Finding Hope at the Loch (Loch Lannick Book 7)

by Hannah Ellis

  “I thought you could just prop the phone up while you’re getting ready,” Leana said. “It’ll be as though I’m there with you. I don’t like the thought of you being alone.”

  Lexie beamed at her best friend, loving how thoughtful she was. “Thank you. But I’m not alone. We kept bumping into this couple who are getting married today too. It seems like we’re going to be witnesses for each other. Tara and I decided to get ready together. She just did my nails!”

  “That’s so lovely.” Leana’s brows pulled together. “I’m quite jealous that it’s not me there with you, but I’m glad you’re having a good time. I can’t believe you’re getting married today.”

  “Me neither. It’s crazy.” She sank onto the edge of the bath.

  Leana laughed. “It’s so exciting. Did you decide how you’re wearing your hair?”

  “I’m going to put it up. Tara said she’d help me.”

  “I can’t wait to see photos. I’ll leave you to get organised now I’ve seen everything is under control. I thought you might need moral support, but you look very calm.”

  “Thanks for calling,” Lexie said before they ended the call.

  “Lexie?” Tara called a moment later, then waited until Lexie opened the bathroom door. “Did you write your own vows?”

  “No,” Lexie said. “We’re just going with the standard ones.”

  “Thank goodness,” Tara said. “We’re doing the same. I panicked that you might have written your own and I’d feel bad for not doing that. Honestly, I think I’ll have to repeat them after the registrar. I’ll be too excited to remember them.”

  “Me too.”

  “James spoke to the wedding planner and it’s fine for us to be witnesses for each other. Nick’s at the bar with him. Is he wearing a kilt, by the way?”

  “Yes.”

  “And the long socks and everything?”

  Lexie smiled at Tara’s enthusiasm. “The socks, the sporran, the Prince Charlie jacket, all of it.”

  “I can’t wait to see. I bet he looks great. Shall I do your hair now?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Tara gave her a bathrobe to put on so she wouldn’t mess her hair up getting undressed later. Half an hour later, she was sitting at the dressing table while Tara secured her hair with bobby pins.

  “Hang on,” Tara said when someone knocked at the door. When she opened it, a waiter wheeled a trolley into the room.

  “I organised some drinks and snacks for you,” Lily, the wedding planner, said as she walked into the room behind the waiter. “I’ve just been chatting to James and Nick. It’s so lovely that you’re going to be witnesses for each other.”

  “I hope we didn’t cause problems,” Tara said. “Making last-minute changes.” Her eyes wandered to the waiter, who was filling the table with plates of fruit and sandwiches, along with a selection of soft drinks and a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket.

  “Not at all,” Lily said. “It’s your day. Everything should be just how you want it. And I think it’s great that you’re helping each other get ready. You look fab already,” she said to Lexie.

  “Hopefully I’ll look even better when I’m wearing my dress rather than a bathrobe.”

  “I can’t wait to see,” Lily said as the waiter quietly retreated from the room. “I’ll bring your bouquets up in a little while. Your photographers are ready and waiting, but I wanted to check whether you want them around while you get dressed or if they should wait downstairs until you’re finished? Some people like to capture every moment, but it’s completely up to you.”

  “When I’m dressed,” Tara and Lexie said at once, then laughed.

  “Great!” Lily said. “That’s easy. I’ll leave you to it then, but you’ve got my number if you need anything. Otherwise, I’ll come and get you when it’s time to go.”

  “Thanks!” they called as she left.

  “Let’s have a cheeky glass of champagne,” Tara said. “Then I need to get ready.”

  “I love my hair,” Lexie said, admiring her reflection. Tara had secured it in a neat twist at the back of her head, then put some loose curls in the tendrils that framed her face.

  “You’ve got beautiful hair,” Tara said. “Such a rich brown. It would look stunning however you wear it.”

  “I’m afraid I’m probably not going to be much help with yours,” Lexie said, feeling slightly guilty that all the focus had been on her so far.

  “I’ll pretty much leave it as it is,” Tara said as she handed Lexie a glass of champagne.

  “You’ve got gorgeous hair,” Lexie said, admiring the thick, glossy waves.

  “Thank you,” Tara said, seeming genuinely touched by the compliment. Lexie was sure she must hear it all the time. “I need to put some make-up on, though. Are you hungry? There’s loads of food.”

  “I should probably eat something.” Lexie moved to sit on the couch and picked at the fruit platter.

  Taking the seat at the dressing table, Tara chatted away to Lexie while she expertly applied her make-up in a way that made it seem like no effort whatsoever. She didn’t appear to be looking at what she was doing half the time, as she continually glanced at Lexie while they talked.

  “I thought we had loads of time,” Tara said after a while. “But I think we need to get our dresses on now.”

  Lexie was surprised when she checked the time. She’d also thought that they’d end up twiddling their thumbs, but time had flown by.

  Losing all modesty with Tara, she stripped down to her underwear then slipped into her dress.

  “That is stunning,” Tara said as she zipped it up for her. “Nick’s a very lucky man.”

  Lexie moved to the mirror and smiled at herself. “It feels fantastic,” she said, then turned to see Tara wriggling into her dress.

  “I’m going to freeze, aren’t I?” Tara asked while Lexie gaped at her. The dress was backless with delicate spaghetti straps keeping it in place. The mermaid shape showed off her figure while the bright white silk emphasised her naturally tanned skin.

  “You look fantastic,” Lexie said, stepping aside so Tara could get to the mirror. “Have another glass of champagne and you won’t notice the cold.”

  “There’s going to be a lot of champagne today, isn’t there?” Tara said with a grin.

  Lexie poured them each another glass. “I hope so.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  “I was just going to come up and see if you were ready,” Lily said as Tara and Lexie walked into the hotel lobby.

  Again, Lexie was thankful to have met Tara. The hotel staff were amazing, but she’d have still felt self-conscious wandering around in her wedding dress on her own.

  “Have the men done a runner?” Tara asked, looking around for them.

  “I sent them on ahead,” Lily said, then looked to Lexie. “I thought it would add to the romance if Nick was waiting for you over there. Is that okay?”

  “Great,” Lexie said, swallowing a lump in her throat as a bout of nerves hit her.

  “Flowers!” Lily said, producing a couple of bouquets from behind the reception desk. She then introduced them to their photographers and they had a brief chat.

  Lexie was too busy battling her nerves to care much about photos. She got caught up in the bustle as their little group walked outside. Tara chatted animatedly with Lily and the photographers, while Lexie tried to ignore the niggling sense of panic.

  She managed to smile for a few photos once they reached the courtyard, then asked the photographer to give her a minute and slinked off alone. Feeling suddenly shaky, she wanted to sit on the bench but was scared of messing up her dress. Her heart felt as though it lost its rhythm. She inhaled deeply but didn’t seem to be able to get enough air.

  “Are you okay?” Tara asked, appearing by her side.

  Lexie nodded but her eyes filled with tears and she didn’t feel okay at all. “I’m being pathetic. I just wish my mum was here.”

  “That’s not pathetic,
” Tara said, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze.

  Lily arrived beside them with a reassuring smile and a packet of tissues. “It’s such an emotional day,” she said to Lexie. “There’s no rush. Take your time.”

  As Lexie dabbed at her eyes, more tears came and she felt as though she was about to lose it completely.

  “Should I get Nick?” Lily asked. “There’s no reason you can’t walk in together.”

  “Maybe,” Lexie said. “I don’t know.”

  “I’ll fetch him,” Lily said, setting off towards the Blacksmith Shop.

  “I’m being daft,” Lexie said, then hurried after Lily. Tara fell into step beside her.

  They caught up to Lily as she opened the door to the Old Blacksmith’s Shop. Lexie recognised the room from the pictures, except now Nick was standing beside the famous anvil.

  “Wow!” he said loudly when he saw her, making Lexie smile.

  “Are you okay?” Lily asked as she turned back to her.

  “Yes.” she sniffed. “I might just need another tissue,” she said, eyeing the packet in Lily’s hand. She dabbed at her eyes as she walked over to Nick.

  He took a few steps to meet her, looking at her with eyes full of love and concern.

  “I panicked,” she said, before he could say anything. “My hands are shaking.” She held one up to show him. “And I started crying and made a mess of my make-up. And I––” She stopped abruptly, feeling like a hysterical child as her voice broke on her words.

  “You didn’t mess anything up. You look perfect.” Calmly, he took her hand and held it at his chest. “Take a deep breath,” he said.

  She did as instructed, then closed her eyes and focused on the steady beat of his heart and the soothing sound of his voice as he told her to take another breath, and then another.

  Finally, her heart settled back to its natural rhythm and she opened her eyes.

  “Better?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She smiled through her tears.

  “If you don’t want to get married today, it’s okay. We can wait if you want to?”

  Lexie shook her head. “I really want to marry you now.”

  Gently, he wiped his thumbs over her cheeks, then bent to kiss her.

  The registrar cleared his throat as he made his way to the anvil at the front of the room. “Traditionally, the kiss comes at the end of the ceremony,” he said in a jokey tone.

  “Sorry,” Nick said, as he led Lexie to the anvil. “Couldn’t help myself.”

  “You taste of whisky,” Lexie told him quietly.

  He grimaced. “I’m blaming James for that.”

  “Yeah, right,” Lexie said.

  She thought she’d got her emotions under control, but when she stood at the front, with Nick absolutely beaming at her, her eyes welled up again – this time with happy tears. She laughed and cried her way through the exchange of vows and rings. It only felt like a moment later that Nick was kissing her again.

  “Is that it?” she asked as he held her face in his hands. “Are we married?”

  “Yes.” His eyes sparkled as he smiled down at her. “You’re stuck with me now!”

  “Good,” she said, laughing.

  “We just need your signatures and the witnesses’ signatures and we’re all set,” the registrar said.

  Lexie turned to find Tara with tears streaming down her face.

  “I think my make-up is ruined too,” she said. “That was so lovely. Can I give you a hug?”

  “Yes.” Lexie moved away from Nick to embrace her. “I’m such a blubbering wreck.”

  “Me too,” Tara replied. “It was so emotional. Congratulations!”

  “Thank you.”

  James shook Nick’s hand, then kissed Lexie’s cheek and told her she looked beautiful. The photographer snapped away while they signed the register, and Lily was on hand with a constant supply of tissues.

  “Do you want to go straight into your ceremony?” Lily asked, looking to Tara. “Or take a break and get a breath of fresh air first?”

  “I need fresh air,” Tara said. “Just a few minutes to compose myself.”

  They all moved outside, Nick and Lexie splitting away and having a few photos taken.

  “I’m sorry I cried the whole time,” she said to Nick as he stood over her, gazing into her eyes.

  “It didn’t matter.”

  “I promise they were happy tears.”

  “I know.” He gave her a lingering kiss, then held her tightly. “I love you so much.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Lexie didn’t consider herself to be a particularly emotional person. Certainly not to the extent that she’d cry at the wedding of a couple who she’d known for less than forty-eight hours. But as she watched Tara and James exchange vows, she couldn’t help herself. The look in James’s eyes as he solemnly said his vows was so intense it was overwhelming. You didn’t have to know them well to see how much he adored her and how completely in love they were.

  When they exchanged rings, Lexie leaned close to whisper in Nick’s ear. “I hope you were looking at me like that too.”

  His breath tickled her ear when he replied. “I’ve been looking at you like that for years.”

  She felt as though her heart expanded. Clutching his arm, she rested her head on his shoulder. The day wasn’t turning out to be anything like she’d expected, but in the best possible way.

  In her head, she’d convinced herself that it would be a quick, casual ceremony that was over and done with before you knew it. She hadn’t imagined it being so moving. The atmosphere in the room was indescribable. Lexie couldn’t help but think of all the people who’d declared their love for each other in that very spot. It was as though the place had been subject to so much love and happiness that the room had absorbed some of it, collecting it in the walls and radiating it out into the air around them.

  After signing the papers and congratulating Tara and James, Lexie and Nick were whisked away to get a few snaps of them in a brief period of sunshine. Lexie had completely lost track of time when the photographer finally left them and they headed back to the hotel. She wasn’t sure where James and Tara were but assumed they were still having photos taken.

  “I’ve got two missed calls from your mum,” Nick said, pulling his phone out as they drank champagne in the bar area. They’d booked a meal in the restaurant and were waiting for the table to be ready.

  “She’ll have been trying to call me,” Lexie said. “I haven’t got my phone with me.”

  Nick held his phone out to her. “Do you want to call her back?”

  “We’ll probably be going through to the restaurant in a minute,” she said hesitantly.

  “She’ll just want to say congratulations. You can give her a quick call.”

  “I suppose.” Lexie took the phone from him and pressed call. A lump formed in her throat as soon as she heard her mum’s voice. Mary sounded excited as she congratulated Lexie and asked how the day was going.

  “It’s been brilliant,” Lexie said. “We’re having a great time. I would have called you but my phone’s in the hotel room. We’re just about to go for dinner now.”

  “I can’t wait to see the photographs. Have you got some you can send me already? I want to see you in your dress.”

  “I’ll get Nick to take one and send it to you.”

  “Thanks,” Mary said. “I’m so happy for you. I’m dying to hear all about it when you get back.”

  Lexie nodded as her eyes pooled with tears. “We have to go for dinner now. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Mary wished them a lovely evening before Lexie ended the call. Moving beside her, Nick took her hand.

  “I’m fine,” she said, before he could ask. Standing, she wiped at her eyes and pulled herself together. “Mum wants photos. Can you take one of me so I can send it to her?”

  Nick stared at her for a moment, then did as he was told. When he’d taken a couple of photos, Lexie asked a passing waiter
to take one of the two of them.

  “Mum will love that,” Lexie said, looking at the photo of her and Nick after she’d sent it. “It’s a good one, isn’t it?”

  “Aye.” Nick’s features were serious and the way his gaze bored into her made it seem as though he was trying to read her mind. She hoped he couldn’t.

  “Lexie?” he said, as she continued to stare at the phone.

  “Yeah?” She hoped he wasn’t going to ask if she was okay. She was sure she could continue to act as though she was fine, as long as he didn’t ask her directly.

  “Are you happy?”

  Her heart felt as though it stopped dead. Nick knowing how upset she was about not having family and friends around them suddenly didn’t seem so bad. It would be far preferable to him thinking she was generally unhappy. Marrying Nick was the best thing she’d ever done. Not having loved ones there to witness it had put a bit of a dampener on things, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t happy that she’d married him.

  “I’m very happy,” she said, resting a hand on his cheek.

  He looked at her as though he could see straight into her soul. Finally, he nodded and leaned in to kiss her.

  When Lexie caught sight of Tara and James across the bar, she waved to get their attention.

  “Hi,” Tara said as they approached. “My cheeks ache from smiling for so many photographs. I’m also starving. A few pieces of fruit for lunch wasn’t really enough. We’ve got a reservation in the restaurant but the table’s not quite ready.”

  “We’re waiting for our table too,” Lexie said. “We could eat together if you want?”

  “We wanted to ask you the same,” Tara said, taking a seat. “But we thought you might want to be alone.”

  “No, it’d be lovely.” Lexie said. Having someone else around would be a good distraction from everything going on in her head. She looked to Nick. “Is that okay?”

  “Aye.” He smiled brightly. “That’s great.”

  Again, the hotel staff proved to be very accommodating and were more than happy to change the table arrangement. The meal was delicious and Lexie enjoyed telling Tara and James more about how she and Nick had met and about their lives on Skye.