To Love Again

‘I will be,’ she assured him quickly.

‘I hope so.’ He still frowned. ‘It doesn’t seem too good a start to the marriage when the

first wife is in attendance, though,’ he added drily.

Christi felt her cheeks burn again, but tried to remain composed as she saw

Marsha and the children join Lucas across the room. ‘Lucas naturally wanted his children

at our wedding,’ she defended stiffly.

David raised dark brows. ‘And Marsha just came along to keep them company?’

She had to admit, to herself at least, that she had been surprised when Marsha had

been the one to bring the children, instead of the nanny she had been expecting. But what

could she have said or done that would have changed anything? Marsha’s presence here was

already a fact, she had no choice but to accept it gracefully. And that was what she had done,

Lucas at her side when they had greeted the other woman at the start of the reception. His

own initial displeasure had turned to impatient acceptance as Marsha greeted them warmly, to all

intents and purposes delighted with the remarriage of her ex-husband. How could they possibly

object to her behaviour after that? But Christi had to admit she found the situation more than a

little awkward, although she realised there was nothing Lucas could do about it, either, without

causing an unnecessary scene. And the children’s enthusiastic pleasure in the marriage more

than made up for Marsha’s presence. She couldn’t help but feel grateful for the fact that Marsha

hadn’t tried to poison the children’s minds to the idea of her marrying their father.

Considering how the other woman had clung on to Lucas al these years, the likelihood of

that happening had been a distinct possibility.

‘That’s right,’ she dismissed lightly, not willing to let David, no matter how good a

friend he had become, know just how much of a mar on her wedding day having Marsha

there had been.

‘Well, at least you’ll have the same pleasure in attending her wedding next month,’ David

derided with satisfaction.

And by that time she and Lucas would have been married for three weeks, her position as

his wife more than clear. ‘I’m looking forward to it,’ she murmured softly.

David chuckled at her determined expression. ‘ R e t r i b u t i o n i s s w e e t , h m m ? ’ h e

m u s e d appreciatively.

‘Lucas is my husband, that’s all the ammunition I need,’ she shrugged dismissively.

‘And now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll join them.’

‘Let me accompany you,’ David offered politely, taking a firm hold of her elbow. ‘With a

woman like Marsha, you might have need of back -up troops,’ he muttered ruefully.

To an outsider, they must look like a happy family gathering, but Christi was more

than aware of the tension in the air as she and David joined the other four.

‘Now we have two mummies!’ Daisy turned to hug her enthusiastically.

Christi returned the hug, shooting Marsha an uncomfortable glance, turning away again

quickly as she saw the other woman’s mouth tighten angrily.

‘Don’t be silly, Daisy,’ her brother told her with all the authority his extra year afforded.

‘You can only have one mummy.’

Daisy looked rebel ious. ‘But

‘I’ll be your aunt still, Daisy,’ Christi explained gently. ‘Just like Uncle Julian will still be just

youruncle when he marries your mummy soon.’ The last was added challengingly, although she

didn’t dare risk a glance at Marsha, the person the challenge had been meant for.

‘But if

‘Hey, you two,’ David lightly cut in on Daisy’s puzzled question. ‘Have you tried the

ice-cream yet?’ he encouraged. ‘There’s a half a dozen flavours, so I think it must be in

your honour,’ he tempted as two pairs of grey eyes turned to him curiously.

Daisy looked up at her father. ‘Really?’

His expression softened indulgently as Daisy still lisped slightly from where her front teeth

were still growing back. ‘I think I did just happen to mention there would be a couple of children

here today who love ice-cream,’ he smiled.

‘Strawberry?’ Daisy licked her lips.

‘I shouldn’t be surprised,’ he drawled softly. ‘And chocolate?’ Robin put in hopefully.

‘I believe so.’ Lucas lightly caressed his son’s cheek.

‘My favourites, too,’ David enthused, taking a child by each hand. ‘Have you ever tried

them both together?’ he was questioning as he led them away towards the buffet. ‘Stirring them

into the same bowl and

‘Ugh!’ Marsha grimaced delicately as David’s graphic description of the awful

sounding concoction could no longer be heard.

Christi straightened awkwardly, not quite sure what to do now, although she was grateful

to David for removing the children from what was, at best, a difficult situation to deal with.

From the looks on the children’s faces as they scooped up the ice-cream mixture, they

hadn’t at all minded being diverted! She jumped a little nervously as Lucas’s hand on her waist

brought her back against his side, flashing him an apologetic frown as she sensed his

puzzlement at her reaction. She wished they could just leave to go on the two-day

honeymoon which was all her immediate work schedule would allow, for she desperately

wanted to be alone with him. David had been right when he had said she looked as if she had

lost a pound and found a penny; she had lost her friendship with Lucas, and at the moment

she wasn’t sure what she had gained in its place!

‘You make a beautiful bride.’

She blinked her surprise at the other woman’s comment, looking at her frowningly. ‘Thank

you,’ she accepted warily.

Marsha gave a soft laugh. ‘I believe your little bride is suspicious of my motives,’ she

taunted to Lucas.

Lucas looked warmly at Christi. ‘You do make a lovely bride,’ he told her huskily.

She felt warm all over, and wished they were on their own, so that Lucas could sweep

her up into his arms and make love to her. It was the only time she had felt secure in their

relationship.

‘Lucas and I were just discussing the plans for when I go away on my honeymoon,’

Marsha put in abruptly.

Christi turned to her sharply, the intimacy between Lucas and herself broken. Why

on earth should Marsha discuss her honeymoon with Lucas?

‘Such a pity the two of you don’t have the time for a honeymoon,’ Marsha drawled,

now that she had their full attention.

‘Oh, but-----

‘Christi has a contract to fulfil.’ Lucas spoke smoothly over Christi’s protest.

Marsha nodded. ‘It’s a pity you didn’t have more consideration for my career when we were

married,’ she bit out waspishly.

His mouth tightened. ‘I made a lot of mistakes during our marriage that I don’t intend

to repeat with Christi,’ he rasped.

Hazel eyes blazed with anger, the anger fading to a rueful grimace as Marsha saw

Christi was watching them with frowning puzzlement. ‘Poor Christi doesn’t have any idea

what we’re talking about,’ she mused. ‘I used to be the fashion editor for a top magazine,’ she

explained ruefully. ‘At the time Lucas didn’t approve of his wife working,’ she added harshly. ‘And,

like the fool I was, because I wanted to please him, I gave up my job. The beginning of the end.’

She shook her head. ‘I was no longer the woman he had married, and I resented him for

denying me my career. And having children, believing they will hold the marriage together, is

the worst thing you can do,’ she sighed. ‘All that does is introduce innocents into the mess

you’ve already made of your life.’

Christi had never heard any of this before, had had no idea Marsha had ever had

such a demanding career, let alone realised the problems it had caused to the marriage. And

what Marsha had just said about Robin and Daisy gave her a whole new insight into their births.

But she had no doubt that, whatever beliefs Lucas used to have about women working and

having a career, he no longer felt the same way, for he had always encouraged her career,

and he had been the one to insist that their honeymoon should be delayed until after her work

was finished on the advertisements.

His arms tightened about her waist as he answered Marsha. ‘I told you, I’ve learnt

from my mistakes,’ he ground out.

Marsha forced one of her beautiful smiles, shaking off the memories with effort. ‘Of

course you have,’ she dismissed lightly. ‘We’ve both made new starts. Which brings us right back

to the arrangements we were making for when Julian and I are away. Having two young

children suddenly thrust upon you for a month isn’t going to be easy, but

‘Marsha,’ Lucas cut in warningly.

‘—Robin and Daisy like you already, Christi, and that’s half the battle

‘Marsha,’ Lucas cut in again. ‘I haven’t had a chance yet to discuss having the

children with Christi.’ His mouth was a taut line.

Hazel eyes widened. ‘You haven’t? My God, Lucas,’ Marsha said disgustedly. ‘I’m

sorry, Christi,’ she frowned uncomfortably, ‘I felt sure Lucas would have—I wouldn’t have—oh,