by Cassie Rocca
“Do what?” she murmured, confused by the joy and passion that Zack was reawakening in her.
“Make me think that you don’t want to be mine.”
Liberty took his face in her hands, holding him away just enough to stop him from kissing her for a moment to be able to look into his eyes. “I didn’t want to embarrass Justin in front of everyone. That was why I hesitated. But from the moment you walked into the room, I knew that I couldn’t marry him.”
“And you only realized that when you saw me at your party?” muttered Zack, tightening his grip on her hips and stealing another kiss from her. “I would have hoped for something a bit better than that from someone who’s been in love with me for about fifteen years.”
She smiled. “Well, you made me wait plenty before you were sure of your feelings too.” Her expression became earnest, and she took a deep breath. “It seemed too good to be true. I was afraid that it was just a momentary crush for you.”
“And what made you change your mind?” he asked, gently brushing her hair away from her face.
“A lot of things, most of them fairly abstract: the hopes and dreams of an incurable romantic. It had been a long time since I’d felt that way and I wanted to listen to a part of me that I’d almost forgotten. And then I talked to Cade.” At Zack’s questioning look, Liberty shrugged. “He reminded me of something important – something that I couldn’t help but feel reassured by: your daughter. He said that he was sure you’d never have let me be part of Candy’s life if you hadn’t been certain of your feelings.”
“Well, from now on you won’t need to have to listen to anyone else to be sure of what I feel for you,” he promised, looking at her lovingly. “Fifteen years ago I wasn’t ready to love you the way you deserved, but now I am, and I have every intention of making up for lost time.”
Holding herself tightly to him, Liberty kissed him passionately, and Zack felt as though he was already in seventh heaven.
“Let’s go upstairs – Candy’s at my folks’ for the weekend.” She nodded in response, her gaze already languid, and with difficulty, Zack managed to extricate himself from her. “Just let me tell Liam to close up.”
After giving his assistant instructions, Zack returned to the kitchen, and he found Liberty in front of the counter on which he had begun to prepare the dough for a cake, a finger in her mouth and her eyes gazing at the bowl. He noticed two things immediately: the first was that Liberty had tasted the chocolate cream of her own free will, which could only fill him with joy, and the second was that she was holding her phone in her hand.
“Everything ok?” he asked as he approached. He didn’t know how Liberty had left things at the party, nor how Justin had reacted, and for a moment he feared she might be having second thoughts.
“Yeah, it’s delicious,” she replied, misunderstanding his question. “A little sweet, maybe.”
“My mom loves sugar – I was making it for her.” Zack gestured to the phone. “Problems?”
“Oh, no – just messages from Clover and Zoe to encourage me and give me advice,” said Liberty with a smile. “I suppose I ought to answer them just to let them know I’m okay, otherwise they’ll be worried,”
“Send them a picture – that’ll reassure them,” suggested Zack, grabbing a pastry bag filled with a chocolate colored mixture.
“For example?” she joked. “My smiling face with a victorious expression?”
“You could photograph this.” Zack moved aside, revealing to her what he had just drawn with the mixture: a heart with an unequivocal message inside it.
ZACK LOVES LIB
Eyes sparkling, she beamed at him, and Zack kissed her on the forehead. “I told you that one day even I might end up wanting to start drawing little love hearts.”
Liberty sent the photograph to her friends, then put down her phone, scooped up most of the mixture that formed the letters and raised it to her lips. “Let’s not let all your colleagues see how disgustingly sickly-sweet we are, okay?” she chuckled, then closed her eyes, savouring the flavour of the cream. At the sight of her ecstatic expression, Zack felt as though he’d travelled back in time. “You know,” she said, “now I come to think about it, it’s not that sweet after all.”
“I’ll let you sample all the cakes you want, but for now you better come with me or my colleagues will be finding more than declarations of love on that worktop,” he said, taking her by the hand and starting to drag her off towards the stairs. A sudden flash of anxiety on Liberty’s face held him back. “What’s up?”
“I’ll go back to being ugly and fat and you’ll regret ever having wanted to be with me,” muttered Liberty. “If I think about how many calories I swallowed just then when I tried all those cakes…”
Zack cut her off by kissing her with such burning desire that it left her breathless. “Nothing like that will happen, and anyway I wouldn’t care if it did – and as for the calories, believe me: you’ll have worked them all off by tomorrow morning,” he whispered suggestively.
“Great idea – I do remember reading somewhere that sex is better than going to the gym,” she sighed, letting herself be dragged upstairs. “But the amount of physical exercise is going to have to be directly proportional to the intake of calories.”
Zack laughed softly. “I hereby solemnly pledge myself to ensure you do all the necessary exercise, and more… just so as to be on the safe side!”
Liberty squeezed his hand harder, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Good, because I’ve been on a diet for ages… and I’m starving hungry!”
Epilogue
Two Years Later.
The flowers had been skilfully arranged in a triumph of crimson and cream which gave off an intense perfume. The tables and chairs were ready and waiting for incoming guests, the crisp white tablecloths stretched out, the centrepieces bright and shining. The crystal of the glasses shone under the colored lights positioned all around, and the placeholders, in the form of a gift package surrounded by holly and pine cones, were adorable. A small Christmas tree glowed at the centre of the main table, laden with decorations and rolled up parchments – messages of good wishes from the guests which the couple would read during the reception.
Outside, the terrace swarmed with activity as they sorted out the final touches: myriads of lights illuminated the whole area and the decorations evoked winter, snow and the Christmas atmosphere that would begin that evening. The couple wanted a wedding that was worthy of the atmosphere that had made them fall in love, and had given very precise directions about how it was to be organized.
“It’s all perfect,” thought Liberty, casting a last glance at the pool, upon the surface of which floated red and white Christmas stars, and at the golden passageway that led to the small altar, which had already been partially decorated with petals.
When she had agreed to help organize the event, she would never have imagined that she could feel such satisfaction from tiring herself out so much. But the truth was that it was a pleasant tiredness, and not just because it was the marriage of one of her best friends. From time to time, her eagerness to keep herself busy and everything under control re-emerged, though not in the same overwhelming way it had in the past. Now that she had a husband and two children to look after, it would have been impossible to devote the same amount of time that she once had to her work – and she wouldn’t have wanted to, either. The truth was, though, that it was reassuring to know she hadn’t gone totally soft.
As she carefully arranged a bunch of mistletoe, she thought back to how much her life had changed over the last two years and her lips curved spontaneously into a smile.
She was happy. Totally, hopelessly happy. She’d never have thought she could be so happy, or so satisfied. And the reason, of course, was the unconditional love that her family gave her in every moment of her life.
If she thought back to how empty and meaningless her existence had been before marrying Zack, she felt a cold chill run down her spine. She still
couldn’t understand how she could have kept her heart locked up for so long, but she thanked the heavens that she had found the courage to overcome her fears.
It was also thanks to the determination and patience of Zack that, one step at a time, she had left her nest. He had given her serenity, love of life, trust and joy.
He had given her back herself, and much, much more besides.
“Mom!”
The cheerful shout made her turn around. Candice was running towards her with the same infectious enthusiasm that had so endeared her to Liberty when they had first met.
She squeezed her tightly, kissed her soft dark hair, then brushed it aside so she could get a better look at her. “Oh, honey, you’re beautiful!” she said, smoothing out an imaginary crease on one of the sleeves of the red velvet dress. “They’re going to love you.”
“Scott is waiting for me to practice my entrance, even though I’ve told him I don’t need to, I already spread petals along the aisle at your wedding, so I know how!”
Liberty immediately thought back to that by now distant day when she and Zack had sworn their eternal love. The rational, cynical Liberty Allen – always so cautious and obsessed with planning – had astonished everyone by throwing common sense out of the window and getting married four months after she’d started dating her husband-to-be.
It had been an intimate ceremony held in a romantic Central Park clad in the warm, gaudy bright colors of early autumn. She received the proposal a few weeks after their reconciliation in the same garden at the back of the Sullivan’s house in Chicago where they used to hang out when they were kids, and in a flash she found herself caught up a whirlwind of preparations and emotion, aided by her inseparable friends – who, finally, were satisfied with her choice. She had bought the same dress that Zack had found for her months before and had gone to meet her lover with the feeling of having just been reunited with and realizing the most important dream of her entire life.
She had instantly dismissed any worries that she might be taking a step too far by accepting that commitment for life to a man who – on paper, at least – she had only known for a few weeks: Zack Sullivan was her soul mate and she had always known it. There was no point wasting any more time on unfounded doubts – the best thing to do was enjoy life and seize hold of any opportunities that presented themselves.
She had wasted so many years without really living, and she had promised herself she was never going to make the same mistake again.
She turned back to her daughter and smiled. “I know Scott may seem a little fussy, but there will be some really important people at this wedding and he just wants to be sure everything will be perfect.”
“So why aren’t you ready yet?”
“Because I’m fussy too, and I wanted to make sure that everything was all right,” chuckled Liberty. “But now I’m going to go get ready too.”
Candice nodded, raising her arms to be picked up and kissed again, and Liberty obliged her.
Legally adopting Zack’s daughter was the best thing that had ever happened to her. When Candice had found out that she and Zack were getting married, she had shouted with joy so much that she’d lost her voice, kissing and hugging her and saying that she was the happiest little girl in the world. And when she had curled up on her knee that night and asked if she could call her ‘mommy’, Liberty had felt as though she was melting. And there hadn’t been a single moment in the two years that had followed when she hadn’t actually felt as though she really was her mother.
“Where’s Daddy?” she asked her, putting in place a lock of hair that had escaped the elegant braid.
“He went to get Andrew. He looks so cute in his tuxedo, he looks like a doll!” laughed Candice.
Liberty smiled at the thought of her six month old son dressed like a playboy. Getting pregnant had been both traumatic and amazing: she had wanted that child with all of herself, and at the same time had been terrified at the thought of not being a good mother. But Zack and Candice had convinced her otherwise, dismantling all her fears a little at a time… including the inevitable one of putting on weight and losing her figure forever.
Candice clapped her hands, distracting her from her thoughts. “Scott said that he’s going to introduce me to Demi Lovato if I get everything right during the wedding!”
“Then you better had go and do one last rehearsal – and don’t get him stressed out, he’s nervous enough as it is!” Liberty joked, peering outside in search of Cade’s gopher secretary. Scott was in the front line of those working to organize the event and was busy barking orders at all present to make sure everything was impeccable.
“I promise!” the little girl assured her, and skipped away. Liberty waited for her to reach Scott, then went over to the elevator, heading for one of the rooms that Cade had reserved for close friends. The one she and Zack shared with Eric and Zoe was momentarily empty, and Liberty took advantage of the fact to get ready for the evening.
Because they were the bridesmaids, she and Zoe would both be wearing the same long red dress, embroidered with delicate silver thread. As it was an outdoor ceremony, the costume was completed by a short cape in fake fur and matching gloves which also bore silver embroidery. Under the flashing lights, they would be surrounded by a magical halo of light, and both would seem almost to glow, though Liberty knew that no one would match the bride’s fairy tale appearance.
She was standing there with her dress still partially open at the back when he walked in. The sight of him clad in his elegant tuxedo, though temporarily jacketless, and with little Andrew in his arms filled her heart with love.
Their gazes met in the mirror, and Liberty could see the intense emotion and desire in Zack’s dark eyes.
“You look beautiful,” he said, moving slowly across the room.
“You do too,” smiled Liberty as she put in her earrings, then she took her son, who was stretching out towards her. “And so do you, Mommy’s little man!”
While little Andrew started gurgling joyfully, Zack moved behind her, and put his hands on the open sides of the dress.
“You want a hand?”
“Thanks – the zip’s hidden perfectly between the folds of the fabric, and I couldn’t get to it.” Liberty played with her son while Zack tried to do her up, but she saw his face in the mirror and something in his expression. “What’s the matter?”
“The zipper won’t close,” her husband murmured, without looking at her.
Liberty froze as she felt the blood roaring in her ears. “It won’t close?!”
“I’m sure there’s an explanation,” said Zack, but Liberty shook her head.
“I still haven’t lost all that weight I put on when I was pregnant, that’s the explanation! I have to start going to the gym more often and stop making excuses…” The sudden mischievous smile that appeared on Zack’s lips calmed the rapid beating of her heart. “Damn you, Zack! I told you never to do that again!”
Chuckling, Zack did up the zip and then put his hands on her slim waist, resting his lips on her temple and looking at their reflection in the mirror. “You know that I’m going to keep testing you occasionally – your phobia about putting on weight is still there, but it’s getting better. Until a few months ago, even a vague reference to your figure would have had you panicking for at least ten minutes, but now it only takes you a couple of seconds to realize that I’m teasing you.”
“Living with a pastry chef with constant delusions of grandeur about his skills in the kitchen puts a strain on my determination, as well as on my figure… I need be careful, especially now that I’m doing less physical activity…”
“Less?” he said in a low voice, biting her ear. “I thought I was making you do plenty of exercise.”
Liberty held her son even closer and relaxed against her husband’s chest with a sigh of pleasure. “That’s not what I was talking about.”
“Well anyway, I’ll try to get more involved until you’ve stopped worrying about putting
on weight.”
“That’s never going to happen!” she laughed.
Zack held her tightly. “At this point I’m starting to wonder if you’re doing it on purpose. Do you have some murky hidden agenda, Mrs Sullivan?”
“I might do.” Liberty turned around in her arms to let herself be kissed – at least, until Andrew started complaining about being squashed between them.
“Spoilsport,” said Zack, taking back his son. “I will investigate further at a later date,” he promised his wife, giving her a final kiss.
Liberty nodded and sat down at the dressing table to finish her make up. “Did you see Zoe? We agreed that once we were ready, we would go to Clover.”
“No, I haven’t seen her. But now I’m going to take Andy to the Harrisons and then I’m going to the kitchen to make sure everything’s going okay down there – if I see her, I’ll tell her that you’re looking for her.”
Liberty thanked him, blew him a kiss and went back to getting ready. A quarter of an hour later, she left the room to go to where Clover had been getting ready for the last couple of hours.
Maybe she would find Zoe already with her friend. In that case, she could give them both the good news, as she had been waiting to do for a few days now.
*
“Honey, I think we should stop always hiding away in these cramped spaces,” murmured Eric between kisses, as he banged his elbow on the closet door for the umpteenth time.
Pressed up against him, her lips on his throat, Zoe moaned. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t resist you… and anyway, you always give it your best shot when you’re under pressure.”
“At this rate, my heart will be worn out in a few years…”
Zoe grabbed one of his buttocks and squeezed it so hard it almost hurt. “Don’t even joke about that!” Her grip became a caress which climbed up Eric’s back and torso, while her greedy lips sought his for a breathless kiss. Her head was spinning, so strong was her desire to be near him – a desire that had recently become even stronger than before and was almost violent. And which came over her in the least opportune moments… like now.
