Chapter 31

Sorry that this wasn't updated Friday or yesterday! Got caught up with work and didn't have a chance to post during the day, so in some attempt to make up for it here's a few updates!

Hope you enjoy this, please review :)

Connie was lying in bed entangled with Jacob when her phone started ringing loudly. She groaned before rolling over and reaching for it, slowly answering. "Hello Connie Beauch-"

Jacob was beginning to wake up as he realised she was no longer speaking after answering the phone. "I know we haven't spoken for a while but were you ever planning on telling me about this new man you happen to be marrying… I found out through speaking to Grace last weekend!"

Connie released her breath and smiled as Jacob sat beside her watching her. "Isabella, it wasn't intentional-""Just because I'm not round there to talk sense into you doesn't mean I don't care anymore Connie." Jacob remained phased by the conversation as he had no idea who the woman on the other end of the phone was.

"Hang on a minute, I'm getting a puzzled look from beside me…" Connie glanced to Jacob "Morning sweet cheeks, and who's got my fiancée's attention so early in the morning?" She smiled as he leant in and kissed her lightly before sitting back. "It's Grace's auntie-" "You have a sister!?" Connie shook her head "Not exactly… Isabella is Sam's sister, we got on better than Sam and I ever did."

Connie put the phone onto speaker before talking. "You're on speaker Isabella-" "Well then I guess I should say hello to the man who's managed to turn you soft." Jacob laughed as he watched Connie roll her eyes.

The three of them spoke for almost an hour before Jacob came out with what he had wanted to say all along. "I'm going to interrupt here as I know she's not going to say it herself… Why don't you and your daughter come to the wedding? There's room in the villa still and it would be lovely to meet you-" Jacob was met with a look from Connie but Isabella answered first. "That would be amazing, me and Lottie would love to… And you can stop pulling that face at him Beauchamp because I know you will be."

"Anyway I best be off, I guess I'll see you in a few months Jacob. Connie I'll speak to you soon when I've arranged flights with Charlotte and Grace." "Okay, thank you Isabella, I'll see you soon." As soon as she was gone Connie turned to Jacob. "I'm sorry, I know how you are but I figured she should be there… I saw your face when you realised it was her on the phone and I knew she had to be there."

Rather than say anything else Connie closed the space between them and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "Thank you-" "What was that, did Connie Beauchamp just thank someone?" She punched his chest before he pushed her back against the bed and kissed her deeply.

It was already March and Connie was stressing over the wedding being just a week away. Everyone's flights were booked and the list of people had gotten slightly longer after Jacob's doing. The final guest list read: Connie, Jacob, Grace, Isabella, Charlotte, Elliot, Charlie, Tess, Elisha, Brianna, Anya, Jessica, Lofty, Robyn, Rita, Iain, Alicia and Ethan.

Jacob had asked Alicia along after noticing how well she got on with Connie, it only seemed fair that they ask along Ethan as they had been together for the last few months. Connie met the idea with open arms and was beginning to finally look forward to the concept of getting on the plane and escaping Holby for a few days.

"Are you ready to go?" Connie looked up to Rita and Alicia standing in her doorway. Connie opened her mouth to speak but Rita cut her off. "Yeah we didn't knock, get used to it and get off your arse and out the ED." She picked up her bag and shut down the computer wandering away and out of the department with the other women. They hadn't been the best of friends at any point in their time at Holby together, but they had a mutual understanding now which to anyone else would seem just as bitchy as before. However they wouldn't admit it, but they were starting to get along.

Jacob bumped into Connie at the entrance and moved his hands to her waist. "Hey muscles, slacking already?" He winked at her before gently kissing her. "You heading off?" She nodded as Alicia ran back over and tugged on Connie's arm separating the pair. "Sorry, places to be and everything… Come on!" Jacob laughed and smiled at Rita knowing where they were off to and why there was such a rush.

Connie had an appointment just outside of Holby at a dress-makers in order have the final fittings. There were no bridesmaids, other than Grace, but they had both chosen dresses from the shop which they were collecting today.

"Why were you so eager to get me here quickly anyway?" Alicia faltered slightly not knowing what to say so Rita interrupted. "Well if we were late it's certain you'd have blamed me somehow so figured I'd stop it from happening." Connie just rolled her eyes as they stopped outside the window.

They all got out of the car and walked inside to be greeted by several warm faces. "Hello ladies, you must be Connie?" She smiled and was walked through the room with Rita and Alicia to be faced with the dress she'd chosen weeks before hanging in front of her. "Do you want to follow me and we'll get it on."

Connie sighed before putting her bag down on the sofa and walking into the room next door. The dress was a light chiffon material with little detailing. It was a strapless dress which was tightly fitted across her chest before coming to a jewelled band which they had added but she was unsure of whether she'd wear it on the day. From here it loosely fell to the floor just covering her toes.

Her dark brunette hair fell in curls and contrasted with the white dress perfectly. Looking down at herself she couldn't quite believe that she was getting married again and hopefully for the final time. "It looks beautiful, are you ready to go and show them?" Connie nodded as she picked the front of her dress up carefully and started walking out. She was wearing her heels from work at the moment but planned to have a white lace pair for the day.

Connie stepped into the room looking down at the floor before she glanced up and froze in place. She clasped her hands to her mouth as tears pricked her eyes realising who was sitting in front of her.

Beside Rita and Alicia who both had huge smiles on their faces, at both her reaction and the sight of the dress, sat Isabella, Charlotte and Grace. Connie continued to walk out as Grace got up and ran over to her. She bent down and hugged her daughter as the tears fell freely down her cheeks. Rita couldn't help but begin to see another side to the woman she argued with so frequently.

"What are you doing here?" Grace smiled as she moved away from her Mum and sat beside the other women again. "Jacob and Issy sorted it so that we were home before flying with you." Connie smiled at the other woman as everyone began commenting on the dress.

"Connie you look beautiful, I'm so happy that you're finally getting married!" She laughed as she turned around and looked into the mirrors that surrounded her. There was no way of denying that the dress looked good, and in just over a week she'd be wearing it to walk along the sandy beach towards Jacob with the people who meant most to them all around.