The Geary Series Boxed Set (40 page)

“You’re very calm Olivia, are you feeling ok?” Lilly asked.

“Thanks, I feel calm, I can’t wait to be his wife and I wish time would hurry along a bit.” Olivia answered from behind her baby magazine.

Her head had been buried in the magazine for most of the morning while everyone around her fussed with their hair and make-up and dresses. His mother Ruth was the life and soul of the party keeping them focused on funny stories from Jack and Elijah’s childhood. Many of the stories they probably hoped the women wouldn’t hear.

“I’m fascinated with this magazine and the horrors of pregnancy, it’s enough to put you off for life. Why would they scare the hell out of pregnant women and tell them all the things that can go wrong.” Olivia voiced over the magazine as she squinted her eyes at Lilly’s dress.

“What is going on with that dress Lilly? Get rid of that shawl.” Olivia ordered.

“I can’t, I’m going to find my parents, I have to tell them about my brother and my mother wouldn’t approve of my cleavage on show, so I’m hiding it.” Lilly said.

“It’s my wedding, if I want boobs on show then that’s what I want, drop the shawl as soon as you’re done with her. You look absolutely ravishing in that dress and I’m sure Elijah would agree.” Olivia said and went back to her magazine.

The other ladies in the room hummed their approval and Lilly blushed at their collective compliment. She would get used to it one day but at the moment, women being genuinely kind was still a little unsettling.

Lilly said her goodbyes and kissed Olivia’s cheek and promised to be back in time for her bridesmaid duty. Wrapping her shawl closer around her body, she went in search of her parents.

Wandering through the halls of the venue, she took in the surroundings, there wasn’t a person in sight as she walked down the plush carpeted corridors until she turned the corner. She was faced with a room packed full of men and women in their finery. It was a sight to behold, every woman was wearing a hat, and it looked like a scene from Lady’s Day at Ascot.

She scanned the room looking for her mother and spotted Elijah instead, he came immediately towards her with lust in his eyes.

“What are you doing out here, it’s lovely to see you but is everything ok?” Elijah asked.

Elijah kissed her cheek and pulled her tight to his side and they walked side by side out of the noisy room and into a nearby drawing room.

“She is the calmest bride I have ever seen and can’t wait to marry Jack, there is nothing to worry about. I need to talk to my parents about William and I thought I could do it here in public and they would have to keep calm or they will lose face.” Lilly said.

“Ok, well I am coming with you this time, I’ll not let you face them alone. I know where they are standing so come on and let's get this over with. If we are quick about it there may be time for an orgasm before the wedding.” Elijah said.

“Elijah, you are so frisky.” Lilly said.

“Count on it all the time, now that I have found you I’m not going to leave you alone.” Elijah promised.

Elijah didn’t give Lilly any time to respond, he took her hand and pulled her along at a fast pace to where her parents were talking. They were alone and in the corner, a perfect spot to talk to them privately but publically.

The nearer she got the tighter she squeezed Elijah’s hand, he squeezed her hand back in solidarity. Lilly was within two feet from her parents and she tried to back away.  Elijah tightened his grip on her hand to keep her in place.

“I’m right here sweetheart, I’m not going to let them be nasty, stay strong.” Elijah whispered in her ear.

“Mum, dad, can we talk?” Lilly asked.

Gale and Dylan stopped their conversation and looked at Elijah rather than Lilly. They both studied him but didn’t say a word. They stood and waited for Lilly to start talking. She was instantly annoyed that they were always using their intimidating ways with her. Having Elijah next to her gave her the strength she needed.

“Is that yes or no?” Lilly asked.

“If you must Lillian, what is it you want to say?” Dylan answered her.

“I’m going to give my statement to the police on Monday about that had happened when I was admitted to the hospital. William was responsible and I wanted you to know first so that if you think your reputation may be damaged you can have a heads up. Your precious son, who you adore so much, deals drugs and is responsible for a woman in a coma in the hospital.” Lilly said in one breath.

“Don’t be ridiculous, is this your doing Geary, putting these ideas in her head.” Gale asked him. She completely ignored Lilly.

“Talk to your daughter and not with me.” Elijah said.

“Ok, Lilly, tell me why you are making up these lies about William? Do we need to put you in a rehabilitation place to get you clean?” Gale said.

“This is ridiculous Elijah, they are not listening, let’s go.” Lilly said.

Lilly squeezed his hand in a silent beg for him to say yes and take her away from her hateful parents. Elijah dropped her hand and stepped in front of her so that he was between her and her parents.

“Listen well Gale and Dylan, you seem not to care at all about Lilly. Assume from now on that Lilly is with me and if you want to speak with her, you will need to ensure you have remembered your manners. I will not allow you to be rude to her. Is that understood?” Elijah said and raised his hand to let them know he was not done. Both of them were about to protest, but he stopped them.

“One word out of the pair of you right now will get you both kicked out of this wedding and I know how much you are desperate to be here. It is only through the kindness of my mother that you are here at all. Dad didn’t want you here and you both know why. Lilly has done her duty and let you know that William will more than likely be arrested on Monday. What you do with that information is up to you.” Elijah told them.

Elijah took Lilly’s hand and led her away from the dumbstruck pair and hurried through the crowd and back into the drawing room they were in previously. Elijah closed the door as soon as they were both over the threshold and pushed her against the door and kissed her hard. He pulled away from her when he ran out of breath and stepped away.

“I’m sorry Lilly I was so rude to them, but their lack of manners makes me so angry. I promise you I will not let them intimidate you again.” He finished and kissed her again.

Lilly hadn’t said a word and kissed him back.

“Thank you for coming with me, I’m not sure how that would have played out if you had not been at my side. We will have to take a rain check on the orgasm as I need to be back for bridesmaid duty, I’ll see you in an hour or so at the altar.” Lilly said and winked as she left the room.

If Lilly had to go then so must he, they needed to be up the front before the bride got there. He smiled at himself and hurried off to find his brother.

Lilly sat chatting to Angie while they waited for the signal to go downstairs.  The room all the girls occupied was three rooms, with enough space for them all to get ready and relax.  The wedding was not due for another hour so they spent the time gossiping and planning baby names for Olivia’s child.  Everyone snapped their heads around when the door was slammed open.

“This is ridiculous Olivia, I can’t wait any longer, we’re getting married now, all this hanging around is driving me insane.” Jack said to the room.

“Oh thank God for that, let’s get going.” Olivia said and stood up and smoothed down her dress.

“You can’t see her before the wedding, it’s bad luck.” Angie said.

“Rubbish, we make our own luck, and in any case who do you think is walking her down the aisle? Come on sweetheart come and be my wife.” Jack said to Olivia and held out his arm for her to take.

“Ok, everyone, get down stairs and into position, Jack has spoken so we shall all obey.” Ruth said and kissed her son’s cheek as she passed through the open doorway.

One by one, they kissed Olivia’s cheek and exited the room until there was just Olivia and Jack.

“Show me your knickers Olivia.” Jack said.

“Show me yours first.” Olivia answered back.

“We’ll do it together.” Suggested Jack.

They both walked over to the mirror and turned their backs. Jack fumbled with the fly of his pants and dropped his trousers while Olivia pulled up the skirts of her dress and they looked over their shoulders and burst out laughing. Jack took a picture of the view that he had.  Jack’s pants said ‘Olivia’s husband’ and Olivia’s knickers said ‘Jack’s wife’.  Jack had them made especially for the day in case she forgot why she was there.

“You are such an idiot but I love you.” Olivia said and dropped her dress.

“Come on, let’s get married.” Jack said.

The ceremony was quick and beautiful, Olivia and Jack had simple vows and wanted to spend as much time with their guests as possible. After lightning speed photographs, the reception started in full swing.

Elijah was sitting next to Lilly on the top table along with Angie, Cecily, Michael, Ruth and Jack and Olivia.

“I want to be married to you, to grow old with you, let’s do it.” Elijah whispered.

“Elijah” Lilly whispered back with added hiss, “we are at a wedding, you are proposing again, in whispered sentences during the speeches?” she asked with incredulity.

“Yes I am, so how about it Lilly, will you?” Elijah asked.

“This is your proposal, at a wedding, knowing I hate weddings?” Lilly asked.

“Yes, Lilly, stop answering my questions with questions and answer my fucking question.” Elijah said, he was angry that she was stalling. He hadn’t planned it this way and was angry that it wasn’t going his way.

“Now you’re swearing, Elijah this is not the way to ask a girl to marry him.” Lilly said in a harsh tone that was louder than she wanted it to be. She looked around to see the entire wedding reception looking at her. Gazing out to the assembled guests, she had swiftly come to the conclusion that they had been quiet for a few minutes and knew what was being talked about.

“I’m sorry,” Lilly said to Jack and to the guests.

“Oh, don’t mind me, it’s only my speech and wedding, please carry on, I’m dying to know what happens next. I’m going to sit down and watch, because this is brilliant viewing.” Jack said and seated himself back down and took Olivia’s hand and kissed it. Olivia was beaming at Lilly, bouncing in her seat to see what was going to happen next. As she looked down the table, Michael and Ruth were grinning and Cecily at the end had eyes on stalks, Angie was grinning from ear to ear.

Lilly looked back to Elijah, pleading with him to end this torment, but he grinned wide. Sat back in his seat and folded his arms. Softly chuckling, he lent back on two legs of the chair whistling. It made Lilly nervous, he wasn’t going to back down, and he wanted an answer.

“Come on Lilly, everyone is waiting, what is it to be? Are we getting hitched or what?” Elijah asked. He was full of confidence, his eyes twinkling with humour. Lilly knew that he loved her and that he would spend all his days looking after her. She had been dying for him to ask the question again ever since he had revealed everything there was to know. She loved him too.

Looking around the room again she felt like everyone was holding their breath waiting for the answer. She felt bad making him wait, and she didn’t know why she was hesitating, she didn’t expect a public proposal.

“Yes” she whispered.

There was muttering among the guests and at the top table.

“I’m sorry Lilly, I didn’t quite hear you over here. What did you say?” Jack asked, his laughter was full of mirth and Olivia was giggling at his side. Lilly was blushing bright red and the guests were smiling but wanted their out loud yes before believing it.

“Say it Lilly, say it louder, I want to remember this moment for the rest of my life, I don’t want a whispered pledge, and I want you to say it loud.” Elijah said, he voice was booming but it was full of passion. It filled her with confidence, and then Lilly looked over at her parents, the only two people in the room not smiling. They were scowling at her, daring her to say yes. She wanted to say yes, not because she wanted to defy them but because she had finally found her happiness.

“Yes, Elijah I will marry you but there is a condition. There will be no dress, no cake, no speeches, no nothing. Is that a deal?” Lilly said, loud and clear for all to hear.

The room’s mutterings were again wandering through the air as they now waited for Elijah to answer. There were a few gasps at Lilly’s declaration that whilst at a glamorous wedding that she wanted nothing like it.

Elijah looked her square in the eye, cupped her cheek and leaned in.

“You’ve got yourself a deal sweetheart.” Elijah said.

The room erupted in cheers and everyone had stood to clap and cheer. The glass in their hands meant for Jack’s toast was raised to Lilly and Elijah. Jack let out the loudest cheer and walked over to his brother and bear hugged him, slapping his back in celebration.

“Let’s be done with the formality and celebrate my wedding and to Elijah’s future marriage.” Jack said and raised his glass to the assembled guests.

There was a chorus of Elijah and Lilly scattered into the air for half a minute. Lilly looked at Elijah and hugged and kissed him, the kiss although chaste was intense. Neither moved for some time until they heard a discreet cough behind them.

Jack grinned down at the pair once they had broken the kiss.

“Well, look what we have here, big brother upstaging me at my own wedding reception. I think it’s fabulous, congratulations to the pair of you. Now let’s get drunk, I think that’s what you said when Olivia agreed to my proposal, wasn’t it?”

“Yes something like that, where’s the Whisky, I know you have the good stuff hidden away.” Elijah said.

“Hey, no getting too drunk, I can’t have any.” Olivia said standing next to her husband, grinning.

“I’ll have your share.” Cecily said, wrapping an arm around Olivia and patting her flat stomach.

“So not fair, this pregnancy is going to be the longest ever known to man.” Olivia said and pouted sulkily. “Will you give up alcohol too Jack, so I’m not alone in this?”

Jack looked at his wife and wrapped his arms around her and smiled down.

“Of course, I will, not a drop will pass these lips until you give birth and then I will wet the baby’s head with you, is that a deal?” Jack asked.

“Deal.” Olivia grinned up at him.

Lilly, Elijah, Angie and Cecily groaned at the over the top declaration of solidarity.