Chapter 34

It was turning 9 o'clock on their first evening in the Seychelles and everyone was waiting downstairs before heading along the beach for dinner. All the women were wearing dresses as it was still so warm outside.

Connie walked with her hand entwined with Jacob's slightly behind everyone else. "Jacob, what's happening with your Aunt and sister-" "Don't worry it's under control sweet cheeks." He smiled that sly grin he had before finishing the walk to the restaurant.

They'd been sat down for almost an hour and were all eating whilst the conversation flowed between them. Connie had feared that this would be awkward, she wasn't one for exactly socialising, especially with staff members but nobody seemed to care tonight.

"Con, I'm going to get drinks did you want something?" She shook her head smiling as he left the table while she turned to Grace. "Everything okay sweetheart?" Grace smiled nodding towards her Mum. "Is the wedding tomorrow?" Connie thought about it smiling. "Yes why?" Grace just shrugged "Just wanted to wear my dress." Connie laughed before Jacob returned to the table passing out various glasses down the table.

Once they'd finished their drinks everyone was stuffed. Jacob had decided to walk everyone back a different way to the villa which led them along the sea front.

"It really is beautiful here Jacob… Thank you for doing all of this for me-" "No need to thank me sweet cheeks. Do you really think I'd turn all this down?" They smiled at each other before Jacob rested his arm around her shoulders while Connie's arm went around his waist.

"It's strange seeing Mrs Beauchamp so, relaxed." Alicia walked along holding hands with Ethan as Robyn and Lofty joined them. "It is good to see another side of her though, right Rita?" Iain smiled as Rita sighed from the other side of them. "I guess so-" "One you could maybe get on with-" "I can hear you all you know, I haven't lost my hearing since leaving the ED! Or my senses for that matter…"

Alicia smiled as they all walked together, everyone was happy enough in this strange situation they'd somehow found themselves in. It wasn't a hard walk back to the villa but once back several people collapsed around the various sofas.

Jacob walked with Connie outside onto the veranda and sat down holding onto her hands. "I wanted to talk to you before my family get here… I know you, and I know as soon as they're here you're going to panic about them not liking you. I just want you to know that there is no chance of that ever happening, it's obvious you're the best thing that could have ever happened to me."

Connie smiled as she leaned into Jacob's hug. "I love you beautiful and they'll see that as soon as they see us." He placed his lips on hers quickly before they stood up and went back to everyone else.

It was 10:30 and so Connie had taken Grace and Charlotte upstairs to their room. "Now you two make sure you get some sleep tonight because I'm going to need my two bridesmaids on top form tomorrow-" "BRIDESMAIDS!?" Both girls sat up with smiles on their faces looking at Connie. "Did I not tell you? Every bride needs her bridesmaids and I've got my perfect princesses for that." Grace and Charlotte had jumped out of their beds and hugged Connie. "I love you Mum-" "I love you Auntie Connie and Jacob seems nice."

Downstairs Robyn, Lofty, Rita and Iain were sat inside with some music quietly playing on the TV while having a few drinks. Tess and Charlie were sat on the chairs under the shelter of the veranda while Ethan and Alicia sat beside the pool talking.

"Do you think you'll ever get married Ethan?" He smiled as he looked out across the landscape. "I'm not sure…" Alicia's smile faded a little before he spoke again. "Do you want to get married one day?" She turned to face him smiling as he held onto her hand again. "Who knows, maybe someday I'll play my cards right and the perfect doctor would want to." She rested her head against Ethan's shoulder as they looked across the beach.

Elliot was waiting on the stairs for Connie to finish with the girls. She stepped out of the room and down the first few stairs before sitting beside him. "Elliot why are you sitting alone out here like a recluse?" He laughed as she smiled slightly. He rested a hand on her knee causing her to look up to him. She had always tried to keep her façade with him but never succeeded.

"I can tell he really makes you happy Connie. I know that it's not the same as hearing the words from him, but your Father would be proud of you. And if it's any consolation, so am I." Connie surprised him by wrapping her arms about his neck and hugging him. "Thank you." He smiled before she sat up and quickly got up from the stairs.

"Now are you going to attempt to talk to other people, if I'm having to socialise then so are you." He laughed at how she went from one mood to the other to hide herself away from those in the other rooms.

Elliot walked with Connie past the guys in the living room to sit with Tess and Charlie. "Where's Jacob?" Connie looked about not seeing him but Charlie reassured her, slightly. "His family arrived so he's helping them inside." Connie's stomach was doing somersaults but she suppressed the feeling remaining where she was.

Connie moved to sit next to the pool with the water covering her legs. She moved her feet slowly through the water as it cooled her down.

"Aunt Elisha-" "Look at you Jay, a fully grown man. Come here son and give me a hug." He smiled as he bent down and embraced his Aunt before noticing his sister behind her with his nieces. "It's good to see you Brianna-" "You too Jacob. Do you mind if I take the girls straight to their room, they need to sleep. Do you think Connie would mind?" He shook his head and showed them inside and up to the rooms to put their things away.

Jacob's nieces had their own room next door to Grace and Charlotte. Jacob walked back downstairs with Elisha and Brianna before briefly introducing them to everyone in the living room. "Guys this is my Aunt Elisha and sister Brianna. These are some of our friends from back home."

Jacob could see Elisha looking around and smiled. "She's not in here Aunt Elisha." He paused in the door way of the veranda looking out at Connie by the pool. The blue lights surrounding it made her look even more beautiful. Brianna stopped beside Jacob and smiled before whispering to him. "That's her isn't it?"

He jumped slightly not realising she was there. "She's gorgeous Jacob-" "I know, I couldn't believe my luck when she let me take her out the first time. I still can't believe it." Jacob pulled his eyes away from his fiancée long enough to get Elisha and Brianna outside to meet Charlie, Tess and Elliot.

"Aunt Elisha, Brianna this is Tess, like the Mum of the ED." Tess smiled saying hello before he moved to Elliot. "This is Elliot. I think he's one of the only people to have known Con for so many years and survived it." Jacob laughed as Elliot smiled back. "He's also one of the four most important people in her life-" "Four?"

Jacob smiled to his Aunt. "There's Elliot, myself, her beautiful and talented daughter Grace… And the man beside us. This is Charlie, he's giving Connie away to me tomorrow and is like a father to Con." Charlie greeted the women before Jacob turned and began to walk to the pool. "Wait here for two seconds…"

He passed Ethan and Alicia smiling before Connie noticed him. "Hey, oh my gosh I'm so sorry I haven't come over… I didn't-" "Shh, it's fine sweet cheeks." He offered his hand to Connie who took it and realised how close she was to him once standing. "You know I forget how short you are without your heels-" "Say that again and you'll be in the pool, fully clothed I don't care." He laughed before placing a gentle kiss to her lips.

They didn't need to move because once Jacob looked to his Aunt and sister they came over to them. "Aunt Elisha, Brianna. This is Connie my fiancée." She smiled towards the women but wasn't sure what to say before Elisha spoke up.

"Well may the lord strike me down, Jacob she's absolutely beautiful. Where did you find this one?" Connie felt her cheeks flush red as she moved a strand of hair behind her ear. "We work together Aunt Elisha, Connie's a consultant-" "How did you manage to make her fall for you?"

Connie smiled as she felt Jacob's fingers intertwine with hers. "Actually..." Connie raised her eyes to look at him smiling before finishing her sentence. "I'm his boss-" "Jacob Charles Masters you didn't tell us this!" Connie smiled and folded her arms against her chest raising an eyebrow. "He didn't?" Jacob rolled his eyes as his Aunt pulled Connie into a hug. "It's brilliant to finally meet you sweetheart… Jacob has told me so much about you, he certainly wasn't lying when he said you were the prettiest girl he thinks has ever existed."

The three women sat beside the pool talking as Jacob sat back and watched. Connie seemed relaxed around them and he was glad to see that they obviously approved of his choice in woman.