Nice Day For A White Wedding

by Le Carre, Georgia

  This should anger me further, but it doesn’t. I just accept it. I’m done raging.

  “I’m sorry. I would never have used it, but the conversation we’re about to have isn’t one I was willing to have at the casino and I didn’t think you’d let me in if I just knocked on your door like a sane person.”

  A ghost of a smile curves my lips. I really have missed him, although there’s no way in hell I’m going to tell him that.

  “Yeah, you bet I wouldn’t have,” I agree.

  “I caused you pain, Cindy, and I’m truly sorry for that. I won’t blame you if you tell me to get out and never come back. But I won’t leave until after I’ve explained everything to you. I owe you that and I need you to hear it. And then if you still want me to leave, I’ll go.”

  “Whatever,” I shrug tiredly. “Let’s hear the next batch of lies you’ve cooked up.”

  “I’ve never lied to you. The only time I was less than transparent, the only thing I am guilty of is when I let you believe what Petra said was true and, I think you’ll at least understand why I had to do what I did when I explain.”

  “What?” I whisper in shock.

  “It’s true. Everything I said about wanting to make Babushka happy was true. She really does want me to find someone and be happy with her and I wanted to give her that before she left this earth. And until Petra interfered you made her really happy, you saw for yourself how happy she was to think I’d found the one. It was never about anything else. Here’s something else interesting for you to know. I am the rightful and the only heir to the Obolensky fortune. The titles only passed to Babushka because my father died and she was the next in line. After her death, I am the next in line, but I am not interested in her house or her money. I have my own money, more than I need, and until I saw how truly beautiful Winter House was through your eyes I never wanted it, or had any intention of going to live there.”

  “What about the clause Petra was talking about?” I ask in shock.

  “That clause is indeed in my aunt’s will. I told Babushka to add it years ago.”

  I have to admit I didn’t see that one coming. I want to reject the explanation as lies, but Alex seems so genuine and I know in my heart he’s telling me the truth. “Why?”

  “Basically, my relatives are freeloaders and parasites. They have no issues with doing nothing and living off Babushka. She allows it because she likes to be surrounded by them. After all, they’re family and blood is thicker than water, but deep down, she knows what they’re after. Her money. And that’s why she made a little joke about them being so eager to get their hands on some of her money that they could arrange for her to have a fall, or even slowly poison her.”

  My mouth drops open at the idea of them trying to kill her. Killing me, a complete stranger is one thing, but a sweet little old lady like Babushka?

  “To be honest, at that time, I thought she was being a bit paranoid, but there’s nothing I won’t do to keep her happy so even though I didn’t believe it, I came up with the idea of the clause. The clause would mean it would be in their interest to make sure Babushka lived as long as possible so they could continue to live in the style they had become accustomed to. In the event she died, a trust would take over and they would all get a pittance compared to what they enjoy now. Since I didn’t want anybody to suspect why we were changing the will, we let everyone think it was because Babushka wanted me to get married and produce heirs. It worked. Everybody believed it and everyone was happy because nobody could see me settling down with anyone. In fact, it was more likely they would be attending my funeral than my wedding. That is until now when I wanted to make Babushka happy with the thought that she was going to get what she wanted all along and …”

  “You brought me into the picture,” I finish for him.

  He nods. “Anyway, what none of the family knows, is that the will they’ve seen with the clause isn’t Babushka’s real will. Her real will is with her lawyer. It gives Marina and Viktor a good payout as she’s already bought them a house. It gives Petra and Anastasia enough to live in a fairly grand style. I will inherit Winter House, regardless of my marital status and Valeriya will live in the house for as long as she wants. The rest of Babushka’s money will be used to start a charity in Russia for homeless children. If you don’t believe me, I can show you a copy of the real will.”

  Cindy

  As Alex explains his side of the situation, I had a hundred questions, but they’ve all mostly faded away. His explanation makes sense. Much more sense than thinking that he needs his aunt’s money, or that he’d purposely con the one family member he has who loves him completely.

  “I … oh my God, Alex, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I believed that of you,” I say.

  He shrugs.

  “Petra got into your head. She’s good like that. How else could you react?”

  “But why didn’t you tell me all this that day?”

  “I wanted more than anything to tell you the truth that day, but Winter House wasn’t the place to do it. As you learned, there are tunnels and passageways everywhere and I was pretty certain either Petra or Anastasia would be around your room hoping to hear us talking. I knew I could not keep both you and Babushka safe. Even though it devastated me to send you away in the way I did, I knew my best bet was to get you off the property and back to safety while Petra and Anastasia thought we had fallen out. Once you were gone I knew they couldn’t harm you and I could more effectively sort out Babushka’s situation to my satisfaction.”

  “Everything I said to you from the moment we met is true, Cindy. I am in love with you. Completely, hopelessly in love with you. And that means total honesty. Even if it hurts.”

  I stare in his familiar stormy eyes and feel my heart skip a beat. He loves me! It wasn’t all a lie. What we had was real. I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out. I close it again and just sit in silence, trying to process everything he’s told me, but mostly just hearing him say he’s in love with me. It vibrates inside my head. And it sounds beautiful.

  “Cindy? You do believe me, don’t you?” he says, a tinge of worry in his voice.

  I nod, still mute for the moment. I shake my head slightly, hoping to clear it.

  “I … yes. I believe you about your aunt’s will. It makes sense. And I desperately want to believe you about the rest ...”

  “But?” Alex prompts me.

  “But it’s been a week since I left you in Russia. You’ve been home for what? Days? And you’re just coming here now. That doesn’t feel like the actions of someone who is completely and hopelessly in love.”

  “Actually, I’ve just got back. I came here straight from the airport. Well after I waited for you to go down to the casino floor so I could sneak like a damn thief into your locker and get your key,” he says with a sheepish smile. “I know I could have called you from somewhere outside of the house, but this wasn’t a conversation to be had over the phone. I needed you to be able to look me in the eye as I spoke so you could see the truth of my words.”

  “You’ve just got back? Why?”

  “After I saw for myself that my aunt wasn’t just being paranoid I started to fear for her safety too. I stayed on a bit longer to convince her to come to London and then to arrange to have her and Valeriya’s things sent here.”

  “You got her to agree to it?” I ask, surprised.

  He nods. “Yes. It seems you made quite an impression on my aunt as well as me. She wants to be around us. But don’t worry. No pressure. Now that she is away from danger there is no longer any need to pretend. You can tell her we ended things between us, if that’s what you want.”

  “Or I could not do that,” I say with a smile.

  He stares at me. He looks like he hardly dares to breathe. “What do you mean?” he whispers hoarsely.

  “You said that nothing you told me at the house was a lie. Well it wasn’t for me either. Everything I said and felt was real. Alex, I love you so much I thought I was goin
g to die this week without you.”

  “You would take me back after everything that happened?” he asks.

  I nod. “If you can forgive me for doubting you,” I say, nervous suddenly.

  “There’s nothing to forgive,” Alex says, sweeping me into his arms

  His mouth is suddenly on mine. As we kiss, it’s like no time has passed at all, like none of the bad stuff between us ever happened. I can feel it in his kiss that he feels exactly the same. He pulls me closer to him, and it’s like we’re made to fit together.

  We had a whirlwind insta-lust attraction and a rocky road that lead us here, but now that we’re here, I know for sure I never want to walk away from Alex again. A week without him was more than I could bear. I was ready to give up everything for him. I can’t even begin to imagine living the rest of my life without him. I don’t want to imagine it. Not even for a second. I’m never letting him go again.

  Alex takes his mouth from mine and already I miss his lips, his tongue. He has woken my body back up and I want him so badly. He pulls me close and holds me against him for a moment.

  “I love you more than words, more than money, more than anything else in this world, Cindy. I want you to never forget that,” he whispers into my ear.

  I cling to him for a moment and then I pull back so I can look at his face again.

  “Should we take this to my bedroom? Or do you need to get back to your aunt?” I ask.

  He stands up and offers me his hand. I slip my hand into his with no hesitation and he pulls me gently to my feet.

  “First things first,” he says as he slips the beautiful ring I thought I’d never see again on my finger.

  I look down at the ring with a mixture of amazement and delight. Wow! This time it’s for real.

  “And now, bed for you, I think,” he says. “My aunt will be just fine without me. Why do you think I brought Valeriya home with her?”

  My laughter dies in my throat when he throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and starts heading for my bedroom. I missed Alex with all my heart, but Alex missed me with his body. He falls on me with the intensity and hunger of a man who has been locked away in prison for years and years and this is his last day on earth.

  All the pain and darkness magically disappeared. Soon the morning sun will come out and flood my home, but it is already flooding my heart.

  Cindy

  Six Months Later

  I stand in the bathroom, needing a moment of alone time. The old cathedral where we’re getting married is filled with gorgeously dressed people. All of our friends are here, along with my family and Babushka, who I guess is my family now too. The rest of Alex’s family didn’t get an invite to the wedding, although a fair few of his old friends have flown out to be here today.

  Everywhere I turn there is noise and movement. It’s all happy noise – laughter, tears of joy and chattering, but I just needed a moment of silence.

  The bathroom adjoins the room I claimed for myself and my bridesmaids, Star, Rosa, and Raven, to get ready in. They’re still in there, sipping champagne and chatting. I know they were worried when I announced I needed a moment alone to center myself, but they’ll get over it when they find out why and hopefully, they’ll understand why I didn’t talk to them about it.

  I clutch the edge of the sink and look at myself in the mirror and smile at my reflection. I look radiant, even if I do say so myself.

  My dress is silvery white with a tight bodice and a big white flowing skirt. A beautiful diamond and silver sparkly tiara holds my veil in place, my curls peeking out from around the sides of it. My make-up is flawless. My skin looks like porcelain with my cheeks tinged with just the right amount of blusher to make me look excited.

  I didn’t need the extra color, I am excited. I can’t wait to marry Alex.

  As I look into my own eyes in the mirror, I see the truth shining in the unshed tears there, and I know I have to tell him now. I should have told him sooner, but I told myself no, I could wait. But I can’t. I feel like it’s now or never and I choose now.

  I nod to myself, telling myself I’ve made the right choice. I turn away from the mirror and leave the bathroom before I can talk myself back out of this.

  “I won’t be long,” I say to the girls as I pass through the room.

  I head for the door to the room, ignoring the questions being called out behind me from Rosa and Star. I walk along the corridor blindly, vaguely aware that people are greeting me as I pass by them, and I’m rudely ignoring them.

  Halfway down the corridor, I pick up the many voluminous, whispering layers that make up the skirt of my gown in both hands and start to run. I am aware of passing Babushka as she joins the other guests who are beginning to make their way downstairs to the banquet hall where Alex and I will be married. I hear her asking me where I’m going, but I don’t stop, only give her a big smile. If I stop, there won’t be enough time to catch Alex before he leaves his room.

  I keep running and finally, I arrive at his room. It’s at the opposite end of the corridor to mine. Mine is beside one staircase, his another. We agreed to the idea so that we wouldn’t see each other on the day, at least not before the ceremony.

  I go into the room without knocking. I am greeted by a room full of groomsmen, all of whom look at me in shock as I burst into the room.

  “Where is he?” I ask, scanning the room and instantly seeing Alex isn’t among the men gathered there.

  “He’s in the bathroom,” one of the men says.

  “Cindy, what are you doing here?” Alex’s best man asks. There is a note of urgency in his voice.

  “I need to talk to him. Now,” I say.

  “Is everything ok?” someone else asks.

  “Yeah, I just need to talk to him,” I repeat.

  I sense the mood in the room changing. The groomsmen are starting to shift about uncomfortably, pulling at their suits and ties. Maybe they think I’ve changed my mind and either I’m about to call off the wedding, or stand Alex up.

  Before I can tell them to relax, all is well, a door opens and Alex steps into the room. He looks gorgeous in his gray suit and white shirt, a perfect contrast to the groomsmen who wear traditional black suits. For a second, our eyes meet and we just drink each other in.

  “Isn’t this meant to be unlucky?” Alex teases me with a wink.

  He said the tradition of not seeing each other on the day of the wedding was stupid, an old wives’ tale, but I insisted and he agreed to it, and now here I am being the one to bring bad luck to us.

  I don’t reply. If I do, I know I will cry and I don’t want to cry. I also don’t want to have this conversation in a room full of Alex’s friends and I try to tell him that with my eyes. I don’t know if he gets the message, but without looking away from me, he addresses the whole room.

  “Gentlemen, can you give us a minute, please?” he asks.

  He speaks in English and I know some of his groomsmen speak little to no English, but they all seem to get the message as the others start to file out of the room. Soon, it’s just Alex and I left in the room.

  “What is it?” he asks.

  I want to speak, to reassure him, but I have a huge lump in my throat, and all I can do is shake my head. To tell him that it’s not bad news.

  “Cindy, you’re really worrying me now,” he says, a suddenly deep sadness filling his eyes.

  I take a deep breath and I swallow hard, pushing away the lump, and when I finally get my words to come out, my voice sounds shaky.

  “Alex, I’m sorry to do this now,” I say. “I should have told you sooner, but I didn’t and then I told myself I’d tell you later, but I have to tell you before we get married. I don’t know why, but I just know I have to.”

  “So, we’re still getting married,” he says, looking relieved.

  “Yes,” I say quickly. “God, yes. Of course, yes. I just … Alex, I’m pregnant.”

  For a second he just looks at me like I haven’t spoken
and then his face opens out into a wide smile. It is the widest smile I have ever seen on his face. Then he starts to laugh with pure joy. In a flash, he closes the gap between us and, wrapping his arms around me, he picks me and whirls me around. I laugh too. My veil flies behind me and swirls around us, until it is wrapped around us.

  “Alex,” I whisper in his ear.

  “What?” he whispers back.

  “You’re pleased?”

  “Pleased? I’m deliriously, fantastically, and ecstatically pleased,” he says.

  I feel sheer relief flood me and it hits me why I wanted to wait until after the wedding to tell him about this and why I suddenly knew that I couldn’t do that. I wasn’t sure whether he would be happy about this. We’ve never really talked about when or even if we’d have kids.

  “Have I spoilt it by coming here, though? Now you won’t get to turn around and see me coming to you in my white dress.”

  “Oh, Cindy. You haven’t spoilt anything for me. You coming here to tell me I’m going to be a dad is something I’ll remember to the day I die. It’s … well … different. A real Cindy Forrester thing to have done,” he says, not able to keep the grin off his face for even a second. “Plus it’s the best wedding gift anyone could have ever given me.”

  He sets me back down on my feet and untangles us from my long veil, then he leans in to kiss me and I jerk back.

  “Lipstick,” I caution with a laugh. “My eyes are probably enough of a mess with all the tears.”

  “Mess? You look absolutely beautiful,” he says seriously.

  He kisses my cheek tenderly. I hug him to me again, then release him quickly before I can start to feel the way my body responds to being in his arms.

  “I have to go,” I say. “I’m due to get married in less than five minutes and I need to get my make-up fixed first.”

  “Yes, go. You don’t want to keep your poor groom waiting at the altar.”

  “Oh, Alex, I can’t wait to become Mrs. Obolensky.”