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Shame hit her. She’d held out on Jackson because she’d feared she’d be hurting her son, yet all along the best thing she could’ve done for him was accept Jackson’s love and go with it. ‘Just like Robby’s father.’
She kissed her boy. ‘I love you, Nicholas.’
‘I love you, Mummy. I love Jackson.’ He slid off her knees. ‘Is he really, really going to be my daddy?’
‘Yes, darling, he is.’
A whirlwind of arms and legs raced for the door, hauled it open and Nicholas took off to charge through the house. ‘Where’s my daddy? Jackson, where are you? Mummy and Jackson are getting married. Jackson? There you are.’
Jess made it to the door in time to see Jackson swinging Nicholas up in his arms, both of them grinning like loons.
‘Guess everyone in the bay’s going to know in no time at all.’ She shook her head at Nicholas, her heart brimming with love. ‘Quiet has never been one of your attributes, my boy.’
Jackson rolled his eyes. ‘It’s funny, but I’m happy if the whole world knows I’m marrying you.’
CHAPTER TWELVE
SIX MONTHS LATER, on a perfect spring day, with a sky the colour of love, Jess walked down the path leading through Virginia’s garden to the marquee once again set up on the Wilsons’ front lawn. Jess clung to Ian’s arm, her fingers digging in hard as her high heels negotiated the newly laid pebbles. ‘Thank you for standing in for my father,’ she told Jackson’s dad.
True to form, Mum and Dad hadn’t been able to make it home for the wedding. Something about the gorillas in Borneo needing their attention. Jess swallowed her disappointment. She was about to get a whole new family: one that would always be there for her, as she would be for them.
‘I’m thrilled you asked me.’ Ian looked down at her with tears in his eyes. ‘I’m getting to be a dab hand at it. Two weddings in less than a year. Who’d have believed it? And before we reach that son of mine, who’s looking mighty pleased with himself, can I just say thank you for bringing him home for us.’
‘Thank goodness he didn’t have long to go to finish his contract.’ She’d have gone crazy if he’d been away much longer than the four months he’d had to do. Now he worked three days a week in Nelson and the rest of the time at the Golden Bay Medical and Wellbeing Centre.
Sasha spoke behind them. ‘Come on, you two. We’ve got a wedding to get under way, and Nicholas and I can’t stand around all afternoon listening to you both yabbering.’
Jess turned and grinned at her soon-to-be sister-in-law. ‘Yes, ma’am. By the way, you looked lovely in blue.’
‘Why do my friends get married when I’m looking like a house in a dress?’ For the second time Sasha was standing up for a close friend while pregnant.
Jess grinned and glanced down at Nicholas. He looked gorgeous in his dove-grey suit and sky-blue shirt that matched Jackson and Grady’s. ‘Let’s get the show under way. What do you reckon, Nicholas?’
‘Hurry up, Mummy. It’s boring standing here.’
Jess grinned. ‘Love you too, buddy.’ Then she faced the end of the path, where Jackson stood watching her take every step along that path. When she placed her hand on his arm he blinked back tears. ‘You are beautiful,’ he murmured. His eyes glittered with emotion.
She couldn’t say a word for the lump clogging her throat, so she reached up and kissed him lightly.
‘Seems we need to get you two married in a hurry.’ Diane, the marriage celebrant, chuckled. She looked around at the family and friends gathered on the lawn. ‘Jessica and Jackson stand here today in front of you all to pledge themselves to each other.’
Jess heard the words and yet they ran over her like warm oil, soft and soothing. Not once on that day in January, when she’d stood up with Jackson, watching her best friend marry Grady, had it occurred to her that she’d be getting married in this same place, with the same people surrounding them. She hadn’t known love like it—the depth, the generosity, the bone-melting sweetness. She hadn’t known the colour of love—summer blue with sunshine lightening it. Okay, today it was spring blue, but that was close enough.
In fact, it was brilliant, as Jackson said the vows he’d written himself, declaring his love for her, promising her so much. Her heart squeezed tight with love. This wonderful man was becoming her husband. Handing Sasha her bouquet, she held her hands out to him. The diamond-encrusted wedding ring he slipped onto her finger gleamed in the sunlight.
‘Jess, would you say your vows now.’ Diane caught her attention.
Taking Jackson’s strong, warm hands back in hers, she managed a strong voice. ‘Jackson Wilson, today I promise before our family and friends to always love you with all my heart, to share my life with you, to raise our children alongside you. I acknowledge you as my son’s father in the truest sense of the word. I love you. We love you.’ And then she couldn’t say any more for the tears in Jackson’s eyes and the lump in her throat.
Sasha placed the gold band she and Jackson had chosen into her shaking hand. Her fingers trembled so much Jackson had to help her slide the ring up his finger. And then he kissed her. Thoroughly. No chaste wedding kiss.
‘Okay, that’s enough, you two,’ Ian interrupted. ‘There are children present,’ he added, with a twinkle in his eye.
Diane smiled. ‘I declare you man and wife.’
‘Good, then I can kiss the bride,’ Jackson said.
There was a general groan and many quips from the people seated around them, but none of it stopped Jackson placing his lips on hers again.
Once more Ian interrupted by pulling her out of his son’s arms into his. ‘Welcome to the family, Jessica.’
Then Virginia and Sasha were hugging her, quickly followed by Nicholas, Grady, Mike and Roz, Rory and Mrs Harrop. Time sped by until Ian tapped a glass with a spoon and got everyone’s attention.
‘Champagne is being brought around. Let’s all raise a glass and drink to Jessica and Jackson.’
Champagne. That’s where this had all started. Her smile was met by one from her husband. ‘Yep, it’s the same champagne.’
As they were handed glasses of her favourite nectar, Jess grinned. ‘I won’t be drinking as much of this as I d
id the last time. I want all my faculties working on my wedding night.’
Jackson ran his hand through his hair, instantly mussing it up. ‘I seem to remember they worked fine that other time.’
He slipped his free hand through her arm and tugged her away from the crowd and through the rose garden that was Ian’s latest hobby. ‘I want a few moments alone with my wife.’
‘You sound very smug, Mr Wilson.’
‘Why wouldn’t I? I’ve just achieved a dream. You look absolutely beautiful. That dress with the orange flowers suits you to perfection.’
‘Apricot, not orange.’ She leaned against him and pressed a kiss to his mouth. ‘I love you.’
For a moment they were completely alone. No voices touched their seclusion and nothing interrupted the sense that they were in their own little world. Then Jackson pulled his mouth free. ‘I hope you’ve packed that orange bikini for our honeymoon.’
She’d done what she’d been told to do. Jackson had kept their destination a surprise, only saying that she’d need bikinis, lots of them. ‘Of course.’ And two other new ones he hadn’t seen yet. Not apricot in colour, either of them.
‘Our flight to Auckland leaves tomorrow afternoon.’
‘Right.’ Like she’d be wearing a bikini in Auckland in spring.
‘Then on Monday we fly to Fiji.’ That smug look just got smugger.
Secretly she’d hoped that’s where he’d chosen. ‘Fiji?’ She grinned. ‘You remembered.’ Her kiss smothered his chuckle.
‘We’re away for two weeks, sweetheart.’
‘Our house will be finished by then.’ There was only the paintwork to be completed and the carpet to be put down in their new home before they were handed the keys.
‘That will make you happy. Being back on your piece of dirt where you planned on bringing up Nicholas.’
That was one of the things she loved about this man. He understood her need to put down roots for herself, and how she had done that when she’d bought her little home. Which was why, when the insurance company had elected to bowl over both her houses and pay out the money, they’d had the two sections made into one and started building a house big enough to cope with the children they intended on having very soon.
