‘What do you mean, two loving parents?’
‘The two of us. I’m not going anywhere, Jade.’
‘But you hate feeling trapped, you said it.’
‘That’s true, and it still stands. I would never want to be trapped, but being with you and Amber is the opposite. It’s the only place in the world I want to be. It’s so far from being trapped...it’s being wanted, and needed and loved, and it’s a place I never want to leave. It’s the true meaning of family. If you’ll have me, I’ll stay for ever.’
‘For ever...in one place...with us?’
‘I would take more than for ever if I could. I love you, Jade, and I’m here to stay, albeit down one kidney in a few hours. But if you don’t want me minus a part, I’d understand.’
Jade didn’t want to fight her feelings any more. She leaned down to the man being wheeled into Theatre and kissed him with all her heart.
‘You’re perfect any way you come.’
EPILOGUE
THE DATE MITCHELL and Amber chose to become husband and wife was one year to the day of the surgery to give Amber a healthy, happy life. With each passing minute Mitchell and Jade knew their love was growing stronger and would last for ever.
Australian immigration had granted extensions to Jade’s and Amber’s visas on compassionate grounds. Amber had needed time to heal after the surgery and after six months she and Jade had returned to Los Angeles briefly to say goodbye to the kind neighbours who had been like family to them. While it had been sad for everyone, it had been a new beginning for Jade and Amber, and the lovely older couple were happy that the little girl would be with her real grandparents.
Jade had packed up the house and put it up for lease. It was Amber’s home and for that reason Jade had chosen not to sell it. She wanted it to be there in case, as an adult, Amber wanted to spend some time in the city where she’d been born. A lovely family who had relocated from Sacramento, with two small girls and a golden Labrador, had moved in, and Jade felt sure her neighbours would shower the little girls with attention, just as they had Amber since she was born.
Mitchell had proposed twice. Once to Jade with a solitaire diamond ring as they rode the Ferris wheel at Glenelg and then a week later he proposed that he and Jade adopt Amber. He didn’t want them to be just her legal guardians as he wanted all their children in the future to have the same mother and father.
Amber was four and although she didn’t really understand what adoption meant, she loved the idea of having a mummy and daddy like the other children at pre-school. Jade was so deliriously happy she thought she would burst. And so the very special wedding date was set and the adoption papers were filed. And Maureen stepped into one of her happiest roles of her life...and one she had never thought would be hers...the role of wedding planner.
* * *
The wedding guests chatted happily under the clear azure sky. They sat on white deck chairs in rows on the lawn, each chair decorated with a huge organza bow. The day was perfect, the guests had all arrived and the celebrant and solo violinist were both eagerly watching for movement from the small white marquee that held the bridal party.
Maureen, beautifully designer dressed and beaming, emerged from the marquee in a mint-coloured silk suit and signalled with a subtle wave of her lace handkerchief.
The solo violinist sat upright, adjusted his jacket and then began “Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn. All heads turned back to see Amber hug her grandmother before she took her first tentative step. She looked like a tiny angel in her ankle-length pastel pink silk dress. A circle of fresh rosebuds and gypsophila sat atop her blonde curls and a smile dressed her cherub-like face as she walked down the white carpet aisle, scattering rose petals with each tiny step.
Mitchell’s mouth curved into an equally big smile as he caught sight of her. She was walking towards the jasmine-covered arbour where he stood with his groomsmen. His legs, hidden by the black designer suit, were shaking a little as the much-anticipated moment of his bride’s entrance drew closer. Amber tried to stay in time to the strains of the violin but she gave up and happily skipped the last few feet.
‘You look so pretty,’ Mitchell told her as he bent down and kissed her forehead then took her tiny hand in his.
‘You thould thee Mummy.’ She beamed. ‘She lookth like a printheth.’
‘I bet she does.’
Alli and Laura appeared from the marquee in their floor-length pale pink silk bridesmaid’s gowns and slowly made their way to the arbour. The shoestring straps of their dresses were embellished with tiny crystals, their hair was softly curled and falling around their shoulders, and they each held posies of roses and gypsophila. All eyes were on them until moments later Arthur escorted Jade onto the white carpet walkway.
Mitchell felt his heart stop for a moment. His wife-to-be was breathtakingly beautiful. Her cream silk dress clung to her body like a second skin. It was nothing close to a maiden aunt’s attire. The halter neckline was trimmed in crystals and her shaking hands held a posy of pink rosebuds. A delicate short veil skimmed her bare shoulders but allowed Mitchell and the wedding guests to see her beautiful smiling face.
With short steps, she walked towards the man who had shown her that it was okay to be herself. The man who would not let her live a life carrying guilt or regret. The man who had captured her heart and given her love in return was waiting for her and holding the hand of the most precious little flower girl. His daughter.
Each step brought her closer to the most important people in her universe.
They were all she would ever need.
Arthur finally released Jade’s hand to the security of Mitchell’s.
‘You look beautiful,’ Mitchell told her as he held her hand tightly.
Jade smiled at her soon-to-be husband. With one hand holding Amber and the other firmly clasping Jade’s, the three of them stood before the celebrant.
‘We do,’ Amber suddenly called aloud.
The guests all laughed at the little girl’s impromptu announcement, and Mitchell turned to face Jade with an overwhelming feeling of desire and love surging through his body.
‘I guess if Amber can’t wait...neither can I.’
Mitchell gently released Amber’s hand. Throwing tradition to the wind, he lifted Jade’s veil, swept her into his arms and just before his mouth met hers he whispered, ‘I will love you for ever, Mrs Forrester.’
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460389553
A Baby to Bind Them
Copyright © 2015 by Susanne Panagaris
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