CHAPTER 72

Bea woke laying flat on her stomach cuddling her pillow. It had been a very long time since she had been able to lay like this. She didn't want to move. Watching him sleep, listening to him breathing, had it really only been two months since this amazing man had appeared in her life, three months ago would she have envisaged herself married, let alone to someone who made her feel so complete? How life can change so quickly, but they both knew that to find each other as they had was a blessing, she would thank whoever for every single night in her prayers.

Nathan woke, the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was that amazing gown lying on the chair. He smiled and turned over to see his wife, his heart skipped a beat. This is what he had dreamed of since leaving the cabin, this is how he wanted to wake every morning. He kissed her back, "Morning Mrs. Grant, you awake?"

She took his hand and kissed his wedding ring, " Morning darling, I am, I have been awake for a while but just don't want to move."

"You don't have to, after the day we had yesterday a lazy day might be a good idea."

"No, I will make a move in a minute or two, but for now this is just bliss."

"Let me go and make you your morning coffee, have that in bed at least."

He kissed her again, "I love you Mrs. Grant."

"I love you too, husband dearest."

He returned 10 minutes later with coffee and sat on the bed beside her. "Today we start to work on the "After Tuesday " list I guess.

She laughed "I suppose we do, I thought after Tuesday would never get here, and yesterday did fly past so quickly."

"After 2 pm did for me, the before then were the longest hours of my life, honestly Bea I have never been so nervous in my entire life and hope I never feel that way again. Were you not nervous?"

"Excited more than nervous, I did have a brief panic when I was ready, but then Henry arrived and his reaction calmed me down. I am worried about him Nathan, something is not right but as yet I don't know what, I just have a feeling."

"I thought his little speech when he gave me your hand was very moving, and he was so proud to have done it. We will need to keep an eye on him, we don't want his health to go downhill again, just let him know we are here if he needs to talk."

"That's all we can do for now, I will try and catch him at some point over the next few days."

"So we need to call in and see the boys this morning, then I want to go and have a look at the forge, give Colin our support see if he needs a hand with anything while I am off, we have the rest of your things to collect, is that all we need do in town?"

"We could do with calling at the mercantile for a few bits, but I think that is it. Then I can get my things sorted and put away."

"Then how do you fancy steak for dinner, I can cook and we can open that champagne, just you and me."

"That sounds like a plan, a wonderfully quiet night, just the two of us. I will need to write to everyone back in the UK and let them know how the day went, I wonder, should we wait until we have photographs to send, do you think? "

"That would make sense, or a copy of The Valley Voice at least, I think we may be front-page news" he laughed, " Rosemary's human interest story."

"I don't mind, they were both so good yesterday, I can't wait to see the photographs, it was like a competition. Rosemary reckons the ones of mine when I first put my dress on will be the winners, I hope we don't have to judge."

He looked over at the dress lying on the chair, "Bea when I get the camera back would you put that back on for me and let me take some photographs of you in it?"

"If you want me to I will, I don't know when I will ever wear it again, mind I will never part with it."

"I hope you do get that chance, we will have to make sure you do, it is far too beautiful to hang in the wardrobe forever."

"Shall we have breakfast in the cafe? A honeymoon breakfast if there is such a thing."

"Pancakes, I could just eat those, I had better get out of this bed then."

"Have five more minutes while I go in the bathroom, shave or not, he rubbed his chin."

"Well, you know what I would say" she grinned.

Half an hour later and they headed for town, walking hand in hand Constable and Mrs. Grant did make that striking couple everyone talked about, you could not fail to see and feel the love they shared for each other.