Bear took her hand and tugged her gently to the large open space at the end that would hold the stained-glass window. ‘Look at that view, the sea, the trees, the golden sands. No pretty stained-glass window in the world could compete with that.’
She looked out at the leaves dancing in the golden light of the sun, the azure-blue sea that looked like a sheet of glass today. Bear was right, it was exceptional and living here it was easy to sometimes take it all for granted.
‘My worry is that without the roof and the stained-glass window to dull some of this light the wedding photos might be too bright,’ Indigo said. ‘We don’t want the bride and groom silhouetted against the window. Let’s take some photos and see what they turn out like. You two stand together there in front of the window.’ She directed them as she pulled out her phone. ‘Stand closer, look like you’re in love with each other.’
Meadow shuffled closer to Bear, so close she could feel his warmth, smell his amazing scent. She looked up at him as Indigo fired off a few shots.
‘You can re-enact the wedding you two had when you were kids,’ Heath said.
Meadow smiled at that memory. ‘How did you know about that?’
‘Keep looking at Bear,’ Indigo said.
‘I told him,’ Bear said. ‘When he told me that as a child it was your dream to get married in these woods. I said, we’d already done that.’
‘That feels like a lifetime ago,’ Meadow said. ‘Yet I remember it so vividly.’
‘Me too.’
She stared up at him, at his soft, gentle eyes, and smiled.
‘These photos actually look great,’ Indigo said. ‘They showcase the view perfectly and the light is wonderful for capturing the happy couple. I’m happy with this if you are, Meadow?’
‘What do you think?’ Bear said. ‘Is this what you imagined for your dream wedding?’
Meadow didn’t take her eyes off him. ‘This is exactly how I imagined it.’
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
Bear was sitting in reception with Indigo. Meadow and Star had gone off to Dwelling now the festival had started properly. Star wanted to get a henna tattoo and make a flower crown so Meadow had taken her there.
He idly logged in to Connected Hearts to see he had another message from Twilight.
Dating is hard. Having the courage to tell someone you have feelings for them, handing them your heart on a plate. I don’t know how anyone does it.
He smiled. She’d met someone. It said something about his relationship with Twilight that he was genuinely happy for her rather than being disappointed he had missed his chance.
He composed his reply.
That part is difficult. Trust me, I know how hard that is. What if they don’t feel the same? And once those feelings are out there, you can never take it back. But I think we get so caught up sometimes in the ‘what if they don’t’ worries, without considering how wonderful it would be if they did. Maybe it’s worth the risk.
He waited to see if she would reply and after a few moments he saw the three little dots to indicate she was writing a message.
I know you’re right.
He could see she was still writing, so he waited.
I suppose I worry because I never had any good role models when it came to a long and happy marriage. My dad hated my mum. I would often look at the horrible way my dad treated my mum and wonder why they ever got married. How could he ever have loved her if he could treat her so badly when I was growing up? He hated me too, I think they both did, and I sometimes wonder if it was me that ruined their life, and whether I’m just not that lovable. And I worry about putting my heart out there and never having my love reciprocated, or worse that the man I fall in love with and marry will one day hate me as much as my dad hated my mum. Sometimes I wonder whether it’s easier to protect my heart, never give it away in the first place, then I can never get hurt.
He sighed. He knew that feeling all too well, his own parents had walked out on him and his brothers when he was very young. Being parents was not something they had wanted to be. He had spent years questioning if there was something wrong with him to make his parents walk away in the first place.
She sent another message.God, I’m sorry, that’s a whole shitload of baggage to dump at your feet.
He quickly sent a reply.We all have baggage. I didn’t have any kind of relationship with my parents either. I barely even remember them and I grew up thinking I just wasn’t good enough. I can totally relate to how you’re feeling. But while we are a product of our past, we can’t let that ruin our future. Our parents’ attitude towards us is not a reflection of who we are but who they were.
She replied instantly.You are very wise. Oh I better go, my daughter has just fallen in love with an iguana, I might have to distract her before iguanas get added to the long list of pets she wants. I’ll message you again later. Xx
He quickly sent a reply.Good luck with that. Chat soon. X
