by Rosie Harris
When the great day finally dawned, Megan found the months of preparation, and attention to detail, paying off. Every tiny piece of the jigsaw fell smoothly into place. Even the weather was on their side, a clear and balmy day with barely a ripple on the Mersey.
The warehouse was decked out with bunting in deep blue and silver. The fleet of twenty lorries was parked in front of the warehouse. As Megan had stipulated, they were all painted light blue and carried a silver logo depicting a huge globe of the world emblazoned with the letters MW in dark blue.
The drivers all wore dark-blue denim trousers and light-blue denim jackets with a smaller version of the logo emblazoned in silver on the breast pocket.
Megan, wearing a crisp silver-grey suit and a blue silk blouse, felt nervous but very proud as she stood beside the bonnet of the Silver Cloud Rolls that was also parked outside the warehouse.
In her carefully worded speech, she thanked workers and customers alike for their confidence and support. Then she invited everyone to enjoy the food and drink laid out inside the warehouse.
It was a tremendous celebration and Megan was aware of the pride in her father’s voice as he talked to people.
As she sipped restrainedly at a glass of champagne, Kathy Williams looked years younger than when she’d lived in Wallasey, and the relaxed happiness on her mother’s face added to Megan’s joy.
With words of praise from all sides ringing in her ears, Megan went to find Robert, eager to see his reaction. She found him standing alone, and was shocked at how miserable he looked. She had expected him to be as happy as she was. After all, he had been part of the enterprise since the very beginning. He wasn’t a mere cog, he was its mainspring!
‘What on earth is wrong?’
‘Nothing!’
‘Come off it, Robert!’ Anger made her speak sharply. ‘We’ve known each other far too long for me to believe that.’
‘Anti-climax, I suppose.’
‘Why? Everything is going like clockwork. You are the only one, apart from my dad, who’s been involved in the project right from the very beginning. I might never have succeeded without your help.’ She touched his arm. ‘I am extremely grateful.’
‘I haven’t done it to earn your gratitude! I’ve done it because of what I feel for you, what I’ve always felt for you ever since the first moment I walked into your home. You still don’t understand, do you, Megan? I love you!’
‘Robert …’
‘Let me finish!’ The anger in his voice silenced her. ‘At one time, when it was only Miles I was up against, I really believed that one day you would recognise him for what he was and when you did I would have a chance. I love you so deeply that whenever you’ve turned to me for help I’ve been eager to do anything you asked.’
‘But Robert …’
‘No, please let me finish. I’ve watched you build up this business from absolutely nothing and admired every step you’ve taken. I can’t imagine anyone else being willing to trade in a Rolls Royce for a lorry, or,’ his face twisted into a wry smile, ‘have that same Rolls Royce handed back as a gift.’ He shook his head in bewilderment. ‘I suppose even Miles wanted to see justice done in the end … That’s the sort of effect you have on people, Megan.’
He thrust his hands deep in his pockets as he turned and surveyed the impressive line-up of lorries, the bunting-draped warehouse and the laughing, happy groups of people standing around.
‘Miles was a formidable opponent,’ he went on, ‘but at least he was only a man.’ He waved a hand expressively. ‘Against this set-up I don’t stand a chance!’
‘But Robert …’
‘Let’s be realistic, Megan. Would you give up being a successful business woman in order to marry me?’
‘No, Robert. I wouldn’t give up my career for marriage.’
‘Well, at least I know where I stand,’ he muttered bitterly. ‘Thank you for being honest.’
‘It’s the answer you expected!’
‘Yes, but not the one I wanted to hear!’
Surely Robert must know that he had picked the wrong moment for a discussion of this sort, Megan thought exasperatedly. She wanted to tell him how much he meant to her, but the words that formed in her head sounded trite, as if she was saying them simply to pacify him.
‘Half the time you don’t even know I exist,’ he said mockingly.
‘That’s not true, Robert … and you know it.’ Anger made her choke.
‘Then give up all this and marry me.’
Megan bristled. It wasn’t a plea or a proposal, it was an order. No one, not even Robert, was going to give her orders, or take away her independence, she vowed.
‘Is that your answer … silence?’
‘I could never knuckle down to being bossed around by anyone else, not even my husband,’ she added scathingly, ‘and well you know it!’
‘Did I ask for that?’
‘It must be what you expect, otherwise why order me to give all this up and marry you?’
‘So that’s your answer; your final decision!’ He turned away abruptly.
The thought of Robert walking out of her life for ever sent shock waves through her. Deep in her heart she’d known for years how Robert felt about her, ever since her first Christmas in Liverpool. Lynn had told her, so had her mother and father. Robert was the one person she could always turn to in an emergency. Strong, reliable, and wise he had never failed her.
As he turned back to look at her and their gaze held, a thousand unspoken messages of love and desire spanned the void between them.
‘Robert!’ She moved towards him, her hands outstretched. As he reached out and took them her heart began to beat faster. His grip tightened as he drew her into his arms, holding her so close she could hardly breathe, crushing her crisp silver-grey suit into a myriad of creases.
She could feel the powerful beat of his heart against her breasts. His muscled thighs, as they pressed against her own, were like rocks; a strangely satisfying feeling. She looked up into his strong face with a faint sigh of happiness. Her hands went round his neck, pulling his head down until their lips met in a tender kiss that deepened into one of hungry passion.
For Megan it was no ordinary kiss: it was a pledge of commitment. Placing her hands flat against his shoulders she pulled free, her cheeks flushed.
‘Sorry!’ His face darkened as he let his hands drop limply to his sides. ‘Hoping that you would give up all you’ve worked for really was a stupid dream!’ he muttered.
‘Can I say something?’ she asked quietly.
‘Go on!’ His eyes were inscrutable, his mouth a tight line, his square jaw tipped forward as if ready to receive a blow.
‘I wouldn’t consider a takeover, Robert … but I could be interested in a partnership. That’s if you find such a proposal acceptable,’ she added, her eyes twinkling.
He stared, uncomprehendingly for a moment. Then his frown changed to a broad smile.
‘Yes, that would be acceptable,’ he breathed. ‘I’m overwhelmed. Hard to believe, but I find it acceptable all right!’ He took her into his arms again, caressing her face with his lips, whispering endearments that sent her pulses racing.
‘The party’s breaking up we’d better be getting back,’ she murmured. ‘Shall we tell them?’
‘I think everyone’s had enough excitement for one day!’ His mouth claimed hers again in a long, lingering kiss that left her dizzy. ‘Anyway, it’s much too precious a moment to share with everyone else,’ he murmured.
Chapter Thirty-nine
PEOPLE LOOKED IN surprise as a Silver Cloud Rolls Royce turned into the cemetery and was driven sedately along the wide gravel path before coming to a stop.
Heads turned in astonishment as a bride, looking almost ethereal in her white satin dress, her gossamer-fine lace veil billowing in the light breeze, stepped out. Escorted by a handsome broad-shouldered man in morning dress she picked her way daintily over the grass towards a grave guarded by a beautiful whit
e marble statue of a sweet-faced angel holding a musical instrument.
Megan and Robert stood holding hands in silent contemplation for a moment, until they were joined by Watkin and Kathy.
‘I wish you could have been my bridesmaid, Lynn,’ Megan said softly as she laid her bridal bouquet of spring flowers on her sister’s grave.
Gently, she kissed her mother’s cheek, then, with Robert’s arm circling her waist protectively, she walked back to the car.
Watkin and Kathy remained at Lynn’s graveside a moment longer while Kathy tried to compose herself. She was still dabbing the tears from her eyes when they reached the car and headed for the Hotel Victoria to join the wedding guests who were waiting there for them all, ready to celebrate.
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Published in the United Kingdom by Arrow Books in 2006
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Copyright © Rosie Harris 2006
Rosie Harris has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
First published in the United Kingdom in 2006 by William Heinemann
Arrow Books
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 0 09 948179 9 (from Jan 2007)
ISBN 0 09 948179 0