Matt stepped into the room, tall and debonair in a charcoal-grey morning suit.
“Matt! You can’t come in now. It’s bad luck to see the bride!” Kim exclaimed and tried her best to push him out the door again.
“We’ve finished our run of bad luck. Trust me. Besides, I wanted to be the one to ask Rachel to wear this.” He revealed a large white velvet case. He cupped the base with one hand and opened it towards Rachel with the other. Kim and Rachel gasped in unison as he revealed an exquisitely crafted necklace on a cushion of white velvet.
“Oh my, that’s the most stunning piece I’ve ever seen in my life. I recognise your work,” Kim said as she turned to Danielle with a bittersweet smile. “You’ve outdone yourself with this. And I recognize the stones. My mum would’ve approved if she could see it today.”
Rachel knew for certain then that the five pink diamonds had once been part of the legendary Blackstone Rose.
Danielle looped one arm around Kim’s waist and gave her a quick hug as Kim dabbed at the moisture that had suddenly sprung to her eyes.
Rachel cast a worried look in Kim’s direction. “Kim, I don’t want to wear it if it’ll upset you or your family.”
“No, it’s time the old ghosts were all laid to rest,” Kim hastened to reassure her. “And this is the perfect way to do it. Put it on her, Matt.”
He looked to Rachel for confirmation. “If you’re sure?”
Rachel nodded, her heart swelling with pride that this man was about to become her husband.
As Matt lifted the necklace from its case he said, “I’ve renamed it the Bridal Rose. I’d like to think all future Hammond and Blackstone brides will be able to wear it as a symbol of the new unity between our families.” Then, lifting Rachel’s veil slightly to one side, he looped it around her neck. “We can’t forget the past or remake it. We can’t bring back the loved ones we’ve lost. But we can make sure our families have a strong and happy future together.”
The stones settled against Rachel’s skin with a flash of rose-tinted fire, and the three women gazed upon her reflection in brief silence. While the chain looked fragile, on closer inspection Rachel could see the links were doubled, each one woven into the other, giving a softly rounded foxtail effect that belied the delicate appearance of the necklace. But the chain was nothing compared to the five priceless pink diamonds graduated to drop in a ‘V’ featuring, at the apex, the teardrop-shaped stone Matt had recovered in Tahiti.
“It’s perfect,” Rachel whispered. “Matt, thank you.”
His eyes met hers in the mirror. “Yes, perfect. I love you, Rachel. Don’t keep me waiting, okay?” He lifted her hand to press a kiss quickly to her knuckles, then left the room.
“Did he say all Hammond and Blackstone brides?” Kim said with a twinkle in her eye.
“Yes, he did,” said Danielle. “I know it was his original intention to tour the necklace with the rest of Howard’s collection but I have to say I like this idea better. It ties it all off so perfectly, letting go of the old and moving on with the new. The feud affected us all. I’m so glad it’s in the past.”
“I agree. And I look forward to the day when my daughter can wear the necklace, too,” Kim said quietly.
“Kim!” Rachel exclaimed on an excited gasp. “Your daughter? You mean—”
“Wow! That was quick.” Danielle laughed.
“Yes, and very unexpected.” Kim laughed as Rachel and Danielle crowded around her. “Ric and I are having a daughter, our own little miracle. We’ve hardly got used to the reality yet ourselves, but we’re incredibly happy.”
“I can’t believe it. You barely even show!” Rachel put her hand to Kim’s softly rounded belly. That explained the wonderful glow of happiness she’d noticed in Matt’s cousin. “I’m so happy for you both. That’s just the best news. Oh, heck, I’m going to have to redo my makeup if we keep this up!”
Kim’s news was truly wonderful. Evidence that miracles did happen—like the miracle of Matt’s love for her. She reached for a tissue to dab at her eyes.
“Oh, no you don’t! We haven’t got time. You heard the man.” Danielle chuckled and handed Rachel the posy of pink rosebuds she’d chosen as her bridal bouquet. “Let’s not keep him waiting.”
The three women made their way downstairs, pausing at the entrance to the ballroom where the rest of the family was assembled awaiting Rachel’s arrival. Rachel’s father, on shore leave, stepped forward, looking strong and handsome in his naval dress uniform. Kim gave Rachel’s veil and dress a final primp and gave a tiny nod when she was finally satisfied everything was just right.
“Remember, give us a couple of minutes, and don’t run down the aisle. He’s waited this long, he can wait a few seconds longer.”
As Rachel stood in the passageway, her hand on her father’s forearm, she suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of calm descend over her. All the nerves, all the butterflies she’d been beset with since she’d woken this morning, disappeared. Only a few metres away, the man she loved with every beat of her heart waited to pledge his love to her. The moment couldn’t have felt more right.
“Ready, honey?” her father asked, his weathered face wreathed in a happy smile.
“Absolutely,” she replied, reaching up to give her father a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I now present to you, Mr and Mrs Matt Hammond!” The celebrant’s voice rang out across the ballroom.
“My mummy!” Blake shouted as he squirmed to get down from Katherine’s lap and raced towards the couple standing at the altar.
Matt scooped him up in his arms, holding him out so he could give Rachel a kiss. “Yes, son. Your mummy, just like you said.” His eyes met Rachel’s and he knew his life couldn’t be more complete than it was at this very moment.
He looked around the room at the small but close-knit gathering of family members who’d made it at such short notice to their wedding. His mother and father were seated with Sonya, and for the first time in Matt’s memory a sense of peace and calm was evident on his father’s features. Garth Buick stood a little to one side, but there was no denying the adoration on the man’s face as he watched Sonya renew her family ties with her estranged brother.
“Congratulations, Matt.” Jarrod and Briana stepped forward from the group of witnesses to their exchange of vows. Jarrod bent to give Rachel a quick kiss on the cheek. “Welcome to the family, Rachel.” He winked at his brother. “Can’t stop her tagging along now.”
Matt looped his other arm around Rachel’s waist. “And I wouldn’t want to,” he said emphatically.
Jake and Holly joined them, also expressing their good wishes, shortly followed by Kim and Ric and Danielle and Quinn.
It was during the speeches that Jake’s cell phone began buzzing rather obviously in his breast pocket. Holly gave him a strong nudge and an admonition to turn it off, but, unperturbed, Jake flipped the phone open, his voice a low rumble until he snapped it shut again.
In the next break in proceedings he stood and clasped his champagne glass in one hand. “I’d like to announce a double celebration. Would everyone charge their glasses, please.”
Catering staff hastened around the tables ensuring that everyone had their glasses topped up. Satisfied everyone was ready, Jake cleared his throat, raising his glass in the air.
“I’d like to announce the safe arrival of Ryan and Jessica’s twins, a boy and a girl. Mother and babies are doing well. Father is a complete wreck!”
Laughter resounded in the room as everyone toasted the new babies.
As the afternoon progressed into evening and the ballroom was cleared for dancing, Matt took Rachel into his arms in step to the waltz being played by the string quartet in the corner of the room.
“Happy, Mrs Hammond?” He bent down and nuzzled behind her ear.
“Ecstatic, Mr Hammond, and you?”
He felt her pulse step up a beat under the pressure of his lips, and acknowledged the answering surge in his blood. “I can’t w
ait until they’re all gone and I can have you to myself again. The past two weeks have been torture.”
A happy laugh bubbled from Rachel’s throat, and he swung her around in time to the music. “Hey, it was your idea to wait,” she reminded him. “Just think how good it’s going to be. Tonight and every night for the rest of our lives.”
The rest of their lives. The overwhelming sense of happiness that emanated from deep inside him settled like a mantle across his shoulders. As they spun around the room once more he realised anew how close he’d come to losing it all—and how lucky he was to have the woman in his arms.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1796-0
JEALOUSY & A JEWELLED PROPOSITION
Copyright © 2008 by Dolce Vita Trust
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New Zealand Knights
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Jealousy & a Jewelled Proposition Page 14
