Skinner & Thorne: The Wedding Gift

By Atonia

Part 2: Gifting

Toni rushed from the taxi; she’d taken the underground into the city. She still couldn’t understand why Connie had insisted they meet at Max’s flat, and even had a precise time to be there. Shopping was shopping, one didn’t go by timetables. She rode the elevator to their floor and rang the bell.

“Toni?”

“Max? Where’s Connie?”

“Come in, um, she’s checked herself into a day spa; said she needed the works or something. What are you doing here, not that I mind?”

Toni was confused, “Connie distinctly told me to be here at 10:00, we were supposed to go find you something for Christmas.”

Max was at a loss, “Wrong day?”

“She called me early this morning.” Toni walked downstairs with him to the lounge and put her bag down, “Is there something going on I need to know about, Max?”

“Um no, I don’t think so…”

“I thought you were going to get married today, Terry’s going to come home early.”

“Oh, well I’m not sure…today.”

“Has something happened?”

“Uh no.”

“Would you tell me if it had?”

“I uh, think it’s just a case of cold feet, I’m afraid I’m about to make a mistake, not for me but for her.”

“Connie’s got cold feet?”

“Um no, mine are um cold.”

“Max, you haven’t…screwed this up have you? Oh no I should never have called her.” Toni bit her lip.

“I haven’t as far as she’s concerned…what do you mean called her, what did you do?”

Toni sat down on the sofa, “I thought you needed her with you here in London and I called her to come. I did it as much for myself as for you.”

“I did need her here, you always know don’t you…what I need.”

“Not always, obviously.”

He sat beside her, “I knew you had something to do with all this. Why do you want me married, because that’s what it looks like to me?”

Toni played with her hands, “Well I thought it would be good for you, you would be married, and maybe...”

“That’s not going to work you know. I told her I would never be wholly hers and that’s because I’m yours, Toni. I don’t care how many marriages there are between us, that fact will never change.”

“I know that, Max; I just want to see you happy and settled.  That Sunday afternoon at my house; I saw in you the desire for a warm home and family around you, I can’t do that but Connie can and she will because she loves you,” he was way too close, “almost as much as I do,” her arms went around his neck.

“I was doing fine until we were looking at rings, I remembered the night I gave you a ring, the night I married you at the House.  There’s no such thing as a magical divorce, Toni…I feel like some polygamist. I can’t be what she wants.” He buried his face in her neck.

“You are what she wants; you already are, Max you don’t have to be anything. What you and I have is separate from anything else and I’ve come to realize it will always be there. I’ve fought it and wrapped myself in guilt and I’m not doing that anymore.”

“So I’m not just your brother in law after all,” he pulled away slightly and looked at her.

“That was silly of me wasn’t it?” She smiled, “you’re my bit of chocolate.”

Later after having her chocolate Toni lay in his arms, “How cold are your feet now, Max?”

“Umm, nothing is cold right now,” he nuzzled her neck, “I think I can do it.”

“I am so glad,” she ran her fingers through his hair, “I love you so much I want you to have what I have.”

Max raised up on his arm, “You know, I like chocolate too, sometimes I get a craving for it.”

“It’s okay to indulge your cravings once in awhile. Max, don’t ever doubt yourself with Connie, you are a whole man; there’s so much about you to love give, her the chance to find it all.”

“I think she set us up today.”

“I’m sure she did, a nice gift for me,” Toni kissed him and sat up, “The registrar’s office is open until 4:30 and Terry is picking me up here at 3:30 so you’ve got a decision to make.”

Max looked up at her, “I’ve already made it.”

“You’re getting married.”

“I need to call her and tell her.”

Toni smiled, “I’m going to take a shower and get dressed while you do that. I don’t think you’ll regret it.”

“Neither do I,” he smiled and sat up in the bed and reached for his phone.

There were three hours to kill, Toni changed the sheets on the bed and picked out what Max should wear for his wedding. He’d showered and wandered around in sweat pants and a tee shirt. He ordered lunch in. Toni called and talked to Anna about Jacky, and she called Terry to let him know it was still on. He was going to pick up Connie at the spa since he had use of a car and driver, and meet them at the registrar’s office.

“He knows you’ve spent the day with me,” Max was trying to button up his shirt and Toni came over to help.

“Yes he does, you’ve made a mess of this your buttons and holes are not coming out right…are you nervous, Max?”

“A little, aren’t you supposed to be nervous when you get married?”

Toni smiled finishing up his shirt, “I wasn’t, but then I had a rather unusual wedding aboard the Surprise, I was more concerned the good and right Reverend was going to make it through the ceremony before the wind took the ship out to sea.”

“This must seem rather tame,” Max was tying his tie.

“But no less special. You should have seen Terry; they had him decked out in an officer’s uniform complete with sword. He looked rather dashing.” She straightened his tie.

“I’m glad he lost the sword,” Max slipped his jacket on.

“We talked about you last night. He has no problem with you. You look nice,” she tilted her head and touched his cheek.

 “I’m ready now thanks to you.”

“I only helped you dress you’ve done this on your own, Max.”

“I know what you’ve done, what you gave me today and I love you for it.”

Toni kissed him, “we’d better get going you’ve got to find a taxi.”

Terry and Connie were already there when Max and Toni came through the door. Instead of going to Max Connie went to Toni and hugged her.

“I knew you could do it Toni.”

“You could have just asked instead of all the subterfuge.” She grinned, “He’s ready Connie.”

Terry put his hand on Max’s shoulder, “chin up mate, you’re doing fine.”

“Right, um about today.”

“A little wedding gift it worked didn’t it…I think they’re ready for you Max.”

Max looked around and took Connie’s hand and Toni and Terry followed them in for the brief ceremony.

Afterward they left and went to a nice place for drinks, Champagne toasts and snacky things. There was much laughter and many kisses. It was over it was done and Max could relax now.

Terry stepped outside on the balcony to smoke and Max came out bumming a cigarette.

“Hey, you’ve done it mate, joined the ranks.”

“Yeah, I never thought I would Terry. I just never thought I’d marry.”

“Doesn’t pay to think sometimes, you never know what’s coming next.” Terry sipped his Champagne and looked out over the River Thames. “You couldn’t have found a better mate and I mean that Max, Toni aside.”

“I know that she’s very special, she’d have to be to put up with me.”

“True. Got any special plans for tonight or just going home and shag?”

“A nice dinner, I’ve got a table booked, hotel room…bridal suite,” he half grinned.

“Ahh, thoughtful. Toni and I spent our wedding night at the House of Four Seasons. She’s leasing it out now. Or its leasing it’s self out however that works. What are you doing for Christmas?”

Max sipped his champagne, “just the two of us, we’ll stay through the New Year and then back to La Siroque.”

“We’re heading out for Virginia, Dino’s coming up but we’ll be back for New Year’s Eve, maybe we can get together.”

“I’d like that,” Max smiled meeting his brother’s eyes. “Give us a call when you get back.”

“I thought we might have to come looking for you two,” Connie smiled when they sat back down at the table.

“Just chatting,” Max answered.

“I’ve had all the bubbly I can stand, what do you think Terry, shall we leave these two newlyweds alone and go find a bite to eat somewhere?”

“Sounds good to me luv, I’m ready for a real drink anyway.”

“I’ll have you know this is very good champagne,” Max raised a brow.

“It is as far as champagne goes,” Terry grinned, “but that’s not saying much.”

“Thank you both for everything today,” Connie kissed Terry and reached around him and squeezed Toni’s hand.

Max stood up and took Toni’s hands, “thank you Toni for seeing me through.” He kissed her softly on the lips.

“Go be a good husband, I know you can be.” She squeezed his hands and turned while Terry slipped her coat over her shoulders.

Terry shook his hand, “Have a good night.” He winked.

“Anything in particular you have a taste for tonight, chocolate?”

Toni stopped on the street and gave Terry a crooked grin, “I’m thinking something a little more substantial like a good steak.”

“Good choice,” he put his arm around her and hugged her.

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