Masters And Lovers 1-4 novel Chapter 16

In the church, we wait, the congregation gathered. A baby wails. Paper rustles. The susurration of many people speaking whispers under the vaulted stone roof. Footsteps echo, and Ben’s voice carries as he guides the last of the guests to their pews.

Beth certainly made a good job of the flowers.

She has quite a talent for it….

Wonder if she intends to apply it to the spa centre?

Or if she’s mentioned it to Michael?

But I suppress the smile. My closest friend has enough to keep him occupied today.

Michael fidgets as I finger the ring….

…. the second ring….

…. Which lies in my pocket, this one in white gold.

Is he still upset about yesterday?

Or is it just normal Groom’s nerves?

“Calm down,” I murmur.

He’s facing forward, but his eyes slip sidelong to mine. “You don’t think she might….”

“No…. Now relax.”

“You’ve got the ring?”

“Yes, I’ve got the ring.” I give him a shoulder-slap. “You should have had that drink.”

“Mmmm. Perhaps I should.”

As we wait, my mind rambles back to the time, what? Thirty years ago? The last time I did this, but on that occasion, I was the groom.

And yet, my first marriage was a farce. At the time I never understood how much so. The bitterness of it ….

Georgie…

I’d have liked you to be here today….

How old are you now?

Older than Charlotte….

Perhaps not a good idea then….

Enough already!

Pull yourself together, man….

This time, it will be different.

From the rear comes some sound, some movement.

The minister looks beyond us. “She’s here.”

The congregation, as one man, turns to look rearward, and the organ breathes into life; Pachelbel’s Canon, one of Charlotte’s favourites. One of mine too. I don’t think Michael cared about the music. Everything he cares about sits in my pocket.

Nonetheless, he also semi-turns to follow the music that ripples along the aisle… To look… Then, he pauses, visibly restraining himself as he remembers the groom is not supposed to look back.

His face….

Joy?

Wonderment?

Disbelief?

That we finally made it to this point…?

But there is nothing to restrain me. I turn to see.

And there, accompanied by Richard, who agreed to stand in for her murdered father, to give her away, is Charlotte.

Oh, my God….

I expected her to be beautiful.

I hoped she would wear white.

But I wasn’t prepared for the reality….

She looks astonishing….

Yes, the dress is white: full-length and of a simple design. Under the veil she wears her hair long and loose, laced with….

…. pearls?

Weighted by the pearls, it sways with her movement as she paces slowly down the aisle, one hand resting on Richard’s arm, the other holding a small bouquet.

The veil is of some fine filmy stuff, very sheer. Even with the slight movement of Charlotte’s slow progression through the church, it flutters and shimmers about her face.

And through the veil, despite the distance between us, I meet her eyes, vivid emeralds, even through its haze.