Chapter 29

Here's another update, I hope to get lots written for this across this week so that I can regularly update this while settling back into university again :) Thanks for the support so far, hope you all enjoy this update

Connie was sitting in her office at work after finishing all the paperwork she had left to do. The department was quiet and there were more than enough staff in to cover the hours. She sat back in the chair before an email buzzed on her computer.

She clicked into it and smiled when she noticed the title. Booking Confirmation: Banyan Tree, Ocean View Pool Villa, Seychelles. Connie and Jacob had spent the last week looking at pictures of various hotels along the beach front but hadn't found anything which jumped out at them, they all just seemed nice. But late last night they'd fallen across something and Connie had decided to try for it straight away.

It was a beautiful villa which looked out over the beach below. Not only were the views incredible, but the place itself was amazing. They had the whole place to themselves too, well sort of…

"I don't know Jacob, I mean it's amazing and I would love to spend a week here but it's for a group of people not two." He seemed to consider something for a moment before Connie interrupted him. "We'll just have to keep looking-" "What if we had a group?"

She turned herself to face him properly as he spoke again. "We're making this a small wedding with those around us who mean the most. Why not make it a small getaway for them as well… Get this place and spend the time together."

Connie had assumed that Jacob would want to spend the time together before getting back to celebrate with everyone else. "You don't have to pretend to want that-" "I'm not. Con, I think it would be the best wedding we could ever have. Look it sleeps at least 15. That's you, me and Grace. Charlie and Elliot, my Aunt and sister, and my two nieces. There's still room after that."

"Okay, but I want a say in those last few people-" "Okay." Connie smiled as they looked at the number of people the villa slept. It was meant for 15-20 people and they had 9. She added Tess to the list before sighing and finishing it with the last few people. Jacob rested a hand against hers stopping her even though she'd already finished. "Are you sure-" "Just shut up and accept it."

The final list read: Connie, Jacob, Grace, Elliot, Charlie, Tess, Elisha (Jacob's Aunt), Brianna (Jacob's sister), Anya and Jessica (Jacob's nieces), Lofty, Robyn, Rita and Iain.

"You would have Rita at our wedding?" Connie laughed looking back to him. "I know you two are good friends, as you are with Iain and the others so I don't see how it's fair to stop them from being there for you." Jacob leant down and kissed her gently before he smiled down at her. "What about you-" "Everyone I need will be there."

"Sorry to interrupt Mrs Beauchamp, there was a message that you wanted to see us?" Connie smiled and nodded as Tess and Charlie stepped into the office and closed the door. "It's nothing serious, sit down." She smiled warmly at them both before beginning to feel funny. She thought there might be several feelings, but never nerves.

"As you know Staff N- Jacob and I are getting married but we've decided to go away and do it… I-I wanted to know if you'd both be there, for me. There's a few others from the department that we're going to ask but you're really the only ones I have, besides Grace and Elliot." Charlie smiled as Tess looked across at him.

There had been a few times they'd seen the vulnerable Connie and she seemed to be making a small appearance again now. "Of course we'd be there for you Connie." Tess stood up as Connie did the same and gently hugged the clinical lead. It seemed like a weight from her shoulders asking them, she didn't have a lot of people on her side in life, but knowing they would be there for her meant a lot.

"Charlie before you go, there's something else I need to ask you." Tess smiled and left the office, closing the door quietly behind them. Connie was visibly shaking as Charlie looked at her. "You know, whatever it is it can't be as bad as wanting to spend your wedding with an old man like me." Connie smiled briefly as she sat beside him on the sofa.

This was the hardest thing for her, and she had no idea why she'd spoke up now. It was still so early, she had time to do this but she knew if she kept leaving it, she'd never ask. "Charlie would you give me away?" He knew she wanted to obviously ask him something, but this had never crossed his mind.

Charlie was speechless for a few moments, causing Connie to panic and think she should never have asked. "You know when you started here, I knew it would never be easy. I knew that there would be sparks and I was pretty right about that… But one thing I never thought I'd see was the day Connie Beauchamp felt nervous about talking to me."

"I'm not nerv-" "I'm not blind. You're an amazing woman Connie, and you know I look at you as a daughter. I'd love to do it, it would be an honour." Before she could speak he reached forward and hugged her as she collapsed onto his shoulder, her emotions finally getting the better of her.

"So Queen B how about we go home aaannnd I didn't know anyone else was in here… Is everything alright sweet cheeks?" he dropped to his knee beside her when he realised there were tears falling down her cheeks. Gently he rested a hand upon her knee as she nodded. "I'll leave you two to talk." Charlie smiled as he left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"I asked Charlie to give me away at the wedding… I know we hadn't talked about it-" "You should have said and I'd have been here with you. I know how hard that would have been for you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his chest as he hugged her tight to him. "I love you so much, I want this day to be perfect for you."

In small steps, with one thing at a time, the wedding seemed to be forming but there was something Jacob wanted to do for her which he knew she wouldn't admit to wanting if he asked.