Happy Easter everyone! Fancy a wedding?

Chapter 9

In the hotel suite, Matteo was taking full advantage of his new-found ability to crawl, getting under everybody's feet. But Gabriel, usually the more active and outgoing twin, was huddled in Sylvie's lap with a glum look on his face. Sylvie sat at the dressing table in a silk robe. Her make-up was done and her mother was currently pinning her hair into place, but all she could think about was her poorly baby, clinging to her in a way he hadn't done since he was tiny. He whimpered slightly and she stroked his soft hair.

It was her wedding day, but all she could think about was her sick child.

Her mom caught her looking down at Gabe and smiled sadly at her reflection. "He'll be fine" she said. "Kids are tough. In a day or two he'll be back to his old self, darting around like this one." She glanced at Matteo, his little legs vanishing under the bed.

Sylvie nodded. "I know." But it was hard to see her child in pain.

Gabby and Eva sat on the bed already in their dresses, the beautiful silver fabric they had chosen in the end draped across the bedspread. They clinked champagne glasses, smiling. 'Just one glass' Antonio hard warned Eva, and she promised.

"Finished" her mom exclaimed. She put her hands on her daughter's shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "You look beautiful."

Sylvie smiled, more brightly she hoped. She should be happy. She was happy. She was marrying the man she loved, and who loved her back. Today was one of the most important days of her life, not even a vomiting baby could spoil it.

Eva dragged Matty out from under the bed and onto her lap and he laughed with delight when she began tickling him. "What time are the guys coming for these two?" she asked.

Gabby glanced at the clock. "About now" she answered.

Sylvie stood up from her chair, gently lifting Gabriel into her arms, and joined her bridesmaids on the bed.

Gabby reached across and ruffled Gabe's hair. "How are you feeling little one?"

He responded by burying his face deeper into the fabric of Sylvie's robe. "His temperature's still up" Sylvie said. "I don't want to let him go."

"Dad will take care of him" Eva said. "You'll see him soon. Besides, it took us forever to find your dress, I'm not going to let it get covered in puke."

Sylvie laughed despite herself. Matteo squirmed off Eva's lap and made his way over to Sylvie, clamouring for attention also. Sylvie hugged both her boys to her, holding them close. She knew she was worrying over nothing. There was nothing seriously wrong with Gabe, kids got sick all the time, and she would see them again in less than an hour. But she wanted to hold her whole family close today and not let them go.

"Are you sure you're ok to take them tonight?" Sylvie asked Gabby.

Gabby looked at her directly. "Are you kidding me? Of course. It's your wedding night, and as much as I don't want to think about my brother…" She suddenly seemed to realise that Eva was there and abruptly cut short that sentence. The teen merely smirked. "You don't need to worry. I'm a medical professional too, you know."

"I know I'm being silly" Sylvie said.

Gabby shook her head. "You're being a mom."

There was a knock at the door, and Matt opened the door gingerly. "Is everyone decent?"

"Come in" Sylvie called and he came into the room, Diego behind him.

Matt greeted his wife with a kiss on the lips and then hugged Sylvie warmly. "I've come to take these two off your hands" he said.

Sylvie reluctantly released her hold on her sons and Matt lifted them both into his arms. Neither of them protested very much, Gabriel was too sleepy to put up much of a fight. In some ways, that was almost worse. "Don't forget Gabe's medicine" she said. Her mum picked up the bottle from the dressing table and handed it to Diego.

"I can't wait to see my grandsons looking handsome in their suits" she said, grinning.

"How's Dad?" Eva asked her brother.

Diego shrugged. "Nervous that he'll forget his vows" he replied, but looked at Sylvie. "Don't worry, I'm helping him practice."

Sylvie stood up and walked over to her soon-to-be step son. "You look very handsome" she said, fixing the flower pinned to his buttonhole. "How's your best man's speech? Plenty of embarrassing stories about your father in there I hope."

"You know it." Diego smiled. He had been thrilled when Antonio asked him, it made Sylvie happy to see him so excited.

"Come on mate, we've got to go. We should leave these ladies to it." Matt called to Diego then turned once more to Sylvie. "Say goodbye to Mommy" he said to the boys, then smiled reassuringly at Sylvie. "They'll be ok. See you soon."

Sylvie watched the four of them leave thought the door and close it behind then. She took a deep breath. She was going to enjoy this day and try not to worry. No tears, not yet. If she smudged her make-up there would be hell to pay.

Eva jumped up. "Time for the dress" she said excitedly, and rushed to the wardrobe.

"Here" Sylvie said, handing Gabby the crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. "Help me with my vows one more time."

Sylvie's father was waiting for her when the girls stepped out of the elevator. He gasped audibly when he saw Sylvie. "Sweetheart, you look beautiful." She walked towards him and he reached out his arms to her.

Sylvie blushed. "Thanks Dad. You look pretty handsome yourself."

"I can't believe my little girl is about to be married" Mr Brett said, tears in his eyes. He pulled her into a hug.

"You soppy old thing" Ruth Brett said, catching her husband's eye over Sylvie's shoulder. "You'll start me off." She dabbed her eye with a hankie. She turned and made her way down the corridor to stop herself bursting into tears.

Gabby nudged Eva, handing her all three bouquets to her. "I'll go and see what's happening, I'll be right back." Eva stood awkwardly for a moment but she too retreated down the corridor.

"You'll make me cry, Dad" Sylvie said when they let go of their embrace, but then grew serious. "Thank you. For everything. I've already said this to Mom, but I can't thank you guys enough for everything you've done for me. I don't say it enough, but I really mean it. You're the best parents I could have asked for, if Antonio and I turn out to be half the parents you guys are then I know we're doing ok."

"He's a good man" George Brett said. "I wouldn't let just anyone marry my daughter."

"I really love him, Dad. He's a great father and he treats me well."

"I can see how happy you are, it makes me happy too." He paused, something on his mind. "After my heart attack, when I was lying in that hospital bed, all I could think about was what would happen to my family if I didn't make it."

"Dad…"

"Knowing you had someone who would always be there for you brought me comfort. And living to meet my grandsons and watch you become a mother is all I ever wanted." Sylvie's dad paused, but as Sylvie was about to protest about the morbid turn in the conversation he took her hands. "All I'm trying to say is, I'm so proud of you."

Sylvie gave her dad a peck on the cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you."

"I love you too, kiddo." George hugged his daughter for a second longer before loosening his embrace. He glanced down the corridor at his wife and Gabby and Eva. Ruth nodded, and he smiled at Sylvie. "Shall we get this show on the road?" He offered her the crook of his arm and she gently took hold, grinning back.

Antonio stood at the front of the beautiful hotel ballroom, no one but the minister beside him. His mother had not been happy that he and Sylvie had decided not to get married in a church, but he had told her firmly that it was there decision and there was nothing she could say to change their mind so there was no point in trying. His mother sat on the front row of benches, a sleeping Gabriel on her lap. Beside her, his father held Matteo. There was a certain tension in the air between them, Antonio only hoped the babies would act as a buffer and they would behave. Antonio had more important things to worry about than his parents' messy divorce.

He fidgeted from one foot to another anxiously. He didn't really know what he was nervous about. Anyone looking on would perhaps guess that his parents' and his own failed marriage was what was playing on his mind, but that wasn't it. He was anxious that the day go smoothly, that he'd remember his vows, that his son wouldn't throw up again in the middle of her service, that his family would behave, but if he really stopped to think about it, Antonio would say that more than anything he was just anxious to finally marry the woman he loved. It had been far too long coming.

He scanned his written vows again then stuffed the crumpled paper into his pocket. "Just speak from your heart" his father had told him earlier when he'd seen him fret over getting it right. Antonio had nodded. He just needed to stay calm. It didn't matter really if he got every word right, or even if he forgot to say something that he wanted to say. He'd have the rest of his life to tell Sylvie every day what she meant to him.

The congregation murmured quietly, waiting for the service to begin. The string quartet were poised and ready, the minister stood in the centre of the stage and smiled encouragingly to Antonio. He took a deep breath, turning away from his and Sylvie's friends and family, taking one last moment to collect his thoughts. It was a good job he turned at that moment, he didn't see Diego walk quickly down the side aisle and tap a man on the shoulder, beckoning him quickly to follow.

"Where are Eva and Diego?" Sylvie asked, taking her bouquet from Gabby and smoothing her dress down one last time.

"We're here, we're here" Eva appeared, slightly breathless, Diego behind her.

"Is everything ok?"

"Yes" Eva said, a little too quickly. Diego nodded too. Sylvie wasn't convinced but shook it off quickly.

"Good luck sweetheart" Sylvie's Mom said. "I better go and take my seat."

The big oak double doors closed once more with a click. In a matter of minutes, they would open again and this would be it. She had never been one of those girls who spent hours daydreaming about her perfect wedding, but if she had, this would come pretty close. Her gorgeous lace dress made her feel like a million dollars, the lovely hotel ballroom with its high vaulted ceiling and intricate carved moulding was the perfect setting, and everyone she loved in the world was in that room. But she also realised that none of that mattered even a fraction as much as the fact she was marrying Antonio.

"Are you ready?" Gabby asked eagerly, and Sylvie nodded. She took her father's arm and breathed in and our slowly, calmly centring herself. This was it.

Matt pulled open the doors and gestured to the pianist at the back of the room. The music began and Sylvie heard the scaping of wooden benches on the floor as the congregation stood up as one.

Diego and Eva walked out first arm in arm, followed by Gabby and Matt. When they were half way down the long dark blue carpet that stretched the length of the room, only then did Sylvie allow herself to look at Antonio. Even from this distance, seeing him made her heart skip a beat.

She allowed herself to be led by her father, but she wasn't concentrating on walking, and the sea of faces all trained on her did not even enter Sylvie's mind. She just watched Antonio, standing and waiting for her with a broad grin on his handsome face, his kind eyes glistening with emotion.

Antonio watched Sylvie walk towards him and couldn't believe that he was lucky enough that this amazing woman had agreed to marry him. She took his breath away. His children, then his sister and brother-in-law reached the end of the aisle and peeled off to stand on either side of the stage. He nodded distractedly as first Diego and then Matt tapped him on the shoulder, but he only had eyes for Sylvie.

The music died down and the congregation were seated and all of a sudden Sylvie was right in front of him, her beautiful face just inches away, and all he wanted to do was grab her and kiss her. But there would be time for that. He felt butterflies in his stomach like her never had before. This was it.

Sylvie looked at Antonio's lop-sided smile and she had never felt happier. Her feet kind of hurt and she was worried about Gabriel, and curious at where they kids had vanished to just now, but all that receded into the back of her mind. She handed her bouquet to Gabby and received a final kiss from her father, and then it felt like she and Antonio were the only two people in the world.

"Are you ok?" Antonio whispered.

Sylvie nodded. "How is Gabe?"

"He's perfect."

Sylvie stole a glance down at her sons. Both of them were sleeping. "This is it" she said, so quietly she could barely hear herself.

"It sure is" Antonio replied.

There was a moment of silence, then the minister began.

"I thought I'd had my chance at love. I was content in my life, but I thought that was it for me and romance, and then you came alone and knocked me sideways. You stole my heart and gave me yours return. In my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd be as happy as you make me every day, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same. Your kindness and compassion for everyone you meet and your love for our sons inspires me to be a better person every single day. My first thought when I wake up each morning and my last thought before I go to sleep is of you, and every waking moment in between I spend striving to be the best man that I can, and be worthy of your love and belief in me."

"Growing up, there was always a small part of me that felt like I didn't quite belong. My parents are wonderful, but at moments I didn't feel whole. And then I fell completely in love with you and for the first time since I was a little girl there was nothing missing from my life. You have given me a family of my own, and every day I marvel at your strength and devotion to your family and know deep down that I'm where I should be. You're a brilliant father. I know that Matteo and Gabriel will grow up in a home filled with love and laughter and will never have to feel the way I felt. In marrying you, I'm not just gaining a husband, I'm also gaining two incredible step-children. I feel honoured to become part of their lives. You're one of a kind, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

"I, Antonio Eduardo Dawson take you, Sylvie Victoria Brett to be my wife."

Sylvie couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She sniffed, then let out a nervous giggle in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. Antonio gave her hand a squeeze. She took a deep breath.

"I, Sylvie Victoria Brett take you, Antonio Eduardo Dawson to be my husband."

"Now for the rings."

Sylvie let go of Antonio's hand long enough to take the gold band from Gabby. She held it between her fingers as she listened to the minister recite his words, waiting for the moment that would make her life complete. When Antonio took her outstretched hand once more, a tingle ran through her whole body as his fingers touched hers.

"I give you think ring as a symbol of my love and respect for you, and my commitment to our future together as husband and wife." He slipped the ring onto her hand.

Now it was her turn. She said the words and gave Antonio the ring, summoning all the love and sincerity she could muster into the gesture, as if that was the only way it would feel real to her. That done, they both turned to the minister, who was smiling serenely down at them, leaving a respectful moment before concluding the service. What was only in reality a couple of seconds felt unbearably long.

"By the power invested in me by God and the state of Illinois, I now pronounce you husband and wife." He turned to Antonio. "You may kiss the bride."

And he did. He took Sylvie in his arms and dipped her backwards to the cheers and whoops of their gathered friends and family. Sylvie had never been kissed like it and when she came up she was a little breathless. She laughed, but the moment want interrupted by the sound of a baby crying.

Antonio and Sylvie both looked towards the front bench. No double startled by the noise of the cheering and still not feeling 100%, Gabriel had woken suddenly from his nap and was cranky. Antonio and Sylvie shared a look as if to say 'back to reality' but smiled. Antonio's mother stood up and hurried from the room down the side aisle, gesturing that she would see them outside. The string quartet started playing and the newlyweds walked back up the aisle, their fingers intertwined.

"Oh baby, come here." Outside, Sylvie took a wailing Gabriel into her arms and held him close. Outside on the paved patio behind the hotel, Sylvie and Antonio stood with his mother and both Sylvie's parents in the lull as the guests took their seats for the wedding lunch and official duties began again. Sylvie's mom held Matteo, who was now awake also and cranky like his brother to be fed.

"They're hungry" Sylvie said, bouncing Gabe on her hip. "Have you got the diaper bag?"

"Right here." Eva picked it up and took two bottles from the side pocket. "I'll go warm them up."

"You're an angel" Sylvie said, smiling gratefully at Eva. She smiled back, but paused before heading back inside.

"Dad" she said, "can I talk to you?"

Inside, well out of earshot of Sylvie, Eva led Antonio into a secluded corner. Antonio sensed there was something on his daughter's mind but couldn't begin to guess what it could be. "Eva, is everything ok?"

Eva stood anxiously, a bottle of formula in each hand, and hesitated, reluctant to spoil the day. But, she concluded, in the split second before she spoke, there was more likelihood of the day being ruined if she didn't speak out. "Mom's here."

"What?" To say Antonio was shocked would be an understatement.

"Yeah, she showed up when we came downstairs. Don't worry, Sylvie has no idea, me and Diego managed to keep her away."

Antonio took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Was this ever going to end? "Where is she now?"

"In the parking lot I think" Eva said. "Diego got your Uncle Rich to keep an eye on her during the ceremony, but I'm worried what she might do."

"I have to talk to her" Antonio said, his anger beginning to rise.

"Please Dad, don't do anything stupid. I'm worried about her, she'd pretty messed up."

"You're telling me." Antonio softened, and laid his hands on his daughter's shoulders to reassure her. "Don't worry, I'm just going to talk."

Eva watched her Dad walk away towards the exit at the other end of the corridor. She wanted to follow, but remembered why she had come inside in the first place. There were two hungry babies outside. She would just have to trust her father to do the right thing.

Outside, Antonio scanned the parking lot and saw the broad shoulders of his uncle standing under a tree on the grass verge. On a bench below the tree, his ex-wife sat hunched and dejected. He walked towards them, not knowing what he would say when he got there.

"Gracias, Tío" he said.

His uncle embraced him. "I'm sorry I missed the ceremony."

"Don't worry about it. Thanks."

Laura looked up from the ground silently. Antonio took a step towards her and she shrank back slightly. "Laura, what the hell are you doing here?" She didn't answer, but her face contorted into a look of anguish. "What were you hoping to achieve? You can't be happy, so want everyone else to be miserable too, is that it?"

Laura started crying, and covered her face with her hands. When she spoke, her voice was muffled by her fingers. "My kids don't want to see me" she said, "I lost my job, I'm alone."

"That's not my fault."

"Antonio, please…"

"No. You have no right to be here. Our relationship has been over a long time. I love Sylvie, I married Sylvie. And what Eva and Diego do is up to them. Get it together and then maybe they'll want to see you." Antonio took a deep breath, aware that his voice was growing louder and louder with each word. "This is my wedding day" he said, quieter now. "You need to go."

"I feel like I'm losing everything" Laura sobbed, but she didn't stand up, as if she didn't have the will anymore.

Antonio watched her, filled with conflicting emotions. He was still so angry at her for all she'd put him through, not to mention her behaviour today. But he had loved this woman once, as hard as it was to remember now. And he remembered how broken hearted he was when Eva had refused to speak to him. For the first time he felt some sympathy for his ex-wife.

The more he thought about it as he stood there, the more he realised that he couldn't truly move forward with his life before he made things right. He didn't want to start his marriage to Sylvie with this dark cloud still hanging over him.

"I'll talk to Eva and Diego" he said, his voice calmer but still with a hard edge. "But I swear, if you come in there or do anything to upset the kids or Sylvie…"

"I won't" Laura said.

Antonio relented. "Fine. But you'll have to wait. It's time to eat and I won't let you interrupt my wedding day anymore."

The meal was eaten and the speeches were made, and Antonio took the opportunity before the first dance, the last formality of the day to steal away to talk to his children. He hoped, as he slipped back into his seat at the top table next to Sylvie and Diego's empty chair, that they would heed his advice and talk properly to their mom.

He had also popped upstairs to check on the twins just as Sylvie's Aunt Liz was relieving Gabby from babysitting duties, and filled his sister in on what had transpired. He already felt lighter. Whatever happened between Laura and their children, his conscience was clear. Gabby took her seat next to Matt and Antonio watched her take a long sip of champagne to calm herself down. If Antonio knew his sister at all, he suspected she was angry and full of indignation on his behalf right now. He loved her for it, but had made her promise to leave it alone and not go outside.

Antonio greeted Sylvie with a kiss. "Hey wife."

She smiled one of her bashful smiles that had made Antonio first fall for her charms. She stroked her palm across his cheek. "Hey husband." She kiss him back. "How are the boys?"

"All fine. Liz is with them now."

"We should try and make this tag team babysitting situation a more regular thing."

Antonio laughed. "You'll be lucky." For a moment, they both just looked out over the floor. A few guests were just finishing up their deserts and the waiting staff had already begun to clear the tables. Antonio saw Eva and Diego re-enter the room and watched them walk towards the table with trepidation. As they got closer, he realised that they didn't look angry, only sad, and he suspected that Eva had been crying.

The kids sat down, Eva next to Antonio in her brother's former seat, and Diego next to Sylvie. "Hey there" Sylvie said, putting her arm around Diego. "Where have you been?"

"We just went out for some air" Diego said, trying his best to sound bright. "We haven't missed your first dance have we?"

"No. Listen, I'll expect a dance with you at some point."

"Of course" Diego said, a slight glint in his eye that reminded Sylvie so much of Antonio. "I've been practising."

Antonio leaved towards Eva and whispered to her quietly. "Is everything ok?"

Eva sighed. "I suppose. I could use another drink though."

The sarcasm in her tone was not lost on Antonio and he replied with equal irony. "Lemonade you mean?"

Eva shrugged. Antonio pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "I'm proud of you" he said into her hair. "What did you say?"

"I don't want to talk about it now, Dad. Please. Today is about you guys, not her. Can we please just enjoy ourselves?"

"Absolutely. It's almost time for the band."

Matt swung the car around and he and Antonio were busy fitting the twins' car seats in place. It was dark, but the hotel's floodlights shone bright. Sylvie stood on the gravel drive way, still in her high heels and dress, and held her sons, one on each hip. She stood a little way away from the others, savouring the last moments with the babies before Gabby and Matt took them home for the night. The plan was that they would stay at Antonio and Sylvie's house, so the boys could sleep in their own dribs in familiar surroundings. It had been a long tiring day for them, especially Gabriel, that they all agreed that was the best plan. Diego and Eva had already left with their Grandma, amid many hugs and 'I love yous' from Antonio and Sylvie. The celebration was winding down, leaving only happy memories behind.

"Sylvie, they're ready to go." Antonio appeared beside her and gently touched her shoulder.

Sylvie's face had a pained expression on it that mirrored Antonio's own. He knew why, but neither of them said it out loud, fearing that to do so would be too upsetting. Tonight would be the first night in Gabriel and Matteo's lives that Sylvie would be apart from them.

"They're in great hands" Antonio said.

"I know they are, but Antonio…"

"I know."

Antonio kissed the side of Sylvie's head and took Gabe from her. It was getting harder to hold both boys at once, they were getting bigger every day. Time passed in the blink of an eye, it was scary how quickly. They walked over to the car and Sylvie handed Matteo to Casey. "Bye baby" she said, kissing him on the head. Matt walked around to the other side of the car to strap him in. Sylvie kissed Gabe too, and Antonio put him in his car seat. The minute Gabriel was no longer in his parents' arms he began to cry. So did Sylvie.

Gabby emerged from the hotel carrying the diaper bag and her purse, already changed out of her dress. She heard the baby cry and saw Sylvie wipe a tear from her eye and immediately hugged her. "Come on, they'll be fine."

"Thank you for everything" Sylvie said, "and I don't just mean today."

"Always" Gabby said, pulling away to look Sylvie in the eye. "We're sisters now."

"Are you ready babe?" Matt called to his wife over the roof of their car.

Gabby nodded. She moved from Sylvie to Antonio, and hugged her brother tightly. "I love you" she said.

"I love you too."

"Have an amazing night." Gabby pecked Antonio on the cheek, the climbed into the passenger seat.

Antonio and Sylvie watched the car drive away until the headlights vanished from sight. Antonio had his arms around her and she lay her head on his arm. "Do you want to go back to the party?" Antonio asked.

"No, not really."

Antonio grinned. "I was hoping you'd say that."

For the first time in over 24 hours, Antonio and Sylvie were alone. The bridal suite was filled with flowers, rose petals littered the bedspread and a bottle of champagne waited on ice for them on the side table. Antonio carried Sylvie through the door and she laughed as he lowered her to her feet. She'd taken off her heels the moment they stepped in the elevator and held them in one hand.

"This is beautiful" Sylvie said, surveying the room. She walked over to the dresser and placed her shoes on the chair. She ran her hand over the polished hardwood dressing table and the soft velvet curtains. The lights were down low and candles littered every surface waiting to be lit.

Antonio followed her and took her in his arms, kissing her sweetly on the lips. "Not as beautiful as you look in that dress."

"Well, thank you. I should just keep it on all night than, shall I?"

The glint in Sylvie's eye drove Antonio wild. "Not if I have anything to do with it."

Sylvie smiled, feeling truly happier than she had ever felt in her life. A mix of tiredness, champagnes and pure bliss made her feel as though she was floating on air. The whole world seemed to fall away, all that would exist for this one night was herself, this room and the man she loved with all her heart. She pulled the pins from her hair one by one and her long blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders.

"Do you want some champagne?"

Sylvie shook her head. She ran her hands up Antonio's chest to his shoulders and pulled his suit jacket off.

Antonio saw where this was going but decided to play the game. "Room service?"

"Nope." Sylvie loosened his tie.

"Are you sure? I really fancy some of those chocolate-covered strawberries I saw on the menu…"

"All I want" Sylvie said, undoing Antonio's shirt one button at a time, "is you." Antonio's shirt fell to the floor.

Antonio wasn't about to argue. He also wasn't going to let Sylvie have all the fun. "Turn around."

Sylvie obliged, and swept her hair over one shoulder out of the way. The zip of her tight lace dress ran the whole length of Sylvie's back and Antonio pulled it down slowly, planting feather light kisses on her neck as he went.

Something occurred to Sylvie and she had to ask. "Where did you and the kids disappear to after dinner?"

Antonio stopped. "You want to talk about the kids now? Really?"

Sylvie turned around. "Antonio…"

He sighed, running his hands over Sylvie's bare shoulders. "It's nothing to worry about now, I promise. I'll tell you tomorrow." Sylvie gave him a curious look, unconvinced. He stroked her face, bringing it closer to his. "I don't want to think about anything outside of this room, it's our wedding night. Please trust me."

Sylvie nodded. She did. If Antonio told her it was nothing to worry about she would believe him. That didn't mean he was off the hook, but she didn't want anything to spoil this night. "Now, where were we?" She shrugged out of her dress and let it fall to the floor.

Relieved of their clothes, they fell onto the four-poster bed in a hungry embrace, sending rose petals flying in every direction. Antonio gazed down at his new wife. Looking into Sylvie's big beautiful eyes he made a vow to himself to do whatever it took to make her happy. He'd tell her about Laura showing up, he wouldn't lie to her, but not now.

Antonio paused a little too long, lost in his reverie. Sylvie reached up and stroked his hair, searching his face for a clue as to what was on his mind. He became aware of her fingers buried in his hair and blinked. He kissed her, long and slow and with passion, then began kissing her neck. Sylvie smiled, and it turned into a laugh.

Antonio stopped, bemused. "What?"

"We're married" Sylvie said.

Antonio laughed too. "Yes, we are. I love you, Sylvie Dawson."