by Lucy Clark
Jane couldn’t help but laugh, unable to believe how happy she was.
‘Shall we go in?’ Sean asked Jane as he let the wriggling Spencer go, securing his arm around Jane’s waist once more.
‘Yes, my love, we shall.’
CHAPTER TWELVE
DURING THE NEXT few weeks after she’d accepted Sean’s proposal Jane couldn’t believe how happily her life had turned out. Not only had Louise and Barney well and truly accepted her as part of their family but they’d asked her to move into their guest room.
‘Just until the wedding,’ Louise had stated. ‘That way, you’ll be close to Sean and Spencer.’ This arrangement suited Jane down to the ground as she wasn’t used to making life-changing decisions in a rush.
‘You could just sneak downstairs and stay with me,’ Sean had said temptingly on more than one occasion, but he’d also understood Jane’s need to take things slowly.
‘Falling in love with you in such a short time has been enough of an emotional education,’ she’d told him, before kissing him with all the love in her heart. ‘Slowing things down isn’t a bad idea, Sean. For all of us.’
‘I know,’ he’d agreed, but he had held her close while they’d waited for Spencer to finish getting ready for bed. ‘I just never thought I’d feel this way, so…content. I want you, Jane. I want you to be my wife and I want it soon. Although things have happened faster than either of us probably imagined, it also feels so incredibly right. You said you don’t like long engagements and neither do I.’
‘But Spencer…’
‘Feels the same way. He’s already started calling you “Mum”.’
Jane grinned widely; her heart burst with love every time Spencer did so. ‘I never knew it would feel so…perfect.’
‘We are perfect. The three of us.’
‘I know but just the thought of organising a wedding, of actually setting a date—’ She stopped. ‘Sean, every time I’ve tried to make arrangements in the past, things have always gone wrong.’
He’d pondered her words for a moment before asking, ‘What if I surprise you?’
‘Surprise me?’
‘Surprise wedding.’
‘What? Like a surprise party?’
‘Why not? That way you don’t have to be stressed about it at all.’
She looked at him with surprise. ‘You never fail to amaze me.’ She kissed him quickly yet lovingly. ‘Promise me you won’t ever stop.’
‘So I can organise a surprise wedding for you?’
‘Um…’ It would stop her from worrying and stressing about things. ‘Are you sure you want to do it?’
Sean’s answer had been to capture her mouth with his own. ‘Absolutely.’
And so for the next few weeks, Jane simply released all that extra tension from her shoulders, amazed at how wonderful it was to have someone else to care about her burdens. What she was able to focus on was helping Louise plan Spencer’s seventh birthday party.
‘I know you wanted all the attention to be on Spencer and not on you, but I’m glad you’re letting us make this a combined birthday party,’ Louise said the day before the event as Jane helped her to put the finishing touches on Spencer’s character birthday cake. She’d never made a birthday cake before, and certainly not one for the little boy who now called her Mummy.
‘Spencer insisted. He said he wouldn’t have a party at all if I didn’t agree to have one with him.’ Jane laughed as she licked a bit of the icing from the knife before putting the mixing bowls into the sink. ‘He’s so excited to be sharing his birthday with me. He told me it’s our special bond.’ And on hearing those words from the almost-seven-year-old, Jane had let go of the last tie she’d been holding onto from her past. No longer was Spencer her sister’s son; instead, he was her birthday buddy. ‘He’s quite a charmer—just like his father.’
‘It’s hereditary,’ Louise agreed, then glanced at the clock behind her. ‘Good heavens. Is that the time?’
‘Oh, I need to go and pick Spencer up from school,’ Jane said, glad Sean had insisted she take a few days’ annual leave before the birthday party.
‘You’ll enjoy the build-up to the party even more if you’re not having to stress about patients and rush around at the hospital,’ he’d said, and Jane had to admit he’d been right.
When Spencer got into the car, he was buzzing with delight about his party tomorrow.
‘And we can’t wait to go laser tagging and we’ve already decided who’s going to be on my team and who is going to be on Tessa’s team,’ Spencer remarked.
‘Tessa’s looking forward to it, then?’ It had only been after Tessa’s discharge from the hospital that Jane had learned the little girl not only went to the same school as Spencer but was in his class. In true Booke family fashion, and without any prompting from the adults, Spencer had sought Tessa out, befriending her, and when Jane had seen the girl only a few days ago she’d been amazed at the transformation. A rosy glow had infused Tessa’s cheeks and the smile on her face as she’d chatted animatedly with Spencer had filled Jane’s heart with joy. ‘These Booke men are quite wonderful,’ she murmured.
‘What did you say, Mummy?’ Spencer asked.
Jane smiled at him. ‘I said you and your dad are quite wonderful.’
‘What does wonderful mean?’ He tipped his head to the side and looked at her intently, as though he completely trusted her to know all the answers.
‘Uh…’ Jane thought for a moment. ‘It means purple and green together,’ she told him.
‘Ohhh. Yeah. I get it now.’ Spencer paused for one quick breath before continuing with what he’d been saying. ‘And anyway Tessa and I both wanted you on our team but she said that as you were my new mother that you could be on my team. I can’t wait until we have the cake. Is it finished? Did you and Grandma finish it?’
Jane laughed at the way he wasn’t to be derailed from the topic at hand and listened intently as she drove them home in her new car. Home. How perfect that word sounded. True to his word, Sean hadn’t said anything more to her about the wedding but when he’d asked her if she wanted to wear an engagement ring, Jane had shrugged.
‘Not really. I mean, nine times out of ten I can’t wear rings at the hospital so I don’t see the point.’
‘Were you always this practical?’ he’d asked, with a wide smile on his face.
‘I had to be.’
‘And rightly so.’ Sean had also had the impression that Jane didn’t want the traditional wedding service with all the trappings and trimmings because that was exactly the wedding he’d had with Daina. If Daina had been a Bridezilla, then Jane was the complete opposite. It was one of the reasons he loved her so much. She was simply perfect for him. ‘Well…’ he’d said a moment later, having thought about it. ‘How about we have your wedding ring made up with a few diamonds inset?’
‘I guess so but I’m not really a diamond sort of girl. I guess having a surname like Diamond all these years has put me off. However, I do like the idea of getting some stones inset. What’s your birth stone?’
‘I believe it’s tanzanite.’
‘And Spencer and I are both aquamarine so why not have a piece of tanzanite inset with an emerald either side? One for each of us.’
‘And if we happen to blessed with more children in the future?’
Jane had glanced over at him, realising this was his way of asking her if she wanted children. She’d smiled reassuringly and nodded. ‘Then I’ll have to get the ring adjusted.’
Sean had reached over and kissed her hand. ‘Sounds perfect.’ He’d then told her he’d need her ring size and once that had been achieved, she’d gone back to simply enjoying her new world, the world of love and laughter and family. She’d been able to get to know Kathleen and Rosie much better and was enjoying playing a nightly game of chess with Barney. She really was part of the Booke family and when Sean came home from work that night she couldn’t help but slip her arms about his waist and tell him just h
ow much she loved being with him, being a part of his family.
Sean kissed her as though he hadn’t seen her for weeks, rather than only since that morning. ‘And tonight, my gorgeous Jane, I’m going to take you out for a special pre-birthday dinner because, believe me, although Spencer says he’s happy to share his birthday with you, the day will still be all about him.’
‘And I’m more than happy to have that happen.’ She laughed.
‘Go on up and get dressed. We have reservations in an hour.’
‘Oh. Is it a fancy place? I’m not sure I have anything suitable to wear.’
‘It’s all taken care of.’ He smiled and kissed her again. ‘I love you, Jane. Every single part of you.’
‘I believe you, Sean. I really do.’ It was a few more minutes before she was able to head up to her room, excited that she was getting to enjoy a special, secret dinner for her birthday just with Sean.
On the bed, she found a garment bag and when she unzipped it, inside was the most wonderful cream-coloured dress she’d ever seen in her life. Simple in design, the straight skirt came to mid-calf while the bodice had small daisy flowers embroidered around the waist and a scooped neckline. The dress was sleeveless but also in the garment bag was a light shawl, embroidered with daisies. She stared at the dress for a whole minute, unable to believe something so beautiful was being given to her.
At the knock on her door, she jumped. ‘It’s only me,’ Louise called, opening the door a little. ‘Sean told me he’s taking you out for a special dinner. Can I come in?’
‘Look what Sean bought me!’ Jane pointed to the dress as Louise came into the room, closing the door behind her.
‘Oh, Jane. It’s gorgeous.’
‘I know.’
‘Here. Let me help you put it on.’
Jane was pleased with the help because when she tried to undo the zipper she was surprised to find her hand trembling. She didn’t even have time to think about the scars on her body or that Louise might see them. She was far too excited to be self-conscious. When the dress was on, Jane stared at herself in the mirror, gobsmacked at her reflection.
‘I look…beautiful.’ She spoke the word as though she’d never thought of herself in that way before.
Louise laughed. ‘Of course you do, darling.’ She pointed to Jane’s feet. ‘You need shoes and, do you know, I think I have just the pair. Good thing we’re the same size. Be right back.’
Jane turned one way then the other, unable to believe it was really her in the reflection. She looked at her hair and held it up from her neck, bunching the long locks, trying to figure out what sort of style suited the dress. Finally, she pulled half of it back, leaving the rest hanging loose down her back. ‘That works.’
Louise returned a moment later with the shoes and also a small necklace which was made from diamonds and sapphires in the shape of little daisies. ‘Look what else I found. It was Sean’s grandmother’s.’
‘Blue daisies,’ Jane gasped, and when Louise clasped the necklace around her neck, Jane couldn’t believe how perfectly it all fitted. Even the borrowed shoes matched.
‘I like what you’ve done with your hair,’ Louise said. ‘Perfect. Now, how about a little bit of make-up? Just a touch of blush and a bit of lip gloss?’
Jane nodded deciding that as tonight was going to be her very special pre-birthday dinner with Sean, and he’d gone to such trouble to buy her the dress, she wanted to be the perfect princess for her very own prince.
When Louise had finished applying the make-up, giggling that she felt very much like the fairy godmother getting Cinderella ready for the ball, Jane slipped her glasses back on and stared at her reflection in stunned disbelief.
‘Oh, my. I really am a princess.’
Louise laughed. ‘I can’t wait for Sean to see you.’
‘Me neither.’ Jane smoothed her hand down the dress.
‘Well, go on, then,’ Louise prompted, pointing to the door. ‘I’m sure your chariot awaits.’
Jane laughed and headed for the door, walking with more pride and self-assurance than she could ever remember feeling before. It was Sean. He had come into her life, enhancing it beyond measure.
As she descended the stairs, it wasn’t Sean but Spencer, who was dressed for bed, who saw her first.
‘Mummy!’ he gasped, unable to stop himself from staring at her.
The word made Jane’s moment even more complete.
‘You’re so beautiful,’ he breathed.
‘That’s an understatement, son,’ Sean remarked, walking over to take Jane’s hand in his, bringing it to his lips and kissing it in a gallant gesture. ‘Stunning.’
She smiled shyly. ‘Thank you for the dress. It’s…the prettiest thing I’ve ever worn.’
Sean seemed genuinely choked up at the sight of her and simply nodded, acknowledging her words.
‘You two had better get going,’ Louise interjected a moment later as the two of them just stood there, staring into each other’s eyes.
‘Yes.’ Sean was the first to snap out of it. ‘Let’s say goodnight to Spencer.’
Jane bent down and held out her arms to Spencer, who immediately ran to her. He wrapped his arms about her neck and kissed her cheek. ‘I can’t wait until you’re my real mummy. It’s so exciting,’ he squeaked, before his father scooped him up and blew a raspberry on his tummy, peals of delighted laughter filling the air.
‘Don’t razz him up too much,’ Louise complained, glaring pointedly at her son.
‘True. True.’ With that, Sean pressed one last kiss to his son’s cheek and put him back on the floor. ‘Brush your teeth and remember to do exactly what Grandma says, OK?’
‘Yes, Dad.’ Spencer rolled his eyes as though he’d already been through this drill.
‘Right, then.’ Sean crooked his arm towards Jane who immediately placed her hand around his elbow. ‘Shall we?’
‘We shall,’ she returned, and it wasn’t until she was walking out the door that Louise gave her a small fabric bag, which she slipped over Jane’s wrist.
‘Has a bit of lippy in it in case you need a touch-up later on.’
‘Oh. Thanks.’
‘Happy birthday.’ Louise and Spencer waved, Barney coming to join them as they all waved the birthday girl off on her adventure.
The instant Sean had reversed out of the driveway, Louise turned to her husband and grandson. ‘Action stations!’ she declared, and they all quickly set about putting the rest of the night’s events into motion.
*
It wasn’t until after dinner, eaten by candlelight in a secluded gourmet restaurant, that Jane looked across the table at Sean and realised that something was going on.
‘Is that your phone buzzing again?’
‘Yes.’
‘I hope it’s not an emergency, although if it is, we’ll deal with it.’
‘It’s not the hospital,’ he replied.
‘Oh.’ Anxiety marred her features as she watched him read the text message. ‘Is it Spencer?’
‘No, no.’ Sean smiled at her. ‘Everything is fine…except for the little surprise I have for you.’ He motioned to the waiter and a moment later a box wrapped in pretty birthday paper with daisies all over it was placed in front of her. ‘Happy birthday, Jane.’
‘A present? I thought the dinner was my present.’
‘Open it,’ he encouraged, watching her closely.
‘OK.’ Jane smiled as she ran her hands over the box that looked as though it contained a bottle of wine. Carefully she peeled off the paper, pleased when Sean didn’t try to rush her. Finally, she removed the paper and looked at what was inside. ‘Cinnamon!’
‘No one’s going to wreck this doll,’ Sean said softly. ‘Her hair is almost as long as yours but I have to say yours is much more impressive, and silky and soft and…’ He breathed out, repressed desire in his eyes. ‘And you know I want to run my fingers through it right now.’
Jane held his gaze and nodded, t
he doll still firmly in her hands. ‘Then we’d better get out of here,’ she suggested, and he nodded. ‘I can’t believe you remembered the doll. This is the most perfect present, Sean. Thank you.’
He stood from his seat and came around to hold her chair, and she instantly pressed her lips to his. ‘Thank you,’ she said again.
‘You’re more than welcome,’ he remarked, letting his hands trail slowly through her free-flowing locks.
Jane sighed. ‘I guess it is almost pumpkin time.’
‘Pumpkin time?’
She smiled at him as they said goodbye to the proprietor. ‘Midnight,’ she tut-tutted as they walked to his car. ‘You have two sisters who no doubt dressed up as fairy-tale princesses when they were younger and yet you have no idea what “pumpkin time” means?’
He shrugged. ‘My sisters were always a puzzle to me when we were growing up.’ He held the car door for her, pressing a kiss to her lips before quickly going around to the driver’s side. Even there, he seemed a little preoccupied and almost…nervous.
‘Sean? Is everything all right?’
‘Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be?’ he said as he drove them away from the city, towards Port Adelaide. ‘I just have one more little surprise for your birthday and then we can think about heading home.’
‘OK,’ she said, her nerves settling with his reassuring tone. She dug around in the little handbag Louise had given her and reapplied the lip gloss, before closing her eyes and allowing herself to listen to the soothing classical music Sean had switched on.
‘I’m having such a wonderful time,’ she said dreamily, her words relaxed and floating away on the breeze. ‘I can’t believe how much I love you, Sean. How much you mean to me. I never want to let you go. I never want to be apart from you. You’ve made my world.’
‘That’s good to hear,’ he said as he slowed the car and finally brought it to a stop. It was only then she realised he’d parked the car and that they were at the port. Outside her window was a small cruising yacht, covered in fairy-lights.
