“Who is it? Who is it?” The reporters jabbed each other and wrestled to get a good look at who was inside. A tall figure approached the edge of the basket and as the gas fired again, Emily saw him.
David Marks.
“Emily,” he called out as he hopped over the edge of the basket and hurried to her. The crowd was going crazy. Emily could hardly hear his voice. She looked wildly around her at the commotion he’d caused, then her eyes landed back on David’s bright eyes.
“I know you find it hard to trust me, or believe anything I say. Because I lied to you,” he shouted. “The truth is, we were both lied to, and we lied to each other. But I’m done with lies. I want to tell you everything.” Emily looked sheepishly around as David held out his hands to her.
“I had an imaginary friend named Twix until I was twelve. He was a deer.” Emily resisted the smile threatening to take over her face. “I had to have hypnosis to help me sleep again after Edward forced me to watch a horror movie about a clown.” The crowd chuckled and the reporters were still taking photos. Emily wondered how many photos they could possibly need. “I used to tell people that I designed the Eiffel Tower.”
Emily snorted. “Who would believe that?”
“My grandmother died. But not before she told me the truth.”
“And what is that?” Emily shouted back, trying to be heard over the roar of the crowd and the incessant flash of cameras. He lowered down on bended knee.
“That you can’t fake love. It happens whether you like it or not. And I can’t go on another moment without asking you, truthfully. Emily Stewart, will you be my wife?”
The crowd erupted into cheers and the reporters were going wild. Fighting to get the best picture and people were chanting in the background.
They were already married. Emily looked up at the starry sky and her gaze hovered over the balloon. She realized it had huge sunflowers on it. Emily looked down at David to see him holding a small box with his grandmother’s ring. His gaze burned into her. She was overwhelmed. The music thumped against her temples, and the screeching crowds sent her senses into a frenzy. She wasn’t sure if it was David’s speech, or the overwhelming chaos around them, but she lowered all her defenses and nodded her head.
“All right, for real, this time?” She beamed. David pushed the ring onto her finger and lifted her up into his arms.
“Just promise me one thing,” Emily said as she hovered near his lips.
“Anything.”
“That we will never lie to each other again.”
David grinned and nodded like an excitable puppy. He swooped her around in a circle and they kissed. She closed her eyes and thought that somewhere there were fireworks going off, cheers and screams filled the air. Emily and David broke apart and laughed at the crowd as they waved to the reporters, hand in hand.
“Do you want to find a seat?” David asked.
Emily’s head was spinning. Suddenly, the idea of schmoozing with a load of celebrities didn’t seem so appealing. Emily pointed at the hot air balloon.
“You know, I’ve never been in one of those before,” she said. David tightened his grip on her and appeared to follow her line of thought. Then he walked her to the balloon and lifted her over the edge of the basket. The Vivienne Westwood gown draped away from her feet and she was certain the reporters got several shots of the bright pink crocs. She didn’t care.
David jumped inside the basket and turned to her.
“I love you Emily.” He cradled her face with his hands.
Emily pulled him in and kissed David and moaned into his mouth. He held the small of her back and they explored each other, blissfully unaware of their surroundings. They broke apart panting and Emily rested her hand over his heart; she could feel it beating against her palm. She was still furious with Charles. There was a lot to talk about, and so much she still didn’t know about David. But she had no doubt about one thing; she was happier when he was around. He made the world feel right again, and even with hidden agendas and manipulating family members in the mix, being with David felt right. At the end of it all, what did it matter how they met? It will make a great story, she figured as she stroked a tuft of his wavy hair and gazed lovingly into his eyes. And with that thought she simply said, “I love you more.”
The End
Epilogue
Two Years Later
“Jaqueline, can you come in my office for a moment?” Emily flashed her pearly whites at the young woman, who was just about to step into the elevator. She spun on the spot and caught sight of Emily, sticking her head out of her door.
“Sure,” she said slowly, her brows arched with suspicion.
Emily stood back and held the door open for her as Jaqueline entered. She tried to remain calm, but the buzz of excitement was evaporating off her body. Emily was not good with secrets. And this was a big one that she had been keeping for months.
“Take a seat Jaqueline,” she said softly, gesturing to the white couch in the centre of the room. Jaqueline took a seat as Emily closed the door and took a moment to gaze wistfully around her office. Her home away from home for almost thirteen years. A twinge of sadness tugged at her stomach.
She shook her head, as if to knock the thoughts out of her mind and strode across the room to join Jaqueline on the couch.
“You’ve been a matchmaker for a couple
