“Get out of here,” she laughed. “And tell Joe I’m on my way.”
He blew her another kiss and left her and Reece alone.
She turned and looked at her father as he took her hands in his and smiled at her. He’d missed out on so much of her life yet he’d been around for all the important things that had happened, and for that he was truly grateful. When he looked at her now, this beautiful, successful woman who’d given him two amazing grandchildren and the family he’d always dreamed of, he didn’t think it was possible to love her any more than he already did. She’d been through so much and come through it all and he was so proud of her. He just hoped that she’d now finally found the man who could make her happy.
“I love you so much, India. You know that, don’t you?”
She nodded, smiling back at the man who’d given her this amazing life. The man to whom she owed it all. “I know. And I love you too, dad. I love you too.”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, squeezing her hands. “Are you ready then?”
“I’m ready.” She reached over and picked up the cream and white bouquet, her heart starting to beat faster and faster. It was crazy! She’d only seen JJ less than twelve hours ago but it felt as if they’d been apart for weeks and she couldn’t wait to get to him. She wanted to see him so much it hurt.
“India ...”
She looked at her father again, still very much the movie star in his dark suit and tie, his hair more grey than dark now but that only made him look even more handsome.
“You do love Joseph. Don’t you?”
“I love him like crazy, dad.”
Reece smiled again, holding out his arm for India to take and she slipped her arm through his, kissing his cheek gently.
“Now let’s go get my man.”
CHAPTER 61
Michael hadn’t planned for the speed bump that had been India having JJ Foster’s baby. It hadn’t even crossed his mind that it could happen, despite Ethan telling him over and over again that mommy and JJ were going to give him a baby brother or sister one day. He’d put that down to the ramblings of a child because it was all Ethan could talk about after Lily’s arrival. Michael had naively thought, that because India had been so reluctant to have a baby with him, that having another one wouldn’t be something she’d entertain for even a second. But he’d been wrong, hadn’t he? Still, it wasn’t anything that couldn’t be overcome. Not now the time was so close. The time when everything was about to happen. When it would all finally start falling into place. It kept Michael going. It kept him strong, because it really wouldn’t be long now.
“What’s the matter?” Layla asked, coming up behind him as he sat at the table, flicking through some papers. She slipped her arms around his neck, kissing him quickly.
He smiled at her as she sat down opposite him, crossing her legs and taking a sip of her coffee. Who’d have thought, after everything that had gone on, that Michael Walsh and Layla Boyd would have actually become a couple? Certainly not him. But as he looked at her, with her face devoid of any make-up and her blonde hair pulled back off her face, he couldn’t help but think how beautiful she really was. She’d shown him the real Layla Boyd and she was very different from the harsh, brash, spoilt little rich girl that she’d portrayed before. She was really just a very lost and lonely woman who hadn’t had a great deal of love from parents who’d taught her that only money, success and fame could bring happiness. But Michael didn’t love her, either. He cared about her but he didn’t love her, and he’d tried, he really had. He’d tried so hard but he couldn’t do it. Because he couldn’t love anyone except India. Even if she was in love with another man.
But for some reason he and Layla had fallen into this relationship and it had seemed like the right thing to do. At the time. They had fun, sometimes she even managed to distract him from thinking about his ex-wife and her younger boyfriend and this exceptionally beautiful baby girl they’d had that was so much like her father it was uncanny. Sometimes Layla had managed to do all of that, and for that he was grateful. But time was ticking on this relationship. Time was nearly up. It had run it’s course and Michael had other things on his mind now. He didn’t want to hurt Layla, but he’d told her no lies. He’d never promised her anything, he’d never told her he loved her, he’d never said there would be a future. But then, he hadn’t said there wouldn’t be, either.
“Nothing’s the matter, Layla. Everything’s fine.”
She looked out of the window at the beautiful, landscaped gardens spread out in front of her, but this was Michael’s home, even though she practically lived here herself. She was just waiting for the day when he’d ask her to move in with him properly and she couldn’t understand why he was stalling on that one. They’d been together almost two years now. What was the point in waiting any longer?
“I wish you didn’t have to go away, Michael.”
He put his glasses on, looking back down at the papers. “It’s the nature of my work, Layla, you know that. You’re in the business yourself.”
“I know,” she sighed, sitting back and stretching her arms high above her head, her robe slipping open to reveal a little more of her enhanced cleavage and Michael couldn’t help but look. “It’s just crap timing that I’m working away too. I wanted to be with you.”
He looked back down and said nothing. He was actually relieved they were going to be apart. He didn’t want or need the distraction of Layla when he had other things to concentrate on. Much more important things.
“India’s in the magazines again,” Layla said matter-of-factly, flicking idly through one that had been left on the table.
Michael looked up again at the mention of India’s name and Layla held up the page which displayed photographs of India and JJ walking with baby Ellie along an L.A. beach. They were looking at each other, JJ carrying Ellie who was snuggled into his shoulder, India with her arm around his waist, smiling up at him. The picture next to it showed them kissing. It was the perfect family snapshot and Michael had to look away.
“They look happy,” he said, trying to sound as though he couldn’t care less.
“Hmm, don’t they? Never thought JJ would settle down myself but she really seems to have gotten her claws into him. He looks almost domesticated. Daddy JJ. Just goes to show, doesn’t it?”
Michael gathered his things together and stood up. He didn’t feel much like listening to anymore of this. He had work to do, and lots of it if everything was to be ready in time.
Layla looked up at him as he pushed his chair in. “Where are you going? I thought we could do something together this evening?”
“I’ve got work to do, Layla. I’m really very busy.”
Layla couldn’t help but feel a flush of disappointment. Lately she’d felt as though he was almost drifting away from her, going off into his own little world behind the doors of that study of his. He never really liked her going in there and she’d never really felt the need to do so anyway, but whatever he was doing in there, it was keeping him away from her.
He sensed her disappointment and went over to her, kissing her quickly, smiling. “I’m sorry, honey. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, ok? We’ll do something together then, I promise.”
She smiled back, although the disappointment refused to go away. “Ok. Do you want me to stay the night? Because I can go home if you prefer?”
She looked sad and he hated himself for even thinking about doing what he was planning to do but he had to. He’d worked towards this moment for so long now. He just hoped Layla wouldn’t get too hurt.
“No. I’d like you to stay. Really. I won’t be too long, then maybe an early night might be just what I need.”
And what harm could that do? He wanted to, she wanted to. He might as well play this one out ‘til the end.
She smiled again. “I’ll see you soon, then?”
“Yeah.” He smiled too. “You’ll see me soon.”
***
Kenny co
uldn’t believe he hadn’t heard about this until two days ago. Two fucking days! He’d thought she was supposed to be his best friend and yet she’d kept him in the dark about this the same as everyone else. But he’d known as soon as he’d got the invitation what it was all about. He’d just had a feeling. It’d taken her a while to fall in love with JJ Foster but when she had she’d fallen hard and that made it all the more painful for Kenny to watch. Oh, he’d been under no illusion that she was ever going to come back to him, he’d given up on that a long time ago, but it didn’t make things any easier. Especially now they had Ellie. His baby Goddaughter. India had her family and Kenny was very much on the peripherals of that.
He’d thrown himself into many short and meaningless relationships since India and JJ had got together but none of them had made him feel any better. None of them had made him fall in love. It was almost as if the day India didn’t love him anymore had been the day every feeling he’d ever had had been switched off. But even short and meaningless relationships were better than being lonely. He was forty-four years old now and practically resigned to the fact he’d be a bachelor for life because it would be one very special woman who could make him love again. And that very special woman was marrying someone else. Tonight.
He knew she was going to look incredible, he knew she was going to look beautiful and he knew JJ would take one look at her and fall in love with her all over again but he had that right. He had every right to do that. Kenny had none.
But what he did have was the chance to be with her and work with her when they flew to the U.K. in a couple of weeks to start shooting their new movie. The fact she’d been as keen as him to do this project had made Kenny realise how much she still wanted to be close to him and that, at least, was something. But the fact JJ and the kids were coming too meant that when Kenny saw her it was going to be mainly on set. Outside of that she’d want to be with her family, and who could blame her for that?
“You ok?” Vince asked, sitting down next to Kenny, pulling a now very sleepy Lily onto his lap. Ethan was sitting next to Martha playing with his iPod, although she was trying, without much luck, to get him to put it away.
Kenny shrugged. “Just a little surprised she never told me about this, Vince.”
“Well, it seems as though nobody had any idea, Kenny. But I can understand why they kept it so secret. Can’t you?”
Kenny sighed, throwing his head back for a second, closing his eyes. “Yes. Yes, I can totally understand, Vince, it’s just … I thought we were close. I thought we were friends.”
“She told nobody, Kenny. Don’t beat yourself up over it. It was nothing personal.”
“I know. It just ...”
“Just what?”
Kenny looked over at JJ who was standing at the altar talking to Charley and cuddling his daughter. If he hadn’t come on the scene would things have been different?
It was almost as if Vince had read his mind. “Get over her, Kenny. Or you’re never gonna be able to move on.”
“That’s the problem, Vince. I don’t think I can.”
Kenny watched as JJ kissed Ellie, who gave her daddy the biggest, cutest smile, kissing him back before he handed her over to Charley.
“Try, Kenny. I’m being serious. You have to try.”
But Kenny wasn’t even sure he wanted to do that anymore.
“Budge up,” Charley said, squeezing past Kenny and sitting down next to Vince, settling Ellie down on her lap with her cuddly rabbit. “India’s almost ready, and she looks stunning. They’ve done a fantastic job with her hair and make-up, and her dress ...”
Vince threw her a look, indicating to Kenny, who was still watching JJ as he paced backwards and forwards, his hands in his pockets, his head down.
“Is he alright?” she mouthed at Vince, who just shrugged. “Kenny?” Charley asked, and he turned to look at her. “Are you ok?”
Kenny tried to smile. No use in bringing everybody else down with him. “I will be, Charley. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
He just wasn’t so sure that he meant it.
***
JJ was a bag of nerves and he had no idea why. What did he have to be nervous about? Becoming the third husband of one of the world’s most beautiful movie stars? No. He wasn’t nervous about that at all. He loved India; he loved her beyond anything else. She and Ellie were his world and he knew, without any shadow of a doubt, that this was what he wanted. No, what he was worried about was that India wasn’t completely certain, and until he saw her walking towards him he wasn’t going to be calm. She was already running late but that wasn’t a complete surprise. He’d seen Bobby running around up and down the stairs like some headless chicken, and the last time he’d seen him venturing upstairs to where India was getting ready he’d had a bottle of champagne with him, so that was a good sign, surely.
JJ still couldn’t believe how far things had come since he’d first set eyes on India Walsh. ‘Covert One’ had turned him into an international star, and thanks to India’s constant presence on the show, it had become a smash hit ratings winner - not just in America and the U.K. but also all over Europe, Australia and Asia - for three seasons now. He loved working with her, he loved living with her more, and today was the day JJ married the woman of his dreams.
“Hey, you’re going to wear that floor out,” Ray Foster smiled, watching his younger brother pace up and down.
Ray Foster was forty-four years old and an accomplished character actor who’d had a fair bit of success in Hollywood, but he was known mainly for his portrayals of the perfect English gentleman in intelligent and slightly high-brow movies. Or that’s what JJ called them anyway.
Ray hadn’t moved over to America when his family had relocated there with JJ. He’d been sixteen years old at the time with plans of his own so he’d stayed in London, put himself through drama school and forged a career in acting that had revolved around the theatre before he’d finally broken into films. Hence why he’d never lost his cut-glass English accent whilst his brother was pure Californian.
This film he was due to co-star in alongside Kenny Ross and India was a bit of a departure for Ray, though. He hadn’t done that much in the way of comedy, it wasn’t what he was really known for, but it was something he was looking forward to. Not just because he’d be working alongside his new sister-in-law, but also because it meant he got to spend some time with his brother and his baby niece, and up until now he’d been far too busy to do that.
But today also involved a role he’d never undertaken before, that of trying to keep his baby brother calm on his wedding day, and it was proving to be a tough job.
“Do you want a drink?” Ray asked JJ as he continued with his now almost hypnotic pacing of the floor. “Something to calm the nerves a bit?”
JJ finally stood still and looked at his brother. “No. I don’t want a drink. I’m not nervous, ok? Not really.”
“You keep telling yourself that, kiddo. Look, so she’s a little bit late, that’s what women do on days like this. She’ll just be sorting out last minute hair and make-up, that’s all. What are you worrying about?”
JJ sighed, digging has hands deeper into his pockets. “I just want to see her, Ray.”
Deep down inside JJ knew he was worrying unnecessarily. He’d heard everyone who’d been up to see India say how beautiful she looked and how happy she seemed. He was just missing her that was all. He was missing her.
“Ray, have you got the rings?” JJ asked, suddenly finding something else to panic about. At least the pacing had stopped.
“They’re exactly where they were when you asked me that same question five minutes ago. You sure you don’t want that drink?”
“No, I don’t. Jesus, I didn’t think I’d be like this, I was so sure I’d be calm but this is ridiculous.”
Ray tuned out of his brother’s pointless worrying and looked over towards the stairs, way over at the back of the room. He’d noticed movement coming from that direc
tion and he kept watching, knowing that any second now he’d see her. And when she finally appeared, holding onto the arm of her famous father as she made her way slowly downstairs, Ray couldn’t help but stare. She was breathtaking. But then, he already knew that, didn’t he?
“What’s the matter?” JJ asked, noticing his brother’s reaction.
“You are one lucky, lucky bastard,” Ray said, still staring at India, her eyes meeting his for the briefest of seconds.
JJ slowly turned round as a hush descended over the room, except for the sound of the music they’d picked together but for the life of him he couldn’t remember now because all he could concentrate on was her. The most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. She’d always been beautiful in his eyes, but today, right now, as she looked up and her eyes met his, there were no words to describe her, no way to explain what he was feeling. JJ just knew that he loved her.
***
India’s stomach was doing what felt like a million flips, making it feel as if a barrage of butterflies had been let loose inside her and she clung onto Reece’s arm, slowly looking up as they reached the bottom of the stairs. She caught Ray’s eyes first and he smiled at her, an act which didn’t really do a great job of settling any of those butterflies. And they came back tenfold as she watched JJ slowly turn around, his eyes immediately locking onto hers and she felt the tears well up again as she looked at him, so handsome, so incredibly handsome in a dark suit and tie, his skin smooth and tanned, his deep, dark eyes never leaving hers. She wasn’t thinking about anything else going on around her – although she was vaguely aware of someone crying that sounded suspiciously like Bobby – she was just concentrating on JJ, wanting to get to him, just to touch him, to hold his hand. Nothing else was even registering in her mind at that minute.
“I love you,” Reece whispered as they reached the altar, gently kissing her cheek and India smiled at him, handing her bouquet to Martha, all her nerves suddenly melting away as she turned to look at JJ.
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