Page 37 of Connie
“You’re such a softie, have you been crying all morning,” he whispers in my ear as his arms wrap around me. I let out a huge breath and lean back into him as we watch Emma and Ruben make their way over to sign the register.
I didn’t really see Ruben as a church kind of guy but when Emma started explaining about the church in our village being where her Nan and Granddad got married years ago, he didn’t really have a choice but to agree. Not that he would ever say no to Emma anyway!
“I guess we should be doing this next,” Fin says as we head out of the church for photos.
I stop dead in my tracks causing him to crash into me, which then makes him panic that he’s hurt me and Bob. I ignore his concern though and rewind to his previous comment.
“That had better not be you asking me to marry you because I may not really have any desire for the whole princess wedding thing but you are not getting away with that as a proposal, Finlay Willis.”
He opens his mouth to respond but we get interrupted when the photographer calls for the wedding party. The smile he gives me does make me wonder though.
Okay so maybe that was a little harsh. In reality it doesn’t matter to me how, when or even if Fin proposes to me because I have at last got everything I could ever want. I have Fin, the only man I have ever wanted. We have Ruben’s approval and love and we have Bob, or will soon.
“Smile,” the photographer shouts and I look around at all the people I love while rubbing my hand over my bump.
Life couldn’t get any better.
Fin
I’ve been praying that this moment somehow won’t happen but here I am sat at the head table looking at a happy Ruben as he nods at me to start my best man speech. I’m not usually one to get nervous but I’m seriously feeling the pressure right now. I’ve read every article I could find online about how to write a great best man speech, I’ve written and rewritten what I want to say. I’ve rehearsed on my own, in front of a mirror and in front of Dad and Connie. I couldn’t be more prepared for this moment. That doesn’t help me not wanting to run for the exit as fast as my legs will carry me though as I rise from my chair and take in all the apprehensive and excited faces in front of me.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
You can do this, you can totally do this. You talk all day every day this should be a walk in the park.
I pull my notes out of the inside of my jacket and unfold it. The room is in silence as they wait for my words.
I glance at my first bullet point and I feel Connie give my hand a squeeze. It helps to ground me, she’s there right by my side where she belongs.
I open my mouth to start but nothing comes out. I look back down at my notes and realise that the words on there aren’t me, they haven’t come from where they should. My heart.
So in a moment of pure madness I screw the paper up in my hand and throw it behind me, I hear a couple of gasps from around the room but I manage to ignore them.
I take a very big breath and begin.
“I’ve known Ruben for as long as I can remember. We’ve gotten ourselves in to all sorts of trouble over the years. I could go into it but I don’t think that’s important, if you do want to hear embarrassing stories about the groom though feel free to ask me, I’ll be here all night!” I get a couple of sniggers but I push them away and continue.
“What I think is important is to discuss what this lovely lady has done for my best friend. Being my best friend I always thought that Ruben was pretty awesome, I never knew though that a part of him was missing and it wasn’t until he received a photograph of a certain someone when we were in Australia earlier this year, that I realised. The look on his face as he stared down into a pair of brown eyes was nothing I had ever seen before.
“I knew then and there that I’d lost him. Gone were our bachelor days, he was getting whipped right in front of my eyes. Emma has given Ruben something I don’t think he ever thought he would have. She’s given him her love and he is only a better person because of that.
“Both Ruben and Emma have had things to overcome to get to where they are but I know without doubt that it was worth it. Seeing the smiles on their faces today is proof of that.
“I don’t want to bore you all for much longer but I want to say this. Ruben, you are the best friend I could ask for and as you embark on a new like with your wife I will be here taking care of the other woman in your life,” I look down at Connie and give her hand a squeeze, “and I truly hope that in the near future you’ll have as many lovely things to say about me to a roomful of people. Because I am well aware that if I were to embarrass you in front of all these people tonight that the payback would definitely be painful and I intend on following in your footsteps very soon.
“So without further ado will you all please raise your glasses to the happy couple, Mr and Mrs Foster. I love you both and I wish you a lifetime of happiness together.”
I look down at Connie once I’ve had a sip of my champagne and can't help but laugh at the tears running down her face. It’s pretty much how she’s spent the day, she still looks beautiful though. Until the comment I made earlier in the church neither of us had said anything about marriage but I fully intend to make her Mrs Willis in the not to distant future.
I have it all planned out.
And it will be perfect, just like her.
Epilogue
Connie
“Dance with me,” I say to Fin when the familiar sound of Usher’sLove in this clubstarts booming out from the DJ’s speakers.
