying me.” Josie knocked on the door. She tried the handle, but the door was locked. “Mallory, what’s going on?” Josie knocked harder.

  Mallory unlocked the door and sat on the side of the bath as Josie walked in. “Sorry…I…I just needed some time on my own.” She sighed as Josie looked on.

  “Why? Are you getting cold feet?” Josie asked bluntly, folding her arms across her chest like a chastising parent.

  “Not exactly…just thinking about Sam.” She nipped the bridge of her nose as if it would halt the tears that were threatening to make an imminent appearance.

  “Thinking what about Sam, honey?” Josie sat beside her on the roll top bath in her pretty, knee length, purple bridesmaid dress and held her hand.

  “Just that this should’ve been me and him. Maybe it’s too soon? Maybe I shouldn’t go through with this?”

  Josie sighed. “Mallory, you know how we always tell each other when we are being ridiculous?” Mallory nodded. “Well…and I know maybe you don’t want to hear this right now…but it’s one of those times.” She took a deep breath, “If Sam was still alive, maybe we wouldn’t need to be having this conversation. Or, maybe you were meant to be with Greg all along and it was Sam that brought you to him. Have you ever thought that? Maybe Sam was your guardian angel. After everything that has happened between you and Greg I am beginning to believe in fate. Mallory, you stuck it out here when it would have been so easy to just run back to Yorkshire. You came here because of Sam…but you stayed because of Greg.” Mallory had certainly never contemplated such a thing, but hearing the words now made her heart swell and tears pool in her eyes.

  “Do you love Greg?” Josie continued.

  Mallory didn’t hesitate in her answer, “Of course I do, with all my heart.”

  “Well then, let’s go and get you married to him, eh?” Josie stood and pulled her friend to a standing position. “You and Greg are meant to be together. He adores you…always has. You tattooed his initial on your arse for goodness sake!”

  Mallory laughed at the bluntness of her friend’s words, “Erm, my back actually.” She pointed out.

  “Back-shmack…same bloody difference.” Josie waved Mallory’s comment aside with her hand. “You wouldn’t have done that if you just thought he was just ‘a bit of alright’ and nothing else now would you?”

  “Absolutely not.” Mallory confirmed with a smile.

  “Then what are we going to do? Colin is downstairs.”

  “Well…I don’t know about you, but I have a wedding to go to.” Mallory made for the door winking at her best friend.

  They arrived at the church and a red carpet had been laid from the place where the car parked, right up the path to the front of the church. Greg had thought of everything. Colin clung onto her hand and looked proudly at Mallory, just as he would his own daughter. Josie stood in front with her small hand tied bunch of white roses which was a smaller version of Mallory’s large bouquet. The music from inside the church could be heard just under the sound of friendly chatter.

  Suddenly the background music was replaced with the opening bars of Hoobastank’s ‘The Reason’ tears welled in Mallory’s eyes once again and she took a deep breath. She hadn’t expected yet another romantic touch. Greg was full of surprises.

  “This is it, my flower.” Colin squeezed Mallory’s hand as they stepped toward the doors. They opened and Mallory got her first glimpse of the beautifully flower adorned church interior. It looked amazing and smelled even better. Fragrant white roses filled every available window ledge and pew end. Greg had chosen the flowers.

  “Yorkshire roses for my Yorkshire rose,” he had explained to her about his choice when they were planning the wedding.

  She looked toward the front where Greg stood facing the altar in his wedding suit, complete with kilt. Slowly, almost as if he feared that she may disappear if his eyes touched upon her, he turned to meet her gaze. His face lit up with love as he laid eyes on her. Brad leaned in to hand him a hanky when it was clear his emotions were getting the better of him.

  Mallory, Colin and Josie walked slowly down the aisle toward the altar until Mallory and Greg were face to face. Colin handed his ‘adopted’ daughter over to the handsome groom and stepped back. Mallory’s own tears were the issue now and Josie handed her a lace hanky. What a pair they were.

  Greg leaned toward her and with trembling lips, whispered, “Thank you for marrying me. I know this must be a hard day for you. But I’ve never loved or admired you more than I do right now.” It was the perfect thing to say and she loved him all the more for it.

  The Vicar began the service. The couple dutifully repeated the words uttered by the man. They held hands and stared lovingly at each other through the whole service.

  “Mallory and Greg have written some words to each other that they would like to say.” The Vicar announced and stepped back.

  Mallory was first to speak. “Greg, since the moment I met you I’ve been on a rollercoaster ride. We’ve supported each other through grief and our own individual issues and it’s been difficult at times. But I cannot imagine my life without you in it. And I don’t want to. Whatever life throws at us, we’ll get through it. We’ve proved that we can…I think my guardian angel was watching over me when he brought me to you.” Her words caught in her throat as she fought to keep her emotions in check, she smiled and breathed deeply. “There’s a saying that someone close to me says…‘Love Conquers All’ and I never believed that to be true until I met you and now I believe it irrevocably. I love you with all my heart.”

  Little sobs could be heard from within the congregation.

  Greg wiped his eyes and kissed her tenderly resting his forehead on hers for a moment. He then stepped forward
. Brad handed him his guitar. Mallory gasped when she realised what was happening. She held her hands over her mouth and waited with baited breath to see which song he had chosen.

  Greg cleared his throat. “Erm, I usually use other people’s words to express how I feel; which is daft when you think about it ‘cause I’ve been writing my own songs for years. Mallory, I wrote this for you. I think the words say it all.” His voice cracked as he spoke, raw emotion trying to escape the cage of his body. “And everyone else this is called ‘Mallory’s Song’.” Mallory watched in adoration as he began to strum chords on his beloved guitar. She was past the point of caring about her perfect makeup getting smudged as the tears cascaded down her face. He began to sing his heartfelt words to her,

  “From the moment I met you

  It was love at first sight

  I wanted to hold you

  Each day and each night

  Maybe we weren’t meant to be

  But that’s not what my heart kept on telling me

  I want to hold you forever

  And that’s what I’ll do

  Whatever life throws our way

  It’ll be me and you

  And we’ll both stand tall

  Because love conquers all

  Our future together

  Means more than I can say

  Together forever

  With a family one day

  Who can say we’re not meant to be?

  I know that my heart keeps on telling me

  I want to hold you forever

  And that’s what I’ll do

  Whatever life throws our way

  It’ll be me and you

  And we’ll both stand tall

  Because love conquers all

  Yeah we’ll both stand tall

  Because love conquers all”

  Greg just about managed to get through the song without breaking down. That couldn’t be said for the wedding congregation. As soon as the song finished the church erupted in applause and Mallory flung her arms around Greg, sobbing.

  “Greg, I love you so much, thank you for such a beautiful gift,” she whispered into his ear and he clung onto her.

  “There was no other way for me to tell you how I feel.” he kissed her hair. “I can’t be without you ever again Mallory. This is it. This is forever.”

  “Well, I’m going nowhere unless you come too.” She breathed.

  The Vicar brought the proceedings back to order. When the bride and groom were back in their places he began to speak, “Ladies and gentleman, it gives me the greatest of pleasure to declare before God that Mallory and Greg are now…Husband and Wife. Greg, you may kiss your bride…one more time with feeling.” He chuckled and the congregation joined him

  Greg swept Mallory up once again into a long, lingering embrace as the congregation cheered and applauded the newlyweds.

  They had been though such a lot to get there, but they both knew that despite all the ups and downs, despite the things that had placed obstacles in their path before now, this was it. This was real love. This was always and forever. For Mallory and Greg, at least, love had conquered all.

  Epilogue

  December 2012

  Mallory gazed at the little bundle in her arms. Nothing could have prepared her for the way she felt looking at the tiny fingers and toes. It had been a traumatic journey, but they got here in the end. The beautiful baby girl sleeping peacefully, wrapped in a white crocheted blanket. All that the little bundle needed now was a name.

  They had expected a boy and had prepared for a boy right up to the last minute. The surprise arrival of baby girl McBradden had left them with a little dilemma. But it was a sweet, lovely dilemma. Mallory had never felt such a glow as she did holding her new baby. The most precious thing she and Greg had ever created. And Greg was such a proud daddy.

  He had gone off to buy pink things that morning; vowing to return with lots of gifts as speedily as he could. He was so excited about having a baby daughter; even more so than when they had been told at the scan that they were eighty percent sure the baby was a boy, but not to buy specific colours just in case. So they had bought neutral coloured clothing. But they had picked out a boy’s name, feeling pretty certain that’s what they should do.

  Mallory had looked adoringly into Greg’s face as he had wept when he had first held her. “Oh my precious, beautiful, little baby girl. You’re going to wrap me around your little finger you know.” He had wiped away his tears on the back of his hand and stroked her tiny little scrunched up face. “I reckon you’re going to cause me more trouble than I will know how to deal with, but I will love every minute of it. And I will protect you and your mummy forever, don’t you ever worry about a thing.”

  They had discussed a number of beautiful names; Gaelic names; names of places they had visited together. Greg liked ‘Skye’; Mallory liked ‘Iona’ and they had almost settled on that combination, but then they had discussed naming her after their mothers. The discussion had not ended. There had merely been a short reprieve whilst Daddy Greg had gone shopping.

  Whilst he was temporarily absent Mallory had done a lot of soul searching and had thought long and hard about names. She would talk to Greg when he returned from his expedition. On the nurses advice Baby McBradden had gone back into the crib so that Mallory could get some rest; it had been an exhausting forty eight hours. She slipped into a calm and restful sleep.

  ~~~~~

  Her water had broken at four in the morning and Greg had calmly brought her into the hospital whilst she had been pretty much hysterical.

  “I’m not ready, Greg! I can’t be a mum! I am rubbish at everything!” She had sobbed as the reality of their situation soaked in.

  Greg had smiled at his panic stricken wife. “Mallory, you will be a wonderful mum. Stop worrying. We will get through the next eighteen years as a team.”

  The labour had been prolonged and very painful. There were some issues with the placenta and there was talk of an emergency C-section which terrified both Greg and Mallory. Some hours later and a check had revealed that the situation had righted itself. The labour continued on—and on—and on. Mallory was exhausted.

  The time to push came and Mallory had found some hidden resolve from the depths of her soul and had pushed with every ounce of strength she could muster. Twenty-four hours after arriving at the hospital Baby McBradden had been born healthy and crying loudly; which was a very good sign, they were told.

  ~~~~~

  An hour after she had dozed off, she was awoken by someone sneaking, not-so-quietly, around her room. When she opened her eyes she realised she was surrounded by fragrant flowers and pink balloons.

  Greg appeared from behind a huge bouquet of pink and white roses and a huge helium balloon reading ‘It’s a girl!’ his grin was as wide as Loch Ness. His hands were red with the weight of the carrier bags full of purchases from every baby shop conceivable.

  He placed the bags down near the door to the private room and came over to Mallory. He kissed her gently on her forehead and whispered, “I’m so very proud of you. You’ve made me the happiest man alive yet again, Mrs. McBradden. And I will never let either of you down, ever, I promise.”

  Malory grinned, “I love you too Mr. McBradden.” She kissed him tenderly. “Listen, I’ve been thinking about the name of our new little addition.” She stroked his face as she gazed lovingly into his smiling eyes.

  “Aye, me too. You go first though eh?”

  “Okay, I was thinking that Mairi is such a pretty name and it’s Gaelic just like we wanted if we’re honest. And Mairi was such an important part of your life and mine too in a lot of ways.”

  Greg’s eyes filled with tears as he picked up their little sleeping bundle. “Funny, I was thinking along the same lines.” He smiled at his wife as he sat beside her and kissed her forehead. “Mallory…my love…meet our new baby daughter…Mairi Samantha.”

  Meet the Author

  Lisa is a happily married Mum of on
e with two crazy dogs. She especially enjoys being creative; has worked as a singer and now runs her own little craft business where she makes hanging signs and decorations for the home. Lisa and her family recently relocated from Yorkshire, England to their beloved Scotland; a place of happy holidays and memories for them.

  Writing has always been something Lisa has enjoyed, although in the past it has centered on poetry and song lyrics. The story in her debut novel has been building in her mind for a long while, but until the relocation, she never had the time to put it down in black and white; working full time as a High School Science Learning Mentor and studying swallowed up any spare time she had. Making the move north of the border has given Lisa the opportunity to spread her wings and fulfill her dream. Writing is now a deep passion and she has enjoyed every minute of working towards being published. Novels two and three are works in progress so watch this space!

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Epilogue