The evening of the wedding we all sit down for a dinner Lorna prepared. Her cooking skills are as good as her organisational skills. She runs this island with great care. It is amazing to see the things she gets done without being able to quickly run to the store.
Ava and Adrien look so comfortable together. They sit next to each other and look like a couple that has been together for all this time. There is nothing awkward or strange between them. They hand each other things without asking for it. They communicate with each other by merely giving each other a look. They are very connected.
On the other side of the table Bailey looks absolutely awkward next to Brandon. She looks like she wants to run out of the room. She fakes a smile every time she notices someone looking at her. Her smile would fade whenever she looks down at her plate of if the conversation shifts to someone else.
It is difficult to watch her because I know she wasn't always like this. She used to have all the confidence in the world. She could talk easily in awkward situations. She was able to look comfortable even if she found herself in company that unsettled her. Now, seeing her next to Brandon, she looks small and shy.
Rachel and Ryan don't look much better either. Rachel looks guilty for some reason. She would turn her face away from Ryan whenever she finds him looking at her. She picked at her food and didn't seem to really enjoy the evening.
It is easier to notice that the brothers have not been out of contact in the last ten years. Their conversations are of more recent events than what the girls talk about.
After dinner we all move out to the porch that Lorna had decorated with fairy lights and white flowers. The girls all gather around a table where we drink wine and the guys stand to one side, gathered in a group and talking quietly to each other. I do not want to alarm the other girls but I can bet on it that they are discussing their mother.
"I will have to get back to my job the day after tomorrow. Which means I will have to leave here by tomorrow." Bailey states quietly. Rachel nods while she is speaking.
"I will go with you. There is a lot of things I need to sort out this week. My life is a bit of a mess at the moment." Rachel says when Bailey finished.
Both of them seem a bit eager to get off the island. Ava doesn't seem to want to go all that much.
"I haven't discussed with Adrien when we will be leaving. I will talk to him tonight. I put in leave notice for the entire week." Ava adds to the conversation.
"You are all more than welcome to stay as long as you like. Greyson and I have not made any plans to leave in the next few weeks. I love it here and Greyson feels that we are safe here also." I tell the girls.
I look at Greyson to find him looking at me. He has a tender loving look in his eyes. I feel overwhelmed with emotion. My entire life has changed into what it would have been had Marcella never intervened in our lives.
The men join us and I update Greyson on the departure arrangements of the girls. Ryan and Brandon say they will be leaving with the girls.
"Well in that case we will leave also. I will not let my brother accuse me of gate crashing his honeymoon" Adrien laughs and slaps Greyson on the back.
After a few drinks and some light conversation everyone bids each other goodnight and return to their separate rooms.
Greyson slides his arm around my body and pulls me into a tight hug.
"Mrs Morton, may I take you to bed now?" Greyson whispers in my ear. I laugh a little and nod.
We walk slowly down the small pathway that stretches to our cottage. The night is dark but I feel safe walking next to Greyson.
We enter the cottage and Greyson turns on the lights. He closes the doors and draws the curtains. I walk to the bathroom to put on my nightwear and get ready for bed.
There is a feint smell of vanilla hanging in the air. Lorna must have changed the air fresher. I wash my face and put my hair up in a bun. I reach to the small tubes of creams on the basin counter. The night serum is missing.
"Why do you have that frown?" Greyson says behind me.
"One of my tubes are gone" I tell him, pointing to the other four tubes still on the counter.
Greyson comes to stand behind me and places his one hand on my hip while reaching with his other hand to the glass shelf above the mirror.
"You are too young to be this blind dear wife" he says as he takes the tube off the shelf and hands it to me. He kisses me in my neck and squeezes my hip before he leaves the bathroom. I stand with the tube in my hand. I am very sure I did not put it there. I didn't even look up there because it is an uncomfortable height for me to reach.
I am sure Lorna sent someone to tidy up the place this morning. She must have put it in the wrong spot. I try do dismiss this as such but I have an unsettled feeling in my chest. Lorna and her helpers are extremely set on detail. They look at every single thing and make everything as comfortable as possible. In the entire time we have been here not even one thing was out of place.
I sigh a deep sigh and put the night serum down on the counter. Next to the other four bottles. I walk to the bedroom to find Greyson already in bed.
I slide in next to him and shift to snuggle into his arm.
"Thank you for this wonderful day, dear husband" I hug him tightly.
"Thank you for being the best part of it, dear wife" He hugs me back. I smile into his chest and he wraps his arms around me before we fall asleep.
* * * * *
The next morning, I wake up with the sun shining brightly through the windows. I get out of bed and walk to the bathroom to freshen up. I get dressed and go to the kitchen to make coffee.
Greyson comes from the room and joins me in the kitchen.
"The others will leave in about an hour" he tells me as he takes a sip of his coffee.
We finish up and get dressed. We leave the cottage just as the others come down the pathway to our cottage.
"We thought we would come to greet you here before we leave" Rachel tells when she sees us. Rachel looks more relaxed today. She must want to get back to her life for a sense of normalcy.
"We will walk with you to the landing strip. Greyson says the plane is already here" I tell Rachel.
We walk in a group to the landing strip. Lorna's helpers carry the bags to the plane and the pilot helps them put the luggage away. Rachel and Bailey each give me a tight hug before they walk to the plane and settle in.
Adrien and Brandon are still giving Greyson a hard time for now being a married man. I can only hear little things like "the end of the line" and "you have a new boss now".
Ava greets me and hooks her arm into Adrien's as they walk to the plane.
Brandon and Ryan greet and follows the others. Greyson and I are left alone next to the landing strip to watch the plane depart.
"It was good to see them all again" I tell Greyson as the plane lifts off the landing strip.
"Yes, it was." Greyson says softly.
"Even if some of them seems awkward around each other"
"That is true"
I look up at Greyson.
"Where are your thoughts?" I ask him worriedly.
"I am just thinking about where we will go next" he tells me a clear lie. I roll my eyes at him and turn to walk to the cottage. Greyson follows a step behind me. When we reach the cottage, I stop before climbing the steps to the small porch.
"What's the matter?" Greyson asks behind me.
"I am sure I closed the door properly before we left here"
"Maybe Lorna sent someone to tidy up?"
We walk into the cottage. It is quiet and everything seems fine.
Greyson checks the bedroom and comes back smiling. He takes me in his arms and hugs me while kissing my shoulder.
"The bed is made. The cups are washed. I am sure they just didn't close the door properly"
I sigh and suddenly feel stupid. I am overreacting to the smallest of things.