Chapter 14
Toni looked at Mark as he slept peacefully. His lips were ever so slightly parted, and he looked like an angel, lost in his own little world of dreams. She sighed contently. Life was truly blissful at the moment, and she never wanted it to change. Yet, there was this nagging fear at the back of her mind and her heart, and it was getting worse everyday. She was trying to fight her old fear but as the weeks passed it was getting hard to do so. She hated it, since it made her feel as if she didn’t trust Mark at all. It was totally wrong, because she knew Mark would never do anything that would hurt her.
‘Hey Mrs. Feehily.’ Mark said sleepily, surprising Toni. ‘How did you know that I was awake?’ she asked as Mark opened his eyes. After all these years, just one look at him and Toni’s heart would still do somersaults. ‘I dunno… I just, know I guess..’ he said, a boyish grin breaking from his lips.
They got married a few weeks before. It was nothing too grand. It was a simple wedding in Mark’s opinion, but to Toni it was quite overwhelming, since Mark insisted that they got married at Christ’s Church in Central Dublin, one of the finest, not to mention biggest cathedrals in Ireland. It was absolutely massive, and it arches beautifully over a road that runs through the church itself, so that the Church is actually at both sides of the rode, meeting up at the sky as you pass under it. She thought that a quaint chapel would be totally fine, but Mark argued that you’d only get married once in your life, so why not go all the way. ‘Well, except if you get divorced that is… which I have no plan at all to happen to us!’ he added quickly. The reception wasn’t too star studded or fanciful, only close friends and relatives were invited.
Minutes before the wedding, Toni had been freaking out. She was totally nervous, and all she wanted was to get out of there. Patricia, Helen, Sandra and Alessia, all married to their respective partners by then, had talked some sense into her. They said that she’s already gone far now, and this was no time to back out. After a few deep breaths, an aspirin and a glass of water, she was in fine form again.
‘You know me far too well.’ Toni said, lying on her back. Mark edged closer to her. ‘Yep, I know. And, I know that there’s something bothering you.’ He said, brushing a few strands of stray hair away from her forehead. ‘I… it’s nothing, Mark. Really. Nothing is bothering me.’ Toni said, staring straight at the ceiling. ‘How can something not bother you when you’ve been losing sleep because of whatever it is?’ Mark said knowingly, and she just had to smile grimly. ‘It’s nothing. Please, just take my word for it okay?’ she said a tad bit too harshly. Mark rolled his eyes. She could be so stubborn and secretive. ‘Whatever you say, love.’ He said softly, kissing her cheek. He turned on his side to go to sleep, his back turned toward Toni. Mark tried to sleep but he just couldn’t. They didn’t have a fight, but he couldn’t help but to feel uneasy. He knew something was wrong and he had a vague idea at what it was. He just hoped that he was totally incorrect.