“So, its all coming together nicely, then Dev?” Vincent asked his brother after they had been discussing the final arrangements for the wedding. “And everything that should be is tucked well into the past?” Devin turned and looked at his brother shrewdly, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“In a word, Kei-Anne.” Devin stiffened but said nothing and Vincent went on, “I see her name still affects you?”

Devin swallowed with difficulty, “Sometimes.” He told his brother evasively.

“I wondered if perhaps you would be wise to lay the ghost before you actually marry Melanie.” Vincent said as tactfully as he dared looking toward his brother.

“Return to England you mean?” Devin turned to face Vincent, searching his eyes for clues.

“If that’s what it takes, then yes.”

“And what excuse would I give to go?”

“You might try the truth. Melanie loves you, there should be no secrets, I’m sure she will understand after all it is for your own peace of mind and happiness for the future. When I thought Catherine still harboured feelings for you, it hurt me dreadfully, but deep down inside I would rather have known where I stood than be with someone whose heart wasn’t fully mine.”

“But therein lies the difference, Melanie knows nothing of Kei-Anne.”

“And therein lies the problem, if Kei-Anne no longer disturbed you would have been able to talk about her freely as among people that you met in England.”

“Yeah right, like Cathy is unable to speak about Elliot around you?” Devin retorted angrily.

Vincent understood but knew his brother had confused the concept. “Actually Catherine chooses not to speak of Elliot to me, because she feels that doing so reminds me of the kind of life she missed with a man that could walk beneath the sunlight and not have others frightened by what they see in him. And she’s right, a man like Elliot Burch could have given Catherine everything, but so too knowing she prefers to be with me instead of him tells me how much she truly loves me. She could have had so much Devin, and her consideration for my feelings prevents her from reminding me of my limitations.”

Devin nodded and mumbled an apology but he was still broody and silent and Vincent continued, “Just tell Melanie that you need to go to England, that you need to make certain that Kei-Anne doesn’t affect you anymore so that you can move on with your life, with Melanie one hundred percent.”

Devin shook his head, “ I love Melanie…and the more we are together, the deeper it gets, but if I am honest, yes there is still that hankering for someone that didn’t want me, and it gets to me from time to time, like its always holding me back from giving Melanie my all but to go back to England and lay the ghost, I don’t think I could find the strength Vincent, and neither would Kei-Anne appreciate seeing me again. But for Mel it would have taken me a long time to get over Kei-Anne.”

“That’s what I mean, and if a long time had lapsed you would have been ready to move on, but as it is…” Vincent paused as Devin told him, “You think I’m on the rebound?” Vincent nodded, “Yes, I do and you owe it to yourself and Melanie to know whether that’s true or not.”

Drawing in a deep breath, Devin exhaled slowly, “Perhaps you’re right, but I don’t think I could face Kei-Anne alone. Maybe Mel will come with me.”

“Do you think that’s wise?” Vincent asked cautiously.

“Actually yes, and I needn’t tell Mel why we are going to that particular airport, she may never need to know what kind of fool I was to love a woman that wasn’t free to love me in return, and having Mel there, well it would show Kei-Anne that I don’t mean trouble.”

“I hope you’re right.” Vincent was dubious.

Even so Vincent detected the lighter mood that Devin responded with when he said, “I think I am. Thanks Fuzz I owe you one.”

Vincent smiled, inclining his head, only Devin could get away with calling him Fuzz and have him not mind and it took him instantly back in time to the day when they were boys playing rough and tumble fighting. “When will you go?”

“We could take a honeymoon in England.” Devin’s answer surprised Vincent and he cocked one eyebrow, “Do you think that’s wise waiting till after you are married?”

Devin nodded, “Kei-Anne is married Vincent,” Devin shrugged, “She’s hardly likely to have changed her mind about me, and all I’m going there for is to see her one last time and know that absence hasn’t made the heart grow fonder, for my own peace of mind and ultimately for Mel and my happiness. Besides I can’t afford to go twice and Mel had hoped to go there someday and I thought to surprise her with air tickets for England as my wedding gift.”

Now Vincent grew silent and Devin instantly knew why, “You’re wondering where you could take Catherine aren’t you?”

Surprised Vincent told Devin, “Yes, how did you know?”

“I know you, that’s how I knew, and it ought not worry you Vincent. Mel hasn’t seen anything of the world above, but Catherine has and all Catherine seems to want to do is explore this world, your world and all its wonders. Didn’t you promise her another few days at the crystal cavern?”

Vincent smiled as memories of their last visit to the crystal cavern washed over him, “Yes I did.”

“Then I’m sure Catherine is looking forward to that, which reminds me, what exactly happened between you two down there? You’ve both been different since, closer, more intimate even?” Devin asked innocently.

Vincent turned to stare at him, “What do you know?”

“Know? What is there to know? You tell me?” Devin asked flippantly.

Vincent smiled just a little, “Someone has said something, and that can only have been Catherine…”

“Yeah well she did kinda let something slip.” Devin refrained from telling his brother that slip was hardly the word.

Vincent’s face lit up, “Yes, I owe everything to Catherine, she made a man out of me.” Devin laughed “And that’s all you are going to tell me? Come on Fuzz spill, I want to know everything, what’s it like? Is it as good as the books we read? Oh come on you can’t stop there, tell me everything.”

Laughing Vincent shook his head, “Wait and see, it’ll be more surprising that way.”

“Spoil sport!” Devin remarked perturbed, “That’s a whole week away yet.”

“Doesn’t have to be.” Vincent reminded his brother innocently, “Catherine and I aren’t married yet.” Devin’s mouth dropped open a mile, “So you aren’t, hey why didn’t I think of that, me and Mel could do it before we’re married too, thanks Vincent.” However Vincent lay a hand upon Devin’s arm, “But since you have only a week to wait till you are married, make it last huh? It’ll make all the difference. Catherine and I only relented because we are connected. It was obvious to see that we should be together and will be together otherwise we too would have waited till we were married. And personally from what I have learned of Melanie, she would appreciate you respecting her like that.” Devin nodded and understood, “Yes of course, you are as always right about this and the Kei-Anne thing and I have another idea, maybe we can go to England before we are married, but I’ll say no more until I’ve spoken to Melanie. But thanks Vincent, thanks for everything, for your perception and your wisdom, you are a brother in a million.”

“I’m one in a million that’s for sure.” Vincent reminded Devin glumly. But Devin reminded him, “Not for long, you and Catherine keep working on it and there’ll soon be others like you.”

“Not until our children have children.” Vincent reminded him.

“Even so, it’ll happen and I’m quite looking forward to seeing another fuzz ball in the tunnels, it’ll be fun, hey maybe your grandchildren and mine can play like we did, we should see about going down to the nameless river and building them a boat. By the time we’ve finished it, they should be about ready to be born.” Devin chuckled picturing this and Vincent did too. “And may we never grieve them as Father did us.” Devin added but Vincent ever the wise one and realising discipline in its place was healthy and good, added, “Well maybe a little bit.”

Devin grinned and agreed, “Yeah okay then, maybe a little bit.”

Evening came and Melanie and Catherine had returned with their wares but Devin was happy to note disappointed at not finding that exquisite wedding gown that Melanie had searched for. It wasn’t that she had anything specific in mind, it was just that she knew that the moment she saw it, it would be the one for her. “I have an idea,” Devin told her as the four of them sat around a table in the dining room where other tunnel residents had gathered to partake of William’s chicken stew with dumplings followed by apple pie and custard or ice cream and fresh fruit for those that didn’t want to partake of too much saturated fat. “How about if you and I go to England to find your dress?”

Mel spat out a piece of chicken or she would have choked, “England! Devin, are you serious!”

With one quick look in Vincent’s direction Devin glanced at Melanie, “Yes, I was thinking about it today, now I have no idea if the wedding gowns are any better over there than they are here, but it would widen your choice wouldn’t it. Or we could wait and go there for our honeymoon, its up to you.”

“Ah now the predicament, can’t I do both? Besides, baby, much as I would love to go shopping in London with you, it simply would not be possible, you can’t see my wedding dress before the big day, and I would hate to go there alone.”

“Then I’ll go with you.” Catherine told her brightly, “I haven’t been to London in years, but I think I would still know my way around. At any rate I know where the best shops are, and I could find my own wedding gown over there also.” Devin glanced at Vincent appealing for help, but Vincent shrugged, he couldn’t see any reason why Catherine shouldn’t go, but whether Devin should still go too was another thing.

“But we could all three go right?” Devin asked hopefully. Catherine shook her head, “No, you stay here, there will be much to organise, and besides we will only be gone a couple of days, then you and Mel can return there for your honeymoon and we can book a hotel for you while we are there. I think it’s a great idea, Mel, shall we go tomorrow?”

“So soon? That’ll be great, oh wait…I don’t have a passport.” Mel’s hopes sunk, but Devin told her, “Oh yes you do honey, I took the liberty of having one done for you. I was going to surprise you with a honeymoon in England as a wedding gift, and…” he looked toward Catherine as he went on, “The hotel is already booked, as is the flight.”

“Oh Devin!” Mel flung her arms around his neck and kissed him sending some curious glances their way, many of them with smiles.

“Okay then, Mel and I will go tomorrow and find a gown each and you two can go again next week. Hey thanks for suggesting it Devin, this is one of your better ideas.” Catherine laughed. Only Devin and Vincent knew it hadn’t quite been that, since Devin was not going, this particular better idea had well and truly backfired on him.

Even so, things do have a way of working out for the best, as Devin was to find out when he escorted Melanie and Catherine to the airport the following afternoon. Catherine knew nothing of Devin’s other plans, Vincent having chosen not to enlighten her unless Devin did so first and he chose not to. It was hard knowing just how close Cathy and Mel had become and whether or not Cathy truly trusted Mel now. It looked like she did, but looks could be deceiving. Therefore he stayed quiet saying nothing, but his goodbyes as the pair moved away from him and into the departure lounge and eventually out of sight moved him. Devin watched them go, his heart in his mouth and suddenly he knew why that was. The thought of something like a plane crash or a fatal accident befalling Melanie while she was in England, grieved him dreadfully, and suddenly Devin knew it for what it was, he did love Melanie and his heart truly did belong to her wholly so. With relief, Devin left the airport his footsteps taking him quickly back to his brother. Vincent had to be the first to know, that Devin felt complete, and Kei-Anne was part of his past and Melanie was most definitely, his future.

Father’s eyes glistened with tears. He never thought he would see it. With Devin his son being foot loose and fancy free, he had always assumed that if ever Devin found himself a girl they would be shacked up together in some cabin in the mountains, and the thought of marriage would never enter their heads. So to walk down the isle holding on his daughter-in-law’s to be arm as he gave her to his son waiting proudly by the table-cum-alter did Father proud.

Melanie smiled as she lifted her veil upon reaching Devin’s side, and she took Devin’s breath away. The gown shimmered, its bodice high and lace covered, tied at the waist by a wide gold sash, the rest of her body hugging gown in ivory silk rustled as she walked the sound reminding Devin of the fall and walking through a carpet of russet leaves.

“You look beautiful.” Devin whispered as Melanie placed her hand in his. He squeezed it affectionately to curb the butterflies he guessed would be there. Melanie had shown him the child that she was in so many ways over the last few months, almost as if the childhood that had been snatched away from her had been re-found with Devin. And he loved her, he loved her so much and she was so beautiful with her glossy red hair tumbling down in soft waves over her shoulders, Devin longed to run his fingers through it and couldn’t help picturing the night ahead the only one they would spend in the tunnels as husband and wife before they spent their honeymoon in England, and then returned to take up life in the tunnels until they found a house above where they intended to live, with access to the tunnels so that Vincent and Catherine could visit as well as other tunnel members not least of all Father.

“And you are soooo handsome.” Melanie whispered back as she gazed at her husband to be. A fine black suit with a crisp white shirt and sky blue tie enhanced Devin’s good looks, even Father was impressed that his son could scrub up so well.

“Are you ready?” The Master who would do the honours whispered.

Devin and Mel nodded, and Vincent their best man checked for the hundredth time that he had the rings secure in his pocket and Catherine at Melanie’s side and as the maid of honour looked after Melanie’s bouquet during the ceremony.

The Great Hall was hushed during the vows, and when Devin and Melanie finally kissed as husband and wife the tunnel children threw fragrant rose petals over the newly wed couple and rejoicing broke out among the crowd and then came the gift giving and the dancing amid one of the finest feasts William had ever prepared.

“I love you so much.” Devin told Melanie as he waltzed her around the Great Hall while everyone watched with wonder. Devin had never been one for dancing, but he never put a step wrong. Neither Catherine nor Vincent enlightened anyone that the pair of them had given the couple lessons night after night for weeks around the Mirror Pool.

“As I love you, baby.” Mel gazed into Devin’s eyes, “Do you like my gown?”

“I love it! Was worth going to England then?”

“Yes, but I’m going to enjoy it more with you. Cathy was great company, but we had to rush here there and everywhere to get it all done in two days, and with you it’ll be better, we can do it nice and slowly.”

Devin chuckled, “Mm just like the other stuff?” But to his dismay Melanie frowned and pulled slightly away from his arms, her eyes big and luminous and quickly filling with tears and apprehension. Devin was a little alarmed but then suddenly he understood and pulled her back toward him holding her firmly yet gently, “My love,” he told her, “Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you, I promise.”

“I’m sorry, I know you won’t but it’s just…” Devin kissed the tip of her nose, “I love you honey, and I know its just that you had a bad experience, but I’ll put that behind you, I promise. Believe me babe, after tonight you’ll never think about Elliot Burch again and nothing I do with you will ever resemble what he did to you.” Leaning her forehead against his chest Melanie sighed, “Thank you Devin, for being so understanding. I love you.”

“I love you.” He told her, and lifting her face to his he kissed her tenderly as several people gasped with delight as they looked on. No one had heard anything that the couple had said to one another but they looked so perfect standing their together. Devin and Mel had stopped dancing and seemed oblivious to anyone else in the room but each other and when Father announced, ‘let the dancing begin’ people moved around the couple careful not to bump them. Finally Devin led Melanie from off of the dance floor and making their excuses the couple discreetly left their guests and headed for a chamber assigned to them for their wedding night. Even so what met them there took their breath away and Devin knew without a doubt he would have Catherine and Vincent to thank for the lilacs and the roses that were fastened to every nook and cranny around the chamber, fresh linen on the bed with a pink, peach and apricot satin duvet on top and the chamber awash with candles, but they weren’t any candles, they were candles shaped into twists and coloured to match the duvet and all of them alight and glowing amber around the chamber. And at the entrance a new drape hung just ready for pulling over the entrance to give privacy to the would be lovers, and after carrying his bride inside, Devin undid the tie that held the drape in place and to his surprise found himself staring at a London scene and knew that Catherine must have purchased the drape while there, since Mel at his side gasped and cried, “So that’s what she was up to!” Adding, “Oh Devin its beautiful, all of it.” And she twirled around with arms outstretched to show she meant the whole room, but Devin pulled her into his arms and told her, “But none of it outshines you Melanie. You are the beautiful one.” And then they kissed, tenderly and a little apprehensively as neither could help noticing the domineering presence of the bed in the centre of the chamber.

Slowly, slowly they made their way toward it, and Devin told Melanie, “I’ll change in the bathroom if you want to change here?” Mel shook her head, “let’s do this as we mean to go on baby, let’s change here together.” Devin nodded, and selecting a side of the bed he stood facing her as she stood on the other side and both began undressing. Finally down to their underwear, Devin turned and sat on the bed to pull off his pants and socks and Mel taking her cue from him did likewise, and then each sitting on their own side of the bed nervously wondered what they should do next until Devin remarked, “Tell you what, on the count of three whomsoever lands in the middle of the bed last has to let the other one tickle them senseless.” Mel burst into laughter and not wanting to be that one dived for the centre of the bed, reaching it the same moment as Devin, and he laughed telling her, “I’d say that was a draw, even so…” And he reached for her tickling her sides as she giggled hard and begged for mercy. So the ice was broken and as Devin’s tickling fingers turned to brushing light caresses across Mel’s skin, so too did Mel wind her arms around his neck and kiss his face all over, “I love you, husband.” She told him with tears in her eyes. Devin groaned and at first moulding his naked flesh next to hers he next kissed her with tender abandon from head to toe until he was satisfied that he hadn’t missed a spot. By that time Mel was awash with yearning, she ached for him, her hands reaching for his body and caressing his skin with such joy and abandon as she had never known before and she worshipped him and adored him with her hands and mouth until he begged her to stop.

“God I want you, Mel.” Devin told her later after they had enjoyed several hours of foreplay, and Mel nodded, agreeing that she needed him too, but Devin noticed the apprehension in her eyes and promised her again that he would be gentle with her and he wanted to oh so much, to erase the bitter memory from her mind and just hoped he was able to do that. Whatever happened, he had to make this first time together so beautiful that she saw no further than it whenever she looked back on the first time she had made love, and so carefully and tenderly, he placed one hand between her thighs as he lay at her side and touched her gently stroking her soft curls until her anxiety dropped a level. His eyes gazed into hers, and he told her, “We don’t have to do this honey, there’s always tomorrow.” Mel shook her head, “No baby, I want to do it here, in the tunnels, just how you dreamed.” Devin understood and with his brown eyes he thanked her silently. He’d always assumed that one day he would make love to his bride in the tunnels and Mel knew that it was his dream and she aimed to let it be so no matter how frightened she felt at letting it happen. Taking a deep breath Mel reminded herself that Devin was nothing like Elliot Burch and that the situation was so different. It was her wedding night and Devin loved her and she loved him so much and wanted to join with him, wanted to feel him inside her so much and she desperately wanted to have his baby, had wanted that ever since she had met him. To imagine a child in his image gave Melanie such a wonderful feeling and thinking on it her body relaxed and Devin felt her grow wetter beneath his questing fingers and smiled encouragingly. “That’s it baby, just relax.” He leaned forward and trailed kisses around the aurora of one nipple, liking the way each stood up proudly amid their little pink nests knowing it had nothing to do with the chill of the chamber, but rather the heat of his loving. Her nipple puckered and watching its twin as he kissed the first Devin knew from the books he had read and with one quick look at her face and seeing her eyes closed and lips slightly parted Devin knew that Melanie’s body was reaching climax. He wasn’t sure what to do at that stage, whether to keep doing what he was doing or to straddle and penetrate her but while he deliberated Melanie started to thrash her head from side to side on the pillow one moment with eyes tightly closed and the next with them wide open as she cried out and her body convulsion and warm liquid covered his hand. “Oh thank you, thank you, Dev, that was beautiful.” Melanie told him as her laboured breathing quietened, “Now its your turn.”

Devin swallowed with difficulty ‘what exactly did she mean? Did she mean she would hold his erection in her hand and work a similar sort of magic on him or did she mean…” He looked at her face with hopeful expectation and was surprised to hear her whisper, “Make love to me Devin, I want you so much.”

Needing no second bidding, Devin manoeuvred himself until he was positioned between her thighs and looking down at her found her vulva to be swollen, pink and glistening with the remnants of her climax and still with the odd tremor associated with such. He looked on, unable to tear his gaze away and reached out a hand to touch her moistness, gasping when he felt her muscles react against his questing fingertips. “You are so beautiful Melanie.” He told her with awe, “So very beautiful.” The red curls were silky to the touch and he slid his finger down until he located her clitoris once again, only now seeing what he was doing as well as blindly touching, and it excited him almost beyond control. Mel watched him beneath hooded eyes, leaning slightly up upon her elbows loving the look of reverence of his face and the light of love and desire in his eyes and she saw it the moment he made the decision to join his body with hers. Laying back down, Mel concentrated on pure feeling as Devin lay his body atop hers and with one of his hands held her open and with the other guided his erection home. Slowly the tip of his penis touched her quivering lips, and Devin edged up her body as he pressed his erection deeper inside her. He gasped as the head of his penis slipped inside her and felt her muscles hold him tight. He stayed still a moment fighting the urge to thrust and slowly entered her body bit by bit his full concentration upon her needs, her feelings, and her anxiety. But when she reassured him, “Devin I love you, keep going baby, you’re not hurting me” then he let go and with his hips slightly raised he thrust into her gasping with pleasure and rising excitement as the best feeling in the world rushed over his body and he cried out her name with words of love as tears gathered in his eyes and fell down his cheeks as he pulled out of her slightly and thrust back again. Melanie grabbed a hold of his shoulders and when she decided he was completely inside her she wrapped her legs around his hips, using her feet against his buttocks to hold him to her tighter, and then they moved together, beginning the rhythm of life and the joining of two bodies that would love one another for the rest of their lives.

“Oh God Devin, its beautiful.” Melanie whispered as she kissed his face everywhere, Devin panted his agreement, his eyes bright and cheeks wet with tears, and buried his face in her neck as his breathing became laboured and his body moved faster against hers. Unable to keep his pace, Mel stopped moving beneath him and let him take her, faster and faster until finally…Devin groaned loudly and thrust one or two more times before he slumped utterly spent against her slick wet body.

There they slept, moving apart sometime a few hours later only to join again moments later and make love over and over until morning found them fast asleep in one another’s arms after a night-time of joining and loving one another so blissfully on that first night that they were wed.

Checking the flight arrival list Kei-Anne, noticed that there were three couples requiring bouquets, champagne and chocolates as part of her company’s special promotion plan that she had been promoted to oversee the previous week. So far it had gone well and the input had been good, her company had already received letters of congratulations from satisfied newlyweds whom on arrival in a strange country had immediately received a warm welcome that had touched them deeply.

Kei-Anne checked the names, and wrote them on the presentation cards she would greet them with as they stepped from the aircraft, another move ahead for her by greeting her arrivals straight from the plane rather than after they had collected their baggage. She would then escort them as a group to a lounge made available for them where they would be offered long stemmed glasses of champagne and handed the chocolates and the bouquet as well as another bottle of champagne to take away with them. And they would be offered hotel accommodation at her company’s expense for one night if they had married sometime during the day of arrival in the United Kingdom.

The first names were Mr and Mrs Boyle the second Mr and Mrs Wells, the third Mr and Mrs Davies, Kei-Anne checked them all against her presentation cards, and then awaited their arrival. She loved this part and her first initial cry of ‘congratulations!’ as they stepped from the plane, the airhostesses were forewarned that the newlyweds should disembark first, and then Kei-Anne would escort them through to the wedding lounge and give them their gifts. It was, her company hoped, something that would ensure a firmer rating on their particular airline and ensure them better business, a nice touch for special occasions, which didn’t stop at weddings, they did it also for anniversaries, special ones like twenty five years, forty years fifty years and so on and were contemplating doing it for people that were making one of those once in a lifetime trips to see a relative they hadn’t seen in decades.

As the arrival of her plane came up on the board, Kei-Anne moved to the terminal from where they would alight, and waited for them a genuine smile at the ready. First a couple of hostesses moved through the doors and then behind them Kei-Anne spied a group of heads very close as they moved tightly together a look of anxious expectation on their faces as they had been selected to leave the plane first. “Congratulations!” Kei-Anne cried as the three couples came into view, and after explaining why she was meeting them she asked them to follow her to receive their gifts.

“What’s the matter, honey?” Melanie nudged Devin as he seemed rooted to the spot “Come on we’ll get behind if we don’t follow her.”When he said nothing she went on “Devin? Is something wrong?” Devin stared after Kei-Anne’s retreating back and feeling Melanie’s arm shaking his, he looked down at her a trifle flustered and feigned an excuse, “What, ah no, I’m just surprised that’s all, I didn’t know this airline did this kind of thing.” In fact he had deliberately booked with that particular airline hoping that he might just get a glimpse of Kei-Anne sure that he would be unaffected but just for the hell of it would do it anyway. Now he had found himself catching more than a glimpse of her actually coming face to face with her and probably having to exchange small talk and hope that she would not recognise him. Slowly he followed the group, hanging back as much as he dared though Mel was eager to keep up, “Come on slow coach, we’ll lose them.”

Finally a large wooden door was opened up before them and Kei-Anne standing to one side bade them enter, Devin deliberately looked down at the floor as he moved past her but he thought he heard Kei-Anne gasp and looked up at the precise moment that she was staring at him and anything she had been about to say evaporated on her lips. Inside the room the newly weds waited for her to speak, the smiles on their faces turning to ones of anxiety as she remained staring at Devin and he at her, until Melanie tapping him on the arm asked, “What is it baby? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Devin tried to reassure her, though his reply trembled off his lips and Melanie cast a worried frown in his direction. Devin’s heart hammered and he was glad that he hadn’t told Melanie anything about Kei-Anne, not because she meant anything to him he could see that now, and it was such a relief for him to know that, but because he had been so shocked at seeing her so close that Mel might have misconstrued the whole thing, and all kinds of problems might have arisen. “You sure, babe?” Melanie asked worriedly. Devin smiled at her, turning his full attention her way, “Absolutely honey, nothing is wrong, for a moment I thought I knew this lady but now I know that I never did.” He said it loud enough to inform Kei-Anne of his altered feelings and the anxiety in her eyes slowly faded. It did Devin’s pride little good to know that when she had gasped and stared at him it wasn’t because she was surprised or pleased to see him but rather afraid of his being back to pester her further but with his beautiful bride at his side Devin found that his pride wasn’t so terribly hurt, Melanie was worth ten of Kei-Anne, he could see that now and he sighed happily as he realised it.

Regaining her composure Kei-Anne extended her company’s welcome to the newly weds and presented them with their gifts, let them drink their glasses of champagne and to those that had got married earlier that day offered them top hotel accommodation and a refund of anything else they had already booked. The other two couples took up the offer and as Melanie appeared disappointed Devin told her, “Don’t worry honey, I’ve booked us at the Hilton, one of the best hotels in London.” Mel’s squeal of delight was all Devin needed to hear and as she flung herself into his arms he twirled her around and around not caring whom and especially looked on.

Finally they were being escorted from the room with their armload of gifts and passing by Kei-Anne again as she held open the door shaking each hand in passing. Devin took up the rear and watched Kei-Anne shake Mel’s hand and wish her happiness but when it came to his, she hesitated and drew in a deep ragged breath as if touching him was the last thing that she wanted to do. “Don’t worry about me.” Devin told her understanding her predicament, “My hands are dirty.” Kei-Anne issued him with a half-hearted smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, and Devin again felt like a heel that he had ever pestered the woman to such a degree that she remained wary of him even when she could see that he was happily married now.

“Enjoy your stay in London.” Kei-Anne called after the newlyweds as she closed the room door behind her, “Goodbye.”

Devin turned, looked her in the eye and called cheerily, “Thank you. Be Well.” Then he turned his attention back to his wife, put the memory of Kei-Anne firmly behind him and looked forward to his future with Melanie the girl that he truly loved.

To be continued in Chapter Fifteen