Scripted Love

by Karen Frances

  “Do you have what it takes to put up with me forever?” I tease pressing my lips back to his.

  “I’ve always had what it takes.”

  I smile at his words and lean into him. My eyes drift out across the Loch and beyond to the green hills on the other side and I smile at how perfect this moment feels.

  We’ve made the biggest commitment to each other, surrounded by those closest to us. Some will question why we didn’t have a huge elaborate affair. The answer is simple; that’s not us. We love our privacy, and today had to be all about that. Yes, we’re both classed as high profile personalities and we love that too. But today wasn’t about the showbiz couple the world think they know everything about; it was about the real us.

  The us only those here get to see.

  Today was about the love we share, with everyone here to celebrate.

  Do either of us think our wedding won’t make tomorrow’s headlines? No. I’m sure pictures will be leaked from a guest staying at the hotel. But it doesn’t matter.

  Connor and I, along with Julie and Callum, sign the paperwork before thanking the official for a beautiful, heartfelt ceremony that was completely unique to us. He offers his warmest congratulations before getting a few pictures with us.

  “Well, it’s official. You are family,” my dad says, shaking Connor’s hand before giving me a kiss. I’ve surprised myself and I think Connor too, that I’ve managed to hold myself together. His parents are next, followed by Trevor and Betty.

  Our friends are still in their seats and I know I need to speak to them all, but I’m desperate to see and speak to Jack. I tug on Connor’s hand as he talks to his mum. “Sorry,” I say. His mum smiles when she realises where my attention has gone. To the boy still sitting in the front row, looking lost. I need to go to him.

  “Ella!” Jack jumps from his seat and straight into my arms. “You look like a princess. The most beautiful lady I’ve ever seen. Even prettier than your movies.”

  I smile at his honest and innocent compliment.

  “Miss Ella, Connor, congratulations,” Mack says. He looks so much healthier now he’s not living on the streets.

  “Thanks, Mack. We’re so glad you’re here with us today,” I say, still not letting go of Jack. Poor Connor. I’ve only been married five minutes and here’s someone else getting all my attention.

  “Are you okay?” Connor asks.

  “Yes, of course I am. I’m surrounded by those I love and I’ve married my soulmate,” I say, taking his hand. His kisses my head and takes Jack by the hand.

  “Let’s go and speak to our friends. You coming with us?” Connor asks Jack. His eyes light up when he turns and sees the friends we both want to speak to, because Fletcher Adams is standing at the back of the marquee. Yes, he’s just the same as any lad his age. Totally daft on football, and he adores Fletcher. It’s fair to say Fletcher has a huge soft spot for Jack too.

  We talk to everyone before posing for some pictures down by the Loch shoreline. The photographer wanted a few family and group shots. I also requested a few pictures with Jack. Just the three of us. I have a few pictures of us on my phone but these ones taken today mean so much to us. I’m quietly hoping that today marks a new start for us all.

  When social services got involved, they had to get in touch with Jack’s dad. He wants nothing to do with him. As soon as I was told that, I went straight to the shelter to see Jack. I expected him to be upset, but I was taken aback with his attitude. He didn’t want to go back to him. He says if and when his dad ever seeks help then he can be a part of his life, but until then, he wants nothing to do with him.

  For such a young boy, he does have a level head.

  Early evening turns into nightfall. With our family and friends, we’ve enjoyed great food, plenty of drinks, and great company. Everyone is staying at the hotel tonight, including Michelle, Mack, and Jack.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Connor says, as we sit listening to Fletcher telling Jack stories about football.

  “What is it?” I ask, wondering what else he’s been up to. Michelle smiles and a warm sense of calm spreads through me. I press my hands in a prayer and close my eyes, hopeful that my thoughts are going in the right direction.

  Straight to Jack.

  “Can I ask everyone to make their way outside to the banks of the Loch?” It’s Libby’s voice that breaks through the room and has me immediately opening my eyes.

  “Why?” I question.

  “You’ll see.”

  We make our way outside and I gasp. Fairy lights form a pathway to the Loch. Libby has thought of everything. She has excelled herself today. I have no idea how to thank her for all she’s done.

  Our group of thirty gathers at the banks of the Loch. Connor slips his arm around my waist. I jump, hearing the first bang as the dark night sky lights up. Warm oranges and silver fill the sky above us.

  “I love it,” squeals Jack as he grips my dad’s hand. He’s not the only one who loves it. Music fills the air and the night sky lights up over and over. I lean back, resting my body against Connor’s and smile.

  Today has been perfect. Exactly the way I had envisioned it in my head.

  Connor takes my hand and turns me in his arms.

  “Thank for today,” I say. “It’s been incredible.”

  “It’s not over yet,” he whispers, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. I hear the fireworks but they are now firmly in the background as I gaze at my husband. The man who has lit up my life. “I have another surprise for you.”

  “What?”

  “I know you said you didn’t want a honeymoon, but I didn’t listen to you. We’ve got some time off. Tomorrow afternoon, we fly out to Bali for two whole weeks. Just us. No distractions. No work commitments.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You, my wife, don’t have to say anything. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure your happiness. We can relax and have fun and enjoy being a family of two, because I can sense that it won’t be long until our family extends.”

  My eyes drift to Jack and I’m hoping he’s right. I know there are still obstacles in our way, and neither of us have wanted to get Jack’s hopes up because we’re scared we might let him down. But Michelle and our social worker have given us nothing but positive vibes.

  “Okay. I’ll play along nicely then. Only because I love you so much.”

  “And I love you. Always have and always will,” he says before pressing his lips to mine.

  MY HANDS ARE SWEATING AND my knees are jerking. “I’m so nervous,” I say as we sit, waiting to be called back into the meeting room.

  “You have nothing to nervous about,” he tells me, trying to reassure me. “We’ve done all we can. It’s out of our hands now.” I know it is, and that’s why I’m nervous. The decision isn’t mine. Someone else has the power to change lives today, and I hope they realise it.

  Nerves are getting the better of me. I don’t even think I was this nervous on our wedding day only a few weeks ago. Everything has happened so quickly, and here we are today, waiting to find out if the officials are on our side. If they are, we can go back to the shelter and take Jack home with us.

  A door opens. “It’s time,” Jonathon says, holding the door open and waiting for us. I stand up and smooth down my dress.

  I take Connor’s hand and we enter the room and sit back around the table with Jonathon. Jack’s social worker is smiling, and I’m hoping that’s because she knows what is going to happen. The three panel members enter the room and sit down.

  “Mr and Mrs Andrews, I understand that you will both be anxious, so I’ll give you our decision. We all agree that Jack should be placed with you, and you will be his foster parents. I know your plan is . . .”

  Tears fill my eyes and I don’t hear anything else the woman says. Connor squeezes my hand and my body sags against his. I close my eyes, thinking about the boy that will have a family of his own. He won’t be lost in the system. He’ll
be loved and cared for more than he’ll ever know.

  My tears are of happiness and I know we still have a long road ahead of us, because we know fostering Jack is just for a short time. Adoption is the long term plan. We want Jack as a permanent member of our family.

  “Ella.” Jonathon says my name.

  I open my eyes. “She’s fine,” Connor says, softly rubbing my shoulder.

  “Sorry,” I say to everyone in the room.

  “Don’t be. We understand. Today is an emotional day for you,” one of the panel members tells me. I sit beside Connor and try to take in everything that is being said, but my mind has already left this building, and it’s just waiting for body to catch up. Connor and Jonathon talk, and papers are put before me to sign, which I do in a hurry.

  “Can we leave?” I say when everyone stops talking.

  “Yes,” Jack’s social worker says.

  “Thank you.”

  “Ella, Connor, I’ll meet you both at the shelter,” she says to us.

  “Yes, but please can we tell him?”

  “Of course.”

  She leaves before us and we stay behind to speak with Jonathon. He tells us what the next steps will be, but tells us there’s no rush and to take one day at a time.

  When we leave the room, I stop and face Connor. “We’ve saved him,” I say, crying as he pulls me into his arms.

  “We have. Shall we go and tell him?”

  “Yes.”

  I take his hand and we leave the building. My phone rings, and it’s my dad.

  “You not going to answer that?”

  “No. Jack has to be the first to know then I call my dad back, or we can drop in on him on our way home.” Home. We get to take Jack home today. I’m still in shock. I don’t think it will sink in properly until I see him. Hold him in my arms and finally be able to say everything in his life will be okay, because he has us to look after him.

  “Won’t Jonathon tell him?”

  “No. He still has some paperwork to tie up. Let’s go.”

  Michelle is smiling as we enter the shelter and signals into the games room. I take a deep breath and glance at Connor. “Are you ready?” he asks.

  “Yes.” We enter the games room and Mack is with Jack, playing pool. His social worker is sitting on the couch, going through her folder.

  “Ella, Connor,” Jack says with excitement. “You didn’t say you were coming today. Ella, why have you been crying?” His tone changes to one of concern as we step toward him.

  “Jack, come and sit down,” his social worker says. Mack stands by the pool table, quietly watching.

  We didn’t tell them our meeting was today because we weren’t sure what was going to happen. We were open with Jack a few weeks ago about wanting him to come and stay with us. He was so excited, saying, if it happened, he couldn’t wait to tell his new friends at school. I know he spoke to not only his social worker, but also the panel members.

  Jack’s eyes shift from me to Connor then back again. “You’ve had the meeting, haven’t you?”

  “Yes. We were all there this morning,” Connor tells him.

  Jack’s eyes fall to the floor and I have to put him out of his misery because he’s expecting to hear the worst. “Jack, do you want to go and pack? Because you’re coming to live with us,” I say.

  He looks up, eyes glazed, staring at me. I nod, confirming what I’ve just said. He rushes at me, throws his arms around my neck, and his tears fall. So many emotions run through my head. Connor’s arms wrap around us and we stay huddled together, all of us crying.

  Through my tear-filled eyes, I look at Mack. He’s still standing by the pool table, although Michelle has joined him. She has her arm around his shoulder. My heart fills with sadness and warmth.

  Mack and I have spoken at great length, because I was worried about him. He put my mind at ease by saying Jack needed more than what he could give him. The two of them have a bond that no-one can ever break.

  “I’m happy for you,” Mack mouths at me.

  “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

  “This isn’t a dream, is it?” Jack asks, pulling out of our hold.

  “No, this isn’t a dream,” says Connor. “Why don’t I come and help you pack and we can let Ella stop crying.”

  “Okay.”

  They both leave the room.

  “Are you okay?” Michelle asks.

  “Yes, I never expected to feel so overwhelmed with emotions. Mack?”

  “Miss Ella, I’m fine. I’ll still see him.”

  “You will.”

  “Well, then don’t worry about me. I’ll go and help him and Connor and tell him I’ll see him in a few days. Don’t want any tears as you take him home.”

  “Thanks, Mack.”

  I pace the room, waiting for them to return, while Michelle and Jack’s social worker talk quietly.

  Ten minutes later, Connor and Jack appear in the doorway. Jack has his old rucksack over his shoulder, and Connor has a small suitcase. “Are we ready to go home?” Connor asks.

  Michelle gives me a cuddle and tells me she’ll see me in a few days. “I’m more than ready to go home.”

  I walk toward them and offer Jack my hand; he doesn’t hesitate. Connor takes his other and we leave the shelter.

  “LOOK AROUND YOU, ELLA. AFTER everything that has happened to you, you are still smiling and putting others first. You and Jess have done so much good for not just local communities, but throughout Scotland,” says Libby as we stand in the director’s box, looking out around the stadium as it starts to fill up with football supporters taking their seats.

  “You should be proud of what you have achieved in such a short space of time. You are doing what you set out to do and that is to make a difference.” I smile at Jess and attempt not to cry as my eyes fill with tears as her words hit home. I’m not the only one making a difference. My friends and family have and are still helping out.

  “Hey, you. We’ll have none of those tears today. Not even happy ones,” Julie says, wrapping her arm around my shoulder.

  Julie may be my best friend, but I honestly don’t know how I would’ve coped without all of them lately. Not just the emotional support I’ve needed to get me through some tough days, especially concerning Jack, but also the practical support in helping organise today’s event.

  It’s funny how a chance encounter has brought us all together.

  Jess has been incredible. After everything she’s been through, she shows great strength and character. She’s a woman I admire, and now she’s also a very good friend. It helps massively that, when it comes to football, she has all the right connections.

  And Libby, between her, Alex, and her dad, they have taken care of all marketing and PR for today.

  Today’s charity match; the football team versus the celebrities. Everyone has been talking about this for weeks. The support we’ve received has been amazing. Every last penny raised today will be split between the Women’s Aid charity that Jess supports and the homeless charity I support. Helping those who need it the most here in Scotland.

  To say I’m overwhelmed by the support and generosity for today’s match is an understatement. Some of the biggest actors in the world signed up to be part of the celebrity team. The response was incredible. I was inundated with so many requests that I had to turn some people down.

  My eyes slowly roam the stadium and it’s so busy. There are also a few players from both teams warming up on the football pitch, but I don’t see anyone I recognise. Fletcher and Connor must still be inside.

  “Come on. You’ll get to see all this later when we take our seats, but right now, you two have an interview to do before you get to go and meet with the players,” Julie reminds Jess and me.

  “Okay, let’s do this,” I say with enthusiasm.

  Jess leads the way through the stadium and I’m so glad she’s here because I’d get lost; it’s so big. I’ve learned recently that there is much more to a football stadi
um than just the grass pitch. We leave Libby and Julie in the players’ lounge, where Alex is waiting with a few of Libby’s friends and her dad. Jess and I will catch up with them when the game starts; we all have seats together.

  I’ve had butterflies in my stomach since I got up this morning and I’m not sure why. Everything has gone smoothly so far, and I’m sure today will go without a hitch as well. Hopefully, tonight I’ll be able to relax at the dinner we’ve organised for everyone that has taken part or given up their free time over the last few weeks. Tonight is about Jess and me thanking everyone for their help.

  Jess opens the door to a lovely room. It looks comfortable and relaxing, almost homely with its natural light, sofas, and a coffee table. Dad, Trevor, Callum, and Stephen the cameraman are waiting on us. There are two banners with both charities’ names on.

  “Ah, the two gorgeous ladies of the moment. You both look great,” my dad says, greeting us as we enter. Callum looks in our direction and smiles when he sees what we’re wearing.

  Jess is wearing the same football shirt as Fletcher, and I’m wearing the same shirt the celebrities will be wearing. This is all in the name of PR. And we do look good in our football shirts, jeans, and heels.

  “Ella, Jess. You look great.” Trevor stands and steps toward us. “Stick to everything we’ve spoken about. Callum knows not to ask anything too personal.” My brother laughs and mumbles under his breath. My thoughts go back to the day when he put me on the spot, asking if there was a new man in my life.

  “Ignore him. I do,” I tell Jess as we take a seat on the sofa and relax.

  Stephen and Callum start fussing around the room before my brother takes a seat opposite us and Stephen takes up his position behind the camera. Dad and Trevor stay in the room and it doesn’t surprise me.

  “Congratulations, Ella and Jess, on working so hard behind the scenes to bring today’s event to Glasgow. You both must be so pleased. We all know your reasons for helping the charities chosen; neither of you have hidden your pasts. Jess, how will your charity benefit from funds raised today?”