Betting On Love

by Danielle Dickson

  She snorts, and speak of the devil, Katherine walks in. “Ooh, sweetheart, you look so beautiful. And your beau scrubs up nicely too.” Did she just wink?

  Casey turns around and smiles a genuine smile. “Let’s get this show on the road then, shall we?”

  Her mum’s right, she looks stunning in a form fitting, white lace dress that fans out into a mermaid tail. After she had the twins, she roped me into being her personal “fat be gone” trainer as she called me, and we’ve spent the past five months pounding the pavement and lifting weights in the gym to get her “dress ready.”

  We’re handed flowers as we all file out of the room and I spot Mac in his black, three-piece suit holding two wriggling seven month olds at the bottom of the stairs. I walk down them and over to him, relieving him of Piper in her white dress complete with a maroon sash around her waist.

  “Hi, beautiful,” his low voice rumbles in my ear and he kisses my cheek.

  “Hi, yourself.”

  Music starts playing so I shoot Casey a wink before walking out beside Mac down the long, rose petal-covered aisle.

  There’s laughter everywhere and as the champagne is flowing, everyone is loosening up. It’s nothing like the stuffy atmosphere I thought it was going to be.

  I watch as Casey dances with Robert, her dad, and smile as she throws her head back in a laugh. I wish Mac was beside me watching this, I haven’t been able to find him for the past hour and I’m starting to think he forgot about me. I notice Katherine wiping at her eyes with a handkerchief and smile at how normal she looks as she waves people off that try to interrupt her moment.

  I look around me and still I can’t see Mac so I excuse myself politely from the mass of faces around our table, and head to the toilets. Today has been amazing but a little overwhelming at the same time. This could’ve been me with who I thought was the love of my life, but I couldn’t be happier that I’ve ended up where I am, Callum did me a favour. Mac makes life easy. He’s always there to help me maintain a healthy level of insanity by cracking jokes and playing harmless little pranks. He keeps me on my toes and has brought something into my life that I never even knew I needed back in it. Excitement.

  I turn and smile at one of the bridesmaids as she walks in and turn back to look at myself in the mirror. I startle as a hand lands on my shoulder and Casey laughs. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Can you help me with this damn dress? I want to go and change into the other one.”

  I nod and follow her out of the ballroom and into the lift, up to the suite of the hotel we’re all staying in. “Where are the twins?”

  “Jude’s mom and dad took them home after the first dance, Phoenix was kicking up a fuss,” she replies, turning around for me to undo her dress for her.

  “They’ve been bloody brilliant all day today.”

  She chuckles. “Thank you for taking turns in looking after them for me, it’s been nice not having to worry about them and just enjoying the day. As much as I complained about my mom, it’s been everything and more.”

  “Of course, you know we’d take the little cuties any time you and Jude want a night off, and I did tell you it was going to be nothing short of amazing.”

  I hand her the shorter lace dress and she steps into it. “Oh, I know, I just find it hard letting them go just yet. Plus, I don’t think Mac would cope with the night feeds.” We both chuckle. “Today wouldn’t have gone over half as smoothly if I didn’t have you by my side to keep my emotions in check and to stop me from freaking out.” I laugh and she lifts my hands, squeezing them gently. “Thank you for being my maid of honor, I’ve never really found my place with other girls before, you know? But you’ve been a godsend ever since my brother met you. I’m happy that you’re more than my brother’s girlfriend.” We hug for a while and she grins with a glint of something in her eye.

  “What?”

  “Oh nothing, I’m just happy that when we go down Mom will have cleared out half the riffraff so we can have a real party,” she says, shaking her hips to imaginary music.

  I laugh and grab my clutch bag. “I need to try and find your brother, have you seen him?”

  She smiles and nods. “He knows you’re up here with me.” She hands me a pink and yellow flower with a silver envelope attached to it and I look at her in confusion as I take it from her. “Open it after I leave.” She gives me a small smile and walks out, closing the door behind her.

  I sit on the bed and stare at the envelope in my hands, my name is written in swirly script on the front. Curiosity wins over and I rip it open, laughing at the photo in there. It’s of me and Casey a month after she gave birth to the twins, we’re grinning like Cheshire cats with a bottle of tequila in my hands. That was such a funny night, but I don’t understand the significance of it until I turn it over and read the inscription there.

  Alstroemerias symbolize friendship. I knew the moment I met you that ours would be a strong one. You’re amazing and I’m so glad that I have you in my life.

  I smile with tears in my eyes at her thoughtfulness and take the lift down to thank her. On my way into the ballroom, I’m stopped by Jude who gives me a small hug and a purple flower with the same silver envelope attached. He doesn’t say anything as he walks back and joins his wife, so I open the envelope and this time it’s a photo of me holding the twins the day after they had been born. Again, I turn it over and read the inscription.

  Hydrangeas symbolize heartfelt emotions. I can’t thank you enough for being there for my wife and children when they needed you. I’ll be forever grateful. We love you, Aunt B.

  Tears prick my eyes again and I choke back the emotions that flood me. This was their day but they’ve went out of their way to make me feel special. I turn to where I just saw Jude and Casey, but they’re not there. I look around and nearly bash into Robert, Mac’s dad.

  “Oh my gosh, sorry, Robert. Have you seen Jude and Casey? They were just here a minute ago.”

  He shakes his head. “I haven’t, no, but I’d like to give you something.” He pulls his hand from behind his back and reveals a bunch of little white flowers and a silver envelope.

  “I don’t… Robert, what’s this for?”

  He looks at the other flowers in my hand and chuckles. “Open the envelope, Billie.”

  He kisses me on my forehead and walks off to talk to his wife. She looks over at me and smiles as I open the envelope, looking down at the photo of me and Mac pulling funny faces, and again, turning it over.

  Bouvardias symbolize a zest for life. You gave that back to my son, you opened up a new part of him and we’re both thankful he has you to remind him that life is to be shared with loved ones.

  I blow a kiss toward them both and make my way through the thinning crowd, scanning everyone I pass for Mac. Where the feck is he? I’m about to get all emotional in front of people I don’t know. I need him.

  When I can’t see him in this direction I circle back, spotting Katherine flagging me down. “Billie!”

  I sigh and suck in a deep breath to control the emotion I’m feeling. “Katherine, thank you for that lovely—”

  She produces a single white star-shaped flower attached to the now familiar envelope and envelops me in a hug that is so unlike her that it startles me. She pulls back with tears in her eyes and it’s at this point that I’m officially feeling like a fish out of water. She walks away toward the live band and I open the envelope, swallowing down a giant lump in my throat. Instead of a photo, there’s a one-page letter inside.

  Billie,

  This flower is an Ornithogalum, also known as the star-of-Bethlehem. It is most frequently associated with the symbol of purity or hope. However, it also represents an expression of atonement and reconciliation, and are sometimes given as a gift to say, “I’m sorry.” So, I’m using this moment to say that I’m sorry, I know it has already been said, but I needed to say it again to you. Your heart is pure and full of love to give anyone that earns it. I hold all the hope in my heart that o
ne day, I will earn that love.

  Katherine.

  Katherine has changed for the better since I first met her. She’s realised now that Mac’s life is his own and although the relationship hasn’t been perfect, still, I forgave her a long time ago for what she did. I’ve learnt that grudges only hold you back from looking to the future.

  I sit down in a nearby chair and look over all the messages that I’ve received tonight and pull out my mobile, dialling Mac’s number. It rings out and I leave him a voicemail, telling him that I really could do with him showing himself right about now and hang up, looking up as the band announces that the bride is going to throw the bouquet.

  I wipe underneath my eyes and smile over at Jude, Robert and Katherine and mouth “thank you” at them before turning my head to the front where around twenty girls are stood giggling, waiting for Casey to get into position. I’m not bothered about catching anything, all I want to do is find Mac right now, so I stay at the back and scan the crowd. It’s been two hours since I last saw him now and my feelings are frazzled.

  The band start playing Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis and everyone starts counting down from ten. I join in half-heartedly as I look around the room. When everyone gets to one, I step back a little expecting a giant mob to ensue in front of me, but instead, Katherine locks her eyes on mine and gestures for me to look in front of me where Casey is standing handing me a big bouquet of flowers. It contains all different coloured roses, covered in googly eyes. I laugh at the memory of covering every piece of food in his fridge with them as a joke, telling him I thought the food was “watching me.”

  The music cuts out and everyone quiets down. My heart races and I look around at everyone watching me, wondering what the frigging hell is going on.

  “Don’t look so scared, open the letter and read it out loud,” Casey says, practically jumping up and down on the spot.

  I look down at the gold envelope and trace my name in Mac’s now familiar handwriting with my fingers. I would’ve normally ripped it open by now, but something inside of me screams that I should drop it and run, but I don’t. I put aside all my insecurities and open the envelope, immediately chastising myself at thinking it’d be anything other than what it is.

  Everyone around me disappears as I read the words on the page.

  I’m sure by now your little mind is freaking out and thinking all sorts, so stop overthinking things and just listen. When I first saw you, I knew there was something special about you, but it wasn’t until I got to know you that I know what I know now.

  Casey takes all the envelopes and flowers from me and hands me a bound book. I skim my hand over the leather, opening it up and laughing at the goofy photo of me and Mac on the first page.

  I know that whenever I need cheering up, you’ll be there.

  I flip over the page and smile at the photo he’s taken of me without me knowing. My hair is down and I’m staring intently ahead at something in front of me.

  I know that when I need to remind myself there’s beauty in the world, I can just look at you.

  I turn the page and blush at the photo of me naked on the bed, hiding it away from prying eyes.

  I know that your body is the only one I ever want to touch or see again.

  Each time I turn a page, it brings me further and further to the edge of losing it in front of all these people, and I have no idea what the endgame is.

  I know that my life will never be boring with you in it.

  I know that your irritating habits would annoy the crap out of anyone else, but to me, they make you, you.

  I know that I don’t want a perfect person, I just want someone who treats me well and loves being with me more than anything.

  I turn the last page and gasp at the last photo there; Mac with my parents out in the hotel gardens.

  And I know that you need to bring your ass out here right now.

  My head snaps up at the emotional crowd seeing that they’ve made a path for me to a set of double doors that Case, Jude, Robert and Katherine are standing in front of, ready to open. I shakily make my way toward them and notice they’re all grinning and snivelling like they’re about to reveal a big secret.

  “What is going on? This is your wedding,” I manage to squeak out.

  Casey takes my hand and opens the door for me. “Oh shush, you’re ruining the romantic moment.”

  Everyone laughs and follows us all out to a lantern-lit path. I follow it around and my breath catches in my throat as I see my mum and dad standing halfway down. I run toward them, them both enfolding me in their arms.

  “What are you doing here!” I squeal.

  Dad pulls back and cups my cheek. “You’ll see.”

  I look back at Mum and she winks at me before tapping my bum and pointing to the left of where we’re standing. “Go get him, tiger. He’s a good’un.”

  I don’t know how I didn’t notice him before. Mac is standing in front of metal, lit up letters spelling “You Win” and I giggle and run into his arms. He kisses me passionately and pulls away, wiping at my tears. “Hey, don’t cry, B.”

  I slap his chest. “You idiot, I’ve been crying on and off tonight because of you.”

  He chuckles and brushes his thumbs across my cheeks. “Fuck, you’re even more beautiful than the day I first saw you. I promised myself if I was doing this, I was going to deliver this big, romantic speech, but seeing you now, all of that has gone out of the window. You see these words behind me?” I nod at him, confused. “You win, B. The bet, my heart, everything. I don’t even care how much you’re going to gloat for me admitting it, but you win. Today I have loved you for approximately three hundred and eighty-six days, and I want that number to keep rising until I take my last breath. I want googly eyes on all of my food, I want Nerf gun wars at midnight and I want you…” He entwines his fingers in mine as he pulls out a small box, showing the most beautiful ring. “By my side, as my wife.”

  Everyone else melts away as I take in what he says and it’s just me and him, the man that pieced together my broken heart with his cheeky smirk and playful games, but most of all, his love. I don’t even need to think about it as I pull his face to mine and kiss him, trying to pour all of my love into that one kiss. I pull away and giggle, looking up at him.

  “Is that a yes?” he asks hesitantly.

  “Don’t be dumb,” I retort, pressing my lips against his again as everyone erupts into cheers.

  He breaks the kiss for a moment and cups my cheek. “Why change myself now?”

  “Yes, Mum, I’ll call you before I get on the plane, stop worrying,” I say into my mobile, trying to flag a taxi down.

  “I’ll be following your route on the interweb,” she replies.

  I laugh. “It’s the internet, Mum, not the interweb.”

  “Potayto, potahto, it still doesn’t change the fact that my baby is coming home to see me!” she squeals.

  “Right, I’m gonna go because I can’t get a frigging taxi to stop.”

  “Language, Wilhemina,” she scolds me.

  “I said frigging, I did watch my language,” I retort.

  “Yes, but I know what you meant.”

  I roll my eyes and say goodbye to her before hanging up and whistling down a taxi just as Mac rolls the other suitcase beside me. “You do know we’re only going back for a week, woman?”

  I laugh. “Yes, but it’s all essentials.”

  “Really? Five pairs of shoes are essential?” He raises a brow at me in question.

  “Yeah, can’t be caught without shoes to match my outfits.” I roll my eyes. “You men know nothing.”

  He wraps his arms around my waist. “I don’t care what you wear on your feet or your body for that matter, as long as you’re naked in bed with me at the end of the day, I’m happy.”

  “Jeez, you’d think after nearly four years you’d be less like a rabbit,” I say, chuckling at his sad puppy dog face.

  “And miss touching your rockin’ body e
very night? No way!”

  “Yeah, well, you better get used to sleepless nights for a whole other reason,” I mumble with a giant smile on my face.

  He looks clueless at first but looks down at my belly and back up at me with a question in his eyes. It only takes one nod from me and he has me up in his arms in an instant and I squeal in delight. I’ve been keeping this a secret for three weeks now and it’s absolutely killed me. “I planned to tell you and all the family together, but I just couldn’t wait.”

  He cups my face. “Do you know how much I love you?” He moves his hands to my belly. “Both of you. How far?”

  “I’m nineteen weeks tomorrow. I had no idea until three weeks ago though.” His face goes white as a sheet and I tap his cheek. “Mac? Are you okay?”

  “Shit, I’m going to be a dad,” he stammers out, the colour in his face returning as he looks more excited. “I’m going to be a dad!” he shouts, and I giggle as a taxi pulls up. He pulls me into him and I feel his steady heartbeat thrum against my head in an erratic rhythm.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask.

  He grins at me. “More than okay, but as much as I want to celebrate this now, we have to get to the airport.”

  I can’t believe I’m going to be a dad and we both didn’t notice. Looking at her now, I can see her breasts are fuller and her belly has a small bump. I rub my hand over it and Billie beams beside me. “What time are your parents meeting us at the airport?”

  “They’re already there,” I answer her, still in my own little world.

  She nods and places a hand over mine. My relationship with my parents has become more than I could ever ask for. They’re heavily involved and actually seem interested in my business and degree, and although we still have the odd disagreement, I think we’re at a point where I actually enjoy their company.

  When Billie told her parents we were planning on coming back, they insisted my mom, dad, and Casey came with us, which in turn means that Jude and their little tribe are coming along too.