When Christakos Meets His Match(86)

                ‘There will not be a divorce while there is breath in my body.’

                Sidonie stretched up and pressed a kiss to Alexio’s cheek, causing his expression to turn positively nuclear. ‘Well, we have to get married first, of course. Don’t get all excited.’

                She turned and smiled again at the very flushed-looking solicitor. ‘So, in the event of a divorce any children will be provided for, and custody arrangements have been outlined, but I will get nothing—is that right?’

                The solicitor ran a pudgy finger underneath his collar, his gaze flicking uneasily to the man who all but towered over his pregnant fiancée. Having had a lot of experience with pregnant women, thanks to his own healthy brood of seven children, he figured the lesser of two evils right now was Alexio Christakos, even if he was paying his bill and practically had steam coming out of his ears.

                ‘Yes, that’s exactly it, Miss Fitzgerald.’

                ‘And ninety per cent of the money that Mr Christakos is insisting on giving me as an allowance has been designated to the various charities I mentioned?’

                The solicitor quickly scanned the pages again and said, ‘Yes, I believe so.’

                ‘Great!’

                Sidonie reached over and took the pen and signed her name with a flourish. Then she smiled sweetly at Alexio and handed the pen to him. He signed on the line with much unintelligible muttering under his breath.

                * * *

                Two weeks later a radiant and glowing Sidonie walked down the aisle of the biggest mairie in Paris on the arm of her matron of honour—her aunt, who grinned from ear to ear and was resplendent in a lavender suit. It had been bought by Alexio, who had grumbled that at least he could lavish gifts on someone.

                Alexio hadn’t had to turn and see Sidonie arrive. He’d already been waiting impatiently for her to appear.

                He was still unprepared, though, when she did. His breath caught and he couldn’t stop the tears clogging his throat and making his eyes shine. He’d been holding his emotions back all his life and now they overflowed. And he loved it. He’d even been oblivious to his brother Rafaele’s smug welcome to the club look.

                Sidonie’s hair was half up, half down, held in place with a plain diamond art deco clip. She wore no other jewellery apart from her engagement ring. Her dress was strapless and had an empire line under her bust to accommodate her growing bump. The off-white material fell in loose, unstructured folds to the floor. Her skin glowed, and as she came closer, her eyes fixed on his, his heart almost stopped at the sheer strength of his love all over again.

                He held out his hand to her and she put hers in his and smiled at him. At that moment Alexio felt all the pieces of his life slide into place, and he drew the love of his life forward by his side and hoped that they could get to the kiss as fast as possible.

                * * *

                Outside the office of the mairie afterwards, Cesar da Silva thrust his hands into his pockets. It had been a mistake to come. He didn’t know what had got into him, but that morning he’d seen the invitation to Alexio’s wedding on his desk and something had compelled him to make the journey to Paris from Spain.

                He’d arrived late and stood at the back of the civil office. Alexio and his wife had had their backs to him as the ceremony was conducted, but he’d seen his other half-brother, Rafaele, near the front, holding a small boy high in his arms, with a dark-haired woman beside him, her arm around his waist. His wife.