Spiralling Skywards: Book Two: Fading (Contradictions Series 2)

by Lesley Jones

  “Everyone’s gonna think we’re sneaking off for sex if they see us heading inside together.” Her blush, combined with the way she giggled as she spoke, reached parts of me I didn’t know I had.

  My insides ached with how much I loved this girl.

  “Perhaps, we just might be.” I wiggled my eyebrows and gave her my best smile, topping it off with a wink, coz I know for a fact that made her wet.

  “I’m not having sex in a bathroom with you on our wedding day.”

  “You didn’t mind having sex with me in there when we were here for your grandad’s birthday last month.”

  “That wasn’t our wedding day, I want tonight, or whenever our first time is as husband and wife, to be special. I want it to—”

  Shit, now she looked as if she were gonna cry.

  “I know, and I’m only joking with you, bub. I’ll hold your dress while you wee and nothing else. I also promise that tonight, today, and every other time we fuck will always be special.”

  “Thanks, you’re such a charmer.”

  “What can I say, it’s the New South Austrian in me. We’re famous for it.”

  “I love you a lottle,” she told me.

  “I love you a lottle more.”

  When we walked back into the marquee after our bathroom excursion, the DJ was just setting up. There was a live band playing later, but we decided on a DJ to start and end the night. Liam and I had a surprise up our sleeves for our first dance, and I was a little nervous, although not as nervous as he seemed to be. He was really twitchy.

  “Are the leather jackets still under the table?” I asked.

  “Yeah, I checked when we first came in and sat down.”

  All the other tables were being moved to create a dance floor, but the top table was staying in place.

  “You okay with doing this?” His palms were sweaty as he griped my hand.

  “I’m good.” He gave a small nod and a tight smile whilst watching his parents approach.

  Despite the preconceived notions I’d formed of Daniel Delaney and his inability to remain married, I really liked him.

  I liked Liam’s mum, Lori, even more.

  “How you doing, darlings? How fabulous has the day been so far?” Lori tucked a stray hair behind my ear as she spoke, and my heart warmed at the familiarity of her gesture.

  Daniel reached out and shook Liam’s hand.

  “Great day, son. I couldn’t be more proud of ya.” He pulled him in for a manly cuddle and a back slap.

  Liam was a little taller than his dad and his hair a lot blonder. I’d never seen photos of Dan when he was younger, but I was pretty sure he was as hot as his son back in the day. In fact, even at fifty-five, he wasn’t bad-looking, which was probably no way for a bride to be thinking about her father-in-law on her wedding day—but still . . .

  This fact didn’t go unnoticed by Nan, who had flirted mercilessly since his arrival.

  “You look stunning, Sarah. Though, I’m sure you’ve been hearing that all day.” Dan kissed my cheek and then stepped back to stand beside Lori.

  “Stop flirting with my wife, Dad.”

  “I’m not flirting, she looks bloody gorgeous. Every bride needs to hear that on her wedding day.”

  “Not from you she doesn’t. What’s the go between you two anyway? You’ve not kept your hands off each other all day.” Liam asked his parents. Lori rolled her eyes, but I could see the sparkle in them as she looked at Dan, who was standing with his hand protectively on the small of her back.

  “Your dad’s single again, you know he always thinks it’s a good idea for us to try again when that happens.”

  “Oh come on, darl, I think that’s a good idea when I’m married too, but you won’t have a bar of it.”

  “So, what makes you think I’m gonna change my mind this time?” Lori laughed as she spoke, but Dan took both her hands in his and stood in front of her. Liam slid his hand around my hip and pulled me into his body. I wanted to look up at his face and attempt to gauge his feelings, but I didn’t want to miss a moment of the scene unfolding between his parents.

  “The reason I’ve never stayed married to the others is because they’re not you. Just say the word, Lor, and I promise, I’ll be the man that I should’ve been all those years ago.”

  Lori shook her head whilst staring down at their joined hands.

  “You let me down, Dan. I had three young children, and you let me down. Work always came first to you. Above us. Always. Every time.”

  “I know, and I’m so fucking sorry for that. I love you. Even when I knew I was ruining everything by constantly working, I never stopped loving you.”

  Dan turned his head towards us.

  “Don’t do what I did, son. There’s nothing more important in this life than family. Make sure that Sarah is always your priority. Don’t ever get it as monumentally wrong as I did.”

  He nodded his head in our direction and then turned and headed to the bar.

  Lori placed her spread palm over her chest and stared after him. I swallowed down the lump in my throat and blinked back the tears forming in my eyes. That was one of the most intense things I had ever witnessed. Liam and his dad were so much alike with the way they put everything out there.

  “Don’t let him pressure you, Mum. If he’s not what you want, then don’t even consider giving things a go with him again.”

  She turned and looked at both of us, shaking her head. “Oh, my sweet, young things. Promise me you’ll always love and respect each other the way you do today for the rest of your lives. Don’t get eaten up by the smaller things, always keep your eye on the bigger picture . . . that’s each other. It’s you and the family that you’ll have and the life that you’ll build and create together.”

  My breath stuttered as a sob silently escaped, and I heard Liam sniff beside me.

  “When the office doors close and you head home, never lose sight of what’s waiting for you. Never take for granted the person you’re heading home to, or expect them to sit and wait all night every night.”

  She looked between us, but I knew she was aiming her words at Liam.

  “Marriage and raising children are the hardest things you will ever do, but the rewards will make every raised voice, every slammed door, sleepless night, and shitty nappy, so very worth it.”

  She stepped forward and kissed us both on our cheeks. “I love you both, now, go mingle with your guests and enjoy the night.”

  ***

  The DJ started to play low and quiet background music, and the voices surrounding us began to hush as my grandad approached the DJ

  I wasn’t sure what was about to happen. We had met and spoke to the DJ yesterday and told him what our first dance would be. We had also clued him in about the dance routine we were rehearsing.

  Even though I’d walked down the aisle to “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol, I’d insisted that it get played again as it’s what I consider our song.

  The plan was for our slow dance to end, and then DJ would cue in the next track and our dance routine would start.

  The daughter of one of the women I worked with was a dance instructor, and we’d taken a couple of lessons with her—more for Liam’s sake than mine. I reassured him constantly these past weeks that his moves were great, but he didn’t seem to believe me. Even though this had all been his idea, the closer our wedding day got, the more nervous he seemed to get about our performance. It was so bad that he hadn’t even been able to talk about it yesterday.

  My grandad took the mic from the DJ and simply said, “Ladies and gentleman, I give you Sarah and Liam Delaney.”

  I didn’t move for a few seconds. The music was all wrong. This wasn’t our song. I was about to go complain, but Liam pulled me across the floor, and we started to move.

  It took one, two, three more beats of the song before I recognised it. Slowly, my eyes rose to his, and I wanted to cry. Never in my life had I felt so loved. If I could direct this scene, this moment in my life
. . . if I could have planned every single microscopic detail, this was exactly the way it would have gone.

  “I can’t believe you remembered.”

  “It was the night that changed my life, it’s not like I’m ever likely to forget.”

  “My heart aches with how much I love you right now.”

  “Oh fuck me, pretty girl, you have no idea. I feel like—”

  He shook his head and swallowed. His big hand slid down the small of my back and partially covered the top of my arse.

  I had no clue what the protocol was for first dance arse touching between the bride and groom at their wedding, and I actually didn’t care. I just wanted my husband to hold me and never let me go. I wanted him to look at me the way he was right now for the rest of my days.

  “I can’t get the words out, Sarah.”

  His eyes shone with unshed tears while mine spilled over. He pulled me in even tighter and kissed each of my cheeks right below my eyes.

  “Never let me go.”

  “Never.”

  “Always hold me tight.”

  “Always,” he replied as he pressed his forehead against mine.

  We swayed to the sound of “I knew I loved You” by Savage Garden, which was the first song we ever danced to. Both of us lost in our little bubble of love.

  I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and turned my head to watch my brother situate a chair at the edge of the dance floor.

  Will appeared next, carrying a mic on a tall stand, and right behind him was Liam’s brother-in-law, Lachlan, carrying another mic on a stand.

  Sasha appeared beside me and attempted to take my hand.

  “Liam?” I questioned as he let go of my hand and handed me over to Sash.

  “Don’t hate me, pretty girl, it seemed like a good idea at the time.” He kissed my cheek.

  “Go sit down and enjoy the show. If you hate it, just remember it was all Luke and Will’s idea.”

  Sasha pulled me by the hand and sat me in the chair facing the dance floor. Without a word, she kissed my cheek and left me sitting there. All of our guests were standing around the edge of the designated dance floor. In the middle of it stood my husband, who was wearing the leather jacket he was supposed to put on for our dance routine. Slightly behind and to his left were Shain, who flew in for the wedding, and Lachy. To the right were Luke and Will. Each pair shared a mic, and they were all wearing either leather or denim jackets.

  I had no idea what was going on.

  And then the music started.

  My hands came up and covered my mouth, but I couldn’t wipe away or hide the smile that was plastered all over it.

  I stamped my feet up and down, not caring who saw the excitement building inside me. When my grandad passed Liam a grey fedora and he placed it on his head, tilted it forward, and spun around before grabbing a hold of the mic, I actually screamed and waved my arms in the air.

  Our guests were videoing, taking photos, cheering, and whistling as Liam strutted towards me, tilted his hat again, and did another spin before breaking into “I’ll Be Loving You” by New Kids on the Block.

  The place erupted.

  I screamed, I threw my head back, and laughed until I was in tears. I was sure there were moments where I did all three at once.

  He rocked his hips and swayed in front of me, forcing me to grip the edge of my chair to keep from launching myself at him. I wanted to jump up and wrap my legs around my husband, knock him to the floor, and grind against him.

  Liam Delaney could dance. And fuck me did he look smoking hot when he moved.

  Ladies and gentleman, I give you my husband, go me.

  I high-fived myself in my head, and my smile got even bigger.

  The boys sang backup and performed a synchronised sway and finger snaps while Liam brushed his fingers down the side of my face, looked into my eyes, and sang about our love lasting forever. Then he missed a whole chorus because he was too busy kissing me.

  As “I’ll Be Loving You” came to an end “Chasing Cars” began, Liam pulled me out of the chair and danced with me over to where my leather jacket was hiding.

  “When did you plan that?” I laughed as he helped me with the sleeves.

  “Yesterday after you left to meet with Sasha.” He winked and I melted a bit more. No wonder he was looking so nervous all afternoon.

  My husband had just sung one of my favourite songs, from one of my favourite bands, to me, at our wedding. My face and lips were tingling with exertion from smiling so hard.

  Now, it was our turn.

  Everyone stood around a little unsure of what was about to happen as Liam pulled me back to the dance floor.

  The music cut in at the exact right moment. I put my hand up in a halt gesture, just as the female voice on Meatloaf’s “Paradise By The Dashboard Lights” sang the word “stop”.

  Liam played his part, holding his hands up in surrender. I followed him around the floor, singing and demanding answers to the questions in the song.

  I didn’t even notice the claps, cheers, and whistles from our guests. I could see their smiling and laughing faces, but I could only hear the song, listening for the moments when I needed to sing.

  Each time Liam asked for time to think about his answers, I folded my arms and walked away from him. When he finally agreed to love me for the rest of his life, the song faded out and returned to “Chasing Cars”.

  We pulled off our jackets and collapsed into each other’s arms as a deafening applause erupted around us.

  “That was so fucking sexy.” Liam’s hot breath fanned over my skin as he spoke into my ear.

  “Which part?”

  “Fuck, all of it.”

  I looked up at him, still smiling.

  “Yeah?”

  “Fuck yeah. We should have a little roll play with that later on.”

  He bit down on the corner of his bottom lip and winked at me.

  I had the sexiest motherfucking husband in the history of motherfucking husbands!

  “I’ll be your rock star, you can be my groupie.”

  I stick out my bottom lip and pout.

  “I don’t wanna be a groupie.”

  “All right, well I’ll be . . . give me the name of a hot, married rock star.”

  “Marley Layton.” I didn’t hesitate, and my swift answer had his eyebrows pulling up.

  “Marley Layton? He’s gotta be what, forty?”

  “Still hot, though.”

  Liam shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, I’ll be Marley Layton, you can be . . . what’s his wife’s name?”

  “Ashley, or Ash I think.”

  “Whatever, she’s stunning so that works. We’ll take the jackets on honeymoon with us and play ‘Marley and Ash.’ Sound good?”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  We didn’t take the jackets on honeymoon with us.

  We didn’t even go on honeymoon.

  At around eleven thirty on our wedding night, Shain interrupted my attempts to teach Liam the words and dance moves to “We Go Together” from Grease and told him there was a call regarding work he needed to deal with.

  I carried on dancing with Sash and Maggie, not really taking a lot of notice of his absence until our guests started to leave and questioned where my husband was so they could say their goodbyes.

  I made apologies on his behalf and eventually wove my way from the marquee to my grandparents’ house, which was where I found Liam, Luke, Shain, and Dan all pacing the kitchen and talking on their phones. Will was at the kitchen table on his laptop, and I felt like all eyes looked to me as I entered the room.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked Lori, who was busy boiling the kettle.

  “A helicopter filled with miners leaving an island up off Darwin was in an accident, there have been fatalities, not sure how many yet.”

  My eyes found Luke’s, but his were already on me even though he was on the phone. He held out his hand, beckoning me forward, and I went to him.

  H
e pulled me against his side, and I could feel his body shaking.

  “Is there anything I can do?” I stood up on tiptoes and asked directly into his ear. He shook his head and carried on his conversation with whoever was on the other line.

  None of us got any sleep that night, except my grandparents, who I sent up to bed at around three. Marie, Maggie, Sasha, Lori, and I made the boys continuous cups of tea and coffee and fed them leftovers from the wedding buffet.

  By six in the morning, I had changed out of my wedding dress and into a T-shirt and a pair of shorts.

  I made my way back down to the kitchen to find Liam and Luke still on the phone, Will still at the table drinking what I assumed was yet another cup of tea.

  “You doing all right sunshine?” Will asked me.

  I gave a half-hearted shrug. I was tired and disappointed by the way my wedding night had gone, but at the same time, I felt bad for what the boys were going through, not to mention the poor people involved in the accident.

  “Where’s your dress?” Liam snapped. It was a tone he’d never used with me before.

  “I was uncomfortable so I changed.”

  “You could’ve waited.” My mouth dropped open a bit and I just started at him blinking.

  “For what? It’s not like you’ve had time to help me out of it.”

  His right eye twitched twice and I knew it was a look of hurt that I saw on his face before his gaze darted to Will and then back to me. His hand went to the back of his neck the way it always did when he was stressed or struggling with what to say. He breathed heavily through his nose before saying, “Sarah, people fucking died tonight, I had other shit to deal with.”

  “I’m well aware of that, that’s why I dealt with the shit of taking off my own wedding dress, to save you the trouble.”

  He flinched at my words.

  “I didn’t mean it like that Sarah and you know it. I would never…”

  Before he could finish, his phone rang again. He ignored the call. A few seconds later, Luke’s phone rang. Liam and I stared at each other as Luke answered his call, and Will hesitantly went back to working on his laptop.