I Promise You (21 page)

When Frank and
his dad James came back in, they were both smiling,
what was going on with
that smile?
  He asked me if Elena had mentioned the up and coming gathering
and I said yes, with Frank now by my side gently squeezing my waist.

The next few
days went by quickly; we spent a day at the family business and then a day at
the beach which was so close to the house you could walk there within five
minutes.

By the time
Saturday came around, I felt more than relaxed and part of the family. Frank
was introduced to so many people, business of course entered some of the
conversations and contacts were exchanged, he looked right at home. The
laughter, food and drink were in abundance and the night ended around 4am in
the morning, what a long day but it was great, Frank was so happy and felt at
home.

Frank and
James had been disappearing most days, golf I suppose as I know he also loved
the sport, but I didn’t mind as me and Elena was getting on great and swapping recipes
as mothers do.

My skin looked
golden brown and I looked healthier.

Elena took me
into town to look at some clothes as another event was planned tomorrow, I
don’t know how they do all this socialising, it was wearing me out!

It was a beach
front dinner which sounded nice so I wanted something to opt for a long and
flowing cocktail dress as I pictured walking on the beach with Frank afterwards
with no shoes and the warm breeze hitting our faces the sand between our toes.

“This is
beautiful” Elena said. She had taken up a pricey cream laced dress, strapless,
fitted at the waist then flowing to the floor.

“It is
beautiful but don’t you think that would be too much for a dinner?”

“Not at all,
the venue is quite exclusive; the waiting list to get in can go back weeks and
the dress code, well I’m sure you can image for that type of establishment.

“Oh,” I said.

The dress was
indeed beautiful but at $1750, I wasn’t sure I could justify the price.

“Try it on”
she said, and I did. The dress was indeed perfect; the length just swept the
floor but would be fine with heels I thought.

“You will be
the belle of the ball in that” and I noticed she was getting emotional.

I took it off
and put it back on the rail.

“Don’t you
like it?” 

“I do, but
it’s a bit pricey.”

“Nonsense,
this is my gift to you.”

“I couldn’t,
it’s too much” I said, as she took it off the rail and headed to the counter.

“You shouldn’t
have, I will get Frank to reimburse you”

“I will have
no such thing; it makes a change to be able to splash out on somebody other
than myself” Elena laughed, and I smiled back.

Frank was in a
flap as we started to get ready for the dinner. “What’s up with you?”

“I need to pop
out with my dad; he thinks he didn’t put the alarm on at work and won’t relax
until he checks, so I said that I would go with him.”

“Do you want
us to wait until you get back; it shouldn’t take you that long should it?”

“No, just head
there and we will meet you”. He kissed me, and then dashed out with the rest of
his clothes in a suit carrier.

“Men,” I
collected my dress from my wardrobe forgetting that I didn’t have a chance to
show Frank. This heat was a killer and I was now happy with my choice or should
I say with Elena’s choice, as the dress would make me feel a lot cooler.

My hair was up
as I wanted it off my neck, although I left a few strands coming down and wore
no accessories.

Elena knocked
on my room as I told her to enter, she gasped.

“Do I look
ok?”

“Perfect.”

“Are you
ready?” she said, to which I nodded.

“Well, let’s
go” and with that we headed into our awaiting car and drove to the venue.

She wasn’t
wrong about the venue and by the look of the cars and the men waiting to
relieve you of your keys while they park your car for you outside, I was now
glad of the dress and hoped it was good enough for me to get in. The hotel door
was opened for us and we were greeted inside Elena confirmed who we were.

“Wow, this
really is posh.” I say and Elena laughed.

“Nothing to
good for my son and his girlfriend”

I looked
around and still could not see Frank or his dad as signs of worry started to
show on my face.

“Don’t worry
they will be here” Elena replies, we are still a little early.

A beach
wedding must have been taking place.

The seats were
already filled with people, all beautifully dressed in their outfits and hats
and guest waving fans to keep them cool. I couldn’t see the couple, but the
setting was beautiful.

Along the
beach leading to the alter, they had a white cloth sprinkled with red petals,
each white chair had a sash with a bunch of flowers at the end of each bay.

The main alter
displayed the most beautiful array of draping flowers, I was lost in my own
dream when we were told that they were ready for us.

I knew we
would be heading outside or near outside only because I was told it was a beach
dinner. As we went through the double doors I realised that it was stupid of me
to wear heals so I took them off. This part had to be unladylike and I
apologised to Elena for not thinking properly about my footwear.

As we walked
onto the warm sandy beach, Elena linked my arm in hers and kissed me. I
realised the direction we were heading was towards this wedding party and I
froze.

Elena opened
up her purse and said “something old” before pulling out a blue sapphire
bracelet and saying “you are already wearing something new.”

I was
speechless and could not take in what she had just said, but held out my hand,
as if in a trance and she slipped it on.

Heads started
to turn as I saw a figure coming towards me and it was my father,
how the
hell did he get here?

“Dad”

“You look
radiant Autum” he said. I stuttered as I asked where mom was and he pointed
towards the front.

“I had no idea
dad believe me, I”. He cut me off. “Frank told me weeks ago and I was only to
happy to help”
how long had he been planning this?

I looked
towards the altar and saw a fetching young man looking back at me and then it
hit me. My heart was pounding and I wanted to cry, a lump sticking in my
throat.

As I walked
what felt like the green mile I saw faces that I had never seen before and
faces I had encountered recently at his parent’s house not so long ago.

I heard sobs
to my left and saw Rebecca and Julian
. I didn’t even spot them. She got up
to give me a bouquet. She was in on it too?

I walked in a
daze as I headed near the front and my mother stood up to greet me with a kiss
and a hanky.

“You look
beautiful.”

“Thanks mom.”

I heard a song
playing and I started to cry, it was “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole.

My dad took
over from Elena and started to pat my arm as we headed towards the altar and
still I couldn’t talk. Frank then turned around; he was in a cream suit, his
top buttons undone and no shoes, I tried to smile but was still in shock with
what was happening around me.

Frank held out
his hand and I took it, as my dad kissed me on the cheek. “Love you” he said
“Love you to dad” before he walked away.

I looked at
Frank and then turned to look at everyone else around me and how happy they all
seemed to be, some already crying and some giving me a wink and a smile. I look
over to my mom and dad as they hold each other for comfort, mom with a tissue
in hand. I smile at the friends that I met recently and give Rebecca and Julian
that look to say “I’ll deal with you later” and glance back to Frank.

I looked at
Frank, tanned and as sexy as ever and saw that smile he had been carrying
around with him for a while, and now I know why, Frank was about to make me his
wife.

I’d know this
man for over three years, but fell in love with him in under six months, a man who
never gave up to get me, and how I never gave up so that he could have me; it
was a price I would pay all over again.

My life went
from the ultimate betrayal, kidnapping and more, to my now happy ever after.

The vicar asked
if we were all ready to begin, then started to say “We are gathered here today”……

The last words
I remembered saying to Frank was “I do.”

I glanced over
and admired how beautiful Autum looked, I couldn’t help but repeat those
special words, “for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in
health,
till death do us part
” a dark evil smile glided across Jacks
face as he took one last look at Autum and said “I promise you,” this is just
the beginning, then left the hotel and headed back towards the airport…