She’d wanted the fantasy of being able to close her eyes for a moment during the wedding vows and imagine what it would be like if the words were being spoken by herself. And Oliver.
The vows were simple. Heartfelt declarations of love and the promises to nurture that love for as long as they both lived. The guests were close enough to hear every word and to see the tender kiss exchanged as the vows ended. And nobody missed the way Kate took her hands, still enclosed by both of Connor’s, to rest against her belly before they finally broke their first kiss as man and wife. The wedding celebrant, a middle-aged woman called Sarah, smiled mistily.
‘Connor and Kate are celebrating their love for each other in more ways than getting married today,’ she told the guests. ‘They’d like to share with you all the joy they have in expecting their first baby. They’ve become more than simply man and wife in this lovely ceremony. They’ve become afamily.’
A surprised, delighted murmur came from the guests. Bella was close enough to hear Lady Dorothy’s excited whisper.
‘Oh… Oliver, isn’t that wonderful? A darling baby. Howperfect.’
Kate and Connor were smiling at each other in a way that shut out anybody else on the planet. Sarah was raising her voice to be heard over the murmurs.
‘Please enjoy this time on Piha beach while some photographs are being taken. Kate and Connor will be joining you in the marquee for the picnic supper very soon.’
The group began to move now, dispersing in different directions. Some went to find people they knew to talk to. Others started making their way to the marquee set up by the spit-roast company that was catering the low-key wedding breakfast. Other people were staying to watch the photographer, who was ushering Kate and Bella into position for the first shots.
‘Just a couple,’ he said. ‘I want to get the bride and groom near the waves while the light’s this good. We’ll do any family shots later.’
From the corner of her eye Bella could see her parents being dragged towards the food. Her younger brothers and sisters were pretty much grown up now, but one of her brothers was a poor medical student, and the baby of the family was only nineteen and still a bottomless pit when it came to food.
She watched them laughing and jostling each other and felt like she was standing on another planet. Her siblings still had no idea she had ruined her plans for her exciting overseas adventures, not to mention getting married to a man she loved, who loved her, and settling down to the business of creating her own family.
With Kate’s agreement, Bella had put off telling her parents when they’d arrived yesterday as well. They both knew that the support would be there when Bella needed it but it would be a shock that needed absorbing, and if Bella told them now, it would totally overshadow any joy they had in being a part of Kate’s wedding, even if they had no idea that the father of her baby was present at the wedding, and if there was enough tension, the Dawsons would realise that something was amiss.
Having all the most important people in her life in one place like this was incredibly stressful. Bella would have loved to have been heading for a glass or two of champagne herself, but she couldn’t and only two other people here knew why. What if somebody offered her a glass and guessed why she was refusing it?
She could almost hear one of her sisters laughing and saying, ‘Good heavens, Bella, that’s not like you. You’re not pregnant or something, are you?’
And what if Oliver happened to be standing nearby?
Oh…help… How on earth was she going to get through the next few hours?
The photographer was now leading Kate and Connor away for their photographs and Bella found herself standing alone. She could see Oliver preparing to help his mother get up from the low chair. How long were they planning to stay? Long enough for her to have to introduce them to her parents? Her mother had said she was keen to meet Bella’s intriguing new employer.
Bella could feel the tension escalating rapidly as she saw that Oliver was starting to walk towards her. Lady Dorothy must have declined his assistance. She was still sitting in the chair, staring towards the sea, apparently watching the bride and groom have their photographs taken.
Turning her head away with something like panic bubbling within, Bella saw that the happy couple were walking hand in hand, close to the waves. Their heads were bent so close together they seemed to be touching and the photographer was behind them, capturing the tender moment that had the dramatic backdrop of Lion Rock.
A very real moment.
And here she was, living a lie. She’d been so determined to stay inside that fantasy bubble for as long as she could, and Kate had been right. The longer she was leaving it, the harder it was getting. She’d made it so much worse by allowing herself that extra time with Oliver. Lying to him yet again, albeit by omission. The kind of lie that had always seemed to be far less of a sin. Until now.
Bella hated herself right then. She deserved whatever was coming and it was coming soon, she could tell. Good grief, she felt like she might explode at any moment.
And Oliver was simply smiling at her.
‘You look gorgeous,’ he said.
‘Thank you.’ Her throat was so tight it was hard to get any words out.
‘You’re about to lose this, though.’ He reached out and his hand touched her hair. Bella had a hairstyle that matched Kate’s, with a twisted section to hold the loose length in place. Tiny blue flowers had been wound into her hair to match her dress, but one of them must have worked loose. And Oliver was fixing it?
Oh…God…
Bella could feel the touch of his hand. She could feel the warmth of it and it was all she could do not to tilt her face so that it was cupped by his palm. And he was leaning closer so that he could see what he was doing. So close that Bella could feel his breath on her face. She could feel the intensity of his gaze even before she raised her eyes to meet it.
‘You’re beautiful, Bella,’ Oliver said softly. ‘I want to kiss you.’
Bella’s mouth went as dry as the sand further up the beach. ‘No, you don’t.’ Desperation made her words come out with a faint hiss.
