Authors: Lisa J. Hobman

Tags: #contemporary romance, #Romance, #Bridge Over the Atlantic, #Lisa Hobman

Bridge Over the Atlantic (39 page)

Mallory was first to speak. “Greg, since the moment I met you I’ve been on a rollercoaster ride. We’ve supported each other through grief and our own individual issues and it’s been difficult at times. But I cannot imagine my life without you in it. And I don’t want to. Whatever life throws at us, we’ll get through it. We’ve proved that we can…I think my guardian angel was watching over me when he brought me to you.” Her words caught in her throat as she fought to keep her emotions in check, she smiled and breathed deeply. “There’s a saying that someone close to me says…‘Love Conquers All’ and I never believed that to be true until I met you and now I believe it irrevocably. I love you with all my heart.”

Little sobs could be heard from within the congregation.

Greg wiped his eyes and kissed her tenderly resting his forehead on hers for a moment. He then stepped forward. Brad handed him his guitar. Mallory gasped when she realised what was happening. She held her hands over her mouth and waited with baited breath to see which song he had chosen.

Greg cleared his throat. “Erm, I usually use other people’s words to express how I feel; which is daft when you think about it ‘cause I’ve been writing my own songs for years. Mallory, I wrote this for you. I think the words say it all.” His voice cracked as he spoke, raw emotion trying to escape the cage of his body. “And everyone else this is called ‘
Mallory’s Song’
.” Mallory watched in adoration as he began to strum chords on his beloved guitar. She was past the point of caring about her perfect makeup getting smudged as the tears cascaded down her face. He began to sing his heartfelt words to her,

“From the moment I met you

It was love at first sight

I wanted to hold you

Each day and each night

Maybe we weren’t meant to be

But that’s not what my heart kept on telling me

I want to hold you forever

And that’s what I’ll do

Whatever life throws our way

It’ll be me and you

And we’ll both stand tall

Because love conquers all

Our future together

Means more than I can say

Together forever

With a family one day

Who can say we’re not meant to be?

I know that my heart keeps on telling me

I want to hold you forever

And that’s what I’ll do

Whatever life throws our way

It’ll be me and you

And we’ll both stand tall

Because love conquers all

Yeah we’ll both stand tall

Because love conquers all”

Greg just about managed to get through the song without breaking down. That couldn’t be said for the wedding congregation. As soon as the song finished the church erupted in applause and Mallory flung her arms around Greg, sobbing.

“Greg, I love you so much, thank you for such a beautiful gift,” she whispered into his ear and he clung onto her.

“There was no other way for me to tell you how I feel.” he kissed her hair. “I can’t be without you ever again Mallory. This is it. This is forever.”

“Well, I’m going nowhere unless you come too.” She breathed.

The Vicar brought the proceedings back to order. When the bride and groom were back in their places he began to speak, “Ladies and gentleman, it gives me the greatest of pleasure to declare before God that Mallory and Greg are now…Husband and Wife. Greg, you may kiss your bride…one more time with feeling.” He chuckled and the congregation joined him

Greg swept Mallory up once again into a long, lingering embrace as the congregation cheered and applauded the newlyweds.

They had been though such a lot to get there, but they both knew that despite all the ups and downs, despite the things that had placed obstacles in their path before now, this was it. This was real love. This was always and forever. For Mallory and Greg, at least, love had conquered all.

Epilogue

December 2012

Mallory gazed at the little bundle in her arms. Nothing could have prepared her for the way she felt looking at the tiny fingers and toes. It had been a traumatic journey, but they got here in the end. The beautiful baby girl sleeping peacefully, wrapped in a white crocheted blanket. All that the little bundle needed now was a name.

They had expected a boy and had prepared for a boy right up to the last minute. The surprise arrival of baby
girl
McBradden had left them with a little dilemma. But it was a sweet, lovely dilemma. Mallory had never felt such a glow as she did holding her new baby. The most precious thing she and Greg had ever created. And Greg was such a proud daddy.

He had gone off to buy pink things that morning; vowing to return with lots of gifts as speedily as he could. He was so excited about having a baby daughter; even more so than when they had been told at the scan that they were eighty percent sure the baby was a boy, but not to buy specific colours just in case. So they had bought neutral coloured clothing. But they had picked out a boy’s name, feeling pretty certain that’s what they should do.

Mallory had looked adoringly into Greg’s face as he had wept when he had first held her. “Oh my precious, beautiful, little baby girl. You’re going to wrap me around your little finger you know.” He had wiped away his tears on the back of his hand and stroked her tiny little scrunched up face. “I reckon you’re going to cause me more trouble than I will know how to deal with, but I will love every minute of it. And I will protect you and your mummy forever, don’t you ever worry about a thing.”

They had discussed a number of beautiful names; Gaelic names; names of places they had visited together. Greg liked ‘Skye’; Mallory liked ‘Iona’ and they had almost settled on that combination, but then they had discussed naming her after their mothers. The discussion had not ended. There had merely been a short reprieve whilst Daddy Greg had gone shopping.

Whilst he was temporarily absent Mallory had done a lot of soul searching and had thought long and hard about names. She would talk to Greg when he returned from his expedition. On the nurses advice Baby McBradden had gone back into the crib so that Mallory could get some rest; it had been an exhausting forty eight hours. She slipped into a calm and restful sleep.

~~~~~

Her water had broken at four in the morning and Greg had calmly brought her into the hospital whilst she had been pretty much hysterical.

“I’m not ready, Greg! I can’t be a mum! I am rubbish at everything!” She had sobbed as the reality of their situation soaked in.

Greg had smiled at his panic stricken wife. “Mallory, you will be a wonderful mum. Stop worrying. We will get through the next eighteen years as a team.”

The labour had been prolonged and very painful. There were some issues with the placenta and there was talk of an emergency C-section which terrified both Greg and Mallory. Some hours later and a check had revealed that the situation had righted itself. The labour continued on—and on—and on. Mallory was exhausted.

The time to push came and Mallory had found some hidden resolve from the depths of her soul and had pushed with every ounce of strength she could muster. Twenty-four hours after arriving at the hospital Baby McBradden had been born healthy and crying loudly; which was a very good sign, they were told.

~~~~~

An hour after she had dozed off, she was awoken by someone sneaking, not-so-quietly, around her room. When she opened her eyes she realised she was surrounded by fragrant flowers and pink balloons.

Greg appeared from behind a huge bouquet of pink and white roses and a huge helium balloon reading ‘It’s a girl!’ his grin was as wide as
Loch Ness
. His hands were red with the weight of the carrier bags full of purchases from every baby shop conceivable.

He placed the bags down near the door to the private room and came over to Mallory. He kissed her gently on her forehead and whispered, “I’m so very proud of you. You’ve made me the happiest man alive yet again, Mrs. McBradden. And I will never let either of you down, ever, I promise.”

Malory grinned, “I love you too Mr. McBradden.” She kissed him tenderly. “Listen, I’ve been thinking about the name of our new little addition.” She stroked his face as she gazed lovingly into his smiling eyes.

“Aye, me too. You go first though eh?”

“Okay, I was thinking that Mairi is such a pretty name and it’s Gaelic just like we wanted if we’re honest. And Mairi was such an important part of your life and mine too in a lot of ways.”

Greg’s eyes filled with tears as he picked up their little sleeping bundle. “Funny, I was thinking along the same lines.” He smiled at his wife as he sat beside her and kissed her forehead. “Mallory…my love…meet our new baby daughter…Mairi Samantha.”

Meet the Author

Lisa is a happily married Mum of one with two crazy dogs. She especially enjoys being creative; has worked as a singer and now runs her own little craft business where she makes hanging signs and decorations for the home. Lisa and her family recently relocated from
Yorkshire, England
to their beloved
Scotland
; a place of happy holidays and memories for them.

Writing has always been something Lisa has enjoyed, although in the past it has centered on poetry and song lyrics. The story in her debut novel has been building in her mind for a long while, but until the relocation, she never had the time to put it down in black and white; working full time as a High School Science Learning Mentor and studying swallowed up any spare time she had. Making the move north of the border has given Lisa the opportunity to spread her wings and fulfill her dream. Writing is now a deep passion and she has enjoyed every minute of working towards being published. Novels two and three are works in progress so watch this space!

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