The Great Escape (Dilbury Village #2)

by Charlotte Fallowfield

  ‘He broke my bloody nose,’ Greg mumbled through his hands.

  ‘Hmmm, such an unfortunate accident. What do you want, Greg? It’s not a great time.’

  ‘You look gorgeous, but then you always did.’

  ‘If you had believed that, then it might have been you I was leaving to get married to.’

  ‘It’s not too late.’ The sound of hope in his voice was still audible, despite the nasally bubbling sound of his speech.

  ‘It’s far too late.’

  ‘It’s his body, isn’t it? That’s all it is, you’re blinded by lust,’ he grunted, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the grass. He cupped his nose again and leaned back against one of the oak beams holding up my thatched front door canopy.

  ‘He does have a great body,’ I agreed, visuals of it filling my head and distracting me for a moment, ‘but it’s not just that. It’s love.’

  ‘You loved me once, and I’ve got a great body too, you told me I did. I got out of shape when we split up, but I’ve been working hard on it lately to win you back. It’s not too late for you to see it again.’

  ‘Greg, I find you, as a human being, so utterly repulsive that the only way I’d be interested in seeing your body is on an autopsy table. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to marry the man that I love, who treats me with respect and makes me feel like the most special woman in the world. You did the complete opposite, and I don’t want to see you or hear from you again. And just so we’re clear, if you turn up again, not only will he detach your manhood with his penknife like he promised, but he’ll be the third person to punch you in the face.’

  ‘Third?’ He gave me a confused look, and I gave him a sweet smile before taking him by surprise with a forceful punch of my own, straight onto the hands that were cupping his nose, which protected me from getting any blood splatter. ‘Bloody hell,’ he screamed, as the beam behind his head made sure his nose took the brunt of my fist, and he slowly slid down the beam as he sobbed and crumpled into a heap on the ground.

  ‘Oh gosh, my hand slipped too. Terrible luck you’re having today, Greg. Best you go and get that checked. If it wasn’t broken before, I’m pretty sure it is now.’ I grinned to myself as I lifted my dress and stalked down the path to where Dad was holding the gate open for me, with the proudest smile on his face.

  ‘You threw that punch like a professional. Didn’t it hurt?’

  ‘Like hell. I want to cry, but I don’t want to give him the satisfaction,’ I groaned, shaking my pulsating fist.

  Dad guided me into the lane and my mouth dropped. A little further up, in front of the train of black limousines, was a white open-topped carriage with two dapple grey Shire horses in front of it, complete with plumes of white feathers on their heads. It looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale.

  ‘Oh, Weston,’ I murmured, clutching my heart. ‘He’s crazy. By the time I climb up there, I could have walked to the church.’

  ‘Well, you’re not getting married at the church, sweetheart, so you’d better hop on up.’

  ‘But … but … I wanted Reverend Potter to marry us,’ I stuttered, as Dad helped lift my dress while we walked towards the carriage.

  ‘He is. Have a little faith in your fiancé,’ he said.

  Five minutes later, the driver, dressed like Dad in full morning suit with top hat and tails, called for the horses to walk on. Dad squeezed my hand as we turned the corner at the church and were met by all of the villagers lining the lane, clapping, cheering, and shouting their congratulations. I felt like a princess as I waved to them, the loud clip-clop of the horses hooves on the tarmacked lane sounding magical. I had no idea where we were going, and raised my eyebrows at Dad as we turned left and started trotting along the main road, with the procession of cars crawling along behind us.

  When we passed through the village and down the hill then turned left, however, I knew exactly where we were headed. Severn Manor, where Abbie had got married. I turned my head, hoping she’d see my wide grin from whichever car she was in. The horses kept up their pace all the way to the main gates and across the bridge that spanned the river, then slowed to a walk.

  ‘What the …’ I lost the power of speech as I saw the gathering of the small number of guests that had been invited for the wedding service itself, all congregated on the front lawn, where four huge red heart-shaped hot air balloons were waiting to take off. I shook my head in disbelief as Miller jogged over.

  ‘Surprise,’ he grinned, as he opened the carriage door and offered me his hand.

  ‘I’ll say,’ I nodded. ‘We’re going up in the balloons after the service?’

  ‘Actually, your service will be in the balloons about three thousand feet in the air.’ He laughed at the look of astonishment on my face. ‘I know. Crazy, right? He said he proposed in the air a year ago, and now he wanted to get married in the air.’

  ‘But what about all the guests?’

  ‘They’ve tethered four balloons together so everyone will come up with us. Reverend Potter said it’s his first wedding in the air. I actually think he might be sick, he’s not looking so great. Weston was hoping to fly here from the deer park, but the wind isn’t strong enough, so we’re just going straight up, then straight down.’

  ‘I hope someone took a picture of your face,’ Abbie laughed as she came over to join us.

  ‘I’d take one of Reverend Potter’s. My God, Miller wasn’t wrong, he looks like he’s about to hurl and we haven’t left the ground yet.’

  ‘I can’t wait, I’ve never been up in one.’

  ‘Neither have I,’ Daphne said as she hobbled over, leaning on Charlie’s arm. ‘You’re never too old to try something new.’

  ‘Come on then, it’s probably killing Weston to know you’re here and he can’t turn around and look at you.’

  ‘Is he … is he ok?’ I asked. I had been worried that the stress of all the planning would build up these last few days and he’d have a panic attack. He’d improved so much and it was rare for him to wake up from a nightmare now, but I knew it would always affect him.

  ‘He’s great, you have nothing to worry about. Except he wasn’t amused to hear Greg had turned up,’ Miller grimaced.

  ‘Abbie,’ I scolded.

  ‘How could I not share? You laid him out cold. High five for that, by the way,’ she grinned, holding her hand in the air. I laughed and slapped it.

  ‘I didn’t knock him out cold. Dad’s punch was the killer, mine just tipped him over the edge.’

  ‘I wish I’d hit him harder, I held back as I didn’t want to cause a scene,’ Dad said as he offered me his arm.

  We waited while Miller took charge of escorting Daphne. Mum, Charlie, and Quinn followed, with Abbie staying behind to lift up my train. Everyone parted as we approached and I saw Weston standing with his back to me, facing the balloons, shaking his legs impatiently. He completely filled out his black and grey morning suit, rounded off with a top hat.

  ‘Unless you want to end up with a broken nose like that waste of space I punched on your behalf back at the house, you’ll continue to treat my daughter like a princess. Are we clear?’ Dad warned him as we stepped up behind him.

  ‘Perfectly, sir, and thank you.’ Weston spun around and gasped as he looked at me. His mouth opened, but nothing came out. He bit his lower lip and shook his head as his eyes began to water. Abbie stepped forward and pulled my veil back from my face, and I turned to face him. He opened his mouth again, blew out a hard, fast breath, then just stared at me.

  ‘You can do such heroic things that you end up with all of these medals,’ I smiled, fingering the ones pinned to his black jacket, ‘but you can’t summon the courage to tell me I look pretty on our wedding day?’

  He shook his head and quickly spread his hand across his eyes, using his thumb and middle finger to push away some tears. When he dropped his hand, I leaned in and kissed him.

  ‘As long as you can find your voice when it comes to the part where y
ou have to say “I do,” then that’s ok. Thank you for arranging all of this, it’s so personal and magical.’

  He managed a smile before hoisting me up into his arms and gently depositing me in one of the compartments of the closest basket. I watched as he and Miller helped get everyone in their respective places. My parents and Weston’s shared one section, Abbie, Miller, Jack, and Daphne another, Weston’s brother and sister-in-law were with Quinn and Charlie, and Reverend Potter was going to join us, along with Weston’s best man Harrison, one of his Army friends.

  The rest of our guests filled the other three balloons, making us a party of sixty-four people. I’d asked for immediate family and close friends only as my idea of the perfect service, but was happy for more at the reception meal if he wanted. He was the last to climb on board, after making sure everyone was in place, and he immediately grabbed my hand and laced his fingers with mine, squeezing tightly.

  ‘Oh, dear Lord,’ Reverend Potter uttered, jumping as the propane tanks blasted some flames out as we prepared to take off. He quickly did the sign of the cross and mumbled a prayer, his face as white as snow. He looked like he might throw up at any moment. I turned my head to the side to giggle discreetly, but it seemed I wasn’t alone, as I could hear the girls doing the same, and I knew exactly what they were thinking. ‘Oh, oh dear Lord, this is it, no turning back now,’ he squeaked, as he stood in the one corner, both hands gripping the basket sides. ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be married on the ground? No? Oh, ok then. Well, you might need to give me a while to try and find my composure. There’s no rush, is there? I guess not, it’s not like we’re going anywhere, is it? Other than up to meet the Lord almighty himself. Not quite how I planned on it,’ he rambled, squeezing his eyes tightly shut as there was a chorus of oh’s and ah’s when we started to rise.

  ‘You don’t look pretty, Georgie,’ Weston whispered gruffly in my ear, finally finding his voice and making me glance up at him. ‘I couldn’t speak because no one has invented a word that comes anywhere close to how beautiful you look today. I can’t believe that you’re mine.’

  ‘And I can’t believe you’re mine, either,’ I replied, sliding my free hand over his chest as our lips met. The electrical current that flowed between us was like nothing I’d ever experienced in a kiss until him, and Abbie told me that it never faded when you were with the man you were destined for.

  ‘Oh, cwap un bubble cwap.’

  Daphne’s distorted voice made us break our lip lock and laugh as we glanced over at her. She was looking over the side of the basket, with Jack hanging on to her waist.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ I called. She pulled herself up and glanced over at me, both lips sucked firmly into her mouth with her eyebrows disappearing into her hairline as Abbie, Miller, Quinn, and Charlie roared with laughter.

  ‘She only looked over the edge with her mouth open and lost her dentures,’ Abbie hooted, doubling up and clutching her sides.

  ‘Oh my God,’ Weston laughed.

  ‘Oh, Daphne,’ I giggled, shaking my head at her, and she grinned, baring her toothless gums.

  ‘Cwap appens,’ she shrugged.

  ‘Do you have a spare pair?’

  ‘Uh oh,’ she nodded.

  ‘Uh oh?’

  ‘I think she means at home,’ Weston translated. ‘I’ll make sure someone drives her home to get them.’

  ‘What about the song?’ Miller asked.

  ‘What song?’ I looked between him and Weston as they both grimaced.

  ‘Daphne was supposed to be singing after the marriage service, but I’m not sure how she’ll get her lips around Love Lift Us Up now that she’s missing her teeth. She’ll sound like a demented muppet,’ Abbie howled, unable to contain her laughter.

  ‘Oi, a take a fence at dat,’ Daphne mumbled at her with a scowl, not helping the laughter levels.

  ‘What on earth is that noise?’ I asked between gasps for air, as I tried to delicately blot my eyes. They were watering with the pressure of not collapsing with laughter. ‘It sounds like someone strangling a seagull.’

  ‘Ermmm, that would be Reverend Potter throwing up over the side of the basket,’ chuckled Harrison, flicking his head in the vicar’s direction.

  ‘I’m beginning to think this wasn’t such a great idea,’ groaned Weston, rubbing his forehead.

  ‘It was the perfect idea, I love it. Though I’m not sure the crew or hotel staff standing below us will agree when they’re showered with vomit and teeth.’

  Charlie took care of a green-coloured Reverend Potter, offering him a bottle of water and some wipes to freshen up, while the rest of our guests chattered excitedly as we continued to rise up and up, the shadows of the heart-shaped balloons smothering Dilbury below us.

  ‘I’m sorry, I wanted this to be perfect for you,’ Weston said as he circled his arms around me.

  ‘When has anything with us ever been perfect? The only perfect thing we’ve ever done is love each other, and as long as we carry on doing that, so what if things go wrong on our wedding day? The more things that happen, the more we have to laugh about when we’re old and grey, sharing our memories of a new start to our life together.’

  We all floated side by side, maintaining a steady height, and once Reverend Potter had composed himself, he called for quiet. Thankfully he didn’t use his customary microphone or we’d have a lost a few guests over the side, not just dentures and vomit. Admittedly, it was a little bizarre to have your vicar conduct a service with his eyes closed and the colour of Kermit the Frog, but he’d insisted it was the only way of stopping him from being sick again.

  Weston faced me, capturing both of my hands in his as he took a deep breath when he was asked to recite his personal vows.

  ‘From the moment I saw the gorgeous red-headed girl in a blue bikini on the beach in Mexico, I knew that I had to make her mine. I knew I’d do whatever it took, which happened to be a hell of a lot of miles clocked up on my new car and kidnapping my brother’s dog on a regular basis. I’ve often wondered, if I hadn’t shown up with Bertie that day in Dilbury, if she’d have agreed to date me, but looking in her eyes today, seeing the depth of love she has for me, I know that somehow I’d have won her around. I thought I knew love before I met you, Georgie, but I was an ignorant fool.’

  ‘No arguments there,’ shouted his brother Steve, making Weston roll his eyes.

  ‘They say a man should never put a woman up on a pedestal in case she falls, but that’s exactly where I’m putting you, Georgie Basset. You deserve to be worshipped daily, and that’s what I intend to continue to do, and if ever you do fall, I’ll always be here to catch you. You’re my best friend, sorry, Harrison,’ he grimaced, ‘and you’re not just the love of my life, as not even death will stop the feelings I hold for you in this heart of mine. My love for you is eternal and I’ll never be prouder of anything than being able to call you my wife. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted or needed.’

  ‘Weston,’ I whispered, emotion getting the better of me. He whipped a cerulean handkerchief out of his top pocket and held my chin as he gently dabbed my streaming eyes, his own filling up as he saw how affected I was by his words and his love for me.

  ‘I need a hankie too,’ Abbie whispered.

  ‘Me too,’ chorused Mum, Charlie, and Quinn’s voices, with a ‘Me poo,’ from Daphne. I shook my head with a smile as I heard tissues being ripped from the box.

  ‘Weston. Oh, Weston, how can I possibly sum up how I feel about you? I don’t know if there are words, so I’m going to tell everyone how you make me feel. You make me feel how every woman should every minute of her life. Loved, cherished, and valued as an equal. You make me feel like the only woman in the universe when you look at me, like no others exist to you, just as no other man exists for me. You make me feel safe, completely protected from harm, but at the same time you somehow manage to give me the courage to stand on my own two feet and make my own decisions. You give me strength that I never even knew
I possessed.’

  ‘Ask Greg and his broken nose, he’ll confirm it,’ Dad chimed, making everyone laugh as I tried to pull myself together to finish my vows.

  ‘I love your strength of character, your desire to do right, and … and …’ I took a wobbly gasp of air as he dabbed my eyes and some tears rolled down his cheeks. ‘And most of all I love your heart, Weston Argent. I can hardly believe it holds an endless supply of love for me, just as mine does for you. Even when we’re parted by death, I know that our souls will find each other and our love will continue into the afterlife. Thank you for making me so happy, thank you for loving me so well, and I vow to be everything you ever wanted or needed in a wife.’

  We barely heard Reverend Potter finishing the service as we both wiped each other’s tears away. Harrison had to tap him on the shoulder and say that it was time for him to kiss the bride. And boy, did he, with the sound of applause and cheers from our loved ones extending it.

  ‘I love you,’ I whispered as we finally broke apart.

  ‘Not as much as I love you, Mrs. Argent,’ he said sincerely, dipping his head to rest his forehead on mine as we took a moment to catch our breaths. My stomach felt as if it was one of the feathers of my dress, spinning down to earth, when I heard him call me his wife.

  The crew started popping corks on real bottles of champagne this time, Weston had made sure he booked a company that allowed it, and as we drank and slowly started to descend along with the sun, Daphne gave in to the pleas for her to attempt the song without her teeth.

  No one could understand why the whole wedding party, crew, and Reverend Potter as well, had tears of laughter streaming down their faces when we landed. After the champagne reception on the front lawn, we headed around to the back patio, where a huge open-sided gazebo had been set up, festooned with red and white soft-glow paper lanterns. Each table had a red heart-shaped Chinese lantern lit by a candle underneath, and I gasped as I spotted the wedding cake Abbie’s friend Jess had made. The three tiers were traditionally iced in white, with white fluffy clouds standing proud from the edges. Instead of a traditional wedding topper, there was an edible wicker basket, with miniature lifelike figures of Weston and me inside and a red heart balloon floating up above us. He knew me so well. Everything was personal, understated, and elegant.