Aaron kissed his son’s head. “Would you like that? To live with me and Bridget in Russell?”
“And Tycho and Kepler?”
Aaron laughed. “Yes, and the dogs. You could come and help out at the surgery, if you’d like.”
Mat just nodded, overwhelmed.
Aaron held his hand out to Bridget again. She took it, lifting it to kiss his fingers.
“You’re sure?” he whispered.
“I’m sure.” She met his eyes, and a deep warmth filled him.
The spark of love that had ignited within him all those months ago had developed into a roaring fire over white-hot embers that made him glow even when they weren’t together. He loved her so much, and he hoped she wasn’t tired of him telling her, because he knew he was going to say it even more as the months and years went by.
She was going to come and live with him in Russell? It was only just starting to sink in. He’d be able to stay in the town he loved, stay working with Joe, expand the surgery, maybe. Perhaps Mat might even end up working there with him—he kept talking about wanting to be a vet like his dad.
And Bridget would be there, at his side all the time. He’d be able to see her every day… and have her in his bed every night…
Her lips curved up, and he knew she was reading his thoughts.
“Love you,” she mouthed, stroking his hand with her thumb.
“Love you, too,” he said, and kissed his son’s head.
Chapter Thirty
A lot happened over the next ten months.
In April, Mateo moved up to Russell to live with his father, and then shortly afterward Nita returned to Spain. It proved to be an emotional time for everyone, but Mateo already being with his dad helped the transition, and by the time she came back to visit in October, he’d settled into his old school. She was able to see how happy he was, which made it much easier for her to return to Spain, where she was now living with Nicolas.
In May, Bridget finally moved up to Russell to live with Aaron and Mateo. She spent a while looking at premises for a new shop for Four Seasons and finally found the place she’d been looking for in York Street, right in the middle of a group of busy restaurants and tourist shops, the perfect site. The shop was being gutted and repainted, ready for its opening the following January, at the height of the tourist season.
Rowan and Hitch got married somewhere in the Himalayas, then came back for a second celebration with their friends in July. Shortly afterward, Rowan announced she was pregnant, with the baby due the following March. Around the same time, Callie told everyone she was expecting her second, so the two of them were able to compare notes and know that their babies would grow up together. Callie’s eldest was now a year old, just starting to walk, as mischievous and funny as his mother.
Neve and Rhett married in September, and Neve even wore a dress. Bridget had never seen her so happy. She’d wondered whether her friend would be able to truly put aside all the pain their relationship had caused her in the past, but the two of them seemed to be going from strength to strength, and Rhett was clearly devoted to her. Bridget knew they would never have the same, calm, idyllic relationship she felt she shared with Aaron—Neve bossed Rhett around while he liked to tease her, prompting frequent arguments, but they always seemed to enjoy making up, which Bridget secretly believed was the main reason they argued.
The business was booming, too. As well as the shop in Russell, they’d also opened up one in Auckland and one in Hamilton, and there was talk of another in the South Island soon. Rowan’s designs had begun to be picked up by retail outlets across New Zealand and Australia, and Callie was meeting with the sales rep of a large chain of American stores in the New Year, which could mean them expanding to the States. They were all really excited about that.
Aaron and Joe’s veterinary business continued to grow, too, helped along by Izzy and Pam, and also Harriet Lyttle, who came in as a volunteer to foster the occasional injured stray until it found a new home.
Today, it was a beautiful Midsummer Day, December the twenty-first, and there wasn’t a cloud in the bright blue sky.
Over a year had passed since Bridget had first met Aaron on Wellington quay. Their relationship had deepened and strengthened, and a few weeks ago, when she’d met Clara Reed for coffee one lunchtime, Clara had apologized for giving her a hard time when they’d first gotten together. Joe, too, had gone out of his way to be friendly and welcoming, so she guessed that they’d all finally accepted that even though the relationship had started so unusually, there had genuinely been a seed there that had now grown into something beautiful.
“Daydreaming again?” Callie said with a smile.
Everyone had come up to the Bay of Islands for a special pre-Christmas get-together party. Some of Bridget’s friends had never been to the bay, and it was a chance for them to meet Joe and their other friends and Aaron’s family, and for everyone to enjoy the gorgeous sub-tropical weather.
“It’s so hot,” Bridget said, fanning herself with a menu. She wore a simple summer dress in a pretty lilac color overlaid with a slightly darker lavender-colored lace that she’d bought especially for the occasion, but she was still too warm. “I can’t believe it’s not even Christmas yet,” she said. “I’m going to be melting by February.”
“It’s definitely a few degrees warmer up here,” Rowan commented.
“And it’s more humid,” Neve said. “I can feel sweat running down my back—yuck!”
Rhett nuzzled her neck. “Are you trying to turn me on?”
She pushed him away and scolded him, and everyone laughed.
Bridget smiled, glancing around for Aaron, Hitch, and Mateo. They’d walked off together to talk about something and hadn’t yet come back. She couldn’t see them, so she let her gaze linger on the beautiful surroundings. They’d booked a large table in the restaurant of one of the more exclusive hotels in Russell, and everyone was staying the night in the luxurious suites that fronted a private beach. It was late afternoon, and at the moment they were all sitting outside around several tables under large umbrellas, letting the cool sea breeze wash over them. Something was happening on the large lawn to her right, some kind of event, where a small marquee had been erected over a group of empty chairs. Somewhat distractedly, she watched a man stand in front of a podium and arrange some papers there, while another guy took a seat by his side, resting a guitar on his knee. Live music, nice!
She closed her eyes, listening to her friends’ chatter, enjoying the moment.
“Bridget?”
She turned and looked up to see Hitch standing beside her. He was smiling, and to her surprise he held out a hand.
“I think it’s your pregnant wife who probably needs a hand up,” she joked, but he didn’t move, just continued to stand there, and then flicked his fingers telling her to get up.
Around her, the conversation trailed off, and suddenly everyone else got to their feet and began to move away from the table toward the lawn, casting her grins and winks as they walked away.
Slowly, she stood, her heart beginning to hammer. “What…?”
Hitch held both of her hands in his until she looked up at him. He was still smiling, and he squeezed her fingers. “Are you ready?” he asked.
Her head was spinning. “Ready for what?”
“To get married. For real this time.”
“But…” She looked back at the lawn and saw Aaron there with his son, directing people to chairs before walking to the front of the group to speak to the man behind the podium. That morning, both he and Mateo had donned white shirts and smart dark-gray trousers claiming it was because the hotel was posh and they didn’t want to look scruffy. Now, they both wore a light-gray waistcoat with a silvery tie, the boy’s a smaller version of his father’s.
“Here.”
Bridget turned her head to see Callie standing beside her, holding a small bouquet of pink roses and red pohutukawa flowers. She pushed it into Bridget’s hand, smiling.
“I don’t understand,” Bridget whispered.
“He didn’t ask you to marry him,” Hitch said, “because he didn’t want you to worry that he wouldn’t turn up on the day. So he thought he’d just go for it.” Hitch slid a finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his. “He wants me to make sure it’s what you want, though. He knows it’s sudden, and if you’d rather have time to think about it, he’d rather you say. We’re all here for a party anyway—the only difference is that the celebrant’s here, so it’s no big deal.”
“How long have you known?” Bridget said hoarsely.
Hitch glanced at Callie. “Four months?”
“Nearer to five,” she said.
Aaron had been planning this since July? And all her friends had kept the secret?
“Well?” Callie murmured. “Do you fancy getting married to the love of your life today?”
Bridget pressed her lips together as emotion soared through her. In the end, all she could do was nod.
“Okay.” Callie rubbed her arm. “He did say that he knows you haven’t had a chance to buy a wedding dress, so if you want to have another ceremony maybe down in Wellington later with a big meringue, he’s happy to do so.” She smiled as Bridget just nodded again, unable to say anything. “All right. Come on, then.”
Callie walked in front of her, leading the way, trying not to waddle with her bump, and Hitch held out his arm for Bridget to hold on to as they followed.
“Keep breathing,” he murmured as they walked. “For God’s sake don’t pass out on me.”
Bridget tried, but it wasn’t easy. All the air had been sucked from her lungs. Now she was closer, she could see that it was Joe’s brother playing the guitar, and her lips curved as she recognized the song. She’d been talking to Aaron about classical music only a few weeks before, and he’d asked her what her favorite piece was. She’d played it to him on her iPad—Pachelbel’s Canon in D. He’d remembered.
Her and Aaron’s friends and family had taken seats either side of the aisle—Clara and William, Fran and her husband and kids, Joe and Izzy, Pam and Kevin and their girls, Neve and Rhett, and Rowan and Gene, who were waiting for their partners to join them.
Aaron stood at the front, to one side of the podium, smiling, but with a hint of anxiety on his face. He was worried she’d be upset because he’d organized this without telling her. Beside him stood Mateo, looking a bit nervous. His best man.
Aw. There was no way she was going to make it through the ceremony without crying.
Keeping her eyes on his, she walked slowly down the aisle between the two lines of chairs, half aware that the air was filled with the smell of jasmine that grew around the lawn. Hitch led her to stand in front of Aaron before moving aside to take his place next to Rowan.
Bridget looked up into Aaron’s gray eyes.
“Well?” he whispered and, to her shock and surprise, he dropped onto one knee. “Will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?”
She pressed the hand not carrying her flowers over her heart and fought against tears, nodding happily. “Of course,” she managed to squeak, and nearly cried again at the relief and joy that swept over his face.
Everyone cheered and clapped, and the man behind the podium laughed and gestured for everyone to sit. Bridget handed her bouquet to Callie, and held Aaron’s hand.
“Kia ora, everyone,” he said. “My name is Edward Cane, and I’m a registered celebrant who will be performing the wedding today of Aaron Michael Reed and Bridget Catherine Hitchcock at this beautiful place on such a beautiful day.
“Teenaa koutou, e hoa maa, Kua tae mai nei, I teenei raa, No reira ra, e hoa maa, Kia ora ra, koutou katoa.
“Greetings to you, friends, who have arrived, this day. And so, friends, greetings, to you all.”
Bridget’s heart was starting to slow its rapid pace. The celebrant talked about the significance of it being Midsummer Day, “a day full of light, energy, and promise,” before going on to explain the significance of marriage and the importance of the vows.
Bridget listened, but it was as if her consciousness was expanding, and she was aware of the smallest sights and sounds around her. She could hear the tuis calling in the large jacaranda trees that had scattered lilac-colored petals onto the lawn like confetti. She could smell the jasmine and the salt from the sea, and a faint scent of mint and rosemary from the borders that ran around the lawn.
She was facing Aaron, but as she glanced at her friends, she suddenly realized how everyone had made an effort that day—she’d thought they’d dressed up considering they were Kiwis who would normally have worn shorts and T-shirts, but now she understood that they’d prepared for the wedding. The guys looked smart in jackets and trousers in spite of the warm day, and the girls had taken time with their hair and makeup, and wore pretty summer dresses so that they looked like summer flowers scattered amongst the men.
“Now I am going to ask Neve to take the podium,” Edward said, “and she is going to read a poem.”
Bridget stared in surprise as Neve rose and walked to the front, opening a piece of paper.
“Aaron chose this beautiful verse,” she said, smiling at Bridget. “And I can understand why—it’s perfect for today. It is, of course, Sonnet Eighteen by Mr. William Shakespeare.
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”
Bridget looked up at Aaron, who was smiling at her, and she pressed her fingers to her lips as emotion overwhelmed her again.
Neve saw her, hesitated for a second, then continued.
“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;”
Her pure voice seems to drift on the summer breeze, and Bridget caught her breath, knowing she would always remember this moment of pure, sweet happiness.
“But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to Time thou grow’st.
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see…”
Neve stopped. Bridget glanced at her, surprised to see that the feisty girl appeared to be battling with emotion.
Neve swallowed hard, glanced up at those watching her, and gave an embarrassed laugh as she wiped her fingers beneath her eyes to catch the tears that had fallen. “I’m sorry! I’ll never hear the end of this!” She cleared her throat as everyone went, “Aww!” and then tried again.
“So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see…
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”
Her voice ended on a husky note, full of emotion, and Bridget was sure there wasn’t a dry eye amongst them.
Collecting the paper, Neve came around the podium and stopped to give Bridget a hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” she whispered into Bridget’s ear. “It’s only what you deserve.”
Still fighting tears, she sat back down, taking Rhett’s white handkerchief and then leaning against him as he put his arm around her.
Bridget turned back to Aaron, who gave her a hopeless look. “I’m going to end up bawling my eyes out at this rate,” he grumbled, and she hid a chuckle and turned to Edward as he stood back at the podium.
“Now we move onto the vows,” Edward said. “Please face each other, and Aaron, please repeat after me. Bridget, I take you to be my wife.”
Aaron looked into her eyes, holding her hands in his. “Bridget, I take you to be my wife.”
“And Bridget, please repeat after me. Aaron, I take you to be my husband.”
She swallowed hard. “Aaron, I take you to be my husband.”
>
Edward turned back to Aaron. “Repeat after me. Bridget, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you. I will love you and cherish you, as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow.”
Aaron repeated the words with him, and it was no good, she couldn’t stop the tears any longer. They ran freely down her face, and the only thing she could do was soak them up with the handkerchief that Mateo pulled from his pocket to give to her, which for some reason only made her cry more.
Edward asked her to repeat the words to Aaron, which she did while trying to compose herself, and then he asked for the rings.
Mateo produced them from his pocket, looking relieved as handed them over. Aaron ruffled his hair before turning back to her with a smile.
“Aaron,” Edward said, “please repeat the following. Bridget, I give you this ring as a symbol of how much I love you. You are the person with whom I choose to spend the rest of my life.”
Aaron did so, pushing onto her finger a pretty gold band that sparkled in the sunshine.
Bridget then repeated the words and gave him the other ring, suddenly knowing what he’d meant all those months ago when he’d said how wonderful it was to place a ring on a partner’s finger to tell everyone in the room that he or she belonged to you.
“Aaron and Bridget,” Edward concluded, “you have made promises before us all. May these rings be a symbol of your vows. As the tides ebb and flow, so too, do the fortunes of life. Only a deep and abiding love can withstand the tides of change in two lives. May your love be profound and enduring. I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He smiled at Aaron. “You may kiss the bride.”
The bride! She was married!
Aaron pulled her into his arms and gave her a long, sultry look. “Married,” he murmured. “Everyone knows you’re mine now.”
A little shiver ran down her back, and she flung her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his as everyone cheered.
Persuading Spring: A Sexy New Zealand Romance (The Four Seasons Book 4) Page 22
