Their Baby Surprise (14 page)

‘I’ll need to think about it,’ she replied, pretending to give the idea due thought. She squealed when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. ‘All right, then, yes! Yes, I’ll marry you, Matt, although what Heather and Ross are going to think about us getting married is anyone’s guess.’

‘They’ll be thrilled to bits, especially when they find out about the baby,’ he assured her with a confidence that stemmed from pure joy. Nothing would spoil their happiness. He wouldn’t let it!

‘Let’s hope they are both up for a spot of babysitting,’ Rachel murmured, pulling him towards her.

That marked the end of the conversation, not that Matt was sorry. They had far better things to do and they did them too. As they lay together in his bed later that night, he felt as though he was floating on air. He had found the woman who was going to make his world complete again and they were having a child. Life couldn’t get any better than this!

Two years later….

A soft breeze blew in off the ocean, cooling the heat of the day to a bearable level. Matt stood beside the platform that had been built above the shore and watched the waves lapping at the glistening white sand. It was his wedding day and he knew that it was going to be a very special occasion, one he and Rachel would remember for the rest of their lives with pleasure.

They had flown to Thailand at the beginning of the week and spent several days in Bangkok completing the formalities. Once that was done they and their guests had been driven to Hua Hin on the coast. Rachel had confessed that it had always been her dream to be married by the ocean and he had pulled out all the stops to make sure that she had the wedding she wanted. It was winter back home in England but here in this tropical paradise the sun shone each and every day. Another wonderful omen for their life together.

The music suddenly changed, the triumphant strains of the Wedding March heralding his bride’s arrival. Matt turned to face her, feeling his heart overflow with love. She had been very secretive about her dress and had forbidden him to take even the tiniest peek at it, but it had been worth the wait. Rachel looked a vision in the simple silk gown she had chosen for the occasion with tiny, star-like white flowers in her hair.

His smiled at her then let his gaze move on to the people who had travelled all that way to celebrate them getting married. Heather was here with her husband, Archie, both of them looking so gloriously happy that Matt’s own pleasure intensified. Ross was also here with Gemma at his side and it was obvious that they were very much in love too. Ben and Zoe were laughing as they held hands with their daughter, who was skipping along beside them. They too had the look that all couples in love shared, one of happiness and pride. How odd that a cancelled wedding had led to so many people finding true love.

‘Dada!’

Matt’s smiled widened when he recognised a familiar little voice. He stepped forward and lifted the little girl out of her mother’s arms. Sophie Jane Thompson was the image of her mother from her shiny chestnut curls to her huge brown eyes and he adored her.

‘Hello, princess. Have you been a good girl for Mummy?’

Sophie nodded her head, setting the tiny flowers that had been woven through her hair bobbing. She was wearing a white dress too, with frilly white socks and white satin shoes. Matt put her down on the ground and took a firm hold of her hand as he smiled at Rachel.

‘You look beautiful,’ he said softly, loving her with his eyes.

‘Thank you,’ she replied, smiling up at him as she slipped her hand into his. ‘Not changed your mind, have you? You still want to go ahead with this?’

‘Oh, most definitely.’

He dropped a kiss on her lips then led her towards the arch of flowers that marked the entrance to the podium that had been erected for the ceremony. There was a muslin canopy overhead to shade them from the sun and more flowers arranged in huge vividly coloured displays, but Matt was barely aware of his surroundings as he made his vows to love and cherish Rachel until the day he died.

This
was what mattered most, he thought. These promises they made. He meant every word and knew that Rachel meant them too, and happiness filled him to the brim. They were going to have the most wonderful life together.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-4859-9

THEIR BABY SURPRISE

First North American Publication 2010

Copyright © 2009 by Jennifer Taylor

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