Bridge Over the Atlantic (38 page)

The dogs were let out and subsequently put to bed in the kitchen. Greg lit the logs in the fire and switched on the tree lights. He then produced a bottle of champagne from outside the back door and brought it into the lounge with two flutes.

“Where has that come from?” Mallory asked quizzically.

“Ah, the joys of hidden, natural, outdoor refrigeration.” He smiled as he popped the cork. “I kept a bottle back in the hope that things would all go according to plan.” He poured a glass of the sparkling liquid and handed it to Mallory. Then he poured one for himself. They sat together on the rug in front of the fire which was roaring nicely.

“A toast.” He held is glass aloft “To my beautiful fiancée, you have made me happy beyond words. I will love you forever.” He clinked their glasses together and kissed Mallory lightly on the lips.

“May I make a toast too?” She asked politely, feeling rather coy. He nodded. “To my wonderful husband to be. We’ve had some pretty steep ups and downs but at least that proves we can handle anything. I hope I can continue to make you as happy as you make me. I love you, Greg.” They clinked glasses again.

Greg took both glasses and placed them on the hearth. He pulled Mallory into his lap and kissed her deeply, his hands in her hair. Mallory gazed down at him. His hands moved to her face where he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. He bent forward to kiss her gently. His hands slid to the zipper at the back of her dress and he slipped it down, pulling the sleeves from her arms. She pulled him in to her breasts in a strong, loving embrace, stroking his hair.

She leaned back and watched him as he unbuttoned his shirt still gazing lovingly into her eyes, “I have a surprise for you,” he announced.

“Really? Another one? What is it?” She asked.

“You know how I disappeared with Brad earlier today?”

“To buy the champagne?” Mallory asked

“No, I already had that. No I went with Brad into
Oban
. And I had a little ink done, especially for you.” He removed his shirt and there was a large white dressing covering the space above his other tattoo. He gently peeled the dressing back to reveal an exact copy of the tattoo she had on the small of her back.

Mallory gasped as the salt water she had become very much accustomed to lately, welled up and overflowed from her eyes. After replacing the dressing, being careful not to hurt the raw skin, she cradled him in her arms.

She slid out of the remainder of her silver dress and removed her pretty silver lace bra. They held each other skin on skin for a while, relishing the closeness and warmth. The glow of the fire sparkled in their eyes. They removed the rest of each other clothes and lay back down on the rug.

Greg eased Mallory onto her back as he placed kisses down her neck, to her shoulder, to her collar bone. He caressed each breast with hands and mouth and onward down her abdomen. He kissed his way all the way down to the mound of her pubic bone. He kissed her there and she arched and moaned.

He didn’t play there for long before he climbed back up her body and caressed as he went. Rolling over he pulled her onto him. Her hands slid down his body to his very manhood. She worshipped him with her hands loving his little growls of pleasure. Then, whilst he was on his back she slid herself onto him. His hands were at her hips as they moved together.

There was urgency to their love making this time. Neither could quite get close enough nor take enough of one another. The heat of the fire glowed over their beautiful nakedness. They both climbed higher and higher until they were sky bound with the dizziness of orgasm; two people desperately in love giving themselves to each other whole heartedly; forever.

They lay there for a while, revelling in the closeness and basking in their post orgasmic bliss, holding each other, smiling and kissing.

“So when do you want to get married? Or am I asking that too early?” Mallory stroked his ‘Love Conquers All’ tattoo as she spoke, musing that just maybe it did.

“You kidding me? Can we do it yesterday please?” He smiled. “Seriously, gorgeous, as soon as possible for me.” He brought her engagement ring finger up to his mouth and kissed it gently.

“We’d better get planning then, eh?” She snuggled down into him making sure to avoid his newly scarred skin.

“We certainly better had do that, gorgeous, yes.”

“Hey, I’ve just had an idea.” Mallory propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at her handsome fiancé. “We have a honeymoon all sorted! We can use the
Canada
tickets” She smiled as a strange look crept over Greg’s face. “Oh my goodness! That’s what you had planned all along.” She gasped as it all dawned on her.

“I’m afraid so my sweet, gorgeous, Mallory. I would have proposed at Christmas too but I thought maybe it was too soon after moving in together.”

She kissed the tip of his nose. “Just for the record…I would have said yes.”

~~~~~

March 2012

Greg’s divorce papers had dropped through the door at the end of January which meant all systems were good to go. Much to Greg and Mallory’s relief, things had been resolved quickly on account of how long they had been apart.

Alice had made one last ditch attempt to get Greg back and was astounded when she discovered that he had become engaged to Mallory. She told him he was making the biggest mistake of his life. Mallory was sitting beside him when she rang.

“Alice, the biggest mistake I ever made was giving you a second chance. Do you honestly believe you deserve a third? I’m head over heels in love with Mally and nothing you say will change that.” He had given Mallory’s thigh a reassuring squeeze as he spoke. It seemed she had relented and hung up.

“Was she okay?” Mallory asked when he threw his phone onto the cushion at the side of him.

“Oh yeah, she was fine. Faked a few sobs, but she’ll get over it. She has no choice. I am utterly yours, gorgeous.”

“And are you okay about it all?” She asked tentatively.

“Me? Of course I am.” He began to sprinkle her with kisses in between his words, “I have never…ever …been…happier…than…I am …now that…I’m… with you.” He kissed her more deeply with hunger. To reiterate just how fine he was about the whole situation, he made love to her there and then on the squishy old sofa, slowly and lovingly, cherishing her returning curves as if they were long lost friends.

In order to avoid the cliché of getting married on Valentine’s Day they had set the date of Saturday March third. The beautiful nineteenth century Kilbrandon church had been booked since the engagement. Mallory and Greg were so excited to be committing themselves to each other.

Wedding dress shopping had been great fun. Mallory had visited
Leeds
where she looked in every wedding dress shop that she and Josie could find. Eventually, they ended up back at the very first one. Mallory knew she had found the right dress when her best friend was utterly speechless on seeing her in it.

“Oh, Mally, oh…you look…oh.” Josie had wiped tears from her eyes and hugged the bride to be so hard, Mallory almost passed out. But that was all the confirmation she needed. The dress was a done deal.

Mallory had messaged her friends in
Canada
to tell them of her impending nuptials. Reece had left her a virtual scream of delight on her timeline. She had laughed when he posted a photo from his cell phone of him actually screaming.
Crazy man
, Mallory had giggled.

Carl had been very sweet about the engagement. He had said he wished it was him she was marrying, but that he wished her every happiness all the same. He had a girlfriend, but apparently he didn’t think she was ‘the one.’

Renee, Ryan, Cara and Dylan were flying in for the wedding and the honeymoon was going to start two days after the wedding when Greg and Mallory were flying back with the Buchanan’s. Everyone was very excited.

On the night before the wedding, Greg had stayed at the pub where Stella had cooked him a lovely meal. The Buchanan family was staying at the little cottage they had hired last time they stayed. Josie and Brad were staying with Mallory. Colin had agreed to give Mallory away and Brad had been signed up for Best Man duties.

The day of the wedding arrived at lightning speed. Josie, Brad and Mallory drank Champagne for breakfast along with their toasted bagels and cream cheese. Although, Mallory struggled to eat anything she was so very nervous. She disappeared upstairs to get ready. After around an hour of hearing nothing from her, Josie was beginning to worry.

“How are you getting on Mally?” Josie called through the door.

Mallory was standing in the bathroom staring at her reflection. She was trying so hard to fight back her mixed emotions. The stunning ivory dress was off shoulder and had a fitted, beaded bodice with crystals adorning the front. The skirt was just the right level of fullness; not meringue-like but not straight. Her hair had been partially pinned up, but the tendrils that hung down framed her face beautifully.

She adored Greg and couldn’t wait to marry him, but she also remembered Sam and how this day, her wedding day, was originally supposed to be about her marrying him. The fact that Sam’s family were here made matters more difficult than she could ever have imagined.

“Mally, you’re worrying me.” Josie knocked on the door. She tried the handle, but the door was locked. “Mallory, what’s going on?” Josie knocked harder.

Mallory unlocked the door and sat on the side of the bath as Josie walked in. “Sorry…I…I just needed some time on my own.” She sighed as Josie looked on.

“Why? Are you getting cold feet?” Josie asked bluntly, folding her arms across her chest like a chastising parent.

“Not exactly…just thinking about Sam.” She nipped the bridge of her nose as if it would halt the tears that were threatening to make an imminent appearance.

“Thinking what about Sam, honey?” Josie sat beside her on the roll top bath in her pretty, knee length, purple bridesmaid dress and held her hand.

“Just that this should’ve been me and him. Maybe it’s too soon? Maybe I shouldn’t go through with this?”

Josie sighed. “Mallory, you know how we always tell each other when we are being ridiculous?” Mallory nodded. “Well…and I know maybe you don’t want to hear this right now…but it’s one of those times.” She took a deep breath, “If Sam was still alive, maybe we wouldn’t need to be having this conversation. Or, maybe you were meant to be with Greg all along and it was Sam that brought you to him. Have you ever thought that? Maybe Sam was your guardian angel. After everything that has happened between you and Greg I am beginning to believe in fate. Mallory, you stuck it out here when it would have been so easy to just run back to
Yorkshire
. You came here because of Sam…but you stayed because of Greg.” Mallory had certainly never contemplated such a thing, but hearing the words now made her heart swell and tears pool in her eyes.

“Do you love Greg?” Josie continued.

Mallory didn’t hesitate in her answer, “Of course I do, with all my heart.”

“Well then, let’s go and get you married to him, eh?” Josie stood and pulled her friend to a standing position. “You and Greg are meant to be together. He adores you…always has. You tattooed his initial on your arse for goodness sake!”

Mallory laughed at the bluntness of her friend’s words, “Erm, my back actually.” She pointed out.

“Back-shmack…same bloody difference.” Josie waved Mallory’s comment aside with her hand. “You wouldn’t have done that if you just thought he was just ‘a bit of alright’ and nothing else now would you?”

“Absolutely not.” Mallory confirmed with a smile.

“Then what are we going to do? Colin is downstairs.”

“Well…I don’t know about you, but I have a wedding to go to.” Mallory made for the door winking at her best friend.

They arrived at the church and a red carpet had been laid from the place where the car parked, right up the path to the front of the church. Greg had thought of everything. Colin clung onto her hand and looked proudly at Mallory, just as he would his own daughter. Josie stood in front with her small hand tied bunch of white roses which was a smaller version of Mallory’s large bouquet. The music from inside the church could be heard just under the sound of friendly chatter.

Suddenly the background music was replaced with the opening bars of Hoobastank’s ‘
The Reason’
tears welled in Mallory’s eyes once again and she took a deep breath. She hadn’t expected yet another romantic touch. Greg was full of surprises.

“This is it, my flower.” Colin squeezed Mallory’s hand as they stepped toward the doors. They opened and Mallory got her first glimpse of the beautifully flower adorned church interior. It looked amazing and smelled even better. Fragrant white roses filled every available window ledge and pew end. Greg had chosen the flowers.

“
Yorkshire
roses for my
Yorkshire
rose,” he had explained to her about his choice when they were planning the wedding.

She looked toward the front where Greg stood facing the altar in his wedding suit, complete with kilt. Slowly, almost as if he feared that she may disappear if his eyes touched upon her, he turned to meet her gaze. His face lit up with love as he laid eyes on her. Brad leaned in to hand him a hanky when it was clear his emotions were getting the better of him.

Mallory, Colin and Josie walked slowly down the aisle toward the altar until Mallory and Greg were face to face. Colin handed his ‘adopted’ daughter over to the handsome groom and stepped back. Mallory’s own tears were the issue now and Josie handed her a lace hanky. What a pair they were.

Greg leaned toward her and with trembling lips, whispered, “Thank you for marrying me. I know this must be a hard day for you. But I’ve never loved or admired you more than I do right now.” It was the perfect thing to say and she loved him all the more for it.

The Vicar began the service. The couple dutifully repeated the words uttered by the man. They held hands and stared lovingly at each other through the whole service.

“Mallory and Greg have written some words to each other that they would like to say.” The Vicar announced and stepped back.