She flung herself into his arms, laughing and crying a little at the same time. ‘Yes, and yes, and yes, and yes...’ And then she threw a punch at him. ‘You discussed it with my mother!’
‘Let’s just say there was some heavy hinting going on the last time we went for Sunday lunch.’
‘Oh, good grief. It’s not compulsory, you know!’
‘Too late. We’ve booked the church.’ And then he was kissing her and she said nothing more for a very long time.
* * *
Wedding bells, fairy lights glistening over a white frost. Red berries and ivy twisted around pew ends and around the Christmas roses in her bouquet. White velvet and her grandmother’s pearls. And Darius.
Darius waiting for her at the altar. Darius holding out his hand to her, folding it in his and holding on tight, then smiling as if this was the best day in his life. And Natasha smiling back because it was the best day of hers. So far.
* * *