BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY (39 page)

“Yes, she’s holding court,” he pointed over to where
her Nana was seated.

“Come on Nico, I want you to meet my Nana,”

Although the wheel chair was never far away, her
Nana was seated at small area to the back of the marquee that had been fitted
out with some sofas.  Carrie recognised several members of her family who
were chatting away.

“Hello Nana,” she bent down to kiss her Nana’s
cheek.  “Oh Carrie girl, what a treat you look tonight, so eh is this your
young man?”

“Yes it is Nana, Nico this is my Nana, Ella,”

Nico took her hand and kissed the back of it, “It’s
a pleasure to meet you”

Did her Nana just blush? The Nico effect. 
Maybe she too had a Doris Day Oh My moment.

“Anyone who can put a smile of my girls face is
welcome here and I’m sure by the looks of you quite a few girls have a smile on
their face!”

“Nana”

“Hush Carrie, next thing you will be sounding
scandalised like your mother.  Away and dance you two and leave me to my
gossiping with the family”

Thoroughly dismissed they finally made it to the
dance floor.

Now it was Nico’s turn to laugh.  “I love the
women in your family Carrie I don’t think I have ever laughed as much as I have
when I am with you”

It wasn’t as glamorous as the commerce dance but it
felt the same being in his arms again.  The split of the dress allowing
her to move with a little more ease than the beautiful dress she had worn that
night.  “Your legs are amazing,” Nico whispered into her ear, “I can’t
wait for you to wrap them around me later” 

“You are outrageous Mr Devanti but I can’t wait
either, I want you,” He pulled her closer and she could feel his hardness
against her.  The thin silk material of her dresses no barrier.  He
dipped her low as the song finished.  “I think I need a drink after that
dance”.

“Do you want a drink from the bar or some
champagne?”

“Mmm champagne for me, I think I will just nip to
the ladies room, won’t be long,” she kissed him briefly on the cheek and walked
towards the portioned area for the guest toilets.  When she returned her
Aunt Peggy was with her parents and Nico.  Nico handed her the glass of
fizz and she held his hand with her other hand.  Before she could speak
Peggy commented.

“I did wonder why Kate was being so cloak and dagger
but now I can see why.  We’ve all been warned not to speak a peep about
Carrie’s new mystery man,”

She tensed, about to reply but her Mum beat her to
it.  “Peggy no warnings have been issued, Carrie’s private life is just
that, private,”

“Oh come on now Kate, don’t be such a sourpuss,
she’s only just bagged herself one of the richest men on the planet, and no one
here is allowed to talk about it in case we offend anyone”.

No interrogation from Peggy, this time she was on
attack mode.

“Aunt Peggy, I appreciate that my personal life is
giving you such concern but as my Mum has said, it’s private and tonight is
about my parents, not me,” Carrie replied.

“It’s a concern to us all, that’s all I’m saying,”
not giving this one up Peggy continued.  “Rob’s not even cold in his grave
and with that display on the dance floor; you are dancing all over it!”

“Oh Peggy!”  Kate gasped. 

Carries hand tightened in Nico’s.  But it was
her father who took over now.

“Peggy, Peggy, what have you done now?  Eh, my
own sister.  You are a guest in my home but you have not only offended my
wife and daughter you have offended me.  I am very proud of my children
and the paths they have taken.  We were all blessed to have Rob in our
lives but don’t
ever
mention his name in this context to cause any hurt
to my family again.  I think too much of the free drink has gone to your
head, that’s the excuse I’m giving you anyway for the drivel that you are
speaking.  Take a quick minute to decide where your loyalty lands Peggy or
I will call you a taxi home now” He escorted a silenced Peggy to a nearby table
and called over her husband John. 

“Nico, I apologise on behalf of our family, this is
not the introduction you should have received.  For far too long Peggy has
been excused for her sometimes outrageous comments as “oh that’s just Peggy for
you”.  I did ask that no-one post anything on social media, as I didn’t
want anything to intrude on Dan’s retirement.”  She placed a comforting
arm around Carrie’s shoulder.  “It’s okay Carrie, I think your fathers
comments to Peggy will be gossiped like wild fire within the family but nothing
could be further from the truth about Rob, even I can see that and I apologise
for earlier,”

“Mrs Reynolds, there is no need to apologise,”

“Yes, there is Nico, it was rude and I cannot abhor
rudeness, please call me Kate,”

The next few hours the numbness that Carrie felt
over Peggy’s comments slowly eased away.  She danced, smiled and laughed
but now she doubted.  “I can read your thoughts you know,”

“Can you?”

“Yes, you are thinking you have made a mistake
agreeing to be my wife, I can see the doubts flicker across your face,”

“I’m sorry Nico, I just wasn’t expecting the
reaction from everyone but at least my Mother seems to have come around,”

Everyone had gathered for the speech her father was
giving.

“I’d like to thank everyone for coming this evening,
It has been a hard decision to retire and say goodbye to so many friends that I
have made over the years.  I’m sure the practice will continue to move on
to bigger and better things and you can be sure I will still pop around. 
I won’t be far away!  But before all that I’d like to say a special thank
you to my wonderful wife Kate.  Kate has been by my side through those
early student years when I did wonder if becoming a dentist was the best thing
to do.  It’s not been easy but as a family the Reynolds have always worked
hard, no more than my Mum bringing up eight children after my father passed
away too soon.”

“Here, here” someone shouted out.

“We are fighters and when I did waiver about my
career choice Kate pushed me on with my beautiful daughters Claire and Carrie
by our sides.  This is why it’s been a difficult decision to leave my
other ‘baby’ my practice but it’s the right time to move on and spend time with
my family.  I’ve got to teach Harry how to play golf and help me beat his
Dad Ryan on the course!  So a big, big thank you to everyone for their
kind words and gifts its much appreciated.”

Cheers, whistles and applause broke out through the
room.

Carrie and Claire joined their parents; Harry was
toddling forward holding the flowers with Ryan at his side.  “Mum &
Dad,” Claire began, “Thanks for everything, for your support and always being
there for us,”

Belle had joined Nico. 

“We want you both to start retirement in style and
booked you a cruise,”

“If Dad wasn’t going to take the hint Mum, we
finally did!  But thanks for the hints on where and when you wanted to go;
it certainly narrowed the choices down!” Carrie added and laughter broke
out.  She handed over the gold envelope with the holiday tickets and their
retirement card.

“We hope you both enjoy your trip”

Her Dad took the mike again, “Thanks everyone, now
drink, dance and be merry!”

“Well Nico, how has your first evening with the
Reynolds family been?  It’s quite overwhelming isn’t it?  I felt that
way the first time I met them all en mass all those years ago.  Kate and I
had a very quiet upbringing and it was a bit of shock being part of such a big
extended family.”

“I can imagine, but Carrie had prepared me for
this.”

“I heard about Peggy misbehaving earlier, was it as
bad as the gossips say?”

“She’s a bit brutal but I think Carries Dad handled
it well, I was going to interrupt but it seems sorted now”

It was a little after 2am.  Carrie and Nico
were sharing a brandy with her parents and Belle.  Claire had promised to
go home and rest.  “I don’t think we have long to wait until Baby McIntosh
makes his or hers appearance,”

“No Belle, I don’t think we will, she’s due on the 3
^rd
October and that’s only a couple of weeks away,”

Carrie promised to return the next day and help with
the clear up. 

“Tell me Mr Devanti, after this evening, do you
still want to marry me?”  They were lying in bed.  The beautiful
diamond ring back on her finger, glittering in the moonlight pouring in through
the high window.  “Yes Carrie, I want nothing more than to make you my
wife”

“Remember your Mum did say I have baggage Nico, no
let me finish,” as he was going to interrupt, “I do have emotional baggage but
I promise Nico that I will never let my memories of my life before with Rob
change my life with you.  I love you Nico,”

“I love you too Carrie, I won’t deny that there is a
part of me that is jealous of Rob.  But I would be jealous of any man who
shared your past.  Our future is together.  As long as I have your
heart now, I don’t care about any baggage,”

“Just me and you and Beau of course!”

“Of course, Beau and babies, I want that”

“Babies?”

“Yeah lots of little Nico’s with their father’s chocolate
brown eyes,”

“I want that so much Carrie, my parents will be
delighted if we have a family too.  They’ve wanted grandchildren for
years.  But I’ve seen you with Harry, how much he loves you and I know
that you will be a great Mom when the time comes,”

“Thank you Nico, I love Harry very much and that’s
why I want to support Claire with the new baby too.  I have an idea that I
want to run by you,”

For months Carrie had wanted to help Claire and Ryan
on a more permanent basis.  “I want to give them the house, I know they
will resist my offer but I think with a little persuasion from my parents too
they will agree.  I’ve been thinking for a while about moving away. 
There are too many memories good and bad here for me.  Claire love’s the
house and with their things around it feels more of a family home.  I can
admit it was a show house in the past.  It was a great house for
entertaining but with just two people it was too big.  Claire and Ryan
have breathed some life back into it.  I want to give them this start.”

“Carrie, it’s your house to do with what you
want.  If you heart is telling you to do this, then follow it, you know
that wherever we live permanently we will decide this together.”

“Nico, I know that you are a man of immense wealth
but I’m not interested in any of that and I will sign anything to say
that.  I know you have honour and if things don’t work out for us it will
be for a damn good reason.  I’m not going to profit from any breakup.”

“Carrie, let’s not talk of breakup’s.  We are
in this together.   I support you in what you are doing for your
sister; let me know if you need my help setting things up,”

“Thank you Nico, remember Uncle Donald?  Well I
didn’t mention earlier he has one of the top law firms in Scotland.  I’m
going to try and see him next week to draw up some paperwork for me.  I
want to set up a trust fund for Harry and the same for the baby,”

“Montgomery Law?”

“Yeah one and the same”

“I have a confession to make, earlier tonight when your
father took me away for a whisky, he asked me what my intentions where”

“He did
what
!”

“So his question kind of pre-empted my
proposal.  I told him I was in love with you and that I wanted your hand
in marriage”

“You said
what
!
”

“I told him that I hadn’t asked you yet but that I
would be soon.  We had a glass of whisky, I think while he summed me
up.  He said if his daughter consented then he gave his permission for me
to ask you,”

“What would you have done if he said no?”

“Well I still would have asked but it would have
taken at little longer to do so”

The marquee was in the process of being dismantled
when they returned the next day to her parents’ house.  It was a flurry of
activity as the band packed up their equipment and the house returned to a
resemblance of normality. 

“Coffee?”  Her Dad shouted from the kitchen
above a loud bang as the final section of marquee was lowered.

Carrie nodded and added the sugar and cream. 
“Well girl, do you have something to tell your old Dad?”

“Uh huh I do but I guess I better wait for Nico and
Mum.  He’s just finishing a call.  Where is Mum?”

“Carrie darling,”

“Hello Belle, I was just asking Dad where is Mum?”

“Oh she’s just having a word with the marquee team,
I’m off to do a little shopping, will see you later darling”

Carrie poured a coffee for Nico as he joined
them.  They sat on the sofa waiting for her Mum.  Nico holding her
hand.  “Ah there you are, I was looking for you in the kitchen.  For
a moment I thought you had sneaked off to watch some sports or other”