Page 81 of Italy and Forever

‘But even if it’s the case that there’s no such thing as one perfect soulmate for each person, when we look at Sophie and Andreas, it’s impossible to deny that love can make us incredibly stubborn.’

Another murmur of laughter.

‘Despite breaking up the first time they were together, a great connection drew them back to each other – with the determination to do things better this time. I’ve learned a lot from watching Sophie and Andreas navigate the sudden changes in their relationship, while valuing that connection they share more than anything else.’

She hesitated, biting her lip. ‘And this week of celebrations turned out to be something quite unexpected.’

Rhys lowered the camera, holding his breath.

‘What a privilege it has been to plan the wedding of my best friend.’ Her voice shook. ‘Sophie is the most genuine and honest person, and all of the preparations meant so much more to me that I started to see that being real is more important than being perfect. And I know Sophie sees that too, or she wouldn’t be with Andreas.’

While the guests laughed at her joke, she took a desperate sip of water and dabbed at her eye. He captured the image with a click, knowing she was the only one who’d ever see it.

‘We make jokes like that one, or about conjugal arguments, unflattering metaphors for marriage, because there is some truth in them. It turns out that love itself isn’t perfect.’

The room was so still, the sound of Eliza’s dress crinkling as she wriggled was loud in Rhys’s ear.

‘It shouldn’t be perfect,’ Ginny clarified. ‘We love the way we are, with all our flaws. Perfect is a sanitised version of love that’s comfortable and manageable. Now, as a wedding planner, of course I want my clients to be comfortable on their wedding day, so I suppose it was an advantage professionally that… I had no idea how uncomfortable love really is.’

Rhys was vaguely aware of his mouth dropping open, but he couldn’t bring himself to close it. He couldn’t do anything but stare at her and listen to her dumbfounding words to the soundtrack of his own pounding heartbeat.

‘Love brings out our weaknesses and our fears, causes us to hurt each other. Love isn’t always healthy and it doesn’t always work out in the end.’

The last part was said so quietly, Rhys wasn’t sure if the people at the back of the room would have heard. But he heard it.

‘What we’re celebrating here is not the rather surprising love between Sophie and Andreas, although I’m so proud of you both for the way you put each other first. We’re here to bolster the two of you for the future and give you hope that, with the support of each other and your friends and family, this deep and uncomfortable love will continue to be a bright light in your lives.’

A murmur of soft agreement greeted that statement.

‘But also,’ Ginny continued, ‘so many moments are fleeting. Some moments change everything in a single heartbeat. I can’t stop time, as much as I wish I could for such a great party – after I’ve finished the speech, because no one wants a time loop of this,’ she added.

Rhys thought he wouldn’t mind.

‘I can’t say what will happen in the future. I have very high hopes for Sophie and Andreas and little Lieselotte or whatever name you settle on.’ Ginny’s smile was cheeky as she said it, but faded again almost immediately. ‘But we’re here for this moment, together. And I’d rather be happy for a little while than not at all.’

She gave a little hiccough and pressed a knuckle to her trembling lips. He wanted to snatch her away, protect her. But no, he was too proud of her, standing in front of the crowd and bringing meaning – so much meaning – to the day’s proceedings.

So much beauty she’d brought into his life. She’d made him think differently about himself. She’d drawn things out of him he’d never thought another human being could want from him. She’d been his camera, a lens on the world to give him a fresh perspective on life. He was deeply uncomfortable with her for exactly the reasons she’d listed.

Because he was most likely in love with her. Because he’d rather have had these few days than not at all.

He belatedly realised he should have been taking photos of Sophie and Andreas, but his hands felt clumsy and he wasn’t sure he could see anything other than Ginny right now. He managed to snap some shots of Sophie throwing her arms around her bridesmaid, both of them bawling in earnest now.

Andreas took his turn to give Ginny a hug, after grumbling, ‘Trust you to make my wife cry on our wedding day.’

Ginny’s response was a wild smile. She peered around Andreas to catch Sophie’s eye. ‘Did you hear how he said “my wife”?’ she said in a mock whisper. ‘I think I need to go…’ She gestured to her face. ‘Back in a minute.’

She strode towards the double doors, painfully vulnerable and impossibly beautiful. At the last minute, she glanced back, finding him with no effort. That was all it took.

He waited less than a minute before following her.

Ginny was certain the adrenaline had dissolved all of her molecules into pure fizz. She was breathing hard, even though she wasn’t walking quickly. It was done. Her speech was over. She felt certain every one of their friends would realise she’d fallen in love with Rhys, but she couldn’t have delivered the earlier version, idolising her naïve understanding of love and marriage and guarantees of forever.

He’d watched her the whole time. She’d felt his gaze, known he was taking in every detail of her, as he always did. And now he was coming after her and she’d hear what he thought of her veiled confession.

She beckoned to him as she raced for the spiral staircase heading to the roof, then she took off at a faster pace, grinning as he gained on her. Bursting out into the fading light of Sophie’s wedding day, she turned and slung her arms around his neck, stretched up on her toes and kissed him.

In less than a second, his arms were crushing her and his mouth was open on hers, amplifying the adrenaline as they shared it. The connection flowed effortlessly as his hand drifted up her spine to her nape.