Bridge Over the Atlantic (7 page)

Sam watched Mallory as he tucked into his steak. “Penny for ‘em?” he asked, as his fiancée drifted off somewhere and her eyes glazed over.

“Oh sorry. I think I was back in the cottage for a moment.” She shook her head as if to bring herself back to the present.

“And?”

“Well, all I can say is I never expected it to be so…so…”

“Perfect?”

“Perfect.”

~~~~~

On the Monday morning following their mini-break the all-important call had been made to put their offer forward. They had both adored the cottage. They just needed to secure it, but unfortunately it was in the hands of fate…well, the estate agents to be exact.

After three hours of pacing the floor, negotiating and nail biting, the final call came through from
Scotland
. Sam answered his cell phone and Mallory clung onto the hem of his shirt anxiously waiting for Sam’s facial expression to reveal the news.

“Ahuh…yes…okay…oh, yeah?...hmmmm…okay, well thanks for all your help Mr. Warriner, it’s much appreciated.” Sam hung up; his face stoic. He closed his eyes, ran his hands through his hair and let out a long breath. Mallory’s heart sank. Her eyes welled up. The dream was gone.

“Well, that’s it I guess.” Sam finally spoke in a low resigned tone.

Mallory stifled the sob that was desperate to lurch from her throat, “I guess so.” She slumped onto the sofa. Although she had been filled with trepidation about the whole thing, initially, to know that it wasn’t happening broke her heart a little. There were a few moments of silence as she tried to come to terms with the news.

“Yup…I am soooo not looking forward to all the packing.” He huffed, shaking his head.

Mallory hesitated, pondering that last sentence. She looked up slowly into the face of her beloved only to see the huge grin that had transplanted itself onto his flawless face.

“You rotten sod! You absolute mean GIT!” She screamed as the realisation of the truth dawned on her. She flung herself into the arms of the fibber and burst into floods of warm, ecstatic tears.

April 2011

Sam had been worrying about Mallory as the stress of the move was taking its toll on her appetite and she had lost weight. Even
she
admitted it wasn’t like her, but she put it down to excitement mostly. During one of their packing days he slid his arms around her and noticed the change.

He nuzzled her neck and said, “Hey, don’t you be turning all twiggy on me now! I love your curves. They are what make you so delicious.” He moved away to build yet another box.

“Believe me, it’s not intentional. I think it’s just the stress of moving so far away. You know, leaving Josie and Brad…the business…”

“I know, babe. But it will be so worth it when we get there, eh?”

“I know. I
am
looking forward to it. I think I’ll just be happier when we actually get there and we can relax.” She looked around at the boxes that surrounded them both. “And how on
earth
did we accumulate so much stuff?”

“Beats me, babe. I think most of it’s yours anyway.” He teased. She threw a cushion at him playfully but he caught it, “Want me to pack this?” She stuck her tongue out at him as he laughed.

“There is one positive thing about me losing weight.”

He came over and kissed her neck again, “Really? I can’t think of a single one.”

“Hmm, I would need to buy a whole new wardrobe.” She grinned.

Sam slid his arms around her, “Nah, if I have my way when we get to bonny
Scotland
you’ll be spending most of the time naked.” He wiggled his eyes suggestively making her giggle.

Sam pulled the loft ladder down and climbed up. “Oh.My.Gosh. Mallory, you thought down there was bad…you ain’t seen nothing yet, baby. Not by a long way.”

Mallory cringed, “Oh no. I haven’t been up there since I moved in. Not properly. I slide the Christmas decorations just inside the hatch every year but avoid going up there at all costs.”

He lowered his head through the hole in the ceiling, “Well, as they say, there is no time like the present! C’mon. Time for a clearout.”

Mallory groaned at the thought. Grabbing some black refuse sacks she climbed the ladder and pulled herself up beside Sam.

He handed her a box, “What’s in here I wonder…okay,
Mallory’s school stuff
is what it says. Should be interesting.” He pulled out a report card and laughed heartily.

“What? Oh no what have you found?” She snatched the card from his grasp and read aloud, “…
Mallory has the potential to be a very bright girl, if she would only stop daydreaming long enough to apply herself
.” She read in her poshest voice, mimicking Mrs. Gloria Sanders, her prim and proper high school English teacher.

“Hah! No change there, huh?” Sam poked her in the ribs, making her scream in shock and punch him on the arm in playful retaliation. “We have to keep these to show our children how
not
to behave.” He sniggered.

“Cheeky.” Mallory retorted dryly. “Ooh, what’s in this one? Aww, keepsakes.” She opened the lid and stared inside, “Oh wow, these are my mum’s things.” Mallory lifted her hand to her mouth. She placed the box between them so that Sam could see.

“Hey, I found a little photo of you as a toddler. So sweet. Look at your curls!”

“Oh, yes. My mum used to spend hours trying to tame my birds nest. Here’s one of me with my mum.”

“Hm, now I see why you ended up so darn gorgeous. She was a beautiful lady, Mally”

“She was…I miss her so much, Sam. I wish you could’ve met her.”

Sam pulled her to his side and kissed her hair before resting his head on hers, “I know baby, me too.”

“She would have loved you.”

“That’s ‘cause I’m so loveable.” He smiled, “I’m sure she and I would have been great friends.”

Mallory’s eyes began to sting, “The thought that she won’t be here to see her grandchildren, Sam…”

“Hey, hey, baby don’t cry.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, his own eyes becoming glassy, “We’ll make sure that our babies know all about all of their grandparents and how much they loved them even though they never met.”

Mallory sniffed and wiped her eyes, “Yes, we will.”

Eleanor, Mallory’s Mother had passed away when Mallory was fifteen after a long battle with illness. Her heartbroken Father, James, joined her a year later after never having recovered from losing his soul mate. Her Aunt Sylvia had taken over the role of parent, which usually consisted of frank conversations and blunt advice. But Mallory had loved her all the more for it.

They sorted through several more boxes when Mallory came across some of Sam’s boxes. “Hey, how did these get up here? I thought we had dealt with all your stuff?”

“Ahem…I kinda sneaked a few things through the hatch that I brought back from
Canada
. I didn’t want you thinking I was taking over your life
completely
when we got back from my mom’s.”

“Hmm, very sneaky, Mr. Canada. But seeing as I adore you I will let it go. And as a matter of fact, I don’t mind you taking over my life completely.”

“Thanks Miss Yorksherrr.” He rolled his ‘r’ in that way she loved.

“That certainly was a memorable trip.” Mallory paused, staring into space.

“Which one?”

“
Canada
…seeing your mom of course.”

Placing his hand at the back of her head he pulled her face to his and kiss her deeply, “That’s because you agreed to marry me on that trip and made me the happiest man alive.”

“You made me the happiest woman alive by surprising me like that.”

They snuggled together in the loft and reminisced about July 2010 and their life changing trip.

July 2010

They were met at the airport by Renee, Sam’s mom. She was an elegant lady. Tall and slender with grey hair in a stylish bob, which she wore tucked behind her ears. She wore grey pants, a cream round necked sweater, pale grey cardigan and a set of pearls around her neck with matching earrings. Her embrace had been warm and Mallory had liked her instantly. She had said how lovely it was to finally meet the wonderful woman who had
deserved
to capture her son’s heart.

Sam’s family home was beautiful. Compared to the houses in the UK it was more of a mansion. The double fronted façade was so incredibly pretty with its carved portico and shutters. There was a huge apple tree at the front which, Mallory learned, Sam used to climb up if he was sneaking home after his curfew.

The back ‘yard’ as they called it was also tree lined and larger than any garden Mallory had been in other than at hotels or stately homes. The furniture in the garden was a mix of white painted wrought iron in the tree lined seating area and huge modern looking outdoor wicker sofas on the huge BBQ and patio area.

The inside of the home was very traditional, but extremely classy with its cream walls and antique dark oak furniture. It felt very homey indeed and Mallory was completely at ease.

They had spent a wonderful two week break at the Buchanan family home and Sam had shown her the delights of
Kingston
. It was a huge town with a mix of architectural style from modern grey concrete buildings to beautiful old stone churches, complete with pretty carvings and fenestrations. The streets were much wider than Mallory was used to and everything seemed to be on a grander scale.

They had met with Sam’s brother Ryan and his lovely, pregnant wife Cara who Mallory had hit it off with straight away. Ryan was a typical big brother; teasing Sam playfully at every given opportunity.

They spent a day at
Fort Henry
, where Sam had spent many of his school trips; they had braved the chilly waters of the beach at
MacLachlan Woodworking Museum
with its pretty old log house, before taking a romantic stroll to see the wildlife. It was wonderful. Mallory had felt like she was on her honeymoon.

On the morning of their last full day in
Canada
, Sam and Mallory lay snuggled together in his old room, surrounded by blue and white striped wallpaper and posters of his childhood sports star heroes, in his mahogany sleigh bed.

“I’ve booked a table for us all to dine at
Aqua Terra
tonight, baby; it’s a seafood restaurant with fantastic views. I hope that’s ok. Ryan and Cara are coming over too. I thought it’d be a nice way to spend our last night here.”

“Ooh that sounds good; I remember walking past signs for that place when we were out in
Kingston
on Tuesday. It sounds lovely.” Mallory squeezed her man lovingly.

“We are booked to dine at 8pm so we have all day to do as we please.” Sam wiggled his eyebrows suggestively as Mallory grinned up at him.

“Hmmm, what
will
we find to do, I wonder?” She asked, kissing his chin lightly.

Sam growled his sexy growl and pulled the covers over their heads. Mallory let out a squeal of delight.

They spent the morning in bed, making love at their leisure. It was divine. In the afternoon they had gone shopping and Mallory had bought a sexy midnight blue dress that clung to her curves in that sensuous way that Sam just adored. When they had returned home they had shared a luxurious shower, devouring each other’s bodies once again. Then it was time to get ready for dinner.

Sam sat perched on the edge of the bed in his smart black pants, pristine white shirt and black jacket. He waited patiently for Mallory to come out of the bathroom and reveal herself. She first poked her head around the door.

“Ooooh, Sam, I’m so
not
sure about this dress.” She stressed. He rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“C’mon, baby, you looked gorgeous in the store, why would now be different?” He encouraged her.

She stepped, nervously, out of the en-suite bathroom, opened her arms and did a 360 degree turn.

Sam gasped. His pupils dilated. “See – you take my breath away.” He looked genuinely taken aback by her elegance. Her hair had been styled perfectly, thanks to the help of Renee who had created a beautiful cascade of chocolate curls falling down from the diamante clasp holding her hair loosely at the top of her head. She had applied smoky grey shadow to her eyelids and a glossy pink shade to her lips. The midnight blue dress was off the shoulder and fitted to her knees; very Marilyn Monroe. Her silver clutch and matching high heeled sandals finished off the look with perfection.

Mallory was truly a vision to him. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and take pleasure in removing that dress, slowly caressing every inch of her sexy, curvaceous shape. But that would have to wait. Tonight was going to be special.

They arrived at the restaurant and met Ryan, Cara and Renee in the foyer. They exchanged hugs and kisses. Once they had said their hellos they were shown to their table overlooking the waterfront, by the owner, who happened to be a good friend of Renee. Mallory looked out over the glistening water as the sun began to set and the twinkling lights of the boat masts danced like fire flies in the July breeze.

They chatted comfortably, ate escargots, crab and lobster and drank several bottles of Sauvignon Blanc. The house band played romantic tunes in the background. The dulcet tones of the handsome, young male vocalist lilted through the air and many of the restaurant clientele hummed along to familiar tunes like
The way you look tonight
and
I’ve got you under my skin.

As they chatted, the music stopped and the band shuffled their sheet music. They began to play again. The music seemed to take on a different tone. This tune had a more modern feel to it.
Dum dur dum dur dum dur
…the intro sounded familiar and out of step with the earlier lounge music. The guitarist plucked the opening notes and a shiver travelled down Mallory’s spine. She looked around the room to see if anyone else had noticed. She
did
recognise those opening bars; it was the beginning of Snow Patrol’s ‘
Chasing Cars’.
She turned to acknowledge this fact to Sam, but he wasn’t in his seat. Suddenly there was a hush across the whole restaurant. She realised that all eyes were on the stage.