The Greek Bridegroom
Page 14
She saw Jace standing at the assembled altar, and she caught his gaze and held it as she made her way towards him.
A light, husky laugh escaped her lips as he drew her close and kissed her, thoroughly.
The celebrant cleared his throat, and they broke apart.
It was a simple ceremony, the words deeply moving, and Rebekah fought back the faint shimmer of tears as Jace slid a wide diamond-encrusted ring onto her finger.
There was the flash of cameras, voiced congratulations, and a shower of rose petals as they trod the red carpet as man and wife.
Champagne and food were served in a marquee erected close by, guests greeted and thanked, then all too soon it was time to change and leave for the airport.
Ana helped her remove the headpiece and veil, then assisted with the zip fastening of the gown.
Rebekah freshened up, then slipped into an elegant trouser suit, added comfortable heeled shoes, then turned towards her sister.
‘I’m going to miss you dreadfully.’
‘We’ll email each other every day, and talk on the phone. Jace has promised me you’ll both visit at least twice a year.’
Rebekah’s expression sobered a little. ‘A month ago—’
‘Don’t look back,’ Ana cautioned gently. ‘You have today, and all the tomorrows.’ She brushed her lips to Rebekah’s cheek. ‘Embrace them and be happy.’
‘How did you get to be so wise?’ Rebekah asked shakily.
‘If you cry, I’ll hit you.’
‘Sisterly love,’ Luc drawled from the doorway, whilst Jace offered,
‘Shall we divide and conquer?’
‘I think so,’ Luc said with musing indolence as he crossed to his wife’s side and drew her close.
Jace extended his hand, and Rebekah’s toes curled at the way he looked at her. ‘Ready, agape mou?’
‘Yes.’ And she was. Ready to go anywhere he chose to lead.
Together they made their way downstairs, and as they reached the car Rebekah turned to her sister.
‘OK, this is it. The last goodbye.’ She gave Ana a quick hug. ‘I’ll ring you from Paris.’ Then it was Luc’s turn. ‘Look after her,’ she said fiercely.
‘Every minute of every day,’ he promised solemnly.
‘Go,’ Ana pleaded, on the verge of tears.
Two sisters, two destinies, Rebekah mused as Jace took the main road leading towards the airport.
‘We’ll visit soon. And you have my word we’ll return for the birth of Ana’s child.’
Rebekah felt something begin to soar deep within, and she turned to look at him. ‘Have I told you how much I love you?’
She had, several times through the night. They were words he’d never tire of hearing. Words he’d say to her, over and again for the rest of his life.
‘If you do, I’ll pull the car to the side of the road and kiss you.’
Her eyes assumed a wicked sparkle. ‘An act that would probably cause a public spectacle.’
‘Count on it.’
‘Then I guess we need to wait for a more appropriate moment?’ She began counting off each finger. ‘Let’s see, there’s the long flight, with a brief stop-over in Los Angeles. Thirty-six hours in total before we reach Paris.’
‘Forty-eight,’ Jace corrected with a musing smile. ‘We have a not-so-brief stop-over in Los Angeles.’
Rebekah gave a laugh that was part delight, all mischief. ‘Can’t keep your hands off me, huh?’
He shot her a gleaming glance. ‘Want me to try?’
Her expression sobered. ‘No,’ she assured quietly. ‘Not in this lifetime.’
He waited until he passed the hire car in at the airport before he gathered her close and kissed her, thoroughly. So thoroughly she temporarily lost any sense of time or place.
Then he unloaded their bags from the boot, hefted the strap of one bag over his shoulder and gathered up the other, and caught her hand in his.
Together, as they would always be, for the rest of their lives.
EPILOGUE
SYDNEY in the spring reminded Rebekah of new beginnings as seasonal plants came into bud with the promise of life and colour. The trees began to blossom as nature prepared for yet another rebirth.
The gardens in the grounds of Luc and Ana’s beautiful home were carefully tended, the lawns fresh and green and clipped with manicured precision.
It was a glorious day, the sun shone and there was only the merest drift of cloud in a stunning blue sky.
A baby’s wail pierced the air, loud and protesting, as the celebrant performed the naming ceremony of Luc and Ana’s young son. Marcus Lucien Dimitriades possessed a strong pair of lungs, and at three months of age he was his parents’ pride and joy.
‘Beautiful,’ Jace accorded softly as he curved an arm along the back of her waist, and she turned to him with a smile, about to concur, when she saw he was looking at her, not the babe Ana held in her arms.
It was almost a year since their marriage, and there were times when she felt the need to pinch herself to see if she was living in a dream or the real world.
‘Definitely real,’ Jace assured quietly as he brushed his lips to her temple, and she lifted her face to slant her mouth into his, briefly savoured their warmth and reluctantly broke the contact.
‘I love you.’
She felt his arm muscles tighten at the back of her waist. ‘You certainly pick your moments, agape mou.’
‘Bothers you, huh?’ she teased, and almost drowned in the passion evident in his dark gaze. ‘You can exact your revenge later.’
‘Count on it.’
Later that night she lay in his arms, replete in the aftermath of lovemaking.
‘Have you told Ana our news?’
Rebekah pressed her lips to his shoulder, nibbled a little, then soothed the love-nip with a soft kiss.
‘Today was special, and very much her day. I’ll tell her over lunch tomorrow.’
Jace’s hand shifted to her waist and settled there, and she covered it with her own.
A child, theirs. A unique gift they would nurture and watch grow. Share the joys, the fun, the laughter, and hopefully few tears. And love unconditionally for the rest of their lives.
‘No regrets?’
‘None,’ she vowed gently. ‘You’re the love of my life. My present, my future. Everything.’
Brad, her brief marriage, and its repercussions no longer existed.
‘As you are mine,’ Jace reciprocated gently.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8314-9
THE GREEK BRIDEGROOM
First North American Publication 2002.
Copyright © 2002 by Helen Bianchin.
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