“No more nerves?” Adam asked.
“I’m ignoring them.” She picked up a plate and spooned on some egg and added a piece of toast. “But if you want to marry me today, you need to keep your hands off those pancakes.”
“I thought marriage was all about sharing?” Adam asked playfully.
“We are not married yet, bucko!”
“Did I ever tell you how much I love you?” he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
“I love you, too, but those pancakes are still mine.”
“Anything for you, Frankie.” He gave her a seductive smile, and she shook her head.
“Not fair.” She leaned forward and cupped his face. “You know I’d share the world and everything in it with you.”
“I do.” He kissed her lips. His need for her was so intense he could barely control it, but sex in the Gothic folly when anyone might walk in was not the best way to start the day. “We should eat and then get ready. It’s going to be a long day.
They sat side by side eating and drinking coffee, while the sun rose in the sky, casting its rays across the gardens. It was perfect, just the two of them.
Until a couple of happy doggy faces appeared around the corner.
“Aunty Frankie,” Jenny’s voice called as she appeared at the other end of Stanley’s leash.
“We’re in here.” Frankie got up and went to meet them, while Adam began clearing their breakfast picnic away.
“There’s leftovers in here if you want them,” Adam said as he picked up the remainder of the food and set it on the small table. “I don’t think Stanley and Norman should eat any of it, though. We don’t want upset doggy stomachs on show day.”
“No,” Jason agreed. “Not when we’re both in the agility class. They need to run and jump.”
“And listen to their owners,” Michael said as he came to join them. “Morning, you two.” He kissed Frankie on both cheeks. “Ruth has taken her dress inside. She’s nervous.”
“About the dogs or about the wedding?” Frankie asked.
“Both.” Michael took hold of her hand. “She wants the best for you. And today is no exception.”
“Are the others here yet?” Frankie asked, looking outside.
“Not yet, your brothers and sisters are arriving later. I think she’s nervous about that, too.” Michael helped himself to a piece of bacon. “Ruth is more nervous about your wedding than she was about ours.”
“That’s because Frankie is the youngest,” Ruth replied, coming to join them, breathless from rushing across the garden to join them.
“Everything I am, I owe to Ruth.” Frankie hugged her sister. “But enough of that.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “This is show day!”
“What do you need us to do?” Michael asked.
They left the folly, carrying everything from the picnic up to the hotel. Then, they were all given instructions as to what jobs needed doing, and the day began for real. “I will see you later.” Adam kissed Frankie and then let her go, knowing that this evening, their own special time would begin.
“How are you feeling?” Julius asked as he met Adam in the reception area.
“Like I must be crazy to get married on the same day as the dog show.” Adam grinned.
“It’s good to be crazy. You lived long enough in a rut.”
“A rut.”
“We were both in a rut. Now we’re bumping along a road into the unknown. I like it.” Julius handed Adam an envelope. “This is for you.”
“What is it?” Adam asked.
“I asked around and it seems you didn’t organize a honeymoon.” Julius raised his eyebrows at Adam. “It’s all arranged. You and Frankie go and enjoy the sun.”
Adam opened the envelope, and read the tickets. “Julius, this is very generous.”
“You only get married once, even if you have kind of been mated twice.” He slapped Adam’s back. “Now, go and do what you do best.”
Adam tucked the envelope into his pocket and left Julius in the lobby. He was going to leave the honeymoon as a surprise for Frankie. She had enough to think about without adding the stress of packing for a vacation in the sun.
The show started, and soon the gardens were filled with the sounds of dogs barking and people cheering. Julius took on the role of announcing the different competitions over the PA system, and the whole thing went like clockwork. Jenny was the surprise winner of the best-dressed dog competition, not with Stanley, who was never going to keep a costume on his excited, wriggling body. Instead, she and Ruth had spent hours working on a costume for one of the dogs from the shelter, a British Bulldog who needed a home.
Dressed as Winston Churchill, complete with fake cigar, which he kept in his mouth for the whole competition, he wore a pinstripe, three-piece suit, a spotted bow tie, and ‘Homburg’ hat. And looked every inch the part of a British wartime Prime Minister.
“You don’t think I was biased?” Adam asked Frankie when they met up later that day to watch the agility trials.
“No, I was in the crowd and everyone thought he was the best. Who could resist his serious face, with that cigar?”
Frankie looked around at the people enjoying the dog show. It had been a huge success, Ronni told her that many of the animals had families interested in adopting them, with home checks arranged for the next couple of weeks. Second Chance Animal Shelter had also raised a lot of money through donations and people willing to sponsor a dog, even if they couldn’t offer them a home.
“Are you okay?” Adam asked as Jason entered the ring for his turn with Norman.
“I thought my family would be here by now.” She leaned against his arm. “It’s a pity your mom can’t be here. We could have postponed the wedding.”
“It’s her busiest time. Conservation doesn’t stop because people get married. Or something like that. She’s asked us to go out to visit her when the weather warms up.” He looked up at the sky, at the sun shining down on them. “It’s hard to believe it’s minus 10 degrees where she is.”
Frankie shivered. “I don’t think I could live in that kind of cold all the time.”
“My mom’s okay, I think she’s found love with a polar bear shifter. She’s happy, that’s all that matters.”
“Your mom isn’t a shifter?” Frankie asked
“No, and I think she’s accepted the guy she’s dating isn’t her mate. She’s old enough and wise enough to take care of herself.” Adam tapped her arm. “Jason is about to start.”
The whistle blew and Jason, with Norman at his heel, ran forward, encouraging the dog to jump the first jump, and then turn and go through a tunnel. Norman behaved impeccably, and he was fast, concentrating on each obstacle. The only time he slowed down was when he was on the see-saw; he hesitated, unsure as the wooden plank tipped down. However, Norman soon recovered and listened to Jason, who told Norman to stay on the see-saw until his foot had passed the red line.
Then they were off, through the slalom and over the last three jumps.
“That was fast. He’s in the lead!” Frankie clapped and cheered along with everyone else. “Jenny is up next.”
Jenny entered looking nervous, and Stanley picked up on her nerves and gave his owner a lick on the hand as if to say, it’s all right, we can do this. Jenny stroked Stanley’s head and spoke to him quietly. Looking composed and self-assured, they waited for the whistle to blow and then set off at a fast pace, following the same course as Jason and Norman. Stanley listened to Jenny who guided him over and through all the obstacles, they raced for the finish line, side by side, with Stanley jumping up and down in excitement.
The time was slower than Jason’s by twenty seconds, but Jenny and Stanley didn’t seem to care. “That was so much fun!” Jenny said as Adam and Frankie joined Ruth and Michael to congratulate the brother and sister and their dogs.
“It looked fun,” Michael said. “You both did so well.”
“I hope you win, Jason,” Jenny told her brother. “It would be
so cool if we both won a ribbon.”
“There’s only one more competitor to go,” Ruth said. “I don’t want to wish for him to lose, but I sure hope he doesn’t beat you, Jason.”
“That’s a mom for you,” Frankie said with a wink.
“Are you saying you want someone to beat Jason?” Ruth turned her laser eyes on Frankie, who laughed.
“No, I don’t.” Frankie and the others collapsed into laughter. “I thought schoolteachers were supposed to teach their students it was the taking part that’s important, not the winning.”
“Their students, yes. Their own kids, hell no!” Ruth hissed loudly.
They watched as tension mounted, the last competitor, a man in his twenties with a border collie, attacked the obstacle course and was on track for victory, but the collie misstepped on the see-saw and jumped off before he passed the red mark. When his penalty points were added to his time, the result was a slower time than Jason, but faster than Jenny.
“You won!” Jenny flung her arms around her brother. “You and Norman are the best.”
“You know,” Ruth said, “when you said you were organizing this dog show, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. Especially when the children wanted to take part in the agility test. But it’s taught them so much. Patience and perseverance.”
“And winning a ribbon is something they will never forget,” Michael added. “It’s been a good day.”
“And soon it will be a perfect evening,” Adam said, wrapping his arm around Frankie’s waist. “The dog show is nearly over. Then it’ll be our time.”
Frankie kissed him, and then looked over his shoulder, her eyes skimming the crowd. “I just hope the others make it.”
“They will,” Ruth assured her. “They will.”
Ruth winked at Adam, he wasn’t sure that keeping things from Frankie was a good idea. But with the tickets for their honeymoon burning a hole in his jacket pocket, he wasn’t going to criticize and it would be worth it, he was sure.
Chapter Nineteen – Frankie
The last of the dog show visitors had left over an hour ago, and Frankie was standing with a towel wrapped around her head, looking in the mirror, no longer sure who the person staring back at her was. Since meeting Adam, she’d changed. Just like Jenny, she’d grown more self-assured, and organizing the dog show with Adam had made her aware of how compatible they were. There was no longer any doubt that they belonged together. Yet as she traced the line of the silvery scar that ran along her chest, she was reminded of Delia.
“I hope you are watching down from somewhere you are both together,” she said quietly to her reflection.
Then she turned and left the en-suite bathroom. This was her day, and she was going to enjoy it.
“Here’s the bride.” Catherine greeted her.
“Where’s Ruth?” Frankie asked.
“She just had to pop out for a moment, she’ll be back soon.” Catherine ushered her into a chair in front of a mirror. “Hair and makeup and then we can get you into your dress.”
“Is Jenny getting ready, too?” Frankie asked. Perhaps Ruth had gone down to meet her brothers and sisters. If they had arrived. If not, they might miss the ceremony.
“Jenny has her dress on, she just needs her hair curled. And don’t forget her tiara,” Dani replied as she came into the room. “Right now, she’s busy scolding Jason for crumpling his shirt, and giving him very precise instructions for his job as ring bearer.”
Frankie burst out laughing. “I can’t wait to see them both.” Since this was a simple wedding, they had decided that Jenny and Jason would be the only ones to walk with Frankie and Ruth down the aisle. Not that they really had an aisle. Her stomach turned over with nerves.
“Here. Julius sent up some champagne, it will steady your nerves.” Dani passed her a glass.
“Thanks, Dani. I need to thank Elizabeth for the flowers, too.” Elizabeth, who had fostered Jenny and Jason before they were adopted, had made beautiful bouquets from flowers picked in her own garden. Frankie was incredibly thankful to all the people who had helped to make this day special.
Taking a sip of champagne, Frankie wrinkled her nose as the bubbles popped and fizzed in her mouth. She wondered how Adam was feeling, and whether he was already waiting for her.
“Did someone order a hair stylist?” Henrietta, who was known as Henri to all her friends and clients, entered the room with a flash of super white teeth.
“Me!” Frankie raised her hand.
Henri giggled. “Did Ruth train you all to raise your hands before you speak?” She swept her perfectly dyed and effortlessly styled hair to one side. Henri was the most glamorous person Frankie had ever met, yet she was down to earth and friendly to everyone. It was difficult to guess her age, but Frankie imagined she was in her late forties, and single, as she told anyone who was willing to listen.
“Do you want champagne?” Frankie asked as Henri combed out her hair.
“I’m a professional. No alcohol will pass my lips until you, Ruth and Jenny are perfectly styled. If Jenny’s tiara isn’t straight, she’s never going to forgive me.” Henri worked her magic, her fingers moving quickly and confidently as she dried off Frankie’s damp hair and then began to coil it into soft curls that hung around her shoulders.
“It looks wonderful,” Ruth complimented as she entered the room. “Very romantic.”
“Just like Adam,” Frankie said as she turned her head from side to side.
“Happy?” Henri asked as she made the finishing touches to Frankie’s hair, adjusting the flowers that she’d worked into the style. “All we need is your veil.” She fixed it in place and then stood back and admired it. “Beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Frankie hardly recognized herself.
“Okay, swap places and I’ll do Ruth’s hair while Catherine does your make-up.” Henri organized them all so that in no time Ruth and Frankie were ready, their hair and make-up perfect, while Jenny had her hair curled, and her precious tiara, which had been given to her by Fiona and Harlan, fixed on her head. “Are these real diamonds?”
“No,” Ruth said quickly. But they all knew that the dragons would never have anything other than real gems in their possession.
“I look like a princess,” Jenny exclaimed as she stared at herself in the mirror.
“Yes, you do,” Frankie agreed. “I suppose it’s time to go. Can you help me with my dress?”
She’d left her dress until the last minute, scared she might spill her champagne on it, or get mascara on the white silk. With the help of Ruth and Dani, she stepped into her dress and pulled it up. Dani’s nimble fingers did up the small buttons, while Ruth went around pulling the skirt out so it sat beautifully around her.
There was a short train, which trailed along the ground. The bodice was fitted and embroidered with tiny flowers. It was a simple, but stunning dress. “You look like a princess, too,” Jenny told her.
Frankie took hold of Jenny’s hand and then reached out for Ruth, who wore a stunning lilac floor-length dress. “We all look like princesses.”
Dani dug out her phone from her purse. “Let’s get an unofficial photo of you.” The three of them stood together while Dani took a couple of photos.
“So, the question is, do you have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?” Henri asked as she packed away her gear. She was joining the other guests for the wedding ceremony in the Gothic folly.
“I think so.” Frankie looked down at her dress. “My ring is old, my dress is new, I have blue flowers…and I suppose my heart is borrowed.”
“That heart is all yours,” Ruth told her. She took a ring off her finger and offered it to Frankie. “Wear this for the day.”
“It’s Mom’s ring.” Frankie was about to tell Ruth she couldn’t accept it.
“I want you to wear it. You can give it me back after the ceremony. I want you to have all the luck you deserve. And it will mean Mom is with you, too.” Ruth lifted Frank
ie’s right hand and slid it onto her finger. “There.”
“Thank you.” Frankie flung her arms around Ruth’s neck. “For everything.”
“I love you, too, and I’m so very proud of you.” Ruth sniffed loudly. “We should go before my make-up runs.”
With kisses and wishes of luck and happiness, the others left the room. Jenny waved goodbye to them all and then took a deep breath. “I suppose I had better go and find Jason.”
“Yes, where is he?” Frankie asked.
“Downstairs. I had a couple of jobs for him to do.” With a final check in the mirror, Ruth and Frankie headed for the elevator. Waiting on the ground floor was Emily, who was managing the hotel while Julius and Adam were at the wedding.
“You look amazing, Frankie,” Emily commented. “Jason and Jenny are through there, waiting in the garden.”
“Thank you, Emily.” Frankie took Ruth’s hand and they went outside. Beside her, Ruth seemed to buzz with excitement. “Are you okay?”
“Absolutely.” Ruth pushed the door open and held it for Frankie.
“Oh my goodness!” Waiting with Jenny and Jason were her other brothers and sisters. “You all made it! And you’re all dressed like Jenny and Jason.”
“We all match,” her sister Sarah said, giving a twirl.
“We thought we’d surprise you. We all wanted to walk our little sister down the aisle.” Luke, her eldest brother, kissed her.
“What do you think of the garden?” Greg asked as the others parted to reveal a line of fairy lights hung from poles that must have been hastily erected while she changed.
“Did you do all this?” she asked Greg who was a landscape gardener by trade.
“Only the best for you.” He took Ruth’s hand. “Come on, big sis’, time to give her away. And I approve, by the way.”
“You met Adam?” Frankie asked.
“We did. He helped organize everything.” Luke and Greg moved to the back of the small group as they began the walk down toward the Gothic folly, which had been transformed, too. As the sun crested the mountains, it cast a ruddy glow across the lawn, and the lights twinkled like a thousand stars.
Silverbacks and Second Chances Page 35