Hello faithful readers and followers of this story. Here is the fourth installment of Their Own Paradise, Hesitated Explanations. Hope you enjoy, as always R&R.
Rosie xxx
Hesitated Explanations
"Katherine, what are you doing here?" asked John slightly angered by her uninvited appearance. John had not seen Katherine since her somewhat similar outburst at his and Denise's wedding breakfast. He relived the utter fury he felt on that day, a little over 8 months ago.
Flashback
Denise sat elegantly at the head table next to a very handsome John who had just become her husband, he was in an animated conversation with Dudley and his red headed Irish wife Aisling. She was overjoyed and ecstatic that she was actually Mrs Moray now. After dreaming about this moment for over 3 months since he proposed quite ceremoniously in the street accompanied by a full marching band and choral singers.
She felt like a queen in her wedding dress, she had returned to Peebles to get her wedding dress. Her oldest friend Edme who had spotted it when out on her florist rounds. She had written to Denise detailing the dress and stated she had purchased the dress for Denise. It was a simple rose gold dress with a slightly dipped neckline adorned with panels of satin fabric carefully decorated with fine embroider. The waist was sinched in slightly with no sign of a torturous corset and flowed long to the floor.
She suddenly felt John reach up towards the nape of her neck where her honey blonde hair was held in a tight chignon bun. He pulled out the pins that had been meticulously placed in her hair, her hair tumbled down her shoulders to her back in cascades of luscious curls.
"That's better, I prefer your hair down sweetheart" he said kissing her cheek. Suddenly John felt a tap on his shoulder, it was Jonas.
"What is it Jonas?" Denise heard John hiss in annoyance. She found her hand in his quite quickly.
"There is some disruption outside" Jonas said alarmingly.
"I'll go and sort it out, not to worry Denise." John said standing up and kissing Denise on the forehead. Jonas led him out of the hall to the front steps where he was confronted with a woman who he had not seen in a year.
"Katherine" said John greeting her.
"John" She replied courteously, next to her was a stroller. A soft gurgle sounded and Katherine bent down and picked up the baby inside. She held the child in her arms, a sweet cherub little thing.
"Hello little buddy" John said cooing over the baby.
"This is Jonathan...your son" she admitted.
"That cannot be my son! Katherine we only copulated twice, that is Tom Weston's son" John retorted.
"Tom may be his 'father' but you are his daddy! John why won't you believe me!?" she protested.
"Because you're lying Katherine, you just want to break Denise and I apart!" he yelled in utter fury. He turned to storm back into the hall, Katherine grabbed him back
"Because you shouldn't be with a lowly harlot like her! You should be with me!" shrieked Katherine. John turned back around in anger, storming back towards her and nostrils flaring at Katherine. She had just called his wife a harlot, the audacity of Katherine Weston!
"How dare you that is my wife you are talking about! Denise is a millions times the woman you are, you are a pathetic little woman. Take your spawn and get out of my sight!" he roared in anger. Katherine hesitated.
"NOW!" he repeated just as animalistic.
"Alright John, I'm leaving" Katherine said defensively as she replaced Jonathon back into his stroller and left the gates outside.
John turned and entered back into the hall, Denise was dancing with Edmund. She looked so beautiful to him, with her long locks on Edmund's tuxedo shoulder. He tapped her on the shoulder, she turned gracefully around, her sapphire eyes sparkling in delight.
"Who was it?" she asked as he led her back to the table.
"No one just a buyer for the Paradise, he wanted my signature" lied John. They continued the wedding, the toasts and the dance. The guilt of the day settling uneasy in his stomach as he performed the perfect masquerade.
End of Flashback
"So John, did you tell your little wife?" she inquired.
"John what is she talking about?" Denise asked as she looked at John who looked very perplexed.
"I don't know, sweetheart. Katherine you weren't invited to this dinner and you are trespassing on private property, so I suggest you leave" said John trying to keep his cool.
"Aren't you going to tell her, John?" asked Katherine.
"Katherine, just leave, John has asked you nicely but I won't hesitate to frog march you out of this estate. Leave" Dudley interrupted quite angrily, knowing Katherine just wanted to stir up trouble.
"Calm down, love" Aisling cooed as she stroked Dudley's arm.
"Yes listen to your harlot of a wife, Dudders" Katherine hissed. Aisling looked very hurt and turned away, tears springing to her eyes.
"That is very out of order Mrs Weston!" exclaimed Campbell Ballantine in disgust.
"Oh we all know she worked the streets before becoming pregnant by one of her clients!" Katherine accused, pointing to the Byrne's.
"Katherine, stop!" said Denise walking towards the spiteful dark haired woman.
"Just stop making people's lives a misery! Stop disrespecting a woman who is five times the woman you'll ever be!" Denise added quite desperately as she took another step forwards so she was toe to toe with Katherine.
"You want to know why I'm here Denise, I'll tell you why. Your precious husband is the father of my son Jonathan. That's right Denise, we slept together!" she yelled as the room fell silent.
"Denise" said a calm voice laying a hand on her shoulder. The owner of the hand stepped forward.
"We will not stand for your nonsense! Nor will I stand by and watch you degrade a woman who has just found happiness and is overjoyed because she is having a child with her one true love, something I don't think you could EVER achieve!" Clara exclaimed in Katherine's face. Denise fell back on a chair, shocked.
"Katherine, just leave!" shouted John, angrily.
"Alright, Katherine, time to go" said Dudley taking her by the arm, ready to escort her out. Denise got up fragilely, walked over to Katherine and slapped her hard around the face.
"If I see you in my shop or the Paradise, I will make sure you are never served. And if I EVER see you on this estate or near my family again, I will make sure you are public humiliated." She seethed through gritted teeth.
Dudley roughly dragged Katherine out of the room and through the hallway to the door.
"Make sure she is escorted off of the estate" Dudley said to the doorman who grabbed Katherine and took her out of the door.
Meanwhile in the drawing room, everyone was silently looking at Denise and John.
"What did she mean by did you tell me yet? Have you known?" asked Denise coolly.
"Yes, I have known" John admitted.
"How long, John?" she demanded.
"8 months" he replied quite sheepishly.
"But 8 months ago was our...wedding" she whispered. Denise turned away and rubbed her head, feeling wetness on her cheeks. She found herself crying.
"Denise please" John pleaded
"You spoke to her on OUR wedding! When?!" she was a little angry now, this was present in her voice.
"During our wedding breakfast" He replied.
"During our wedding breakfast! John I cannot believe you! On our wedding day. Were married, we don't keep secrets" She shouted tearfully.
"I didn't want to ruin our day, I was thinking of your feeling's Denise!" he declared.
"My feelings? You were with Katherine on our wedding day, I can't forgive you John!" she yelled, she turned suddenly and ran out of the drawing room.
"DENISE!" John yelled and turned to go after her. He felt a hand on his shoulder pulling him back.
"Leave her John, she needs time to process it" Dudley whispered.
"Don't worry John, we'll sort this out" Lucille patted his shoulder, behind her was Clara, Susy and Aisling. The girls exited the room in a sea of tulle and lace.
"Women know women, they'll make her see" Campbell said as John joined the remaining gentlemen. For the second time in his life, he hoped that Campbell Ballantine was right.
Thank you for reading, I'm sorry it has been so long that I have updated this.
The poll is still open for the gender of the baby, I'm veering towards girl but I need some name suggestions
I would also like to ask if anyone who loves this story and who is a follower if they would mind being my beta.
Much hugs, Rosie xxx