They kissed tenderly, then Ali slipped the ring onto Flick’s finger.
“You’ve just made me the happiest woman on the face of the earth. You truly are my soul mate, Flick, and I will never do anything to hurt you. I’m going to love you until, the very last breath leaves my body.”
“Oh, Ali,” she kissed her again. “This ring is just too much, it must have cost a fortune, baby. We need to think about what to tell the girls.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that. I kind of asked their permission last week. They were overjoyed, and said they didn’t have a problem. Chelsea actually cried.”
“Where did you get the measurement for my finger?”
“I measured it while you were asleep. Thank God you’re a heavy sleeper.”
Flick laughed.
“I do need to ask you one question, about the girls though. Would you let me adopt them, so that they’re ours legally? I already feel that we’re a family, but I would so love it if you consented to me being their second Mum.”
Flick cried. She hadn’t expected any of this, and Ali’s last question was the icing on the cake.
“We’ll need to talk to them about it, but if they want to I’d be more than happy.”
They stood and looked out at the view for an hour, all the while kissing and cuddling.
“Let’s go and find Mum and the girls. I want to tell them all now. We can have dessert with them. I want the whole family, to enjoy this special evening with us.”
Ali went and retrieved Flicks evening bag, and wrap for her shoulders. They left the room and headed out into the complex. As they were passing through the hotel lobby, Flick noticed a jewellery store, and pulled Ali into it.
“We’ve got to find you an engagement ring, darling.”
Flick explained to the shop assistant about their magical night, and they were given two flutes of champagne, while they browsed the rings. The shop assistants were infatuated with Flick’s ring, and she secretly asked the manager to put a price on it.
“Oh, madam, this ring is easily worth between £5,000 and £6,000.”
Flick nearly fainted in shock.
“I’ve found it, Flick. This one is perfect for me.”
Ali was pointing to a ring, it was in the style of an eternity ring. She was right it was perfect for her. Not too big and definitely classy. It wasn’t the same price as Flick’s, but Ali wanted it and that was all that mattered. The manager produced the ring for Ali to try on. It was a perfect fit. Flick pulled her wallet out, and produced her platinum card. She would have to phone her bank tomorrow and ask them to transfer £2,000 from her savings, onto the card to pay for Ali’s ring. But since she had sold the house, and made a few more investments, the ring was not a problem. She’d just have to use her other cards, until the money was transferred over.
They finished their champagne, and started looking for Claude and Marion. They heard their names being called and turned around. The girls were all dressed up, Marion was in a cocktail dress and Claude had on a dinner suit.
“So?” asked her mother.
“Who wants to go to a wedding?” Flick asked.
There were shrieks of joy. All the family hugged Ali and Flick. The girls looked at Flick’s ring and were astonished by the sheer beauty of it. Marion noticed Ali’s ring.
“Where did you get the ring from, Flick? You didn’t know this was going to happen, so you couldn’t have brought it with you.”
“Al, I just chose it, at the jewellery store in the hotel.”
Marion walked over to them and held their hands up, so she could inspect the rings. “Flick, may I see the inside of your ring?” Flick took it off and passed it over. Marion then took Ali’s, “do you two realise that, these rings were made by the same person?”
Ali took the rings and looked at them. “She’s right, Flick. How could we have done that?"
Marion laughed out loud. “I think they’re beautiful, and suit you both perfectly. You’ll have to get your wedding rings, made by the same person.”
Ali cuddled Flick to her, and then kissed her fully on the lips. She suddenly remembered she needed to talk to the girls
“How would you guys feel if I were to adopt you? That would mean I’d be a proper parent then, you’d legally be your Mum’s and mine.”
The girls turned their backs to Alison, and started whispering. After a couple of minutes they turned back around.
“Mum, what have you said to this idea?” Asked Chelsea.
“I’ve said that it is up to you two. If you say no then we’ll hear no more about it. But if you want, Ali to adopt you then I am okay with that.”
“Well we’ve discussed it, and would love for Ali to adopt us.”
Belle threw herself at Ali. Chelsea cuddled her too, before pulling her Mum into the hug.
“I love you all. You do know that right?” said Ali.
“We love you too, Mum,” the girls said.
“Hang on. Did you just call me Mum?”
“Yep. It feels right, and we’ve wanted to call you it for months.”
Ali started to cry and Flick held her.
“Mum, don’t cry, we won’t call you it if you don’t want us to.”
“It’s not that, Chelsea. I’m just so happy I never thought, I would hear anyone call me Mum.”
Ali dried her eyes and looked at her Mother. “Well what do you think?"
“You’ll be just, Nanny, from now on,” said Belle
Marion hugged her tightly to her. “Nothing would give me more pleasure, than to hear you call me it.”
Marion went to Flick and embraced her. “I know you might find this difficult, but would you like to call me Mum? I would so love you to, but if you feel you can’t, then I’ll just simply be Marion.”
“You know what? I’ve never really had a Mum, what with being in and out of foster homes my entire childhood. So, I’d be honoured to call you Mum.”
They embraced again, and Flick dried her eyes, “I’ve also made a decision. You’re now looking at the future Mrs Felicity Macguire.”
“Mum, can we be Macguire’s too?”
Ali thought her knees would give way, the girls wanted to take her name. They’d all have the same surnames. She cried again, there was nothing for it.
“I’d like that very much my, darlings, and as for you, future, Mrs Macguire. I love you so much, this has been the best day of my life,” she kissed her softly.
They wandered off to get coffee and dessert at one of the fancy restaurants. Claude informed the house management, of all the night’s activities. Suddenly a voice reverberated around the restaurant.
“Ladies and Gentleman. Tonight is a special night for two people in the room. Can you all please put your hands together, for, Ms Alison Macguire, and as of tonight, the future, Mrs Felicity Macguire.”
Ali and Flick stood up, and shook several hands in congratulations.
“Also our congratulations go to the rest of the family.”
Everyone stood up and a lady asked Belle who the lady was in the suit. “That’s my Mum.”
“Oh, and the lady in the evening gown?”
“That’s my Mum too,” then it dawned on her, and she shouted. “Yay! I have two Mums!”
Ali and Flick laughed at the joy on the child’s face.
After coffee, champagne and ice cream. Marion took the girls back to her suite for the night. Ali and Flick went back to their suite with several bottles of champagne, which had been bought for them in celebration of tonight. They went to bed and made love, until the very early hours of the morning. Their lovemaking seemed different, it was as passionate and fulfilling as always, but there was an underlying tenderness and love with every caress and kiss they shared. After being in bed for a few hours, Ali suggested they get up and have a drink. She wrapped them both in a large blanket, and walked Flick out onto the balcony.
She had brought the champagne from earlier with her. Both women settled down on a plush outside sofa, they l
aid together naked, apart from the blanket around them. They watched the sunrise together, and then went inside. Ali carried Flick to bed and they made love one last time.
Before a deep sleep claimed them, Ali left a message at the front desk that would, need to be phoned through to her Mum around 9:00 a.m. It asked if she could have the girls for part of the morning, as they had watched the sunrise and then went to bed. If the girls got restless, then they could come back around 1 p.m. But they weren’t to come into the bedroom. They would have to make a noise to rouse them.
###
They enjoyed the week long holiday in Disneyland. Marion was so excited about their engagement she, had invited some of Ali and Flick’s friends, to come over to the house, for a celebration. She had paid for tickets for Steph, Charlie and Christi. But she wasn’t going to tell them, if she had invited anyone else.
They left Disneyland on Friday morning, and made their way to Marion and Claude’s house. Ali was yet to see, the restoration project, they’d been working on. The house had Eight bedrooms so there was enough room for everyone. Not to mention the two barns they were working on at the back of the house. Marion intended to run it as a bed and breakfast, in the summer.
She had added en suites to the bedrooms, and totally overhauled the décor. The barns were going to be a self catering hire prospect. Marion was certainly thinking straight about making a profit from the land. She was still intending on spending two weeks a month in the UK, so the barns would be ideal for holiday makers to rent out, while she and Claude were away. Ali was impressed at her Mum’s vision.
Their guests were due tomorrow, and Marion set to work sorting the barns out for them to stay in. Ali, Flick and the girls spent, two hours walking the grounds around the house. They walked and talked about the wedding, and Flick was excited about planning it all. The girls were obviously going to be bridesmaids, she wanted to ask Steph to be her witness, and she was going to ask Claude to give her away.
Their other witness was to be Charlie. They were going to go and see a registrar, when they got home to pick a date, and get the ball rolling. They needed to register their intent to marry, and then look at the options of where to have the ceremony. They didn’t want a registry office they were going to go all out for their special day. They cuddled under a tree, before heading back to the house. They really should help Marion set up the bedrooms, and get all the food sorted for the weekend.
“Mum?”
“Yes, Flick, I’m up here,” she walked up the stairs and found Marion making a bed. “This is going to be Steph’s room, do you think she’ll be comfortable?”
“Yes, very much so. Did you tell her about the trout lake? Steph loves to fish, she has been winning trophies since she was young.”
“No, I didn’t. I had no idea she loved it. We have rods and everything here. So if she fancies getting out there, then she can just help herself.”
“Right, do we need to go food shopping?”
“Yes. There is a really good farmer’s market in town this afternoon. We should be able to get everything from there. We’ll need to go to the supermarket, to get toiletries and cleaning products, and some beer.”
“Okay. What about wine and spirits?”
“That is all being handled. Claude’s friend owns a vineyard, and has agreed to bring over three cases of each tonight. The spirits we can get in a shop in town. It’s an alcoholic’s paradise in there they sell everything.”
“Okay, I’ll go and get Ali, we can go in our car. It’s got a bigger boot than Claude’s”
They both left the bedroom and walked downstairs. Marion threw her arm around Flick’s shoulder.
“I’m glad you’re in the family, Flick. We’re all going to have richer lives, because of you and the girls.”
“Thanks, Mum,” Flick gave her a shy smile and hugged her future mother in law.
###
After their shopping adventure, Ali was fit to strangle her Mother. She had brought so much food. It would surely keep them going for a month. There was only going to be three extra guests, and they would not eat all that much.
The girls had stayed with Claude at the house. He was going to teach them how to fish. Steph had tried several times, but they just got bored. They had put all the stuff away, and were enjoying some iced tea on the lawn, when the girls and Claude came back. They were covered in mud and stunk to high heaven.
“My Lord, what have you done to them?” asked Marion.
She went to the girls and assessed their state of muddiness. She smiled and looked at Claude, who was just as dirty as the girls. She threw her head back and laughed.
“Grandpa, tell them about the fish we caught, Auntie Steph is going to love it here.”
Flick raised an eyebrow and gave an “Oh” and “Argh” wherever it was needed, as the girls told them all about the fishing.
“Right girls, into the middle of the lawn. We need to get most of the mud washed off you, before you go in. There are dressing gowns in the porch for you to put on after this. Just strip where you stand once in there. I’ll wash your clothes afterwards,” Marion said.
Marion went to get the hosepipe. She asked Ali to turn the tap on when she was ready. Claude was trying to stand away from the spray.
“Oh no you don’t you big, chicken, you’re just as dirty as they are. In you go.”
Ali pushed Claude towards the girls, she was surprised when he grabbed her, and pulled her into the water. Flick joined Marion and was laughing at them all playing in the water. She went to fetch the camera this was, too good to miss without capturing it.
“Mum!!!”
The girls screamed at Ali. She had taken the hose, and decided to chase them round the garden. She caught hold of Chelsea, and put the hose down the back of her trousers.
After half an hour of playing, the girls finally went to shower. Marion collected their clothes and put them in the wash straight away.
After dinner everyone retired to the lounge. They were going to watch a DVD. Ali and Flick sat curled up together, while the girls sat with Marion and Claude. Flick raised her hand and looked at her ring. Ali was the best thing to happen in her life. She was looking forward to being Mrs Macguire, and knowing that Ali was going to be in her life forever, filled her heart with such joy she thought it was going to burst. She turned in Ali’s arms and caught Ali watching her. She bought Ali’s hand to her mouth and kissed the palm repeatedly.
“Thank you, for loving me.”
“I’ll always love you, baby.”
They kissed and went back to watching the DVD, securely wrapped up in each other’s arms.
###
Saturday morning arrived, and Flick awoke to Ali bringing her breakfast in bed.
She stretched, “oh I could get used to this.”
“Then do. I’ll bring you breakfast in bed every weekend from now on, perhaps Sunday mornings. We could lounge in bed until late morning, and then take the day as it comes.”
Flick kissed Ali and set to work on the toast, marmalade, coffee and pastries Ali had brought up. By 10:00 a.m. they were up and ready for the madness to begin.
“Mum, is there anything I can do to help?”
“Oh, yes please, Flick. Can you do a salad platter up? With your help we will have this all done in no time.”
Ali went to the airport to pick Steph, Charlie and Christi up. The girls were helping their grandpa put up decorations. The guests didn’t know why they were coming over. They just knew they were having a party.
###
Ali returned with their guests. Flick went to meet them, and gave them all hugs, making sure Ali was first.
“You’re all a very welcome sight for sore eyes.”
“What are we doing here, Flick, we were just told to pack for a long weekend, and the flight tickets would be ready at the airport when we got there?” Steph questioned.
“Well, Marion wanted to have a party, to celebrate.”
“Celebrate what? What’s
going on?” Charlie asked looking a little frustrated.
Ali and Flick looked at each other, and shared a quick kiss.
“Tuesday night, Flick, agreed to do me the greatest honour ever, and become my Wife.”
“OH MY GOD!!!” They all replied hurrying over to kiss Ali and Flick. They all studied the rings they had bought each other. Ali loved her ring, but was more content at seeing the joy on Flick’s face, every time she showed hers off.
Marion and Claude came out to greet them, swiftly followed by the girls. There were hugs and kisses all round.
“We can show you your rooms, and then go and have a drink on the terrace,” Marion announced, as she released Christi.
After drinks were served, and everyone was filled in on the details of the proposal they all relaxed. Steph had gone with Claude for a walk around the trout lake. They heard two cars coming up the drive, Ali arched an eyebrow in question.
“Ah excellent, the other guests have arrived.”
They all followed Marion around the side of the house. Flick and Ali stopped dead in their tracks, as they watched Frank and his family get out of one car, and then Gerald and his wife get out the other.
“How very nice to see you both, and Marion, thank you for the invitations to come over. Congratulations you two. We’re all so happy for you. Now, let’s get this party started, we’ve brought loads of things with us, so we can party into the early hours.”
Marion showed them to the barns. They got settled quickly and grabbed all the food and drink they had brought with them.
After a very long dinner, the girls and Frank’s kids gave everyone a cheerleading display. Marion then pulled out a karaoke machine, and the party really got going.
Chapter Eighteen
They had been back from France for a month. In that time they’d been to look at several venues for the wedding. They had finally settled on The Grand Hotel, Brighton. Yes they knew it was going to be a problem for some, as it was outside London. But it was where they wanted to have the ceremony, and receptions afterwards. They then had to go to Brighton Registry office to complete their notice of intent. The date had finally been set for the 13th February.
Love Returns Page 17
