Rebel with a Cause

She saw the anxiety hidden not so deep in his eyes. ‘I won’t be.’

Rosanna dragged her by the hand out of the church and around the back to the vestry entrance. ‘Didn’t you hear the man? Five minutes is all we have.’

‘You’re not wearing black.’ Sophy stared at her stupidly.

‘It’s a wedding, not a funeral.’

Sophy clapped her hand over her mouth to stop the crazed giggle bursting out.

‘Ta da.’ Rosanna held up the hanger.

Sophy’s jaw dropped and she took a few steps closer. ‘Where did you find it?’

Rosanna shrugged. ‘Darling, I’m a buyer. I shop for a living—you know this.’

‘But, Ro—’

‘I know, even for me it’s outstanding. Now strip.’

Rosanna held the dress for Sophy to step into. Fixing the zip for her and smoothing the skirt, holding the new shoes that were the exact shade to match.

‘It all fits.’

‘Of course. I am a professional.’

‘Oh, Ro—’

‘No getting emotional. Not yet,’ Rosanna said tartly. ‘Now, we can do a better job of hiding this bruise.’ Despite her astringent tone, Rosanna swept the brush gently through Sophy’s hair, quickly but carefully put in some clips. ‘A rub of lipstick. You don’t need any other make-up—you’re glowing as it is.’

Sophy needed a distraction—otherwise she was going to hyperventilate, or get hysterical, or run into the church right now, half-ready, just to make sure it really was happening. She looked at her friend’s demure French navy frock. ‘Is Vance here?’

‘Yes.’

Sophy glanced—that was an arctic-sounding answer. ‘Are you not getting on?’

‘We’ve never got on. We just got it on a few times.’

Yeah, but Sophy had suspected, just for a fleeting second, that maybe Rosanna had finally met her match. ‘So what happened?’

‘He told me I had to give up the others. It was him and no one else. An ultimatum, no less.’

‘How unreasonable of him,’ Sophy remarked dryly. ‘What did you say?’

‘I said no, of course.’

‘Oh, Rosanna—’

‘Be quiet or I’ll spread lipstick all over your cheeks.’ Rosanna looked down. ‘You know me, Soph. I’m thrilled for you, I am. But you know the whole monogamous happy-ever-after thing isn’t for me. The only time I’ll ever walk down an aisle is right now, as your witness.’

‘I know.’ Sophy put her hand on her friend. ‘And you know how much I love you for doing it for me.’

Rosanna shrugged, reverting back to snappy. ‘It was fun spending Lorenzo’s money.’ She stood back and assessed her handiwork. ‘Okay, you’ve got something old—the dress. Something new—the shoes. Now for something borrowed and something blue.’ She looked sly, undid the clasp on the necklace she wore round her neck.

‘Rosanna.’ Sophy’s heart melted even more.

‘You have to wear it. He loves it on you.’

The necklace she’d made. ‘I’m giving it back to you after.’

‘Of course, it’s borrowed.’ Rosanna smiled. ‘You look like you’ve put that stuff in your eyes. They’re all big and sparkly.’

‘Deadly night shade?’

‘Dad!’ Sophy whirled around.

‘You look beautiful.’ He walked towards her, looking super-establishment in his grey suit. But he was smiling that wonderful, proud smile. ‘Would you like me to walk up the aisle with you, Sophy?’

‘Oh, Dad.’ She took the two paces and he folded her into his arms. ‘Just the one way.’

He laughed. ‘Yes, you have the exit covered already.’

‘How did this happen?’ She couldn’t believe it.

‘Lorenzo’s spent the last three days organising it.’

‘But is it legal?’

‘I’m a judge, honey. Of course it is.’

‘But how?’

‘He’s a good man. And he knows how to get things done.’

Sophy nodded. ‘He’s very strong. He’s wonderful to me.’

‘I can see that. It’s obvious how much he cares for you. A person who loves you like that, we’ll always welcome.’

Sophy bit her lip. Did Lorenzo love her? In his own way she knew he must—he’d never be doing this otherwise. And maybe one day he’d even be able to tell her.

Her mother came to the door. ‘Hurry up, the poor boy is out there looking paler than a ghost.’

The poor boy? Sophy choked back the laughing sob and gave her mother a hug.

‘No tears, you two,’ her father said gruffly. ‘You’ll both ruin your make-up.’

‘Hold it together, Renz. She won’t be a minute.’

‘I won’t be happy until it’s done.’ Until she was his. He breathed out a long breath—trying to control the racing pulse, the nerves slowly killing him. ‘Thanks for being here.’

‘I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. Dani is beside herself with excitement. You should have heard her on the flight—“I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it” over and over.’

‘I’m sure you figured out a way to shut her up.’ Lorenzo flicked a quick glance to where his friend’s wife sat sandwiched between Kat and Cara, who had her new baby cuddled to her breast. They were out of the neo-natal unit and thriving. Her husband looked like a doting fool. Lorenzo went even more tense—could barely dare hope that he’d be like that one day. His attention swerved straight back to the door at the back of the church. Where was she? Had this all been a huge mistake? Was she working out a way of backing out of it without embarrassing him?

‘Relax.’

Easy for Alex to say. But Sophy was his one hope of salvation. The link to the vulnerable humanity he knew he’d hidden away a long time ago. But with her he had the courage—and the desire—to open up and be everything. To do everything. To embrace all that life had to offer.

He cleared his throat. Okay, so maybe the courage bit was fading. He needed to see her. Had he done the right thing? Her whole family was here. All thirty thousand of them. There was music all of a sudden and an expectant hush descended. The whole congregation stood for her.

Lorenzo couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried. Decades ago probably, as a kid getting a hiding. But the lump in his throat now was like a burning ball of metal—only instead of melting it was getting harder and harder and bigger.

He staved off the tears by sheer will—based in the raw desire to see her clearly at this moment. No stupid salty water blurring the vision of her walking to meet him. Man, she was beautiful. The dress was white and slim fitting and frothed to the floor. Her blue eyes, almost painfully bright, looked nowhere but right into him.