As Violet walked out of the kitchen she noticed that several of the candelabra weren’t alight.
She frowned; a gust of wind from the open doors must have blown them out. Violet hurried over to grab the long matches from the fireplace. She knew that it was probably silly as the wedding wasn’t going ahead but she really wanted to see how the candlelight would transform the room. She had imagined the design and she needed to see her vision realised. Violet drew the match across the striking surface of the matchbox. After a raspy sound the match burst into life and she lit the first tall cream candle which was scented with French Pear. Just as she was beginning to light the last one a loud voice from the doorway made her start with fright.
‘You! This is all your fault.’
Violet glanced up and saw Celine walking towards her.
‘Sorry, Celine, I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Yeah right, still playing the innocent mealy-mouthed little princess are we?’
Violet straightened her shoulders and stood her ground.
‘Seriously, Celine, I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.’
Celine marched forward, her long veil floating out behind her like the wake from a ship.
Too late, Violet realised what she was doing. She took a step back but Celine was too quick and she placed her hands on Violet’s shoulders and shoved her hard. Violet stumbled back and landed with a loud thump against one of the open doors which led to the courtyard. She was vaguely aware that the majority of guests had swivelled around and were gawking at her. Anger burned through her, she wasn’t hurt, just bloody furious.
‘Just back off, Celine,’ she snapped, standing up and straightening her jacket then trying to stare the other woman down.
‘You’ve ruined everything.’
‘That’s enough. Violet has nothing to do with this,’ called Jason as he ran into the room.
‘She has everything to do with you calling off the wedding. You know it and so do I.’
Hearing the ruckus, the rest of the McKellans filed into the room. Mac pushed his way through and headed over to Violet. He put his arm around her and pulled her to his side. It was comforting to have him near and whatever now happened Violet knew that she could always count on him.
‘It’s not Violet’s fault. The problem is between you and me,’ Jason said.
‘Oh, don’t be an idiot, Jason. Ever since I stepped foot in this shoddy excuse for a town it’s all been about Violet and her brat of a daughter.’
Violet stiffened at Celine’s words. Celine could call her all the names she wanted but she wasn’t going to bring Holly into this. She went to take a step forward but Mac’s arm tightened around her and held her back.
Celine stretched her arms out as if to encompass the entire room. ‘Not even this was about me. I didn’t even have a say in the design of my own wedding. I was pushed into having this blasted wedding here in the arse-end of the country and then I couldn’t even have my own way with the wedding decorations.’
Violet glanced out into the courtyard and saw that half of the guests were nodding in sympathy. Perfect, just bloody perfect. Celine was totally playing to the crowd now.
‘I had to give way about everything to do with my wedding so Violet wouldn’t be hurt or upset. Well, what about me? What about my feelings? All I’ve heard since I’ve been in Violet Falls is what a wonderful woman she is, what a great mother she is and how talented she is at planning parties. Well, I’m sick of it—you can keep your wedding and the wedding planner as well. But that’s what you want to do anyway, isn’t it, Jason?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ said Jason. ‘Come away from here and we can talk sensibly. I totally understand how upset you are, but—’
‘Don’t give me that. I know what’s going on, you and Mac are both in love with her. The question is which one of you will succeed.’
Violet sucked in a breath at the sting of her words. Celine had cast her eyes down and looked the perfect picture of the wronged bride. Everyone had their eyes on her—just the way she liked it.
‘That’s not true,’ Jason said. ‘You know it’s not.’
Celine stood there with her eyes filling with tears. ‘I just wasn’t enough for you, was I?’ She addressed the question to Jason but her voice carried all the way through the courtyard.
‘You love her, Jason, you always have,’ said Celine, sobbing. ‘I mean they say you never get over your first love.’
There was a murmur amongst the wedding guests.
‘Celine, just stop it,’ Violet said. ‘This is just rubbish.’
There was a gleam of triumph in Celine’s eyes as she levelled her gaze at Jason.
‘What’s the matter, lover, terrified I’ll let the big dark McKellan family secret out of the bag?’
‘Celine, for God’s sake.’ Mac warned as he loosed his grip on Violet and took a step forward. This time it was Violet who grabbed onto his arm and pulled him back.
The tears forgotten, Celine whirled around and said. ‘I’m not afraid of you, Mac, I’m not afraid of any of you.’
Celine faced the crowd and said in a clear voice. ‘As you may have guessed, Jason and I are calling off our wedding. There’s no way we ever had a chance for it to work. You see, he’s still in love with Violet Beckett, his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child.’
Violet winced as she heard an audible gasp from behind her. She turned to see some of the wedding guests looking shocked, while others were shaking their heads in disgust. And every single bridesmaid looked as if they wanted to kill her.
Celine swirled away in a cloud of tulle and perfume. As she passed each of the tables she knocked over as many of the candelabra as she could. Some of the lit candles blew out but others licked the delicate material of the table overlays and sparked into flames.
Flynn and a couple of the bridesmaids dashed forward and started putting out the flames before they could take hold.
Violet felt sick in the pit of her stomach. She hunched her shoulders. The only thing that she was thankful for was that Holly was still tucked away in the kitchen. Celine’s dramatic departure had left a vacuum and Violet hoped the whole hideous scene was over—but she was wrong.
Laurie Thornton pushed his way into the room until he was standing red-faced in the middle.
‘You’ve got a hell of a lot to answer for,’ he spat as he marched up to Jason and jabbed a finger at his chest.
‘Yes, I know I have,’ said Jason, looking stricken at the mayhem he’d caused. ‘But this isn’t the place to discuss it. Let’s go upstairs to the study.’
But Thornton stood his ground, seeming to draw power from the spellbound onlookers.
‘You’ve broken my daughter’s heart.’
‘I know,’ said Jason, still looking stricken.
‘Bastard. You’ve thrown my daughter over for that—’ he spat as he pointed to Violet.
‘It was my decision, Laurie. The blame rests solely with me, no one else, least of all Violet. Now, I think it’s time for you to leave.’
‘As if anyone here believes that!’ Thornton said, his face nearly purple.
‘You know what, Laurie, maybe you’re right. I do admire Violet; she’s a talented woman, a good person and a great mother. Looking back now, probably the stupidest thing I ever did was to end our relationship. What can I say? I was a young idiot who couldn’t see true worth when it was literally staring him in the face. Too late now because she’s in love with someone else.’ Jason turned his head and smiled at Violet and Mac. ‘She deserves the best . . . and she’s found that in my brother, Mac.’
‘I’ll make you pay for this, Jason. I’ll ruin you, just wait and see!’
‘Do your worst.’
‘This isn’t over,’ Thornton snarled as Flynn and Dan clamped their hands on his shoulders.
‘Yes, it is,’ said Flynn. ‘Come on Laurie, you’ve outstayed your welcome . . . And Celine will need you,’ he said leading him away.
Amidst the hubbub that rose up from the wedding guests, Mac took Violet’s hand and pulled her close. ‘Jason’s going to handle things, and Dan and Flynn will be helping him out. Let’s get away from here,’ he said.
Mac led Violet out the front door and they walked in silence for a long time. Finally Mac stopped, held Violet close and gave her a tender kiss. ‘Hey, are you alright?’
Violet nodded her head. ‘I will be.’
‘Good.’
Violet looked up at Mac and smiled. ‘I love you, Mac McKellan, and I should have told you earlier.’
Mac stilled for an instant. ‘Sorry, could you say that again please?’ he said, his smile breaking into a grin. ‘I’ll never get tired of hearing it.’
‘I love you,’ said Violet. ‘More than I could ever have imagined loving anyone.’
Mac dipped his head and kissed her.