Cliché

  “Something’s missing.” Kevin’s eyes roved my body in a way that told me he wasn’t actually complaining.

  I looked down at my naked body, covered by a thin, white sheet. “You mean like all my clothes?” I teased.

  He reached over to the bedside table. He’d slipped his boxers on when he went to fetch us some strawberries, grapes, and cheese to go with the bottle of champagne he’d craftily smuggled into the house and I had the urge to trace the happy trail dipping into his waistband with my tongue. I bit into a strawberry instead—I was already a little sore and it had nothing to do with my walk yesterday.

  He straightened, fingering the black satin box, opening and closing the lid with a snap. “Typically, the ring part comes before the sex part of a proposal.” His mouth quirked at the corner. “But you, ah…jumped the gun there.”

  “I am no typical girl. Now gimme, gimme, gimme!” I hadn’t thought about the ring, I’d assumed the proposal was a spur of the moment thing and we’d pick one up at some point. Honestly, until this moment, it was the last thing on my mind, I wasn’t big on jewellery. It wasn’t that I didn’t like it, it was that it just didn’t rate on my scale of importance. I wore it for events and when I dressed up but other than the watch my gran gave me for my twenty-first, I didn’t wear jewellery. Now that I knew he had a ring for me, I wanted to see it and I bounced on the bed with impatience. I wanted to see what Kevin had chosen for me, what he saw when he saw the ring I’d wear for the rest of my life. The one that symbolised I was his and he was mine.

  “Close your eyes.”

  I did and he reached for my wrist, kissing the palm of my hand. He blew out a breath, suddenly sounding more nervous than he had when he asked me to marry him. I felt the cool metal graze my skin as Kevin slipped it on my finger.

  “Okay, you can open them.”

  I gasped. A cushion-cut amethyst of the deepest purple took pride of place on a platinum band of diamonds. The purple was so deep that at certain angles parts of the stone looked black. I couldn’t say anything, I just kept staring at the ring until I could no longer make out its shape through the blur of my tears. Kevin swiped over the band and I looked at him. “It’s beautiful,” I whispered. “I love it.” I kissed him for the longest time, my lips an echo of what my heart held.

  “I have a confession to make.” Kevin reached over and grabbed the bunch of grapes, placing them on his plate.

  “Honestly, if you tell me you dress in drag every other Tuesday, I don’t care. This ring just scored you some major points,” I teased.

  But he was silent and had that serious expression on his face that he’d worn earlier. I suddenly worried he was going to tell me he’d borrowed the ring from a friend to get an idea of the size and it had to go back. I was not giving it back.

  Kevin took a breath and delved right in. “The wedding is tomorrow.”

  I stared at him, waiting for his crooked grin and admission that he was just messing with me, but it was not coming. He just watched me, his Adam’s apple working overtime as it bobbed up and down his throat. “Say something, just don’t throw stuff.”

  I blinked. “My mother is going to kill you. My gran is going to kill you. My father is going to kill you. Pretty much everyone I know is going to have a hand in your death.”

  He put the bunch of grapes he was busy dissecting back on the plate. “Um…they already know. Your mother and Gran did most of the décor with a bit of help from Kim and Alison. They’re all here, at the hotel. That’s where I was this evening, confirming the final arrangements. I…uh…lied about the conference call.” He looked genuinely sheepish for his lie but I continued to stare blankly at him. I swear I was willing my tongue to formulate words but I couldn’t get my mouth to cooperate.

  “There’s only going to be a handful of guests. Immediate family and a few friends and the boys...Israel would never forgive me if he didn’t get an invite. But that’s it. I know you hate crowds,” he explained like a man trying to talk himself off death row.

  I was sure any minute I’d snap out of it with the appropriate response—one that didn’t involve gaping at him like a goldfish. He continued to ramble on, running his hands through his hair, giving his already just-fucked hair an even worse case of bed-head.

  “I realise this must seem pretty arrogant and I don’t want you to think I’m taking you for granted here by assuming... I just…”

  I moved the platter from between us and placed my hands on either side of his face. “Shut up.” I kissed him, using my mouth to show him what I simply didn’t have the words for.

  Since I’d spent the majority of my life assuming I’d never settle down and get married, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what went in to planning a wedding. I planned charters and events for a living and did that without difficulty, but when it came to planning something for me, I had a tough time making a decision. I mean, I could hardly make a meal choice at a restaurant without doubting my choices and being sure I was about to suffer the worst case of order envy ever. Deciding on colours and themes and things like that would have been stressful for me but Kevin had saved me from all that. I moved closer to him, placing my head on his chest. His arm came around me and he pulled me in tight.

  “Thank you.” I kissed his chest, the words falling short of just how grateful I was. “Do I get to know the details or is it all a surprise?”

  He settled against the pillows, positioning me so that we were both comfortable. “What do you think?”

  I smiled as my eyes grew heavy. Kevin’s fingers lazily tracing a pattern on my back had my breathing deepen and I felt myself dozing. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow—my wedding day—and all I had to do was show up and marry the person who knew me better than I knew myself.

  * * *

  “I don’t know what to say.” I flicked from my gran’s moist eyes to my reflection in the mirror, taking in the delicate ivory lace moulding to my shape perfectly then sweeping against my ankles in soft waves. The capped sleeves were new, brushing against my shoulders like whispers. I pulled my gran in, intent on squeezing the life out of her but she surprised me, crushing me to her with the strength I thought age had long since robbed her of.

  When I made to move away, she pulled me in closer and I wrapped my arms tighter around her.

  “Alright, you two, you’ll ruin your make-up if you carry on like this.” My mother’s voice, playfully stern, cracked on the last words and she dabbed her eyes with a tissue while handing one to my gran and then me.

  “Is this why you were so adamant I try the dress on the last time I came for lunch?” My gran’s wicked gleam was answer enough. “You’re getting sneaky in your old age.”

  Three weeks ago, Gran had insisted I try her wedding dress on. I’d protested heavily, especially since Kevin was with me and we’d only just got back together and I didn’t want him getting scared off. Kevin, however, had just waved us off while he sorted through my grandfather’s post-war photos, taken while he was being “hidden” by a Swiss family after escaping a POW camp. I say “hidden” because breaking your leg while skiing with said family didn’t constitute as hiding in my opinion but despite the times I’d teased him about it, I thanked God every day for keeping him safe so he could marry my gran, my favourite person in the world.

  “I love the sleeves.” I turned back to the mirror and touched my gran’s handiwork. Needlework skills had certainly skipped a few generations—neither Kim nor I could sew to save our souls. Kim and Alison flanked me, their eyes just as wet as mine.

  “It’s perfect on you.” Kim appraised me as she rocked my three-month-old nephew in her arms.

  “It really is. You’re beautiful.” Alison blew her nose into a tissue.

  My mother handed me a glass of champagne. “This will settle any wedding jitters.”

  “To the last one to bite the dust.” Gran raised her glass in a toast and took a healthy gulp while my mom clucked her tongue.

  I felt as effervescent as the champ
agne as I took a small sip and set the glass on the dressing table of the bridal suite. I wasn’t nervous, I’d never been more certain of anything in my life and this ceremony was just a means to an end; marrying my best friend.

  I took one last look at myself in the mirror, Kevin had thought of everything. He’d flown Shelby in with her family for a paid vacation and she’d done a spectacular job of my hair and make-up. The artfully messy knot at my neck was elegant and understated, the make-up natural—I didn’t want to look in the mirror and not recognise myself. This, the girl staring back at me, was me. Plain, simple, me.

  “You ready?” My mom’s arms circled my waist and we smiled at each other in the mirror.

  “More than ready.”

  * * *

  White chairs two rows deep lined the aisle. Kevin was true to his word that only close friends and family along with the boys were there, but I only had eyes for him as I walked what felt like a mile until I reached him. My dad gave my arm a gentle squeeze. He hadn’t said much since coming to my room for me but the emotion I saw reflected there had me choking back more tears. Despite Shelby using waterproof make-up, I really was starting to get worried I’d be all red and puffy by the time I was standing in front of Kevin. The song playing as I walked up the aisle was a soulful ballad that brought a lump to my throat.

  I focused my attention on Kevin. If after this moment I was struck blind, the memory of the way Kevin looked at me as I made my way to his side would sustain me for the rest of my days. I reached Kevin and handed my bouquet to Kim.

  He reached for my hand and pulled me to him. “Sorry.” He muttered an apology to no one in particular and pressed his lips against mine in a kiss that had heat creeping up my cheeks. When his lips left mine, he looked at the minister, not in the least bit sheepish. “I just had to.”

  The minister cracked a joke about how he’d barely be able to restrain himself either and the ice was broken. The ceremony started with a speech about eternal love but I could only hear the sound of my heart, its every beat for the man who was soon to be my husband. After what felt like long moments where everyone and everything faded into the background, a sound penetrated the bubble Kevin and I were in. A deep vibrating rumble that I felt in my belly accompanied by rustling had me looking behind me. Seven elephants made their way to a spot where the trainer had a bunch of treats for them. I gasped at the magnificence of the creatures as they began munching contently on their branches—not concerning themselves at all with the proceedings.

  “You got me elephants?” I blurted in an excited squeal.

  “Well, we do have to give them back after the ceremony.” Kevin winked. Everyone laughed and the minister started us off with our vows. Since this had been sprung on me at the last minute, Kevin had opted for the traditional vows. I didn’t mind, anything I wanted to say to him I wanted to tell only him and I didn’t need him to declare why he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me in front of an audience. I could feel it with every touch and every kiss and saw it every time he looked at me.

  We said our vows, Kevin stopping every now and again to clear his throat and me blubbering my way through mine. I’m pretty sure the words were inaudible as well as unintelligible to anyone but Kevin but I couldn’t help myself as the tears flowed and I didn’t care. When the minister asked if we had the rings I had a momentary flare of panic because I didn’t have a ring for Kevin. He smiled and leaned in. “I’ve got you, I picked up a plain band. But this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook,” he teased.

  My retort died when the rumbling increased and the elephants grew restless. A few calming words from the handler and the ellies settled back to their grazing. My attention was drawn to where I’d begun my walk to Kevin. An elephant calf accompanied by her handler made her way up the aisle. She could not have been much older than two months judging by the way she barely came up to her handler’s waist. She was an adorable little thing and I half expected her to skip up the aisle. She basked in the attention lavished on her as ooh’s and ahh’s spilled from every set of lips.

  The handler was having a tough time reining her in and while he was digging around for some treats, her tiny trunked snaked out and reached for the pearls dangling from my mother’s neck. She tugged and the string broke, sprinkling the precious pearls all over the carpet like confetti while my mother’s laughter rang out in surprise.

  “Bella, be good,” the handler reprimanded in a tone that was more in the lines of an indulgent parent than a trainer and they continued to make their way up the aisle. When she reached us, my hand went out to touch her behind her ear. Her skin was coarse and tiny hairs prickly. Not wanting to overwhelm her, I removed my hand, but her trunk wound around my arm and brought it back up to her ear. A giggle escaped me and more ahh’s erupted from the crowd.

  I would’ve happily tickled Bella behind the ear all day but more rumbling erupted from the older elephants as they grew restless.

  “Excuse me, but the aunt, she is not happy, she wants her niece with her.” The handler took a small black box out of his pocket and handed it to Bella who snatched it up with her trunk. Her coordination wasn’t the best, so when she was given the command to hand over the rings she reached out her trunk and the box slipped from her grasp, but Kevin caught it before it landed on the ground. Bella searched for her treat before ambling off to her family who, now bored with the proceedings, turned and headed back to their camp.

  “Kevin, take Claire’s left hand in yours.”

  Kevin’s warm hand took mine in his. “Repeat after me.” The minister brought us and the guests back to the proceedings. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

  Kevin repeated the words, his voice loud and sure. He slid the diamond band onto my hand and, make-up be damned, the tears streamed down my cheeks. When it came to my turn, I didn’t do as good a job as Kevin. Emotion overwhelmed me and I couldn’t stop staring at the band that declared to the world that my heart belonged to someone.

  I barely heard the minister declare that Kevin could kiss me but when his lips pressed against mine, everything else faded into the background. After long moments, I vaguely recall people starting to chuckle and then all sorts of hoots and catcalls, which I ignored. I kissed Kevin as though it was our first time. I kissed him as though my very existence depended on his lips being on mine. As if in a dream, I heard Hayley and Kade’s voices swirl around us. Words of loss and reconciliations, of now’s and forever’s, of today’s and tomorrow’s. Words of hearts and souls melding forever whispered over us and still we kissed. It was a new song and I knew Hayley had to have written it just for us. It was our story, our song, and I made a mental note to tell her how much I appreciated it. As Kade and Hayley’s voices wrapped around us, I revelled in the taste of my tears and a feeling I’d never get sick of. It was a feeling of being safe.

  Of home.

  Yeah, I know we were a cliché, I was okay with it.

  Acknowledgements

  No words can adequately express how truly grateful I am to everyone for all their support, but if you’ll bear with me I’ll give it a bash!

  Brian, thank you, for picking up my slack when I am busy with all things author-related and for never complaining. You are my constant source of support and strength. Thank you for believing in me when I found it hard to believe in myself and for pushing me forward. I love you.

  My sweet girls, so many times you’ve shared me with the people in my head. Thank you for putting up with all the hours away from you. Mommy loves you more than unicorns, rainbows, and Jelly-Tots.

  Carrie, I couldn’t ask for a better sister. There’s a specific part in this book that means more to me because of you and I love you with all my heart.

  Mich, you were there right from the beginning. Thank you for helping me give birth to Kevin and Claire and for helping me brainstorm.

  Lesley, I don’t know how to thank you for your constant support; for reading the chapters out of order and always begging me for more, for inspiring
me to write and for keeping me on track when I veer off slightly. For loving me despite the fact that I’m the most indecisive person on the planet and for looking through hundreds of cover mock-ups with minimal differences because I’m finicky. These things I’ve listed are merely the tip of the iceberg, but thank you for everything. It sounds lame but I appreciate it and I appreciate you.

  Antoinette, for putting up with me constantly talking about the book and for your support.

  Angela, for helping me research some of the most important chapters of the book, and for being my voice of reason and sounding-board as well as being fiercely protective of Claire and of me.

  Owen, where do I start? Thank you for being there through every step of this book; for reading and commenting on every word, for all your encouragements, for all your support, and so, so, so much more.

  Lana, for being more excited about this release than I am, if that’s at all possible.

  My beta readers, Robyn, Kim, Warren, Vicky, Ariadna, Elisha, Lena, and Laurie. Your feedback was invaluable. This story is what it is because of your fine-tuning and advice. Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives. This story would be nothing without you guys.

  Megan: For taking the time on an almost stranger and becoming a friend. When I say words can’t express how grateful I am, I really mean it. You’ve been there for me so much through this process, beta reading, offering advice and suggestions on marketing. Thank you for answering a million questions and setting me up to get as many eyes as possible on my book. Girl, you have patience in spades. I wish I had the words to adequately express how I feel and just hope this thank you will carry the weight it should.

  Taylor from Spines and Designs: For creating such a kick-ass cover, graphics, and teasers.