‘About what?’
‘Will you marry me?’
‘Do you want my answer in words, or deeds?’
‘How long have we got before we land?’
He smiled, looking hungrily down at her. ‘Hours and hours.’
She scrunched up her nose, wove her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her. ‘I guess there’s no harm trying deeds.’
He kissed her lightly on the lips. ‘That’s the right answer.’
EPILOGUE
LORDHOWEISLAND’SNed’s Beach had turned on its best weather. The sea shone cobalt blue under the sun, the waves softly rolling, the sea breeze softly tugging at hair and fluttering silken scarves.
The guests were gathered on the lawns that bordered the beach, waiting for the main event, while tourists paddled through the shallows, laughing and delighted at the feeding fish frenzy that ensued every time they scattered another handful of fish food.
Their focus was all upon the fish wars at their feet, until the car arrived with the bride on board and the whoops of those feeding fish quieted, as all eyes turned to the bridal party alighting from the car.
Tom Parker opened Isabella’s door, and she stepped from the car, her veil immediately captured by the breeze, fluttering up behind her. She took a moment with her bridesmaid Millie to check each other’s dresses and lipstick, before the two gathered their bouquets. Millie exchanged a hug with the bride before setting off towards the assembled guests. Once Millie reached the aisle, Tom Parker held out his arm for her. Isabella took a deep breath, steadying herself, before she inserted her arm through his, and they set off.
Isabella was so happy as she made her way towards the aisle, she felt like she was sure she must be glowing brighter than the sun. Smiling wasn’t an option, it was an imperative. This was the culmination of everything—a life of believing that she would marry a man who she loved, then months and weeks of stress and uncertainty and the fear that her dream would be snatched away from her. Only to find love in the most unlikely of places. In the man who had intended to return her to her hellish future, until he stepped in at the last minute and rescued her.
And now she was marrying him on the island that had provided her with sanctuary, and where that love between them had sparked and grown. Tomorrow she and Theo would climb the heights of Mt Gower, the first day in the rest of their lives together, every day providing new heights.
Tom turned down the aisle, and Isabella saw the man who had claimed her heart standing before the simple altar. Theo. The man she loved. His mother and father looking on, beaming. For a second she paused, her heart skipping a beat. It was almost too much. It was unbelievable.
‘All okay?’ whispered Tom beside her.
She sniffed as she turned her face to his. ‘Never better,’ she said, small tears of happiness squeezing unbidden from her eyes. He smiled, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze, and they resumed their slow march down the aisle.
Theo waited at the altar. Never before had he felt so nervous. Sure, he’d done this once before, with Sophia, and that time had been magical. But he’d never expected to find love a second time. Life was never expected to be so kind. But life had served him up a second chance.
With Isabella.
He knew the moment she’d started down the aisle. He heard the guests’ ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’. He’d told himself he wasn’t going to look. He fully intended not to look but he couldn’t help himself.
He couldn’t wait. He couldn’t stop himself from turning.
And at the sight that met his eyes, he was so glad he did. He saw Isabella heading down the aisle towards him. Towards their joint future together.
She was dressed in a gown, form-fitting and sleek, a halter neck exposing her perfect shoulders and arms, smiling at those she passed. She was a vision.
Perfection.
As if knowing he was looking, she looked up at him and as their eyes connected, a bolt of lightning coursed through him.
Moisture welled from his eyes. He had to twist his lips shut in an effort not to give a very un-man-like sob. Because happiness was so large a gift that he had been given. And because he knew, without a shadow of doubt, that this was supposed to happen. Their pairing was fate. Their pairing was destiny. This was the second chance he’d never believed he was entitled to, but which fate had decreed he was.
He watched her make her way towards him. He didn’t mind the slow bridal march. He didn’t care how long it took. Because before this day was over, he knew that they would be married, and that Isabella would be his wife.
She met him at the altar. ‘You’re so beautiful,’ he said, taking her free hand in both of his, overcome with the emotion of the moment.
‘I love you,’ she said.
‘And I love you. You’ve given me back the light. You’ve given me laughter. You’ve given me love. More than that, you’ve given me hope. I can never thank you enough for that.’
She squeezed his hands and looked deep into his eyes. ‘And you’ve given me freedom. To live the life I want. To love the man I want to love. You are that man. I love you, Theo. I will love you forever.’
The registrant waiting before them subtly coughed into his smile. ‘Perhaps we might get this wedding started…?’
