To Mend a Broken Heart

by K. A. Hobbs

  “This song.” Daniel speaks into my hair.

  “Yes?”

  “It’s beautiful. It seems… It’s so fitting for what I feel for you.”

  “Just hold me.” I whisper feeling utterly choked by emotions right now.

  He does, he holds me, swaying us gently back and forth to the song and when it finishes, he doesn't let me go. He holds me while another couple of songs play. When he does finally let me go, there are tear stains on his grey t-shirt. He places his hands on either side of my face, tilting my head up so I’m looking into his eyes. When he has my full attention he speaks.

  “You are my life. You’re where it begins again and where it will always continue. You are everything to me. Everything.”

  “You’re everything to me too.” I whisper.

  “So dry your eyes beautiful, everything is going to be just perfect, I promise.”

  * * *

  The simple things are the big things they say. Whoever they are, they are right. As I sit watching Daniel arrange little pieces of card with names on around circular pieces of card that are acting as our tables I fall in love with him all over again. He has this sexy manly beard thing going on right now, he tells me it's for Movember, but he stopped shaving in October when I happened to mention, after I found an old photo of him, how sexy I found him with a beard. I am almost certain he has no plans to shave it until our wedding in December when I know he will want to be clean shaven.

  We must have spent hours going over this seating plan, trying to get the perfect mix of people on each table. Relatives of Daniel's and friends of mine. Couples and singletons. We want to mix it up and encourage everyone to chat, we want everyone to come together and spend the day making new friends and not sticking with ones they already know. We’ve had a sign made that tells everyone to pick a seat and not a side during our ceremony, our wedding is about us joining together and for that reason, everyone is welcome to sit wherever they want to.

  “I think I've got it.” He looks up and smiles.

  “Got what? Gorgeous eyes? The most incredible jaw?” I lean over and kiss under his jawline and inhale, Daniel always smells amazing there, “The most perfect body? The strongest legs?” I run my hand over his jean clad thigh and squeeze, “Everything I could ever want or dream of?”

  He looks at me shyly, but with heat in his eyes. My hands on him and my words are clearly having an effect. He leans closer and kisses me softly, running his tongue under my top lip.

  “I'm not sure I'm any of those things.”

  “I am,” I kiss him back, “so what were you going to say?” He pulls back and takes my hand, resting them both in his lap, he points to table number five and holds up eight names.

  “If we sit April and Stanley here, then that leaves table six free for the Sheridan's to sit at.”

  “I think that should work.” I smile, pleased we have finally got it sorted.

  “I hope everyone will chat and embrace each other. I cannot stand weddings where no one talks.”

  “They will talk, I know they will.” I reassure him.

  “So the only thing we have left to do is pick up my suit. You have your dress, do you have everything else?”

  “Yes. Shoes, underwear, flowers, cake, all those things are sorted. Are you sure about the wedding favours?”

  “Yes. I think it is such a beautiful idea. If you like it, well go with that.”

  Having decided on a Cinderella and poppy theme for the wedding as it’s important to both of us everything goes perfectly together. Poppy is the biggest part of Daniel's life and she is a big part of mine too. When I was online one day, I came across a unique wedding favour that I fell in love with straight away. I had shown Daniel who loved the idea too. So together we sat and made up lots of little brown packets with poppy seeds in. On the front there was a sticker that simply said Let love bloom along with our names and the date of our wedding. Every guest would get a packet to plant and in doing so our love would bloom but also Poppy's would too, a way of remembering Daniel's little angel.

  “I do love that idea, and I love the fact our tables are parts from Cinderella.”

  “It's our thing.” he smiles.

  “And I love that we have a photo of us both holding the book together on each table.”

  “Photography is my thing.”

  “And I love that everyone gets a bauble made for them with parts of Cinderella in too.”

  “Cinderella was Poppy's and your favourite book and if I’m honest, it’s mine too. I love that you incorporated so much of my daughter into our wedding.

  “She lives in here,” I place my hand over his heart, “I live in here too. And you live here,” I place his hand over my heart, “I wish she could be here, I wish she could be my bridesmaid and walk down the aisle with me. I wish she could see her Daddy get married and be a real Prince Charming.”

  “She will be, Katie. She is always with us.”

  “When are you getting your suit?” I kiss him softly and smile.

  “Tomorrow, and before you ask, no, you’re not coming with me.”

  “Why not?” I pout, he is unbelievably gorgeous in a suit and I can’t wait to see what he decided on.

  “Because,” he pulls me into his lap and rests his chin on my shoulder, “I don’t get to see you, so you don’t get to see me.”

  “Where does it say that, anywhere?”

  “It doesn’t but it’s my rule.” he moves his face to my neck and runs his jaw along it making me shiver.

  “It’s a stupid rule,” I groan and move my head to the side to give him better access so he can keep doing it, “I want to see you.”

  “And I’d love to see you in your dress, but it’s not going to happen.”

  His hands skim over my waist and up to my breasts, his thumbs move back and forth over my nipples until they are stiff and begging for attention. I can feel him growing beneath my bottom and I shift myself a little to the left so he is nestled right where I need him. He looks up at me, his eyes heated and full of need. I lean down and press my lips to his, he opens his mouth willingly and grants my tongue entry to his warm mouth, I groan, as I always do when his tongue first brushes over mine.

  “Lets go upstairs?” he pants into my mouth.

  “No.” I shake my head.

  “No?”

  “No,” I kiss him again, “Lets go into the lounge, by the fire.”

  “I like the sound of that even better.”

  He lifts me effortlessly, like I weigh nothing and carries me into the lounge and sits me on the edge of the sofa and pulls the big, soft blanket down onto the floor and places it in front of the fire that’s crackling away. He picks up a few pillows and makes us a little nest before he reaches for his jumper and pulls it off and over his head, when his hands go to his jeans I can’t help but stare. He strips in front of me then walks over to me, dropping to his knees and removing my clothes too.

  “Make love to me, Mr Lambert.” I grin, as he pulls me onto the blanket.

  “I plan to.” he smiles, laying me down.

  He takes his time, never rushing. He knows my body well, he knows just where and when to kiss and touch me, and knowing the when is so very important. We move together, both lost in each other until we both find our release. We stay joined together, my hands running up and down the length of his spine. He really does have a gorgeous back. When we both start to shiver, Daniel grabs another blanket and lays in over us and pulls me to his chest. Lulled by the fire and the heat of each other we fall asleep.

  * * *

  “So you have everything?” Daniel asks as I pack the last couple of bits in my overnight bag.

  “Yes. If you just bring this bag,” I zip it up, “Then I’ll have everything else.”

  “Okay, I can manage that.” he smiles from his position on the bed.

  “And the rings, don’t forget the rings.” I grin.

  “I will not forget the rings, I’ll not be letting them out of my sight till t
hey are on our fingers.”

  “What are you doing tonight?” I ask, sitting next to him.

  “Not much. Ryan is going to help me take the last few bits over to the venue, then we are going to watch a film I guess. I’m cooking. A couple of beers, boring stuff.”

  “Sounds okay to me.”

  “What are you planning to do?”

  “Nothing, we’re having our nails done in a couple of hours, then we’ll go home, relax and get to bed early so I don’t look hideous tomorrow!”

  “Katie, you could never look hideous!” he shakes his head.

  “Daniel, is it stupid I’m really dreading sleeping alone tonight?”

  “No. I’m not looking forward to it either, but just think,” he leans over and pulls me to him, “The next time you go to sleep after tonight, you’ll be my wife and I’ll be your husband. That will keep you going.”

  “That will make me over excited and I won’t be able to sleep!”

  “It’s one night. It will be worth it, when I see you walking down the aisle to me… I’ll forget we spent the night apart and just remember that we won’t ever have to spend a night apart again.”

  “Well, except when you have to go away for work.” I remind him.

  “Don’t spoil the vision, Katie.” he chuckles.

  “Sorry,” I laugh, “Can you believe this time tomorrow, we will almost be married?” I draw lazy circles over his tattoo and he sighs.

  “Yes actually. I’ve waited long enough for this. It feels like I’ve waited my whole life to be married to you.”

  “Well, you don’t have to wait much longer,” I lean up on my elbow and look at the clock, “I really need to get going. I have to pick Ginny up for our nail appointment.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ve left your present in your drawer over there,” I nod to his bedside table, “Don’t open it till the morning.”

  “And I’ve put yours by the front door.”

  “I’ll miss your arms around me tonight, I’ll be cold.”

  He pulls me so I’m under him and leans down so just our foreheads are touching, I can feel his breath washing over me. I close my eyes, just soaking him in.

  “Let my love for you keep you warm. Rest safe in the knowledge tomorrow we’ll be forever joined together. I love you, Katie.”

  “I love you too.”

  I head downstairs and Daniel helps me into the car with everything I need. When I turn to say goodbye to him, he is holding out a copy of Cinderella to me. He places it in my hands then steps back a little so he can look at me.

  “Remember our story. I’ll be reading it tonight and remembering you.”

  He places one last sweet kiss on my lips before I get into my car and pull off the drive way. The next time I see our house, I will be Mrs Lambert. I’ll be walking in the door with Daniel’s rings on my finger and he’ll have mine. I suddenly can’t wait for tomorrow.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  I can’t believe today is the day I am getting married. Today is the day, the man who has been by my side through everything, the man who has been my best friend, my saviour, my life line is going to become my husband. He is going to place his ring on my finger, I’m going to place my ring on his and when our lips touch, we will be husband and wife, we will be Mr and Mrs Lambert. The whole world will know that we choose each other, that we are stronger together than apart. That the reason my heart beats is because I have Daniel by my side.

  I can hear Ginny downstairs getting breakfast things ready. I can hear her singing along to a song on the radio and it makes me smile. In twenty minutes the make up artist and hairdresser will be arriving and my transformation from tired Bride to what I hope will be breathtaking Bride will begin. I get up and stretch my aching muscles. I walk over to the chest where the bag of presents Daniel left me with last night is sitting and take them back to my bed. Without knowing, we’d both got each other presents for today. I’d given him strict instructions not to open them till this morning and he did the same. Sitting on the bed, I pull out the card first. It is simple and to the point and it is perfect. The front simply reads; You are my happily ever after. Where the front is plain, the words inside in Daniel’s perfect handwriting are anything but.

  Katie

  I want you to know, that today is one of the happiest days of my life, I've waited my whole life for you, to share everything I am and everything I have with the other half of me. Today, I become yours officially and you become mine. The ring on my finger will symbolise that, but the mark you have left on my heart confirms it. You are my light, Katie. You are the warmth and the comfort. The joy and the love I feel in my heart. I wake up today just me, but I go to sleep tonight your husband. I don't think there has ever been a prouder man alive than I am today. And everyday I have you with me. Know that whatever happens, whatever life has in store for us, we will face it together. That I will always be there to make you a mocha, that I will always be there to help you on the ice rink even though you know how to skate now. That I will always have fancy ice for your summertime Pimm’s and I will always cherish every moment we are together, for each one is a gift. I love you more than anyone has ever loved somebody in the history of the world. I'll be waiting for you, waiting to marry the love of my life, my soul mate, my best friend. If you're late, I'll wait. Because I would wait a thousand years for you.

  I love you

  Daniel x

  I wipe away the tears that are falling and reach inside the bag, pulling out a box that is so beautifully wrapped it seems a shame to rip the paper and bow off. I do though and I gasp when I see what it is. Inside the box is a charm bracelet and the charms on it are the most perfect charms in the world. They are all Cinderella related charms. There is one that says; believing is just the beginning. Another says; A dream is a wish and another says; Dreams really do come true. There is also Cinderella’s carriage and best of all her glass slipper. It’s perfect and so thoughtful. It must also have cost him a fortune. I reach inside the bag and pull out the last present.

  I unwrap it and lift the lid of the box. Inside is a perfectly white pillow and on it is a silhouette of Prince Charming and Cinderella dancing. Incorporated in her dress is todays date and right at the top of the cushion are the words; So this is love. Seeing as the theme for our wedding is Cinderella, this isn't such a surprise, but there is no way Daniel knows what song I have chosen to walk down the aisle to I’ve kept it a secret, yet he has brought me a present with the words from that very song on it. I can’t stop myself, I reach for my phone and dial his number. It’s bad luck to see him, no one said I can't speak to him.

  Just as the phone begins to ring, Ginny bounds in to my room. Spotting the phone pressed against my ear, she reaches over the bed and takes it, bringing it up to her ear she speaks to the one person I so desperately want to speak to right now.

  “Hello Daniel,” she scowls at me, “Yes, she did try to call you. No, she is absolutely fine, she just opened your presents. Yes, by the looks of it, she loves them. Well no, you can ask her when you see her in a few hours. Behave yourself Mr Lambert! See you soon.”

  “Ginny!” I growl, flipping back onto the bed, “Why?”

  “It’s bad luck!” she smiles.

  “To talk to him?”

  “Yes. The first time you see him, speak to him, smell him will be when you get to the spot he stands waiting for you, looking like your very own Prince Charming.” she grins, holding out her hand, “Now, please come downstairs, everything is ready and there are more things from Daniel.”

  I smile and take her hand, following her slowly downstairs. Ginny is heavily pregnant now and is ready to have their little girl in her arms. But today, she is being the best friend anyone can ask for and putting me ahead of herself. I adore and love my best friend. When we reach the kitchen I see coffee and a pile of pastries, I know immediately they are Daniel’s pastries. Sitting next to the breakfast things is another box and it has my name on it. I sit down and open the
lid before taking out what looks like a book wrapped in tissue paper. When I slip the paper off tears fill my eyes.

  “What is it?” Ginny asks, sitting next to me and reaching to brush a tear off my cheek.

  “It’s us.” I smile.

  “You and Daniel?”

  “Yes.” I flip open the cover and there we are, sitting together in Ginny’s garden playing with Aidan in the sunshine.

  As I turn each page, there are more photos of us, some from our trip to Brighton when we were just friends, others from New York. Each page has little memories written in Daniel’s handwriting. It is the most beautiful gift I’ve ever received and of course, it would be Daniel who got it for me. I hand it over to Ginny to look at while I sneakily send Daniel a text message.