Thirty-Eight Reasons

by Len Webster

  “You do?” he breathed out.

  When the tie was to his mother’s satisfactory, she looked up and nodded with a tear in her eye. “I’m your mother, Nolan. I don’t miss a thing. And I definitely didn’t miss a thing when you thought you were being secretive, the first time you came back to Melbourne. I knew something was going on with Clara when you didn’t visit your father and I as much after our cruise. Who can blame you for falling in love with her. Clara’s beautiful. You were too young, but I saw the love you had for her in your eyes. Maybe it was a friendship but I’m happy that it flourished. I’m proud of you and I’m happy that you’re marrying her. I’ve always loved Clara like my own daughter and you know your grandmother, wanted to take her away with her.”

  Placing his hands on his mother’s bare arms, Noel pulled her closer and kissed her cheek. “All my life I’ve unknowingly loved her. I’m not hiding my love for her anymore, Mum. I’m going to be the best husband I can for her.”

  His mother placed her hand on his cheek and smiled. “Honey, you are going to be the best husband for her.”

  “How does she look, Mum?”

  “Beautiful beyond words. Now, I better go make sure your grandmother give’s Clara her something borrowed.”

  He raised a brow at her. “What is Gran giving her?”

  His mother moved her hand from his face and adjusted the small purple tulip on his suit properly. “She’s letting Clara borrow her lasagna recipe.”

  He breathed out and looked as his mother in surprise. “What? Gran is really doing that?”

  “She’s about to be a Parker,” his mother said with such excitement.

  The burst of the doors had him turning and his mother stopping.

  “You!” Alex pointed.

  His mother’s eyes went wide and he knew his surprise backfired on him. Giving his mother a reassuring squeeze of the arm, he ushered her to the direction of the door. The fear in her eyes intensified when she walked past Alex.

  “Listen, I can explain,” Noel offered as Alex quickly stalked towards him.

  If Alex was going to stop the wedding, Noel wasn’t going to have any of it. He already had the headache of Clara’s visa papers, Alex’s dislike for the surprise was stress he didn’t need. Before going to Hong Kong, Noel applied and was granted a dual-citizenship, making him both a citizen of Australia and the US. He was thankful he became a dual-citizen; it made Clara’s stay in the US permanent and avoided work visa papers.

  Before Noel could explain himself, Alex wrapped his arms tightly around him. Noel stilled as he was surprised by Alex’s actions.

  “Thank you. Thank you so much,” Alex cried. His best friend wasn’t one to be overly emotional.

  “Uhh, you’re ruining my suit. I’m marrying your sister and I want to look decent,” he playfully joked.

  Alex untangled himself from Noel and wiped away a tear. Alex shedding tears was a sight Noel was not used to.

  “How did you manage that? I’ve tried all my life,” Alex said, shaking his head.

  Breathing out and relaxing the nerves that Alex induced, Noel straightened his suit jacket as Alex sat in the armchair to his left. Following his best man’s lead, Noel sat in the chair next to him.

  “Simple. I asked your father for his blessing as well as yours and Liam’s. I invited him to the wedding to walk her down the aisle if she wishes.”

  “But how did you manage that? He’s divorcing my mother!”

  The disbelief on Alex’s face made Noel let out a short laugh.

  “When you were in hospital, I confessed my love for Clara to him. When I asked for his blessing he said he realised when they got back to Melbourne that he put Gillian first for far too long, and that he was sick of being in a loveless marriage. He was over the moon to hear that Clara and I got back together and were in engaged. I hope you’re not offended that I invited him but having your dad walk her down the aisle is something Clara longs for,” Noel explained.

  “Honestly, man, I would love nothing more than to see the sight of my dad walking my sister down the aisle. It’s something I’ve been wanting for a long time. You truly are a good man. I’m glad you’re marrying Clara. I’m proud to have you as my brother-in-law.”

  Noel grinned at his best man and his soon to be brother-in-law. This is what he wanted from the moment he wanted Clara forever. It was something he thought he’d never have.

  “I’m happy she chose me,” Noel confessed.

  Alex proudly smiled before he breathed out. “Listen, I have to ask you something.”

  Noel looked at the vulnerable look in Alex’s eyes and tapped his fingers on his leg to try to calm himself. “Okay?”

  Alex looked down at his hands for a moment before looking back up at him. “You promise to look after her, right? I’ve spent my entire life looking after her and now I’m letting her go. I know she’s in good hands, but I need to hear you say it. Clara’s been my responsibility and I want to know that when I let her go, she’s gonna be okay.”

  Reaching over, Noel placed his hand on Alex’s back. “I’m gonna look after her, Alex. It’s my turn to be the one that looks out for Clara and provide for her. I’m about to make her my wife. The privilege is all mine. I’ll spend my life making sure she’s happy. I’m promising the world that today. But I promise you more than anyone that I’m never going to let her down, I’m never going to let her go and I’m never going to let her feel unloved ever again. I promise you, Clara’s my life.”

  With a satisfied smile, Alex stood up and adjusted his suit. “Thanks. I needed to hear that. I’m just happy that I know she’s going to be safe and happy. I get to see her for all the holidays and know that she’s only in Massachusetts. I better go see her and get her ready for her surprise. You let me know what it’s like on the other side.”

  Letting out a chuckle, Noel too stood up from the chair. “I’ll let you know what married life is like. Get you prepared for when you marry Keira in June.”

  The glimmer in Alex’s eyes had Noel smiling.

  “First, let’s make sure that you and my sister finally get married. I think we’ll all relax as soon as she becomes Mrs. Nolan Parker.”

  With a grin, Alex walked out of the room leaving Noel to himself. He walked over to the full-length mirror and adjusted his entire attire to ensure nothing was short of perfection. Adjusting his suit jacket he heard the knock on the door, turning around he watched as Max walked through the door.

  “Hey,” Noel greeted. Things between them had been tensed and Max continued to blame himself. He avoided Clara more than Noel would have liked, but there was no way to remove Max of his guilt.

  “Annie will be here to tell you when they’re ready to start, she’s just dropping off her husband at the doors.” Max adverted Noel’s stare as he turned for the door.

  “Max,” Noel called out and walked towards him.

  Max turned around and the guilt consumed his eyes.

  “Yeah?” Max’s voice was so low that he almost didn’t hear it.

  “We don’t blame you. It wasn’t your fault. It was ours. But we’re okay now. Please stop blaming yourself, okay? Clara’s thinks you won’t ever talk to her again and it upsets her. She doesn’t hate you for Sarah’s actions.”

  Noel breathed out as Max’s head popped up.

  “So you guys forgive me?”

  The hope laced in Max’s voice had Noel smirking.

  “No. Want to know why? Because there’s nothing to forgive. You did nothing wrong, Max.” Not letting Max be consumed of guilt again, Noel brought him in for a quick hug.

  Once they separated, he saw the relief in Max’s eyes. A knock at the door had them both turning.

  “Sorry to interrupt but Mr. Parker is needed at the altar to marry his bride,” Annie said as she entered the room, her blue eyes twinkled.

  “Mrs. Harper, you do look quite beautiful. Jarred is one lucky man.”

  Annie blushed before saying, “And Clara’s a lucky woman. Now,
let’s not keep her waiting. Max, you’ll be with Josie.”

  Taking two steps forward, Noel wrapped his arms around Annie. “Thank you… for everything,” he whispered in her ear.

  A small giggle came from Annie as he unwrapped his arms from her body. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for your wedding.”

  Annie shook her head. “Don’t be. I can always send you a DVD. Now, shall we?”

  With a nod of his head, he looked around his surroundings. He was happy. He was about to marry the love of his life.

  “It’s time, Clara.”

  She turned away from the mirror and saw her maid of honour holding up a bouquet of tulips. Clara looked up at Stevie and gave her a reassuring smile. They both heard the sound of a soft knock before her brother, Alex, walked into the bridal room.

  “I’ve never seen such a beautiful bride in my life, Clara. He’s one lucky man,” Alex said as he walked over to Clara and placed a kiss on her cheek. Her heart tugged slightly and she looked at the tulips. Even when she was a little girl they were the flowers she imagined at her wedding.

  “Do you think I made the right choice?” she asked as she looked up at her brother. A slight frown appeared, before Alex smiled and placed his hands on Clara’s shoulders.

  “Clara, you know I’m not impartial. I’m just happy that you’re happy.” After everything they had been through, she was happy. Her life was complete the moment she said ‘Yes.’

  “He’s there, right, Alex?” Clara asked. She needed to know that he would be there the moment she stepped onto the aisle.

  “Clara, Liam isn’t doing a runner. It’s you, we’re all worried about.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. With her brother walking her down the aisle, to the love she would and could love forever, Clara knew she made the right choice.

  “I’m not running, Alex. I’m staying. It was always him. He’s the reason for this all.”

  In a matter of moments she’ll be walking down the aisle towards becoming Noel’s wife.

  “He's there in the front row with a smile on his face. He's happy to see you marry Noel.”

  Another knock had her raising her eyebrow at him. The door slowly opened to Granny Parker dressed in a lovely salmon-coloured dress and matching jacket. Clara smiled at the grandmother she would be able to finally call hers.

  “Oh, Clara.” Granny’s eyes roamed the wedding dress Clara wore and tears started to pool her eyes.

  Alex took a step to the right as Stevie closed the door behind Granny Parker.

  “Granny Parker, is it okay out there?”

  “Honey, you shouldn’t worry about chairs and tables let the others worry about that.”

  Smiling, Clara walked up to her and hugged her fiancé’s grandmother. She smelt like apples, a smell she remembered from her childhood.

  “I have something for you.”

  ”You do?” Clara asked as she untangled her arms from Granny Parker.

  “I have your something borrowed.” The wrinkles around her eyes deepened as she smiled at Clara.

  “Oh, Granny Parker, I can’t take anything from you.” Clara raised her hands and shook her head.

  “Nonsense, you are about to be my granddaughter and I want to give this to you.” Granny Parker claiming her made Clara’s heart burn. She was happy to be loved by a family. Her own biological parents wouldn’t be here, but at least she’d have the family she was be marrying into.

  “Here,” Granny said as she pulled out a folded piece of paper.

  Clara moved back a loose curl and took the piece of paper and started to unfold it. Reading the piece of paper her mouth dropped.

  “Granny, I can’t take this,” Clara breathed out as she looked at the recipe for the Parker family lasagna.

  “Don’t be silly, Clara. You are about to be a Parker too. And it’s yours to borrow and feed that grandson of mine.”

  “Thank you so much,” Clara said as she kissed her grandmother-in-law on the cheek.

  “Have you got everything else?” Alex asked once he gave Granny a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  Adjusting the sleeve caps of her tulle wedding dress, Clara nodded. “I’ve got my something old which is my locket. Something new is my engagement ring. Something borrowed is Granny’s recipe. Something blue is the earrings my bridesmaids got me and I have the silver sixpence in my shoe from Noel.”

  Clara smiled at the memory of Noel showing her the sixpence the day before. He had her close her eyes and after his countdown from three, she saw him holding it up to her, grinning. A 1943 British sixpence coin completed the wedding tradition. The reason why Noel purchased the 1943 sixpence coin was of her love of King George VI and the story of ‘The King’s Speech’.

  Seeing the sixpence coin he held before him, she was utterly in awe of how much she truly loved him. Though it was uncomfortable at first, she loved the idea of the coin in her shoe. But the one thing she cared about more than anything was the silver locket around her neck. Inside still held the note that asked for question twenty-one. The one question she never hesitated on.

  Looking at her engagement ring, she smiled to herself. The Celtic Knots melted her heart and soon she’d have a wedding band. A symbol that Noel forever owned her heart.

  The door to her bridal suit opened and Clara looked up to see Annie enter the room with a joyous smile on her face.

  “The boys are ready!”

  Alex linked his arms around hers. “Showtime, Clara Louise Lawrence… for the last time.”

  Clara placed her hand over brother’s arm. “I’m always going to be your little sister.”

  Alex looked down at her fondly. “Now that you’re going to be a Parker, I don’t want the same pain in the ass attitude I get from your damn husband!”

  Granny Parker let out a snort. “Alex, we Parker’s are known for our ways. Can’t say we won’t corrupt Clara. I better go find my son and Louise. I’ll see you all at the gazebo.”

  Granny Parker gave everyone in the room a hug and a kiss before slipping out. The gazebo where she’d say ‘I do’ in was breathtakingly beautiful. It sat on the small island on the golf course lake and had a bridge that connected it to the main course. When Noel suggested Eagle Ridge course, Clara laughed. The first thing she remembered of the golf course was Julian and Noel chasing her with their golf cart when Clara was eight. Seeing the gazebo for the first time in years, she instantly said yes. That was the spot she wanted to marry Noel.

  “Keira, Josie, and Ally are at the door, ready to go?” Stevie asked as she placed the bouquet of purple tulips in Clara’s hand.

  Alex gently squeezed her arm and she turned her head and looked up at him.

  Letting out a blissful sigh, she nodded her head. “Let’s put that poor man out of his misery before he thinks I got cold feet.”

  The anxiousness had her on edge. She was impatient to be Noel’s wife. Alex walked her away from the bridal suit and towards the glass doors that led to the golf course. She felt the fast beats of her heart as she stepped closer to becoming Clara Parker.

  Alex whispered jokes to calm her and Clara laughed as they walked around the corner. She noticed her bridesmaids standing on the other side of the glass door with their groomsmen. But Clara’s eyes met with a tall man in a black suit. She instantly stilled, holding Alex back.

  “Daddy?” she breathed out unbelievably shocked.

  He turned around and she saw a loving smile on her father’s face. She didn’t bother to invite her father or mother to her wedding with Noel. She didn’t want any trouble that involved her parents.

  “What are you—”

  Alex untangled their arms and he hugged their father. When Alex turned around he had a relieved smile on his face.

  “Noel asked for my blessing and asked if I’d walk you down the aisle. If that’s okay with you and Alex?”

  The hope in his eyes was one she never thought he’d have towards her. Clara closed her eyes tightly. Noel asked her father for his blessing and surpris
ed her with her father’s presence at her wedding.

  Opening her eyes, she smiled. “Alex?” she asked for his permission.

  “I would love nothing more than for Dad to walk you down. I couldn’t let Stevie walk down the aisle by herself.”

  “Okay, Daddy.” Clara took a step towards her father. She vowed she wouldn’t speak to him again but this time it was he who sought her love and affection and he broke her resolve and won. She didn’t care as she wrapped her arms around the man that got blinded by love. Clara knew her veil was being pulled out of place as they hugged, but she didn’t care. Today was perfect.

  “I love you, Clara,” he said in her ear.

  Clara fought hard to stop the tears from falling. Untangling from their long overdue embrace, her father kept his hands on her arms.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been a terrible father to the both of you. I did it because I didn’t want your mother to hurt you more. I’m sorry, Clara. I was wrong to choose Gillian over my daughter. I’m divorcing her. I’m sorry I couldn’t get her to attend your wedding.”

  “I don’t care that she’s not here. I’m just happy that you’re here, Daddy. I’ve always dreamed of this moment.”

  Clara turned and faced the glass doors as her father linked his arms around hers. The smile on Alex’s face had her content. Alex nodded at the golf club workers who held the doors for them. Clara instantly feeling the warm air hit her skin.

  Alex winked as he walked to the front of the line. Clara could just see CeCe holding her basket of white rose petals. Turning around, Jarred winked at her and she felt the surprise creep on her face.

  “How?” she mouthed to him.

  Annie turned and smiled at Clara.

  “Rob’s brother’s flight was delayed. I’m filling in,” he replied in a whisper.

  That’s when Clara heard the sounds of the violins and she could just see Noel lift his head up in her direction.

  “Ready?” her father asked.

  Clara tore her eyes away from the gazebo and looked up at him.

  With a nod, the bridal party started to walk towards the bridge that acted as the aisle. She watched as they all walked in sync to the violins. The golf club events manager nodded her head at Clara and it was time.