“So do you mum, and Ramiro – Granddad.” She giggles. I have requested that all the men wear black trousers and jackets with white open necked shirts, no ties or cravats. They all have fine pale blue ribbons and irises in their button holes. Ramiro does carry the look off very well.
We make our way into the hotel and I remove my wrap and check myself in the mirror, my bouquet, blue and white irises compliments my pale blue dress beautifully. Tiny diamante hair clips catch the light as I check myself in the mirror. Once I’m ready I nod at my father and we make our way to the room used for ceremonies. We stand at the threshold of the room, Ramiro holds my hand tightly, he kisses me lightly on the cheek and smiles “OK?” He asks.
I nod, the language barrier is still very much evident but little by little we’re learning.
Gia appears “Oh Alex - you do look stunning, look at you!” She puts her hands over her mouth, tears fill her eyes.
“Gia, not now,” I say firmly “you’ll start me off!” I take a deep breath. I am not going to cry!
Ramiro talks to her quickly and she translates. "He says you look beautiful, that your grandmother would have been so very proud, that Maggie will be looking down on you, on us and he knows in his heart that she will always be here in this place, in Tuscany, it meant so much to her."
Ramiro chats again, translated by Gia who’s now struggling to hold back the tears.
“He says that he feels like he’s found you and is already giving you away again but that he is so happy, happy that you are marrying James. He knows that Lucca’s son will look after you.”
I struggle to stay composed, fighting the tears back at the words, breathing deeply, wishing myself to stay calm. Inside I’m knotted, excited and nervous, a total emotional mash up! “Tell him that I’ll never leave him again, tell him that I love him so very much, I love my new dad, please tell him!” Gia translates, Ramiro looks at me. He leans forward and kisses my cheek so gently.
I place my hand on the side of his face, "Thank you." I whisper.
He nods "I love you Alex." He says in broken English, then speaks in his language. Gia translates. "He says you are certain about this? You can still pull out, if you’re not sure!"
I nod and smile, I do want this, so very much.
He lifts my hand and puts it against his heart and kisses my cheek. "Beautiful." he whispers. He offers me his arm and walks me into the oak clad room.
I walk with my father down the centre of two rows of seats, the room is full, mainly people I don't know, extended family of extended family, Andrea Bocelli sings Vivo Per Lei as we walk towards the official.
Ramiro gives my hand to James, "You look stunning Blossom." he whispers.
"You do too. I love you." I say quietly.
“Not as much as I love you!” His mouth lifting to that stunning smile.
"You're wearing your diamonds."
"What did you expect?"
“And you’re wearing blue. I like you in blue!”
“I know.” I whisper.
The official does and says whatever he needs to and then we’re invited to say the vows we have prepared for each other. He looks to me first.
I look up at My James, The Bossman, his deep brown eyes, his hair tamed, for once. I smile, “James, I promise with all of my heart to love you always, to be honest and faithful, to adore you even as we age. I promise to honour you with my body and to share everything that I have with you. You are my very best friend James, my confident, my lover and you will be my husband and I promise to treat you as these every day, all day. James, I love you! Forever begins today.”
I look up at James and lift myself up slightly on my toes, kissing him gently on each of his cheeks. The official looks at James and nods, he smiles, that killer smile, my insides quiver and I flush, wildly!
“Alex I promise to love you, always. Without you I am only half of what I can be. I love you with all of my heart. I will stand by you, I will protect you and worship you. I’ll always be here for you, I’ll support you in whatever you do, walk beside you wherever you go but most of all Alex, I love you for who you are. Alex, I love you so very much. Forever begins today.”
He leans forward and kisses me fully. Our congregation stand, clap and gasp collectively.
The official hands Maggie’s and Ramiro’s rings to us on a small cushion and we place them on each other’s ring fingers, more words are said. We kiss again before turning and walking the length of the oak clad room. This is the Day is played as we exit smiling at our friends, our new family as we hold onto each other for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Aconi.
Our reception is busy, bustling. There’s beautiful food, Prosecco and as you would expect piles of strawberries which James insists on feeding to me at random times throughout the day, telling me that “they’re good for you”, each strawberry is followed with a kiss and a promise of what’s to come later. I did notice the little black bag when he packed!
I meet people that I’ve never heard of, family of Roberto and Ramiro, cousins and second cousins and their partners. Franco has also tracked down some of James’ family, Lucca’s family and they tell us stories of Lucca when he was young, growing up and when he met James’ mother.
Fortunately the majority of the younger generation speak English and so James and I are able to hold a decent conversation. Plenty of wine flows throughout the afternoon and dancing into the early evening, James holds my hand all the time, watched by Ramiro who’s clearly keeping an eye on things!
Once our reception is over we are driven to our villa, Anna and Gary are staying at the hotel with Gia and Roberto, planned so that we may have our wedding night on our own. As we pull up in front of the building James helps me out of the car and lifts me up. He carries me whilst my head snuggles into his shoulder through the door, over the threshold.
“Welcome home Mrs. Aconi,” He mumbles. I reply with a giggle and a little kiss.
“You’re not too tired are you?” He asks.
“No I’m fine honestly, truthfully. Though I could murder a decent cup of tea!”
“Assam?”
“Please. The hotel was wonderful, the food magnificent, the tea – crap!”
I kick my pale blue heels off and crash down into one of the comfy sofa’s, curling my legs up as James disappears into the kitchen. He returns a few minutes later with a tray complete with tea pot, milk jug, sugar bowl and two cups. He stirs the pot again and pours the dark amber liquid into a cup with a tiny splash of milk. He adds half a spoon of sugar.
“No sweeteners?” I ask.
“You know what I feel about sweetener Alex, not now, not with trying to get you pregnant! You need proper food, not saccharin or synthetic stuff!”
I huff and drink the perfect cup of tea anyway.
“I’ve got something for you.” I stand and walk to my portfolio case.
“Work!” He grumbles.
“No, not really! A sort of wedding present.”
I take out a large envelope and walk back to where we’re sitting and hand it to him. He puts his cup on the low table and sits back into the sofa. I stretch out beside him my head on his lap as he opens the envelope and pulls out a thin document stapled in the top left hand corner with a red seal. He looks at the papers and flicks through the pages.
“You’ve given me half of everything Alex?”
“Uh huh. There’s a rider in there, but yes, what I have is yours, I promised this afternoon to share everything I have, so yes, it’s all ours. With the exception of Henry’s.”
“And the rider?”
“It’s in there, towards the back. It’s just to protect Anna and other children we may have. You can’t will or give any of the business assets to anyone other than Anna or our children.”
“That’s fine, because nothing will happen to us. And Henry’s?” He asks.
“Henry’s is yours completely. Whatever happens to us and I know that nothing will, but Henry’s is yours, one hundred percent in your name.”
&nbs
p; He bends forward and kisses me gently, “Thank you Alex, thank you for trusting me so completely.”
“I do and always will James, you’re my world!”
He shuffles under me, running his fingers through my hair, across my forehead and along my jaw. His thumb draws over my lips and he leans forward, his lips brushing mine so gently. “Shall we go make a baby?” He smiles.
“I thought you’d never ask!”
Alex’s story continues in book three of this series
Eternally Alex
Due for publication Early 2014
About the Author
Sarah Elizabeth Ashley is a first time British writer born and raised in the Midlands county of Staffordshire where she still lives today with her husband and two children, a dog and a couple of rabbits.
Forbidden to use her 'real' name by her children Sarah has been saying for years that she has a book "in her". Finally finding the time, she quite literally let the words flow as her first novel, Freeing Alex, was created, the characters coming to life on her laptop. She describes herself as a true Piscean with an over-active imagination and says that it took a great deal of courage to release 'Freeing Alex' however, motivated by her husband and family she finally took the plunge in August 2013.
“I love to write- once I get an idea in my head, well it just seems to flow.” – Sarah E Ashley
Table of Contents
Praise for Loving Alex
The Alexandra Drake Series
Acknowledgement
Dedication
Playlist
Loving Alex. Part Two of the Alexandra Drake Series.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chatper 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
About the Author
Loving Alex (The Alexandra Drake Series) Page 28