Kevin watched his wife silently from the doorway as she slept. A tender smile on his face, in his hand was a cup of tea that he had just made for her. She had dozed off while reading the script that Brad Pitt had sent her to read. Brad knew Jac well, knew that she would need the distraction of a new script. She was keen to get back into the swing of things and the production team were willing to wait till the plaster cast was removed from her leg knowing that Brad was keen to do this movie with her. Cynical observers would say all the recent publicity surrounding her wouldn’t harm the movie either. Jac wanted to attend the rehearsals as soon as they returned from the much needed and anticipated vacation he was taking them both on.
The bruises on her face and especially around her eye were fading away, and they were now a mottled variety of soft brown and purple hues. Her split lip was nearly a thing of the past as was the flesh wound from the bullet ricochet on her arm and the rope burns about her wrists. There would be no scarring the doctors had told her, time was a great healer. Her leg was another matter, broken in two places she had snapped the tibia and fibula straight through when she had been thrown from the boat as it had crashed and she had compounded the injury in her exertions in saving his life.
For that was what she had done that night on the wharf.
Carlos had pulled him aside the next day while the drama was still fresh in everyone’s mind and had spoken to him about the possible emotional reactions of Jac’s killing of her tormentor. She had been debriefed by the police and counselled while in hospital and she seemed to be coping, he knew she possessed an amazing inner strength.
She didn’t talk much about that night but had told him she only wanted to put it all behind her and what she had done was grim necessity. It was his life or Reids on the line that night and she told them she would do it again without blinking an eye if she was in that situation again. As far as she was concerned there had been no choice to make that night.
He closed his eyes as he breathed a sigh of relief as he remembered the heart felt relief that had washed through him when he realised she was still alive. Like the weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders. He had pulled her safe into his arms as the tempest had raged around them and he could have sat in that driving rain forever just holding on to her never letting her go.
He had been so close to losing her, so close to losing the most precious thing in his life and it was a feeling he never wanted to have to live through ever again.
She had felt so fragile in his arms as he had taken stock of her hurts, and he felt a fury as wild as the storm itself at the thought that Reid had battered and bruised Jac in his attempts to impose his will on her. Such was his rage that if Reid had not been killed that night, Kevin was sure he would have been hard pressed to keep his own hands off him and not strangle the man himself.
A wave of tenderness overwhelmed him as the script she was reading fell from her lap to the floor. A sign that she was truly relaxed enough to sleep. Despite her protestations, he knew the break in her leg afforded her more pain and discomfort than she was willing to admit. And she called him stubborn he thought with an affectionate smile as he bent over to pick it up. He placed the script on the table beside her along with the cup of tea and he couldn’t resist dropping a kiss on the top of her head. Her eyelids fluttered open at his touch and her hand reached out to his as she smiled up at him and stretched contentedly like a cat waking from a sun soaked nap.
‘Sorry babe I didn’t mean to wake you. You dropped that when you dozed off.’ He pointed to the script on the table and regarded me out of green eyes that were full of concern. I grabbed his hand and pulled him down beside me on the sofa. He reached over and flicked a lock of hair out of my eyes and tucked it behind my ear letting his hand rest against the cheek where the bruises were fading away.
‘I was only dozing.’ I told him as I turned my face and placed a kiss on his hand.
He leaned over and lightly kissed me, before asking. ‘So what’s it like, a good script?’
I leaned back in to kiss him again making him smile before I answered. ‘It’s great actually, funny, romantic. Will you mind very much me having to kiss Brad Pitt?’ I teased as I fiddled with his hair. It was long enough now that it touched his shoulders and I loved the feel of its silky flyaway softness between my fingers.
‘No babe because I know he’s not your type.’ He grinned smugly at me with laughing eyes.
‘Oh and my type is?’ I asked raising my eyebrow at him as I leaned over and wound my arms about his neck and pressed a kiss close to his mouth.
‘Me. Your type is me baby.’ Amused green eyes twinkled across at me. ‘You like your men tall and dark haired’.
I laughed. ‘Yeah I admit that. I’m also rather partial to green eyes you know.’
‘Mmmm green eyes in general?’ he asked with a half smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
‘No, you see there’s this man I’m in love with and he has the most beautiful expressive green eyes.’
‘Arhhh I see. Then I think this man must be the luckiest man on earth to have you love him.’ Soft lips claimed mine in a gentle kiss and I sighed and rested my head against his shoulder. I was filled with an incredible longing for Kevin and his touch. It had felt so long since we had made love, and I knew he was waiting out of consideration of me and my aches and pains.
‘Kev, you know how Carlos won’t be home till tomorrow.’ I spoke softly.
‘Ummm yeah, so?’ He looked intrigued.
‘Well I was wondering if we could go play Capt’n Kev and peg leg Jac.’ He burst out laughing holding me against him as he shook his head at me.
‘God Jax, I don’t know what I was expecting, but it sure as hell wasn’t that.’ He touched my face gently as he considered. ‘Are you sure you’re up to this? I mean I don’t want you to be in any pain. I know your leg hurts you a great deal.’
I wiggled closer and raised my face to his. ‘Kevin we’ll just have to be inventive then won’t we. I’m sure you can overcome the obstacle of my cast, besides I need you so much. I want you to make love to me. I want it so bad babe.’
The look of love on his face and the promise in his eyes made my heart beat faster, he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me till the world spun and I was breathless. Then he gathered me up in his arms, taking care special care not to hurt my leg. He carried me towards our bedroom saying with a smile. ‘Capt’n Kev is now yours to command.’
And like the cup of tea going cold on the table beside the sofa the script was long forgotten.
******************
The next few months flew by. Kevin took me home to Kentucky. We spent a couple of restful weeks in the wilderness, I wasn’t able to walk too far, exercise too much or join Kevin horse riding because my leg was still in plaster and I was on crutches. But I relaxed and recuperated and healed my wounds and cleared my mind and got my head together, the peace and quite was just what we needed. We read, listened to music and generally relaxed, and we spent time together getting to know one another better. We never really had time from the early days of our marriage to be free of the stresses or strains that my ordeal had inflicted on us. So to really get to know each other’s true self, deepened and strengthened the bond we shared. We indulged in our love of conversation, fine wines and food. Kevin surprising me by being a very capable cook and he spoilt me terribly. And of course without any other distractions, our time was our own, and we became very inventive at working our way around my broken leg.
The past year had taken an incredible toll on everyone, and Kevin and the guys had been very supportive, but now everything was back to normal, I wanted Kevin to climb back in the saddle of his career, my problems had distracted him enough. We decided that we would work around each other’s schedules so we wouldn’t suffer too many separations. It was easier for me to manage my acting career around Kevin. If the movie or play didn’t fit in with us, I wouldn’t do it. I loved acting and I loved my career, but I loved Kevin more.
Working with Brad was a great experience and the film opened to rave reviews. Seems the critics had decided I was no flash in the fan wannabe actor and I was beginning to be taken seriously. Then came the Oscar nominations, and Macbeth was nominated for best film, leading actor and director for Ken, Costume design, and me? I was nominated for leading actress. I was speechless with shock. I stood still, mouth gaping, catching flies, in stunned amazement. And after getting off the phone and telling Kevin what Ken had just told me, Kevin grabbed hold of me and swung me about joyfully before giving me his own particular congratulatory kiss. One look at his face told me how proud he was of my achievement his eyes glowed happily and he couldn’t stop telling people about it, till I was sure they were sick of him.
My phone didn’t stop all day as people, friends and family offered their congratulations and good wishes, but I wasn’t hoping too much, after all I was a newcomer to the acting ranks, I was happy just to be nominated amongst such august company.
I was happy and relieved to know that Steve wasn’t badly injured. Pete Rodgers and Jim Woods had bad injuries but they were all recovering. I was thankful that although some of the SWAT team took hits, none were killed except Reid and he at my own hand. I visited all in hospital several times I wanted to thank them all personally for what they had done for me. And we donated a large cheque to the charity they named. I couldn’t do enough for these men, but that was all they would accept, but I did insist on shouting the precinct an all expenses paid night out on the town when everyone had recovered, which they made sure Kevin and I attended. And my party girl persona kicked in that night. It was a funny sight Steve dancing with me on crutches.
Gideon had recovered from his gunshot wounds was now my full time bodyguard. Kevin had been insistent on that and I wasn’t going to argue. I liked having him around, and I must admit my experiences made me very wary of strangers and I was careful about letting people get too close. And Gideon and Carlos got on well with each other, I think their shared experiences had given them a strong bond as well.
The good thing was we had moved back to my old home with it spacious rooms and beautiful gardens, the apartment had served it’s purpose and it didn’t hold fond memories for us both. But this place felt like home and I was happier to live here.
I was in between films at the moment and the guys were touring so I was having my first experience of the backstreet madness and enjoying every minute of it. I found the fans pretty sympathetic to me, and I knew I was lucky. They could have been far less accepting, considering how Kevin and I originally started off our surprise marriage.
The guys had thanked the two girls that provided the police with a confirmed sighting of me with a trip to see them in a couple of concerts, all expenses paid complete with VIP treatment. They had offered the boys a reward to put toward their collage funds, knowing they would probably prefer that. The girls were offered the same and they all accepted thankfully. I know Kevin and I were eternally grateful to them for their assistance.
I loved watching Kevin perform. It took me a while before I could actually watch their shows and take it all in. The first few times I’d sit gazing adoringly up at him never noticing any thing else that went on, I unashamedly only had eyes for Kevin. It became quite a challenge for the others to grab my attention.
A few times the fellas would push Kevin to the back as they stood in front of me mucking about trying to make me notice them. Kevin took it all goodnaturedly, he would just give me that special smile of his and continue on. I loved these guys they were great fun and they were all born performers and were so talented it just blew me away to see what they accomplished. It was fun hooking up with the girls as well, and if the guys were busy, we’d hang out and do girl stuff. I enjoyed the touring experience.
Then when we both had a break in our schedules, Kevin for sometime had wanted us to renew our wedding vows, and considering neither of us remembered our first ones or our original wedding I liked his idea.
This time we would do it properly and I had a hankering to get married at Beauleigh. On the estate was a picturesque old fourteenth century church and I knew it would please my father if we held the marriage ceremony there with the Rector who had known me since childhood performing the service. It meant flying everybody to England so we planned our dates to suit everyone.
The day began bright and sunny, England was turning on one of her rare beautiful summer days for the occasion. Blue skies with powder puff clouds floated aimlessly by. The picture book prettiness of the green patchwork countryside was at her glorious best. In the dawn’s early light, dew dotted the grass and sparkled like a million diamonds as the rising sunlight glittered upon it. I awoke early and finding no Kevin beside me I and took a stroll to the stables. I loved the horsy smell of the stables and their hay laden stalls, and dressed in old jodhpurs and riding boots I was prepared for a morning ride.
I came to a halt inside the doorway as I recognised a familiar voice talking softly to a horse. He turned around as he heard my entrance and gave me a blindingly brilliant smile. I stood hands on hips and smiled back at him. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail making him look even more like a pirate and his riding gear suited his tall frame.
‘That’s Rowen, he was raised from foal here. Daddy has some tremendous horseflesh here in his stables, are you going to ride or are you just looking?’
He continued stroking the horse as he tilted his head and looked over at me. ‘I was thinking of riding, it’s a glorious morning. I remember I rode Hamish last time.’
‘Arh the roan gelding over there. He’s about your weight.’ I summed up Kevin’s riding build as I leaned in over the stall beside him and joined him in stroking the horse. ‘I should have known I’d find you here.’
We leaned companionably over the stall watching Rowen frisk about in the hay and I looked up at his profile, he sensed me watching and he turned to smile at me, placing a light kiss on my forehead.
‘You know I never realised just how much you look at home here.’ He spoke softly as he put his arm about me.
I rested my head on his shoulder. ‘Well it’s my birthplace, and I do love it, but it’s not my home now.’ He turned me towards him and looked quizzically at me. I touched his cheek gently with my hand. ‘My home is wherever you are Kevin. Beauleigh is only a plane flight away, as long as our children spend some time here learning their heritage, I’m content.’
He smiled and pulled me closer. ‘You know I rather like the idea of having children with you.’
I wrapped my arms about his neck. ‘You will be just the best father.’
He grinned and kissed me lightly. ‘So are you nervous about today?’
I laughed. ‘No, considering we’ve done this already. Besides I know what’s in my heart.’
He looked content as he kissed me again, this time it was deeper in intensity. ‘ I love you.’ He whispered against my hair when he finally raised his lips from mine. I touched his cheek and smiled up at him mischievously. ‘I love you to babe, so do you really want to go riding or shall we make use of the empty stable and take a tumble in the hay?’
He looked surprised then interested. ‘Jax babe, anyone might walk in on us.’
‘No they won’t, they’re all busy setting up the tenants party for today, and daddy and the rest of the others will be still asleep, and Kev, it’s a long, long time till tonight.’
He shook his head grinning at me as he pulled me closer. ‘So you reckon we’re safe?’
I laughed as I pulled his head down to mine. ‘Safe as, now lets work up an appetite for breakfast.’
He opened the stall door and we tumbled in only to emerge for breakfast a long while later.
We had tidied up the best we could, but I guessed we still looked a bit dishevelled. I caught the amused looks of Sue and AJ, who rolled their eyes at us as we entered the breakfast parlour They were the two knowing ones in their relationships. As Kevin and I helped ourselves to a hearty plate of food, AJ left his place and sidled up beside me. He plucked a stalk of hay from my hair and twirled it between his fingers. ‘Careless Jac.’ He grinned at me.
I grinned unashamedly back. ‘ Now how did Kevin miss that?’ I gave Kevin a sideways look and he shrugged his shoulders at me and smiled. ‘Well we were going to go horse riding but another idea came to mind.’ I placed a pile of scrambled eggs on his plate and he grimaced and looked mournfully at it. I giggled. ‘That’s to build up your stamina.’
‘For what?’ he asked.
‘Take Kez to the stables, I can recommend riding, it’s good for your health.’ With a sweet innocent smile I left him standing gaping at me as I sat down at the table and left Kevin smirking at his friend.
‘You two. Honestly! And you’re already married and it’s your wedding day today. I mean ….guys come on.’ Aj said waving his plate about. Kevin just laughed and followed me to the table.
The rest of the day was spent in preparation for the afternoon ceremony. It was just a small family affair with a few close friends that we had flown over to spend the time with us while we were at Beauleigh. We had tossed up several ideas about the ceremony, but had decided to go ahead with the traditional one. My father wanted to walk me down the aisle and being his only daughter I couldn’t refuse him this chance. Because we were already married I thought at first to walk down on Kevin’s arm, but like my father, Kevin wanted to do this traditionally as well.
I didn’t want to go the whole hog with the big white wedding dress and veil, being already married that seemed pointless to me. Instead my choice fell on a beautiful ivory gown, cut on severe lines, but its simplicity suited me. On my head I wore a wreath of flowers and I carried a bouquet. I walked the short distance to the church along the gravel pathway on my father’s arm. This was a Ryecroft family tradition so all the estate workers could see the bride on her way to the church. It was a custom that dated back several centuries and but although times had changed there was plenty of well wishers and staff that were employed at Beauleigh to line the way. And I was glad now that Kevin and I had chosen to go ahead with this.
The church was fourteenth century and had been the village church since it was consecrated. It had survived various civil wars, the changes of fortune of various monarchs and much religious strife and it was a beautiful old building. The carved rainbow stone doorway had two huge doors of English oak of indefinable age that was probably taken from the original forest on the Beauleigh estate. The church itself was built in a T shape with intricate carved stone tracery over both the south and northern transcript’s windows. It wasn’t the original stain glass in place that unfortunately had been destroyed over the centuries. As we passed through the great oak doors we could see into nave with its original timbered ceiling and the high stone vaulting, the walls were decorated with fourteenth century wall paintings that were lovingly preserved and heritage listed as was the castle and most of the estate. This church was a fine example of medieval architecture and one of the rare ones that it had survived basically intact.
As I readied myself to take the walk down the aisle I admired the original glazed floor tiles, the Rector was justifiably proud of his church and he worked tirelessly to make sure it was kept in prime condition and funds were always available for restoration work. Throughout the inside of the church the local woman had been busy decorating with fresh flowers from the estate and their fragrance filled my senses with their sweetness.
My father smiled at me. ‘Ready love?’
I nodded and smiled up at him. ‘Yes I am.’
‘You look truly beautiful, I’m proud to have you as my daughter, and you’ve a wonderful man in Kevin.’
‘I know, I love him so much.’ I said simply.
My father nodded and smiled at me. ‘Well here we go darling.’
The music started to play and as one we made our way down the long tiled nave. I saw Kevin turn and watch us as we moved slowly towards him. His eyes captured mine, holding my gaze and they were filled with such love as I made my way towards him.
I would never have been able to tell you who was present that day. Kevin filled my entire existence. With at tender intimate look from under those long lashes that set off his stunning eyes he set my heart wildly fluttering. He flashed me a tender smile that I found myself unconsciously echoing as my father placed my hand in Kevin’s and we turned as one to face the Rector. The rest of the ceremony was a blur till Kevin removed my original wedding ring and replaced it with a new one he had chosen. I looked up in surprise at him. But he just smiled that sweet smile of his as he placed the diamond and emerald encrusted white gold band on my finger. Then raising my hand to his lips and sealing his vows with a kiss on my ring finger that scalded my skin, I felt a wave of heat flush through my body as his lips left their invisible brand on my hand.
I blurted out admiringly. ‘Oh babe it’s so beautiful.’
And Kevin, the Rector and the rest of the congregation laughed and I blushed realising I had interrupted the ceremony in my surprise. We continued on till the Rector, departing from the usual you may kiss the bride said allowing his sense of humour to get the better of him. ‘You may now kiss your wife.’
We laughed and obeyed. Kevin’s hands gently framing my face as he lowered his lips and kissed me with all the love in his heart. We pulled apart and both said at the same time. ‘I love you.’
We both laughed delightedly and turned to face everyone and spontaneous clapping erupted throughout the church.
I must say we enjoyed the reception and party afterward. We as a group wandered down to the tenant’s party which was set up in a large marquee and spent a good time there dancing and sharing a few drinks with the estate employees, before making our way back to the ballroom at the castle.
We cut the cake and my father spoke and Kevin’s eldest brother made a speech on behalf of the Richardson family, followed by Howie as the boy’s representative.
Then the pianist from the band stepped up to the microphone. ‘ I’ve been requested to play this piece for the waltz. Kevin wrote it for his wife Jac. So being performed for the first time in public ever…Jax’s song.’
He started to play Kevin’s special piece of music and as his hands moved over the keys of the piano playing the opening strains, Kevin held out his hand and I placed mine in his. I knew it would always be this way, hand in hand we would face the future together.
And as we moved as one around the dance floor with his music echoing throughout the ballroom, those deep green eyes of Kevin’s held my paler ones captive I knew I was blessed. I loved and was loved in return. The music came to a stop, the last few notes hovering in the air. Kevin smiled and lowered his lips to mine and the world ceased to exist.