Shattered Glass

[Inactive User]

Great update. Update soon

[KaiyaBlake]

Aw that was the sweetest chapter

You wrote everything perfectly

Loved it. Can't wait for more

[SAM27#]

Awwwww that was beautiful!!!

Nicole is a hoot!!! Her making Aden kiss her, So Nicole!!!!! I love Nicole's interaction with both Aden and Belle. Also Drew and Belle's chat.. And Amanda and Belle....you do all the interactions so fantastically!!

Can't wait for more!

[bikinikill]

Awwww that was awesome Louise. Loved it. So good.

Sorry I don't have anything more insightful to add, but it was really lovely.

[Adelle_fan1000]

That was amazing.. loved it... Loved jamies lil outburst soo cute

[**Julie**]

Awwww. That was so beautiful. I loved it.

Can't wait to read more.

[Zetti]

Aww the weddding and Jamie's comment about the rings was cute

Hmm Drew could be Sophie's father!

Cool. Hope you update soon

[Louise_2983]

Chapter 54

The tinkling of cutlery tapping against a crystal champagne flute pierced the air and gradually the chatter of the wedding guests died down until every table at the wedding breakfast was silent, all eyes expectantly focused on the Best Man as he stood on his chair at the top table. His glass was filled with apple juice which sloshed around inside as he crashed his silver spoon against it.

Confident that he had everyone’s attention he placed the glass and spoon back down on the table, a splash of apple juice splattering onto the pristine white tablecloth as he did so. Cheekily he glanced around to see if his accident had been spotted, breathing a sigh of relief when he appeared to have got away with it until Nicole reached across to mop up the pool of liquid and he let an embarrassed giggle slip over his beestung lips.

The liquid absorbed by her paper napkin, Nicole pulled back and tenderly ruffled his blond hair before pressing a kiss to his temple as he reached down to grasp hold of the thick piece of white paper he

had propped up next to an empty champagne flute before him on the table.

“Hello everybody” he greeted them with a saccharine smile, flashing two straight rows of perfect white baby teeth at the wedding guests.

“Uncle Roman told me that the Best Man has to write words down and read them out but I can’t write or read many big words because I’m only 5” he explained as at least half of the people watching him

swooned at his sweetness.

“And anyway I’m not a man I’m a boy”

“Best Boy though mate” Aden grinned as he affectionately patted his son on the back from the seat next to him.

“I know Daddy” he grinned sweetly.

“But please don’t interrupt my flow!” he ordered as a wave of laughter flowed around the beach.

“So” he carried on from where he had been rudely interrupted as he twirled around the piece of paper he was clutching to show the wedding guests.

“I drawed a picture instead”

“Awww!” Matilda sighed loudly as she gazed at the picture and rest of the guests whispered to each other how they couldn’t imagine anyone being any cuter than the little boy before them.

Belle felt warm tears of love and happiness begin to sting her eyes as she gazed at her son filled with pride.

“That’s our house” he told the crowd as he began to point out the different elements which made up his picture.

“It used to be Nanny Irene’s house but she lives with the angels now. That’s me and there’s Mummy and Daddy. That’s Lissia in her baby basket. She’s only very small still though and she can’t do

much, she just looks very pretty” he continued as his audience laughed softly.

“She isn’t big enough to play yet so sometimes I get a little lonely” he pouted shyly.

“And I’m not allowed a dog and Mickey Mouse Jefferies the goldfish died so now I only have one goldfish, I called her Just Belle after Mummy but Daddy says I’m not allowed to try and put her in the

bath again so that’s not fun”

“Jamie” Roman chuckled softly.

“This is meant to be about your Mummy and Daddy getting married not how much you want a dog!”

“I know” he sighed in defeat.

“But Aunt Nicole said it was worth a try!”

“Oh did she now?” Aden chuckled with a glance at Nicole who just shrugged with a mischievous grin.

“Yep” Jamie nodded matter of factly.

“But I did want to talk about you and Mummy too Daddy”

“Go on then” Roman prompted him.

“The floor’s all yours little man”

“The chairs fine Uncle Roman, I don’t need to get on the floor” he told him, looking at him like he was absurd before he turned back towards the 6 tables full of guests and addressed them once more.

“Mummy went away for a long time and sometimes Daddy was sad. He thought that I didn’t know but I did” he told them quietly as tears began to trickle down Belle’s cheeks.

“And sometimes I was sad too. But then Mummy came back and now Daddy’s not sad anymore and I love Mummy and I’m very happy because she’s not going away again and now Mummy and Daddy

are married we can be a proper family again”

Belle sniffled loudly as tears continued to pour down her face and she hurried to wipe them away, Jamie turned to face her horror flooding his features as he did so.

“Don’t cry Mummy!” he exclaimed as he leant across and threw his little arms around her neck.

“I didn’t mean to make you sad”

“You didn’t baby” she whispered against his ear as she pulled him into her lap and hugged him close to her.

“Then why are your eyes leaking?” he asked looking up at her knowingly.

“They’re happy tears sweetheart” she promised, running a hand tenderly down his little face as she turned to her guests and addressed them with a smile.

“I hadn’t planned to say anything but” she began as she hugged Jamie even closer to her.

“This time last year I was a mess and I struggled to even remember what happy felt like. So I just want to say thank you to Aden and to Jamie and Alyssia and to all of you because I don’t think I’ve

ever been so happy and it’s all because I’m back here, with my family and my friends, where I belong”

“Thank you for coming back Babe” Aden whispered softly, reaching a hand across to brush away her tears before he pressed a kiss to her temple and stood up to address their friends and family himself.

He coughed with a hint of nervousness as he looked out at the sea of faces staring back at him.

“Well firstly thank you to the Best Man for that heart tugging speech” he smiled softly with a glance at his son still wrapped up in Belle’s arms.

“I don’t think there’s a dry eye in the place and now I’ve drawn the short straw because I have to follow him!” he grinned as his audience laughed with him.

“Secondly, thank you to each and every one of you for being here today. Neither Belle nor myself had much luck with family when we were growing up but you have come to be not just our friends but

our family too and it means a lot to us both that you care enough to be here with us today...and” he added with a chuckle, his eyes sparkling as he noticed both Belle and Jamie gazing up at him intently.

“Now I’ve buttered you all up I’d like to thank you all in advance for conveniently forgetting that you ever saw me cry”

“You wish!” Nicole exclaimed as the rest of the crowd gathered on the beach laughed in amusement.

“That was perfect blackmail material Jefferies and I intend to put it to good use!”

“And thirdly” Aden sighed with a fake glare at Nicole.

“I was going to thank the bridesmaids for doing such a great job and looking so gorgeous but scratch that” he told them sarcastically as he turned to the maid of honour.

“Thank you Matilda”

“Oh you’re so funny!” Nicole exclaimed sticking her tongue out at him playfully as Roman shook his head and let out a small laugh in disbelief that they could still be so childish.

“And of course I want to thank my wife” he told them, ignoring Nicole’s gesture knowing that it would only serve to annoy her more.

“I like the sound of that” he grinned at Belle.

“I’m going to say it again” he announced before rolling the words over his tongue once more.

“My wife...my wife Belle” he repeated, a beaming smile filling his face as he turned so he was facing Belle and the rest of their guests could only see his profile.

“I love you and you have made me the happiest man alive, just by being you. There was a time when I never thought I’d be able to love anyone let alone that I could ever be the type of person that

someone would love. But that all changed the day I first climbed through your window” he spoke softly and sincerely.

“Thank you”

As he leant down and took his lips with hers their friends clapped and cheered.

“Get a room!” Jamie exclaimed in horror as their kiss increased in intensity and they broke apart laughing.

“Oh I wonder where he learnt that from?” Belle giggled as she pulled a face across the table at Nicole.

“It’s clearly a defence mechanism he’s had to learn living with you two!”

“We’re not that bad!”

“You so are!” Nicole objected as Aden coughed loudly.

“Ladies, I’m not finished”

“Sorry” the spoke in unison and then began to giggle realising that he’d just told them off like naughty school girls and they’d let him.

“Last but not least” Aden sighed, lifting his half full glass from the table.

“I’d like to propose a toast. There are people who can’t be here today who have been important influences in our lives, not least my Mum who sadly died when I was around Jamie’s age and Irene who

gave Belle a home and a family and welcomed me and Jamie into it without question. So with them in mind especially” he smiled softly with a glance at Belle who again had tears in her eyes.

“I’d like to make a toast... to absent friends”

Everyone on their beach lifted their glasses for the toast as they all spoke in unison.

“To absent friends”

***

“There’s my gorgeous girl” Aden sighed happily as Annie handed the baby girl over to him and he lifted her up in the air before him, a tiny gurgle he construed as a giggle escaping from her as he did so.

“Don’t you look beautiful precious?” he cooed as he lowered her back down and cradled her close to his broad chest. Nothing filled him with more joy than her tiny fingers curled around the edge of his

black collar as her piercing blue eyes gazed up at him full of interest.

“And look at Sophie too!” he smiled as the toddler waddled towards him, her blonde curls bouncing behind her with each step. She reached out and placed her tiny hand inside the one he was offering

before he raised it above her head, almost knocking her silver tiara off the top of the perfectly styled curls as they cascaded around her heart shaped face.

“Are you going to give Uncle Aden a twirl?” he asked with a wide smile as the pretty little girl obliged, the tulle skirt of her white satin dress flowing out around her as she slowly spun around and

finished with a tiny curtsey.

“Gorgeous” he smiled, a tiny laugh escaping over his plump lips at the move she had clearly learnt from her mother.

Bending down slowly so as not to drop his daughter he reached out his free arm to hug Sophie close to him, pressing a kiss into her soft ringlets as he did so.

“Aren’t you two just the prettiest girls here?! But don’t tell Belle I said that will you?” he grinned with a quick, knowing glance up at his stunning bride who he knew was watching them intently, a soft

smile on her face as her heart melted at the sight of her husband with the two little girls.

“ ‘Elle’s pretty” Sophie told him sweetly, gazing up at Belle and her beautiful dress, her eyes wide and lit up with delight as she viewed the female before her in awe.

“And my Mummy”

“Oh how much did she pay you to say that hey Sophs?” Aden chuckled squeezing her teasingly and kissing her cheek as she giggled.

“Was it a Gucci handbag or some Jimmy Choos this time?”

“They were Christian Louboutin’s!” Nicole objected in horror at his faux par as Belle giggled.

Her gaze wandered over the beach and the animated chatter of their wedding guests as Nicole and Aden launched into a mock debate on the appropriateness of designer clothes for toddlers.

Her eyes rested upon him, alone by the archway she had journeyed through earlier that morning. He leant casually against the secure structure, his dark curls flittering over his face in the gentle

breeze, masking the sadness and confusion she knew shone from his eyes in that moment.

As she walked towards him, negotiating the warm hand in her heels, she watched him drain the last of the deep amber liquid from his glass before abandoning it on the sand beside him, where his

crimson tie had already been dropped haphazardly.

“You should talk to her” she informed him softly as she reached him, leaning her slender frame against the other side of the pole his head rested against and twisting her body to face him.

“What good is that going to do?” he sighed, reaching up to brush his out of control hair to the side so he could look at her.

“Well it’s the first step in getting to know you’re daughter Drew” she smiled genuinely.

“Sophie is beautiful, you’d be lucky to have her in your life”

“She might not even be mine” he dismissed her comments with a shrug, his curls swinging in the breeze as he flicked his head from side to side.

“Well what Coleen told you about Nicole was true” she spoke quietly to ensure they would not be overheard.

“Nicole had Sophie after a one night stand at a club in the City. She didn’t get his name” she told him matter of factly.

“But it was Drew wasn’t it?”

“Well we definitely slept together” Drew sighed before his mouth kicked up into a satisfied smile.

“I might not have asked her for i.d but I never forget a pretty face....or a good f-”

“Drew!” Belle exclaimed in horror, her hands shooting up to her ears to protect herself.

“I don’t want to know about Nicole’s prowess in the bedroom thank you very much...if you even made it to a bedroom..eugh” she shuddered at the visual images the thought created.

“Ok” he chuckled in amusement, his eyes happy for a split second before confusion returned.

“Was she better than me?” she couldn’t resist asking.

“Was I better than Jefferies?” he instantly shot back at her as a look of defeat crashed over her pretty features.

“Fair play” she laughed quietly, lifting her hand to push a stray tendril of hair from her face and allowing it to hover before her for slightly longer than necessary as she admired the wedding ring resting

on her finger, the facets of the precious stones sparkling in the glorious morning sunshine. Her lips curved into a tiny smile, not meant for the world to see, as she thought of what the ring symbolised.

“And no” she told him cheekily, a mischievous glint in her chocolate brown eyes.

“Oiy!” he chuckled his head titling back against the white roses, squashing them behind him, as he laughed.

“Either keep quiet or at least pretend!”

“Oh ok” she nodded with a grin before staring out in silence at the clear blue sea as it sparkled a rainbow of colours in the sunshine.

“You’re keeping quiet aren’t you?” he laughed feigning offence after a couple of minutes had passed without a word.

“Yep!” she laughed before her expression became serious once more.

“Drew” she told him with a frustrated sigh.

“Being a mother is the best thing I’ve ever done. Jamie and Alyssia are my entire world. Sophie could be yours...if you let her”

“I’m not exactly Daddy material am I?” he murmured, a flash of insecurity practically lighting up his face as he did so.

“Don’t put yourself down, you can learn”

“What if I don’t want to Taylor?” he asked startling her slightly.

“Do you want to?”

“I don’t know” he admitted as he raked his fingers through his spiral curls, tension apparent in his stiff shoulders.

“I didn’t plan this”

“No you didn’t” she agreed with a curt nod.

“And neither did Nicole but she’s stepped up to her responsibilities. She loves and cares for that little girl. You’re 28 Drew, maybe it’s time you stepped up too?”

“You’re one to talk Taylor” he snapped suddenly defensive, moving forwards and turning back to face her.

“I’ve never known anyone run from things more than you do! Jamie’s 5 and you’ve only just become part of his life again”

“I know that” she responded quietly determined not to let his words hurt her although they were pricking her like the sharp point of a steel blade.

“And it kills me Drew. You’ve already missed over two years of Sophie’s life, don’t miss any more”

“Maybe I don’t want a kid holding me back Belle, did you ever think about that? Maybe if I’d known about her from the start I’d have told Nicola or whatever her name is to get rid of her!”

“It’s Nicole” Belle snapped back angrily.

“And don’t you dare talk like that about that little girl, she deserves more than that Drew. She deserves to have a father, to have a father to love her”

“Love her?” he scoffed rolling his eyes towards the heavens.

“Have you seen her? Pierced ears and designer clothes like she’s some sort of Barbie doll? It’s ridiculous! This whole thing is ridiculous!” he cried in exasperation.

“How do I even know she’s mine? How do I know I’m not just one in a long line of potential Daddy’s? After all that blonde bimbo didn’t seem to have a problem getting it on with someone she’d only just

met!”

“Double standards much?!” Belle laughed in disbelief as an unimpressed voice interrupted alerting them to her presence just a few years away.

“No Belle” she shook her head as she stared at him in disdain.

“For them to be double standards he’d actually have to have some standards in the first place”

“Nicole” Belle sighed.

“I’m out of here” Drew mumbled and before Belle could stop him he was striding away, up the beach and out of sight.

“So it’s true then?” Belle asked quietly as she turned her attention to Nicole.

“He’s Sophie’s father?”

“I didn’t think he recognised me” Nicole told her, biting back tears.

“I knew who he was straight away but I thought it would be ok. I thought I could be enough for Sophie”

“You are enough” Belle sighed wrapping an arm around Nicole’s shoulder.

“She loves her Mummy and Drew’s just a jerk most of the time don’t worry about him” she attempted to make her feel better but she knew it wasn’t having the desired effect.

“How much did you hear?”

“Enough” Nicole sighed.

“The bit about aborting my daughter was a particular highlight!”

“He didn’t mean it”

“Well he sounded pretty serious” Nicole laughed in disbelief.

“He’s scared” Belle told her knowing it was the truth.

“This is the most grown up thing he’s ever had to face. In his head he’s still 17”

“Aren’t we all?” Nicole laughed as Belle rested her head against hers.

“No” Belle shook her head with a smile.

“I’m 27, I’m a mum and I’m a wife and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been”

“I’m really happy for you guys you know” she told her sincerely briefly forgetting her own troubles.

“You deserve to be happy after everything...”

“We are” Belle grinned, her eyes shining with happiness.

“And you will be too”

“Ok Belle” Nicole looked at her, her perfectly plucked eyebrows arched menacingly.

“You can get any ideas of me and your step brother having a fairytale ending out of your head right now! Because from what I remember he really wasn’t that good!”

“Oh I know” Belle giggled

“Been there, done that remember?”

“Done him don’t you mean?” Nicole grinned cheekily.

“And anyway!” Belle announced ignoring her comment.

“I was thinking more of a happy ending for you with my other brother”

“Ryan?!” Nicole exclaimed in horror at the thought of the gangly teenage boy she had met earlier.

“Oh my word Nic” Belle sighed.

“You and Geoff really are a match made in heaven”

[MrsL]

Aaawwww Jamies wee speech and the picture so cute.

as ever marvellous writing I loved it

[xknomex]

Brilliant wedding!!!! that image of Aden, Alyissa and Sophie was just adorable

also I think that was the best best mans speech ever!!!! loved the Jaminess!

I hope Drew steps up to the challenge, i'd like to see where that goes from now.

update soon

xx