‘Hey, Lily,’ said Violet when her sister finally answered the phone. ‘Sorry to call so late.’
‘Not a problem, I wasn’t asleep. Is everything alright?’
‘No, not even close.’
‘What’s up? Holly isn’t sick or anything?’
‘No, Holly’s fine. It’s just the whole McKellan wedding, its causing more trouble than I ever thought possible.’
‘Come on, Violet. You’re planning the wedding of Holly’s father and your ex-boyfriend; old feelings and memories are bound to be stirred up.’
‘It’s not just that. Jason worked out he’s Holly’s father and he’s threatening to go to the courts for custody,’ said Violet.
‘No fucking way.’
‘His fiancée tried to blackmail Mac into giving her money. Despite her having no interest in kids she said she’d support Jason in any custody battle.’
‘Oh, come on you’re just making this up. God, tell me you’re making this up!’
‘Nup. Celine was trying to convince Mac to give her a large sum of money or she’d do her. And if that wasn’t enough, Mac’s in love with me and I’ve fallen headlong in love with him.’
‘Violet, my head’s spinning. I’m so happy about you and Mac but what the hell are we going to do about Jason and Celine? Shall I come up? If I leave now . . . what’s the time?’
Violet glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘Almost midnight.’
‘Well, I can be back in Violet Falls just before two o’clock.’
‘No, stay where you are. I’m fine, and Mac and I will work this out. I don’t want you to worry.’
‘Yeah, as if.’
Lily was silent for a moment, before saying, ‘So you really love Mac?’
‘Yeah, I do.’
‘That’s great about you and Mac. So what’s happening with Jason and the wedding?’
Violet leant back against the couch. ‘To be honest, I’m sick to death of the whole affair. Celine’s been appalling at every single turn and now Jason has decided he wants to play daddy. I wish that I had never agreed to help out.’
‘So what are you going to do?’
‘I suppose I have to see it through. You know, professional pride and all that. Not to mention that I couldn’t bail on Sarah.’
‘So how much longer do you have?’
‘Three days and then I’ll be free of Celine at least.’
‘And Jason?’
‘He says he wants to be in Holly’s life. He says he made a mistake all those years ago and he’s not the same person.’
‘You have every right to feel the way you do. Jason was a total arsehole. But I just wonder as Holly gets older maybe she’d want to be told about Jason. Most people want to know, if it’s possible, where they come from.’
‘You’re right, I hate it but you’re right. It’s just that I really fear that once he gets to know Holly he’ll want to have joint custody,’ said Violet.
‘You’re allowed to feel like that. Just try and keep an open mind. Not for Jason but for Holly. One day she’ll want the truth.’
‘I know that part of what you’re saying is right but Mac adores Holly and she adores him and I’d prefer her to see him as her father.’
‘And Jason comes along and starts to screw everything up?’
‘Yeah, basically.’
‘You can’t change the past, Violet. Besides you wouldn’t want to. Even though Jason McKellan is an arsehole, without him you wouldn’t have Holly.’
‘Point taken. Hey, when did you get to be so smart, little sister?’
‘Born with it. It’s a Beckett trait,’ Lily said with a laugh.
Violet could understand that the bridal party would want a quick run-through of the ceremony. It made perfect sense that everyone needed to know what was going on and where they had to stand. But what she didn’t understand was Celine’s desire to go over it again and again and again.
Violet stifled a sigh as she leant against the wall of the courtyard while Celine and her bridesmaids walked down the imaginary aisle for the fourth time. The only person who appeared to be enjoying the whole thing was Holly, who was sitting with Sarah looking totally rapt.
Violet looked towards Mac who was standing with his brothers. He looked uneasy, while Dan let out a loud yawn and even Jason’s mouth was set in a grim line.
Yep, the groom and his men certainly didn’t look happy.
‘Really, Dan, is it too much to ask for you to take this seriously?’ Celine snapped as she stopped halfway down the aisle.
‘I didn’t yawn on purpose,’ Dan muttered.
‘Well, now we’re going to have to start again.’
Jason shook his head. ‘I don’t think so, Celine. This is the fourth time you’ve walked down the aisle and you’re yet to make it to the front.’
‘This is important, Jason,’ said Celine. ‘It’s our final wedding rehearsal.’
‘Yeah, but you don’t have to rehearse walking up and down this many times. I think you’ve already got that down. Besides, everyone’s got places they’d rather be. I’ve got to ring the office, Mac needs to be doing stuff around the farm and Dan’s got a restaurant to run. And I’m sure the bridesmaids have things to do too. Let’s just get on with this and get it over and done with,’ Jason said.
‘How can you say that? This is important, it’s our wedding,’ cried Celine, her voice shrill.
‘The wedding, yes. The rehearsal, no.’
Mac caught Violet’s eye and winked at her.
‘You could at least pay attention, Mac,’ Celine said as she stomped down the aisle with her bridesmaids hurrying in her wake.
‘I am, Celine,’ Mac said evenly. ‘Anyway, isn’t your dad giving you away? Shouldn’t he be here as well?’
‘I said earlier that he’s got an important business meeting he couldn’t get out of. He’ll be here in time for the wedding. Now, can we please just focus on the rehearsal?’
Violet bit back a giggle and pretended to inspect several large vases that were lying nearby.
‘I guess she told him.’
Violet glanced up to see Flynn standing next to her.
‘I suppose she did,’ said Violet, smiling.
Flynn’s gaze shifted towards the bridal party. ‘Celine’s good-looking, but man, she’s a piece of work.’
‘You have no idea,’ said Violet.
‘Ah well,’ said Flynn, ‘how’s everything with you?’
‘Fine,’ said Violet, ‘but I can’t wait until this wedding is over.’
‘Yeah. I’ve been meaning to say that I’m really glad you and Holly moved back. It’s been really good for Mac.’
‘Thanks,’ said Violet. ‘Holly and I are really happy here—Holly’s even enjoying this damned wedding rehearsal. And I’m so happy about Mac.’
‘I’ve never seen Mac like this, Violet,’ said Flynn. ‘I knew he liked you a lot when we were at school, but you and Jason were so in love there was never going to be any chance for you and Mac. These past years he’s never taken any woman very seriously. He’s always been caring and everything, but what he feels for you is something different altogether. He really loves you, you know.’
‘Yes, I know and I can’t tell you just how fortunate I am.’ For a second, tears blurred Violet’s vision and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. Raising her head she looked straight into Mac’s eyes. He gave her a questioning look and Violet smiled back, but her tears must have been obvious because Mac broke from the wedding rehearsals and walked straight up to her.
‘Mac, where are you going?’ said Celine, turning around.
‘Something’s come up,’ said Mac.
The breath seemed to catch in Violet’s throat as he took her in his arms.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked.
Violet wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hung on. ‘Nothing Mac, everything is fine.’
‘Violet Beckett you’re a lousy liar. You were crying, I saw you,’ he said as he rested his head against hers. ‘Did Flynn say something to upset you? Because if he did I’ll—’
‘Flynn didn’t upset me. It’s just that I finally worked something out.’
‘Oh and what’s that?’
‘That I’m fond of you.’
‘Fond of me? Can’t you do better than that?’
‘Maybe . . . How about I’m quite fond of you?’ Violet said with a teasing grin.
Mac’s arms tightened around Violet as his mouth crushed down on hers. The kiss scorched its way right down to Violet’s toes. It was hot, possessing and it consumed her. Her fingers spiked through his hair as she anchored him to her. He kissed her until she forgot where they were and that they weren’t alone.
She sucked in a breath as Mac pulled back and broke the kiss. He nuzzled the side of her neck which set off a wave of ricocheting heat through her body.
‘I love you,’ he whispered against her ear.
‘I know you do,’ she said as she looked over his shoulder. The entire wedding party were staring at them with slack-jawed surprise. The exceptions were Sarah and Holly, who both had a smile from ear to ear. ‘Maybe you should put me down, everyone is looking.’
‘Nah, I don’t think so. I’ve only just got you,’ Mac said before he kissed her again.’
‘Jeez, maybe the two of you should get a room,’ Flynn chuckled as he walked away.