“Will you marry me?” I asked as I gazed at him.
He paused and glanced up. “Every day of the week. Only one problem,” he said.
“What’s that?” I asked as he rounded the table, sat, and slid me onto his lap.
“We both hate weddings.”
Another six weeks later
Nathan
She looked so bloody beautiful. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. My parents’ garden was covered in trestle tables; wine-colored roses spilled out over every surface. Instead of white, Madison wore pink, just like the first time I’d met her.
“We did it,” she said, whispering into my ear and squeezing my hand.
“Did you think we wouldn’t?” Madison had asked me if I was sure a lot these past six weeks. I couldn’t help but think she was asking herself the question as well. But from today—our wedding day—she needn’t question us any longer. We were in love. We were married. We were forever.
“No, but I can’t believe how quickly it came together. Thank God for the wedding planner,” she said as we stood at the far end overlooking all our guests.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” Gretel said, coming up to hug us both. “I’ve been telling everyone how I was the one who introduced you.” Madison and I shot each other a look but didn’t correct her. “You never know, perhaps I’ll run some singles holidays from my bed and breakfast.”
“You’re definitely going ahead with that?” I asked her.
“Absolutely. On a flight to Canada next week. I’m scouting there and in the US for three weeks. Before that I’m going up to Scotland to see a couple of places.”
“Wow, from PR to running your own B&B,” Madison said. “You couldn’t get more different.”
“I guess. I’m going to mesh the two. Many of my PR contacts might be in need of a bit of rest and relaxation.”
“Well, that’s three of us following our dreams when it comes to our careers,” Madison said.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do yet?” Gretel asked me.
I shook my head. “Not yet. I have a few ideas.” I knew I wasn’t the kind of guy to have my finger in lots of pies. I needed something to focus on. Something to consume me. I’d been working on a couple of things, had a few meetings, but I wasn’t in a rush. For the first time in a long time, I was enjoying taking my time to find the right thing without feeling any pressure to perform.
“You’ll do fantastically, whatever you choose. You might have been a pain in my arse when I worked for you, but it was for all the right reasons,” she said. “And when I’m all set up, wherever that might be, you’ll both have to come and stay.”
“You couldn’t keep us away,” Madison said. “You introduced us, after all.”
Beaming, Gretel went back to the party and Madison and I wandered over to the first table, where my family was sitting.
“Here’s my new daughter-in-law,” my mum said, springing to her feet. “You look beautiful. And you make my son so happy. I couldn’t wish for more.” She paused and glanced over at the rest of the table. “Well, when I get a couple more of these boys off my hands, that would be good too. Do you have any friends, my dear?”
“I’m not sure if Audrey counts as my friend or yours, Nathan,” Madison answered, nodding over to the bar where Audrey stood with Jacob.
“I’m happy to share,” I said. “Jacob better not get any ideas though. Audrey’s been through and is going through a lot. She doesn’t need him adding to her stress.”
Madison tugged on my arm. “He might be a stress reliever, you never know.”
“Love has no perfect timing,” my mother said. “Your father and I were rushed off our feet when we first met. If you like someone when they’re under pressure, you’ll like someone forever.”
“Certainly worked for us,” I said.
My mother beamed. “I knew you two were going to work out as soon as you told me you were bringing her up here.”
“Who could resist falling in love with a man with such an amazing family?” Madison said. Mum pulled her in for a hug.
“Here come your parents,” I said to Madison, as her mum and dad strode toward us.
I was surprised by how quickly Mandy and I were able to make peace. Once I met the woman behind the gossip, I realized she was pursuing the same journalistic ideals that motivated Madison, just in a very different way. A few weeks ago, she’d happily announced to her readers that the City’s most notorious playboy had turned over a new leaf. I trusted Madison and I would manage to stay out of the gossip column for the foreseeable future. Now our parents greeted each other like long-lost friends and seemed to forget we were there.