Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 89

"Shall we be off, ladies?" Meredith takes a moment to sweep her gaze at each of us in appreciation. "We only have ten more minutes but it would be lovely if the brides go on ahead and wait in front of the double doors."

I have to admit, I look pretty good myself in a classic Oscar de la Renta gown. Seeing as how I've been a married woman for as long as my friends have waited to get hitched, I can wear whatever I damn well pleased for this wedding.

Sort of.

Well, Lady C made sure I wore a gown that had a known brand.

Meredith opens the door wider and steps to the side to make way for us. "Such beauties, you all are!" she says in admiration, hugging her clipboard to her chest. "Now, Lady Sterling," she tells me, "I know you've been wanting to get a good rest, so I suggest you go on off to the front row and have a lovely time sitting with your husband. I believe he's been waiting for you."

"Yeah," I sigh, picking up my skirts, ready to walk into the area. "I told him I'll only be gone about ten minutes but it's been pushed to thirty. I momentarily got tired by the time I reached the sofa here in the dressing room," I explain, suddenly feeling more exhausted. "I guess he's worrying too because I flat out refused to be escorted by him to see Viv and Em."

With a final hug from the girls and blowing air-kisses in my direction, I head down the hall that leads to the giant double doors of the altar here at Canterbury Cathedral -- but as I begin to open it an inch, an arm gently wraps around my waist and pulls me carefully to the side.

"What the --!" I try to turn round to smack the person senseless, but the arm slightly tightens. Lips and warm breath trail my neck to the sensitive hollow between my ear and jaw, making me shiver.

"I missed you," Michael breathes out, nibbling my ear. "You were gone for so long."

Giggling, I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck. I can't go much near because it's pretty hard when your belly has been growing larger by the week.

Now I'm along six months and I'm so "knackered," as they say here, all the time. It's a miracle I even got to the venue along with the family for this event.

But being in Michael's arms and seeing his beautiful crooked smile just for me makes me feel like I can do a triathlon in my pregnant state.

"It's only been thirty minutes, Michael," I can't help but point out, kissing his chin.

"Nonsense! It felt like a bloody day. And you're supposed to be sitting down along with us to rest, love," he chides. "You and Olivia ought to be with me."

I raise a brow at him. "Olivia?"

"Yes."

"How are you even sure that it's a girl?"

He rubs my belly tenderly. "Because dads know best, haven't you heard? Most especially first-time dads like me." He arches a brow in my direction. "Why can't we know the gender again?"

"Because I want it to be a surprise..."

"Yes, but if we keep on trying to best one another regarding the babe's gender, then we'll both probably be completely batty. Or at least I will."

"I want a boy."

"A girl."

I laugh. "Well, I think it's a boy, by the way he seems to believe he's become a football star inside my belly," I confess. I gaze longingly at his handsome face and feel like drowning in the pools of his silvery eyes. "I want him to look just like you."

Michael hugs me again and sighs in contentment.

"I wish," he whispers, stroking my long, expertly waved hair, "it's a girl and that she'll look exactly like you. With a pert little nose and beautiful green eyes, plus that stubborn little dent on your chin -- but most of all, I want her to have your spirit and your love, because those are admirable traits you entirely possess that I can't help but love back wholeheartedly."

"Oh, Michael..."

My eyes are starting to water, but I blame that on the hormones.

Ever since we got married back in San Ricardo nearly seven years ago -- a simple wedding that took my breath away -- Michael has been the perfect, albeit sometimes maddening, husband. We travelled around Europe for a year during our honeymoon, and went on to college back in England.

We've always wanted a baby but we felt like it wasn't the right time to have one just yet.

But about six months earlier this year...it just happened.

And that took my breath away, too.

Not only is Michael ecstatic to become a dad, he also started taking extra good care of me and loving me.

I don't regret marrying him at eighteen, really. I knew from the moment we got back together that I'll always, always be happy with him, no matter what. It's one of the greatest moments of my life and I know I'll cherish it forever.

I think I'm imagining things because it seems like Lady C, and not my own grandmother, is actually in tears.

Lady C catches my eye and brushes a wayward tear from her cheek rather elegantly.

I laugh and choke, somewhere in between wanting to do both, and, to my complete and utter surprise, she presses her gloved fingers onto her lips and blows me a kiss.

Looks like someone's getting better and better with age.

She turns back to the brides who are now at the altar, kissing their fathers cheeks, who are ready to go back to their pews.

If I haven't caught Lady Cutting's sweet gesture, I would've thought I'd only imagined the whole thing!

But I didn't.

Well, she has been five times nicer to me ever since she found out, along with the whole family, that I'm officially pregnant.

I gaze at her immaculate self, her back ramrod straight, with both hands on the bejeweled top of her ivory cane.

"Dearly beloved..." the bishop begins to intone in a smooth, deep voice.

I lean back in my seat and watch, sighing peacefully.

At that moment, I feel a warm hand seeking mine. I smile but don't look away from the brides who are smiling sweetly at their equally beaming grooms.

Fingers entwine through my own and my body instinctively moves closer to my husband's side.

His lips press onto my temple and whispers two words that accidentally make me howl in laughter. He pretends not to have witnessed my sudden hoot, while everyone starts to look at me in surprise, the moment temporarily cut and turning my way.

A girl.

THE END!