Page 144 of Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye

“Freds is so partial he married ’im!” bellowed Simon, a tipsy playfulness saturating his voice.

Tarquin, Leia, and their friends laughed as the wedding coordinator spoke with Mark near the cake cutting table.

“Ooh, and we’re so glad Freddie did!” Joan nodded, acknowledging Ben and Riley passing by holding hands. “Aw, bless ’em! True love! You can’t beat it.” She smiled and leaned in, confiding in Tarquin and Leia. “Do you know, I married Alex’s granddad when I was only eighteen? Our parents were dead set against it, but we eloped and did it anyway!” She stroked her thumb gently over a cherished wedding ring on her left hand, lost for a moment to her memories. “Thirty-five wonderful years, we had, almost to the day. And in all that time, no regrets, no doubts. We were just meant to find one another, and it’s as simple as that…” Joan’s voice drifted off, becoming quiet as Madonna gave way to “Wonderwall”.

Meant to be. Glancing at Leia, Tarquin took a deep breath and shifted closer, his eyes softening, brimming with gratitude. That’s you and me. You saved me, gorgeous.

Leia gave him a teary sigh and reached out to hold Joan’s hand, but as she did, Alex’s grandmother met Leia’s rapt expression with a nostalgic smile and a conspiratorial wink. “What I’m saying is—when you know, you know!”

“Amen to that, Joan. Amen to that.” Tarquin grinned as he raised a respectful glass in her honor. “To true love, then?”

The youthful gleam returned to Joan’s eyes as she lifted her champagne and joined in the toast with Leia and Tarquin.

As the conversation continued around the table and the Oasis classic resonated through the room, Tarquin lowered his glass, his heart full and hopeful. He shared a happy glance with Leia as she took a festive sip of her bubbly then wrinkled her nose. The truth is, I’d happily propose to her right now if I didn’t fear it was too much, too soon. Moving countries, moving in with me—that’s already A LOT.

She abandoned her champagne and swayed in close, caressing his clean-shaven chin and pressing a kiss on his temple. Tarquin responded in kind. He softly brushed his fingers along her neck and met her lips with a long, tender kiss, the taste of celebration still on her tongue.

“I love you,” she purred against his mouth.

“I love you. So much.”

Leia smiled into another kiss then gently pulled away.

I want her, and only her. Tarquin’s eyes lingered lovingly over her white silk dress. For as long as we both shall live.

A loud, high-pitched symphony of cutlery against glass rose from Tom and Naomi’s table an elbow away, demanding the newlyweds kiss for all to see.

Simon winced over his shoulder. “Oh, Tom, not again.” His eyes cut back to his new husband. “It’s so tacky!”

Freddie raised his brows, ever hopeful. “But it’s tradition, Si!” He smiled sweetly, the trio of sparkly Christmas trees behind him lending a romantic glow. “I love all that stuff.”

Simon’s expression softened. “And I love you. Come on, let’s give the people what they want!” He brushed Freddie’s cheek adoringly and kissed him, slowly, passionately.

Loud whoops and applause rose around the room as Tarquin refilled Sarah’s champagne and Leia opened her drawstring purse, pulling out her phone.

“I have to tell you, Tarq…” Sarah admired the fizzy bubbles rising in her glass. “Dad wants us to have a Star Wars marathon over the Christmas break. Original trilogy, of course!”

“Oh, TOP idea! I’m in!” The round table quaked as Tarquin set down the magnum of champagne. “Although, Ginger will…” He did a double take.

Leia swallowed and flipped her phone face down in her lap.

Uh-oh! “Bugger! You saw it, didn’t you?” He winced comically, throwing Sarah a sidelong glance. “I may have borrowed some of Leia’s new fabrics for Mrs. Chuzzlewit’s Instagram photo this morning…” He pulled out his phone from his jacket pocket, photo at the ready. “See? She looks like a nun! A very miserable, unamused nun.”

Sarah squealed with laughter. “Ooh, doghouse for you, Tarq. Never touch the fabrics!”

The Spice Girls burst forth in all their sassy glory from Leia’s phone. Her eyes swept around the table. “Sorry! Uh, just…”

“Saved by the bell,” Tarquin murmured with a chuckle.

Sarah swallowed another mouthful of champagne. “Ley, just send it to voicemail.”

“I have to take it.” She hit accept and pushed back her chair, pressing the phone to her ear. “Hi, just gimme a moment?” Smiling tightly, she lowered it to her chest and squeezed Tarquin’s shoulder. “Won’t be a minute.”

He snickered, eyeing her dessert. “For the sake of your apple tart, you better not!” His cheeky gaze swung up to meet her. “Love you!”

Leia hesitated as if she was treasuring the moment. “I love you, too.”

She twisted away and sped toward the hall, the staccato click-click-click of her silver heels on the hardwood lost in another round of tinkling champagne glasses, merry laughter, and “Wonderwall” strumming its last gasp.