advertising-for-love by Rakhibul hasan (fb2 epub reader .TXT) 📖

he placed Tizzy’s hands on his left elbow and walked out of the door, beaming with happiness and pride.

Becky met them at the top of the stairs. She openly gaped at Tizzy, and then blew a soft wolf whistle. No words were needed. They walked down together. At the base of the stairs, they stopped and took their places. Tizzy froze.

“Grandpa, I can’t,” she whispered.

“If you run now child, you will give up one who is truly the best person in your life. Don’t do that Tizzy.” then with a twinkle in his eyes he removed what looked like a brown paper packet from his pocket “Grant sent me prepared.”

Tizzy looked towards Grant. He was looking ahead, with Roger standing beside him.

The bridal march began and the first of the wedding guests turned to look towards her. Just then Grant turned and found that this time the breath had truly been knocked out of him. He could not

look away even when the kids began their march.

First Kathy walked up, keeping in step with the music. Her while organza dress had little yellow roses embroidered in it. She also carried a basket of yellow roses. Then her brother Kramer followed in a navy suite, white shirt and a yellow rose in his lapel. Behind them Becky carefully edged forward. Her lemon chiffon dress blew lightly in the breeze. And then there was Tizzy. In her chiffon and silk gown beautifully offset by the sapphire, Tizzy carried a trailing bouquet of white and yellow roses. Pammy had insisted on gifting that and had made it herself. Now it lay gently against Tizzy’s dress, moving softly as the wind blew.

Tizzy moved forward. As she stepped out into the open pin drop silence fell over the crowd. All eyes were now focused on the bride. Becky could not help the smile that escaped her controlled features. Marina was standing there her mouth agape and eyes bulging out of their sockets.

‘something old, something gray indeed, that will teach you’ thought Becky.

Tizzy refused to look at anyone, keeping her eyes focused on the ground ahead. “Look up Tizzy, not down. Look at him. There is the man who loves you the most in this world, who fell in love with the old Tizzy and is taking away the new.” Peter whispered, knowing that unless she did that, there was still a chance Tizzy would turn back. Tizzy did as he said and looked into the eyes of the man she had waited for, for a whole lifetime.

Grant was still too stunned to react. He could not wait for her to reach his side. She looked like an angel floating towards him. The only woman he had ever truly loved was now just minutes away from becoming his wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for all eternity. Soon she would be his wife, and he could finally let go of all his fears. Never again would he be parted from those cobalt blue eyes.

And then he saw Tizzy freeze, unable to move forward nor retreat back. Grant saw the terror in

her eyes. He knew he had to do something himself. Leaving his position, he walked slowly towards her. Then as he reached her he took her free hand in his.

“Just hold my hand. I am here now, forever by your side. Just keep looking at me. And remember there are only you and me here. Everyone else is just in our imagination.” he whispered.

Peter placed Tizzy’s other hand in Grant’s free one and moved back. After that everything was like a dream. Grant walked back with Tizzy and five paces later they were standing at the dais. The ceremony began, the vows made and the wedding bands sealed their fates. Tizzy stuttered, she teared up, she clenched onto the Grants arm. but none of it mattered. not to them, nor to the guests that had come to witness their marriage. When they next faced the crowd, they did so as husband and wife, Mr and Mrs Grant and Trizella Mallaby.

The reception and lunch followed. The speeches were said, leaving a lot of people in tears, or hiding it. The video and the cameras captured every moment of that precious day. When it came to their turn, Tizzy refused to speak forcing Grant to do the honours on their behalf. Then they cut the wedding cake. Simultaneously several white doves were released from the four corners off the garden.

At the very first table Grant reintroduced her to Trisha, who gave her a big hug and said “Tizzy, Tom had always wanted Grant to find love. I am so glad he has found it with you and I truly believe Tom had a hand in your marriage.”

“I don’t understand.” Tizzy said.

“Grant, don’t you find it strange that Tizzy’s initials are the same as Tom’s? Now the company name will always remain the same as Tom wished.”

“I wish I had met him. From all that I have heard, he seemed to have been a wonderful person.” Tizzy replied not wanting to sound too complimentary as Mike stood beside Trisha.

“He was ‘the’ most wonderful person. That is why it took me so long to find someone who is equally wonderful and not in the least bit intimidated by Tom’s memory” Trisha replied, giving

Mike a gentle push.

Mike had met Grant and the two had liked each other instantly, and were now busy in conversation. Grant was saying “I will ring you once we are back in Sydney.”

They then went to each table and thanked everyone. Grant faced Greg at the second table. Beside him, his wife Marcia still feeling weak remained seated in her wheelchair and her two kids Kathy and Kramer sat beside her.

“Grant, Tizzy came like an angel in our lives. We are so glad she found someone equally worthy. Take care of her” Marcia spoke faintly.

“I will. You just concentrate on getting better yourself. You have a lot of people counting on your doing just that.” Grant spoke gently

“I’ll do that.” Marcia smiled.

After that, Grant and Tizzy continued from table to table greeting every guest personally. Grant had the satisfaction of seeing several people look a bit ashamed when Tizzy spoke to them. He remembered one of them clearly. She was the woman who has passed the remark the day Tizzy had given him a lift. Now she gaped at Tizzy with open admiration. Marissa, seated at the same table murmured her congratulations, never taking her eyes of Tizzy.

At one o’clock that afternoon they left in Grant’s car and drove straight to the airport. Soon after their arrival they commenced their journey that consisted of a flight and a launch to Hayman Island. They docked at Hayman Island just before five that evening. The sun was setting and the striking orange was a stark contrast to the deep blue sea.

So beautiful was the view that Grant insisted they watch the sunset before going to their room. Grant had his arm casually about Tizzy’s shoulder, but when he felt her move closer to him, he tightened his hold. They sat on a ledge by the pool until the sun disappeared and then walked hand in hand in the direction of their room.

Once inside a strange awkwardness fell, neither wanting to take the wrong step, neither wanting

to say the wrong thing. Finally Grant suggested that she use the bathroom first to freshen up and then they could proceed to the restaurant for dinner.

Dinner was wonderful, but again Tizzy could not eat anything. Noticing her nervousness, Grant asked her to dance. But this made things worse for Tizzy. At a distance she could at least pretend that her heart was not thumping. Now, in his arms, she knew he would hear it as well. But it wasn’t Tizzy’s heart that Grant was worried about but his own. Holding her in his arm, yet not being able to express his love, was the hardest thing he ever had to do. Before the dance finished, he took her back to their table. At an arms distance he still had a chance of fulfilling his promise. or did he? Especially, when she looked up at him with those hypnotic eyes. They drank their coffee in silence and then left the dining room.

Instead of going to their room, they walked along the beach for a while still holding hands like lovesick teenagers. Then when it got a bit chilly and he felt her shiver, they returned to their room with neither had spoken much.

“G grant, are you upset” Tizzy asked

“Upset? Why would I be upset on the most wonderful day of my life?” he asked

“It’s just that you have been very quiet. You even left the dance floor abruptly.” Tizzy said

“Tizzy, how can I explain what I am feeling without scaring you again?”

“Grant, I am not scared, not of you.” Tizzy replied

“I gave you a promise, but you are making it very difficult for me. Every time I look at you, all I want to do is take you in my arms.” Grant began

“Then do that Grant. I don’t want you to keep that promise either” Tizzy whispered.

“Tizzy, are you sure?” Grant asked unbelievingly

“Very sure. When you kissed me at the wedding I knew that very moment that I wanted to be your wife in every sense of the word.” she said in a low voice.

“And you kept that to yourself all this time. Tizzy?” he raised an eyebrow.

Tizzy looked into Grant’s eyes and then suddenly overcome with shyness she hid her face in his shoulder. With his hands on either side of her face, he gently pushed her head back. Then, as he had done for the past few nights he lifted her chin and kissed her. But this time the kiss did not end. Instead, lifting her gently in his arms, Grant carried his bride to their bed.

Chapter 18

Eighteen months after their marriage, Grant and Tizzy, once again stood together in front of family and friends. This time all eyes were on a little bundle cradled in Tizzy’s arm, all ears listening as she was christened, Caitlin Cythia Elizabeth Mallaby. She had inherited every feature from her father except two. Those cobalt blue eyes and the brown tresses had made it through to one more generation.

Once the rites were over, Caitlin was back in her father's arms. It could be confidently said, that when she was not feeding, she could always be found in the crook of her dad's arms. Tizzy had the luxury of holding her baby only when Grant was at work. She had even given up asking for her turn, for all it meant was Grant’s turn always followed a second after hers began.

At Caitlin's birth, Grant had introduced flexi-time for all staff. On becoming a parent he knew the anguish and problems parents faced, and he made many more changes to accommodate those parental needs. A long day care centre was set up at the premises. Job share and part-time work was encouraged. Paternity leave was offered to all fathers with Grant being the first to avail of the benefit.

Caitlin's birth brought about another couple of changes. A new home was the first. Straight from the hospital, Grant had driven them to their new address. A five-bedroom mansion just seven houses down from Peter and Betty. How he had managed to organise everything and keep it a secret from Tizzy, amazed everyone especially