Bless This Love

by S M Mala

  ‘And no Stevie Wonder.’

  ‘I’ve got a run down on what to do.’ She grimaced. ‘And if I freeze up and sing out of tune, you’re going to have to help me.’

  ‘Only God can do that.’

  Slipping out of the side door, she noticed the procession of cars then taxis turning up and smiled. Everyone looked happy.

  Suri felt a surge of excitement that turned to dread.

  Janet Peters and Crispin got out of a car. He was with his wife and two young sons.

  Her stomach lurched in pain when she saw them.

  They wouldn’t take too kindly to seeing Suri at the wedding.

  ‘Hello beautiful,’ she heard him whisper from behind. Suri turned to see Joe standing in front of her. ‘Are you performing in your jacket?’

  ‘That’s what Jack said.’ Suri let out a large sigh. ‘You look amazing.’

  ‘See, we can both wear dress like outfits and look good.’ Then his smile slipped. ‘I want to kiss you, right now, but I also want to know that you’re all right. Did you practise?’

  ‘I’ll do my best.’

  ‘Think about us making love, and that will do the trick.’

  ‘Then I’d be groaning through the song.’

  ‘Don’t say that,’ he said, letting out a little breath. ‘I need to concentrate on the matter in hand. Later on tonight, I’ll get my hands on you.’

  ‘Joe!’ Jack said, shouting through the door. ‘We need to greet the congregation.’

  ‘Until we’re alone,’ he said, kissing his finger and placing it on her nose. ‘I’ll be close by.’

  She nodded as now she’d lost the ability to speak. Fear was starting to grow, and she wasn’t sure what she was going to do.

  Composing herself as best she could, Suri went back in, took off her coat, putting on her shawl and noticed her mother smile.

  Suri’s outfit was a pale rose pink and a matching chiffon scarf. Annabel and Edgar had bought an outfit for her – he said he was worried she’d turn up in jeans. Mary then took her hand and led her out to where the choir stood, putting Suri a little away from the others.

  It had been well thought out, seating her where she couldn’t be seen by all and sundry.

  Quickly she made eye contact with Edgar, who looked nervous. He winked at her and then smiled. Suri winked back and grimaced. She was given a raised eyebrow as a return gesture.

  The music started, and the wedding began.

  Suri wasn’t listening.

  She looked at the angel in the stained glass and hoped she’d get some help on this.

  Before she knew it, Mary gently elbowed her in the ribs, and this was when Suri had to stand up and go towards the front. Looking down was her best option, to avoid the questioning eyes of the on lookers.

  Her throat constricted, and her heart beat faster.

  She felt like she was going to throw up, and for a moment, simply couldn’t remember anything.

  Suri froze then she felt a warm hand touch her back.

  ‘Suri will now sing in honour of the signing of the register,’ Jack said before whispering. ‘Take a deep breath and belt it out, baby.’

  The choir started singing the opening bars which took her by surprise. Her eyes lifted, and she saw Joe, nodding in her direction and looking at her, full of hope.

  She opened her mouth and sang ‘When I fall in love.’

  It was a little croaky, the first few words, then she managed to look up at the angel, focussing on her for encouragement.

  Gradually the nerves went, and she sang her heart out, ignoring everyone around her and felt in a trance. There was the heat of sunlight coming from the window, and she felt it embrace her skin.

  This she knew, if she was religious, to be a sign that Rory was looking over her.

  When she finished, there was silence, and the choir started to sing the opening of ‘Fly me to the moon’ and Suri sang along, this time looking at the congregation.

  They looked shocked from her initial glance then she noticed some people were smiling.

  Then her eyes went to Janet Peters. She looked at her, full of hate, and Suri had expected this. But it was Crispin grinning that nearly put her off for a second. Slowly she looked at Edgar and Annabel, both radiating happiness and carried on, glancing at her angel.

  Finally, she sang ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’ and when she finished there was silence. They were still signing the register. Edgar then mouthed, ‘Sing something else.’

  Looking around she spotted Joe smiling, and she knew it was her opportunity to bring Stevie to the ceremony.

  Suri started singing ‘Never had a dream come true’ focussing on the man she loved, making Edgar grin and shake his head. But all the time, she watched Joe and everything was good.

  She glanced to the side and out of the window, noticing her busker wasn’t too far off. He gave her the thumbs up and played the harmonica. It looked like she’d set it up but Suri didn’t care.

  Her song was for the man she deeply loved.

  It’s when she finished, again met with silence, everyone started to clap, and it startled her out of her day dream.

  Suri sheepishly walked back, but not before hearing Jack mumble, while putting his hand over his microphone, ‘If ever I saw someone in love, it was right now.’

  ‘Oh? Was I that obvious?’

  ‘Not you. Young Reverend Isley.’

  ‘Suri?’

  She had been hiding in the corner of the plush reception, wanting to avoid some of the people. Now Crispin was standing in front of her. ‘It’s been such a long time.’

  He threw her by giving a massive hug.

  ‘Hello,’ she said, knowing she was blushing.

  ‘You were simply amazing,’ he gushed, holding her hand.

  Crispin had lost much of his hair, unlike his father, but looked more like Janet Peters but a nicer version. They had always got on, and Felicity used to make snide comments, accusing her brother of fancying Suri. He never did which was a shame because Suri did like him. The man was nicer than his sister.

  ‘Are you trying to avoid my mother?’ he laughed, walking her out onto the balcony. ‘I see there’s still no love lost there. And now I hear, you’re dating the Vicar. Where is he?’

  ‘I’ve not seen him since the ceremony.’

  ‘He’s a good looking man, reminds me of Rory.’

  Suri immediately clammed up, not wanting to look at Crispin in the eye.

  ‘I know it’s been an awful time for you. Look Suri, I’m still none the wiser what happened, but my sister, well, she always liked to get her own way. I knew she really liked your boyfriend, everyone did, but not you. Even I suspected she had a plan. I know it was on her mind.

  ‘How?’ She immediately looked up at him.

  ‘You don’t want to know,’ he replied, looking embarrassed.

  ‘It’s not worth dragging it up again,’ she whispered. ‘They’re getting a plaque to commemorate her and they won’t agree to have one for Rory. They think he murdered.’

  ‘They both killed each other.’

  ‘Then why is Rory blacklisted, very much like me?’

  ‘Because my mother thinks had you not met Rory, none of this would have happened.’ Then he hesitated. ‘But no-one could have stopped her falling in love with him. I used to see how she acted when he was around. Rory was good; he didn’t rise to the bait but something made her go to him that afternoon. Do you know what it was?’

  ‘Yes I do,’ she replied, looking straight at him. ‘And that’s between me and them.’

  ‘Could you have stopped it?’

  ‘I don’t know. I was inside the church.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘They’d both upset me,’ Suri replied, not wanting to say anymore. ‘And now it seems like it was nothing, compared to what happened. I think about how I could have changed it, but I’m not sure.’

  ‘I expect he was the victim here, wasn’t he? But the true one was you.’ Leaning down, h
e kissed her on the cheek. ‘Now make it work with your man of God.’

  ‘I think the woman of God, your mother, is set against it.’

  ‘Then you’re going to have to change her mind, aren’t you?’

  He walked away, to the throngs of his family as Suri sipped her champagne.

  Then she noticed him.

  Walking into the room wearing a suit and shirt, no tie, looking like the best looking bloke ever.

  She swore it went silent.

  Then she broke out into a wide smile, and he did the same on seeing her.

  Joe.

  Grabbing a drink, he walked straight towards her and kissed her cheek.

  ‘You look edible,’ he grinned.

  ‘And you just look hot,’ she laughed, putting her hand on his shoulder. ‘I’ve never seen you look so dapper.’

  ‘You’re my date so I thought I’d make an effort. Can I tell you something? I was so proud of you today.’ There were tears in his eyes. ‘And when you sang to me, I felt over joyed.’

  ‘Stevie Wonder has a song called that.’

  ‘And is it true you think the busker is Stevie Wonder’s long lost brother?’ he grinned. ‘You know I’ve spoken to him and his name is-.’

  She put her hand over his mouth, not wanting Joe to spoil the moment.

  ‘Whoever he is, he made my song to you very special,’ she said, reminding herself to have a word with her blabber mouth mother. ‘I love you.’

  ‘I love you.’

  They grinned some more before the Vicar was whisked away by one of the ladies and Suri watched him. He was polite and chatty, always greeting people as if he was pleased to see them.

  Just as she was about to walk closer, Janet Peters appeared in her path and Suri stopped.

  ‘I thought it was inappropriate you singing at the wedding,’ she said, peering down her haughty nose. Suri could tell she wasn’t totally sober but on social occasions, she rarely was. ‘I think Edgar always felt sorry for you. Hence, he let you work for him.’

  ‘I don’t care what you think.’

  ‘He’s not going to stay with you,’ she laughed, glancing at Joe.

  ‘Why stop Rory getting a plaque, and threaten Joe to put forward a complaint about his behaviour? What’s it got to do with you? And before you say ‘my daughter died,' let me remind you the McKeown family lost a child and were forced to move, all down to you and your stupid cronies.’

  ‘How dare you?’

  ‘How dare you look down on my family? I don’t know what you’re up to but I suspect you know that Felicity was after Rory.’

  The expression on Janet’s face confirmed it.

  She did.

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Janet Peters sniffed, trying to walk away.

  ‘I’ll get down to the bottom of this, one day. Edgar said all Felicity’s diaries went missing. I bet they could enlighten everyone what was going on.’

  ‘He had no right to say that.’

  ‘Have you hidden them? Are you still trying to keep Felicity’s whiter than white image? I know, for a fact, she was no angel.’

  ‘Leave!’ she hissed into Suri’s ear and noticed Jack glanced over. ‘You’re not wanted here or in the town.’

  ‘You leave as your husband no longer wants you, and the town is the only thing you think you can own, as well as the church. But mark my words, I’ll stop it, once and for all.’

  ‘He’ll be long gone when Reverend Isley sees what sort of a person you really are,’ she sneered, sipping her drink.

  ‘Which is what?’

  ‘Trash.’

  Suri tossed the comment in her head and then grinned.

  ‘And you think you’re good enough?’ she said, watching Janet Peters’ pissed off expression. ‘He’s not into necrophilia but I’ll ask him when we’re in bed, okay?’

  ‘Suri, come and meet some people,’ Mary said, grabbing her away, and she noticed Joe was constantly glancing at her. ‘You look so angry. Go and freshen up.’

  ‘I hate that woman!’

  Walking into the corridor, her mother smoothed down Suri’s hair and grabbed her shoulders.

  ‘Don’t let Janet put things into your head. She’s good at that,’ whispered her mother. ‘She does it to me, and I pray to the Lord that she’ll be struck down with something.’

  ‘Mum, that’s not nice.’

  ‘Neither is she.’

  ‘Suri!’ Edgar said, glass of champagne in hand. ‘You were wonderful even though you serenaded the Vicar at my wedding. Did you arrange for Stevie Wonder to accompany you on the harmonica?’

  ‘Oh Edgar!’ Mary said, giggling. ‘Leave my child alone. You know she thinks he’s Stevie Wonder’s long lost brother.’

  ‘Mum!’ Suri went bright red, having her secret revealed.

  ‘I’ve not heard her sing since-.’ Her mother’s face darkened before she smiled again. ‘A long time.’

  ‘Your voice, my darling,’ Edgar said, grabbing her hand. ‘It has improved so much.’

  ‘You’re in love. Even if I sounded like a fog horn, you’d think it was celestial.’

  ‘Where is he?’

  Much of late afternoon was spent sitting at a table with her mother, far from Joe, and listening to the speeches. Felicity was mentioned by Edgar, and at that point, Suri had to look out the window, knowing some eyes were boring into her.

  She’d hardly spent any time with the Vicar as he had a gang of God groupies surrounding him as well as an array of attractive women wanting to talk.

  Now it was early evening and Suri walked back into the room, which now had a jazz band playing, and everyone seemed in good spirit. Still she couldn’t see Joe.

  Suri felt alone.

  It was an odd feeling.

  There were many faces she recognised, and more smiling at her since her singing session in the church.

  All she wanted to do was go home. She had done the deed and now, hopefully, this would make her move on.

  It was obviously not going to happen.

  Felicity came into her mind, and she started to get upset. If it wasn’t for her death then, her parents might have been together, and this event would never have taken place.

  ‘Stupid girl,’ she said under her breath, knowing this was all down to Felicity.

  Her need to have Rory for all her own, and she did.

  She took his life away to prove a point.

  It was still early, but the sky was black and stars were shining. Suri walked out onto the balcony where a handful of people were gathered, and wondered if Rory could see her.

  If he heard her sing, he’d know she was slowly getting better.

  ‘Shall we go home?’ Joe said, whispering into her hair. ‘I want to spend time with you.’

  ‘It’s Saturday and you never usually do,’ she replied, closing her eyes, realising her skin was breaking out into good bumps when he touched her.

  ‘I’ve been given Sunday off. Jack said he’ll do the morning service, but I’m still turning up to the church to make sure he doesn’t forget. He’s having fun. Do you want to leave?’

  He stepped in front of her and kissed her gently on the lips.

  ‘We have to say our goodbyes.’ She smiled on seeing his sparkling eyes looking down.

  ‘And sneaking off is a good thing because we avoid prying eyes.’ Joe then kissed her cheek. ‘And I want to make love to you, all night.’

  As good to his word, within a minute of getting to her home, he pulled her up to the bedroom, slowly removing her clothes. Suri watched him kiss her skin tenderly while she unbuttoned his shirt and took off his clothes.

  They stood, naked, in the room, caressing and kissing.

  ‘I couldn’t take my eyes off you,’ he said, holding the back of her head, kissing her face. ‘You’re so special. You have to sing to me, every day, from now on.’

  ‘Joe,’ she groaned, stroking his backside and wanting to get into the bed.

  Kissing all the w
ay down his chest, she sunk to her knees and placed him in her mouth, gently sucking and caressing him with her lips. Her hands were on his arse, squeezing and caressing.

  She would eat him if she could.

  His hand was stroking the back of her head, and there were appreciative groans.

  Pulling away, she wiped her mouth and looked up at him.

  Joe’s lips looked quite full, and he grabbed her hand and led her to the bed, this time he sunk to his knees and made her sit down. Then he spread her thighs, and she leaned back on her elbows, knowing what he wanted to do.

  He kissed her inner thighs then spread her lips apart, gently pulling her nub with his lips, before licking. She had a small spasm of excitement as his mouth travelled up her body, his fingers now rubbing her off gently.

  Suddenly he pushed in, still working on her nub as she shook from the surprise and orgasm.

  ‘I want us to come together,’ he said, forcing his tongue into her mouth.

  Suri’s body was firing off electric shocks, feeling him push hard inside while his fingers coaxed her. She scratched his back, his mouth locked with her lips, the tongues completely intertwined.

  He screwed her slowly, pulling all the way out then pushing back in. This went on for a while until she held his hips tightly, massaging his buttocks to speed up. Gradually he did, teasing her, letting out little sighs when she could tell he was close but holding off, wanting to put off the inevitable. Then he started to up the pace.

  She was going to come, feeling his hand squeeze her nipples, and she didn’t know if he was ready while the tightening in her womb and fanny felt like she was going to explode. Her lips weren’t being released, and she came, groaning and shivering underneath while feeling him vibrate in her arms, his groan loud and throaty in her skin.

  Their hips were moving slowly, milking out every last drop of their ecstasy.

  And she didn’t want to let him go.

  Slowly he pulled away and they looked at each other, foreheads touching, both trying to catch their breaths.

  ‘I don’t want ever to stop feeling like this,’ he said, and she closed her eyes, holding him in her arms. ‘It’s wonderful.’

  ‘It’s you that’s wonderful,’ she whispered. ‘And I’ll try my best to make sure you never stop loving me. I’m not quite sure what I’d do if you did.’