Chapter Eighteen

The UK does marriages a bit differently than they do in the states. Our wedding in the gazebo would not be legally binding, since it wouldn't be in a church or approved venue; we would have to go to the registrar's office the next week for the actual civil ceremony and to sign all the paperwork. Still, we had hired a vicar from Wadebridge because I had liked the idea of a minister being at least a small part of the wedding. I knew it seemed like a lot of unnecessary rigmarole to have a ceremony that technically wouldn't mean we were married, but the sentiment definitely meant something to me. The idea of saying my vows in Joan's little gazebo, overlooking the sea, was exactly how I imagined marrying my love would be: simple, beautiful, and perfect.

That's how I imagined it. It wasn't exactly how things turned out.

I woke up the morning of the wedding to sheets of rain pouring from iron gray skies. Martin was sound asleep until he heard me laughing. He rolled over and looked at me with one eye open.

"What's so funny?" he mumbled sleepily.

"It's pouring!" I answered in near-hysterics.

"Why is that funny?"

"I mean, what more could possibly go wrong…we're supposed to be getting married outside."

He groaned. "Maybe it will stop before this afternoon," he offered.

"It probably won't, but you know what? I don't care. In about six hours, I will be Mrs. Ellingham."

"Mrs. Ellingham," Martin repeated. His eyes softened, and he reached for my hand. As he did, I felt the baby stretch and roll over.

"Our baby is awake," I told him. I moved his hand to the spot on my belly where a little foot was pushing against my skin. He sighed.

"Amazing," he said softly.

"Mmm. Amazing until the little soccer player decides to kick me in the bladder," I answered, and hauled myself out of bed for a trip to the bathroom.

Even though our ceremony was at two o'clock that afternoon, Martin had scheduled a few appointments for early in the morning. He had given Morwenna the vague reason of "none of your business" when she wondered why the surgery would close early that day.

"Are you sure seeing patients today is a good idea?" I asked him.

"I don't see why not," he answered mildly. "I'll be finished in plenty of time to get to Joan's."

"I just don't want anything to spoil the day." I brushed my teeth as Martin turned on the water for his shower. He stripped off his pajamas, and I stood admiring him as he stepped into the tub and pulled the curtain. After a moment of deliberation, I shed my clothes and stepped in too.

"What are you doing?" he sputtered.

"Joining you," I told him, giving him a wicked smile. He raised an eyebrow at me, but then he kissed me, long and slow.

Subsequently, we were busy for a while.

I left for Joan's at around 10:30 am—I wanted to have plenty of time to get into my dress and make myself presentable. I went into the consulting room between patients to say goodbye to Martin before I left.

"I'll see you soon," I told him, kissing him.

"Yes," he answered, and the corners of his mouth turned up into a half-smile.

"I can't wait to marry you," I whispered in his ear.

"Yes," he said again gruffly, clearing his throat.

"Don't be late!" I added as I left the room.

"Of course I won't!" he exclaimed, sounding appalled I would even suggest such a thing. But again, that's not the way things turned out.

Now he was late…he was over thirty minutes late, and I was an absolute wreck. What was more, the vicar hadn't arrived yet either. A million thoughts were swirling through my head; what could possibly be keeping both of them? I tried Martin's number again, but it still went straight to voicemail. Had he changed his mind…maybe he realized being married and having a baby was too much for him? Maybe he didn't love me after all. Maybe…

"I know what you're thinking, Anna, and the answer is no—Martin has NOT changed his mind," Joan said emphatically, seeming to read my mind. "He is crazy about you, and he has been looking forward to this practically since the day he met you."

"Then where is he, Joan? And where the heck is the vicar?"

"There must have been an emergency—that's the only thing I can think of. I'm sure he'll be here as soon as he can."

I sat in my wedding dress at the kitchen table, a cup of tea in front of me. Joan was dressed in a lovely skirt and blouse. In a vase on the counter by the door was the bouquet of hydrangeas I had picked for the ceremony. I kept looking at my watch, willing them both to show up…or at least call me and let me know what was going on.

But the minutes ticked by and still-nothing. When they were both over an hour late, I knew I couldn't sit there any longer. I had to go and try to find out what was keeping them.

"Anna, at least change out of your dress before you go!" Joan called after me as I grabbed and umbrella off the peg by the door and walked quickly to my car. The rain had calmed from the deluge to a steady drizzle, but the sky was getting dark on the horizon.

"Don't worry, Joan, I'll be right back!" I told her. I was only going to be in the car…maybe the surgery. What could possibly happen?

What I thought to be the worst case scenario was still foremost in my mind, that Martin had decided he didn't want to marry me after all, and he had called the vicar to tell him he wouldn't be needed. If that was the case, I didn't know how I would forgive him or how we could work past it.

But no, that couldn't be the reason. I knew how much Martin loved me and our baby, and how much he had been looking forward to today. I had to trust that he hadn't changed his mind. Joan was right: the only thing that would keep Martin from being there on time was some kind of medical emergency.

The theory was confirmed when, about three miles from Joan's, I spotted Martin's car on the side of the road, alongside another car that seemed to have crashed into one of the large rock outcroppings that dotted the moor. Martin was kneeling on the side of the road next to a person lying prone there. I quickly pulled over and hurried to him.

"What happened?" I asked him, sinking to my knees beside him. He was soaking wet and covered in mud and blood.

"He hydroplaned right in front of me, lost control of his car…" Martin explained, "And the idiot wasn't wearing his seatbelt! He went through the windscreen. He has a nicked femoral artery from the glass…here, put your hands on this and press as hard as you can…" he indicated to a bandage he was holding on the man's upper thigh. I did as he asked and he sat back, shaking the feeling back in his hand.

The injured man was pretty banged up, but I recognized him right away. "Martin, it's the vicar!" I exclaimed.

"Yes," he answered, dialing his cell phone. "Where the hell is the bloody ambulance?"

I continued to press hard on the bandage as Martin barked orders into the phone, telling the person on the other end our exact location. The vicar opened his eyes then and looked at me. "Miss Harper…" he said groggily. "What's happened?"

"You've been in an accident, but you're going to be fine. I just need you to lie as still as you can…the ambulance is on its way," I told him. "Do you have any pain in your head or neck?"

"Yes, I have quite a headache…" he replied faintly. "I was late…needed to get to your ceremony…" Martin kneeled down and felt his pulse.

"Pulse is thready but regular…any nausea? Neck pain?" He found a vein in the vicar's arm and inserted a needle to begin administering the bag of fluids he had gotten from his medical bag.

"A bit."

Just then, the skies opened and it began to rain heavily again. Martin ran to his car to get his umbrella to hold over the vicar. I could hear the faint wail of the ambulance siren as it approached. "Thank God," I breathed.

The ambulance screeched to a halt beside us and the paramedics hopped out. I continued to hold the bandage until the vicar was loaded onto a stretcher, and then one of the paramedics took over. I looked down at my dress; the skirt was covered in a thick layer of mud, and there was blood on the sleeves. I listened as Martin gave the paramedics the rundown of the accident and the vicar's injuries, and then the ambulance sped off toward the hospital.

Martin and I just stood there on the side of the road for a few moments, under the umbrella, though by this time there was really no use. We were both soaked to the skin, and I was shivering.

"Thank you…for your help," he told me. "It was good to have an extra pair of hands."

"Of course."

"Let's get you back to Joan's," Martin finally said. But neither of us moved. I glanced at my watch.

"We're supposed to be getting married right now," I commented. I glanced down at my dress again, and lamented not listening to Joan and changing before I left the house. My lovely dress, like my lovely wedding…ruined. I wanted to cry.

"Yes."

"I'm just glad you're all right, Martin." I took his hand.

"I'm so sorry I was late…I got a house call just as I was walking out the door…"

I looked up at him. "It's a good thing you did, or else the vicar would have died."

He thought a minute. "Yes, I suppose so." I shivered again.

"Come on, I'll drive you back…we can get your car later." Martin said, and led me to the passenger's side door of his car, securing me inside. When he got in, he turned the heating on high and aimed the vents toward me. I rested my hand on his knee, and he held it while he drove. Neither of us said anything until we pulled into Joan's driveway, and then Martin turned to me. "Anna, I am so sorry," he murmured. I squeezed his hand.

Joan ran out to meet us before we could even get out of the car. "Oh my God…" she exclaimed when she saw the state of us. "What has happened? Are you all right?"

"Don't worry…it's not our blood," I reassured her, and she pulled me into her arms for a hug.

"There was an automobile accident, with injury…" Martin said.

"The vicar," I added.

"Oh, good heavens! Is he all right?"

"He will be."

She hugged Martin next. "You poor things…you're both soaking! Come inside and let's get you warm and dry." Martin and I just looked at each other for a second. An idea was forming in my head. Maybe we could salvage the day somehow. I wondered if he was thinking the same thing? He gave me an almost imperceptible nod.

"No…there's something I want to do first," I told her, and turned to Martin. "Wait here," I said.

"Anna, what is it you have to do that can't wait until you've changed your clothes?" Joan called after me, exasperated, as I went into the house. I quickly found what I was looking for and went back outside. I took Martin by the hand.

"We'll be right back," I told Joan as I pulled Martin in the direction of the gazebo. He didn't even ask what I was doing…I think he already knew.

When we got inside, I turned to face Martin. "You may think this is silly…" I began.

"No, I understand," he answered, his expression soft.

"You look very handsome," I told him, and meant it. He had a smudge of mud on his cheek, but I didn't care.

"And you have never looked more beautiful," he replied, and I giggled, looking down at myself. I was an absolute mess.

"So, you want to do this?" I asked. I was going to have my gazebo ceremony, despite everything that had transpired.

"Absolutely."

"Right then. Martin Ellingham, will you take me to be your wife?" My voice caught, but I kept going. "Will you love me, and honor me, and protect me, and put up with all my nonsense for as long as we both shall live?"

He reached out to stroke my cheek. "Of course I will," he said quietly.

There was a pause. "It's your turn," I whispered.

"Yes…right," he cleared his throat. "I know I am a…difficult man, and I often say the wrong things…and I'm rubbish at showing my feelings. But despite all that…Anna, will you take me to be your husband?" his eyes glistened. "Will you love me, and honor me…overlook my quirks…and put up with my faults for as long as we both shall live?"

I beamed at him. "You know I will," I answered. Then, opening the ring box that I had retrieved from the house, I handed my ring to him. I slipped his ring onto his finger, and he did the same to mine. "I love you, Martin…I love your heart, and I love your character, and your integrity, your body, and your soul. I am so lucky to be marrying you," I told him.

He pulled me into his arms, saying, "And I have loved you since the moment I first set eyes on you…there is nothing about you I don't love, Anna. And I am the lucky one."

We didn't have a vicar to tell Martin to kiss the bride, but he didn't need an invitation. We kissed until the sun broke through the clouds and Joan came looking for us, wondering what in heaven's name we were doing.