Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 448: Secret He Didn’t Keep

Chapter 448: Secret He Didn’t Keep

Arthur’s been getting these kinds of thoughts a lot lately. It came up in one of his chats with his brother and he just patted his back and said something stupid like, "Congratulations, Artie! You’ve finally become a man!"

Is being unsure a necessity of becoming a man? He didn’t know.

But he knew what made him think that way. The one secret he’s been keeping from his woman.

He still thinks it is the best decision to keep it a secret from her. But... He’s had a nightmare yesterday.

Nightmares that he’s standing out there at the end of the aisle, the bridal march plays but she arrives covering her face...and she refuses to marry him.

"You’re a liar!" she says and walks without turning back. He begs her to stop, but as a fog, she passes through. Throughout all these, he couldn’t even see her face.

Will this happen if I tell her the truth now? Or will she find the truth by some other means? Will she ever trust me? Will she marry me?

"Are you feeling cold?" Arthur asked seeing Talia hugging herself and rubbing her arms.

"Not really," Talia wasn’t feeling cold.

In fact, other than the arduous preparations for her wedding, she didn’t feel anything different or special about getting married. But then there would be a deep fear arising in her heart reminding her that those from the Brunton family including her mother and grandfather all have a record of short marriages.

My life won’t end up that way, right? Or should I stop the wedding and remain as Fred’s girlfriend for life?

Ugh! A title change from girlfriend or fiancée to wife won’t change my fate! What am I even thinking?

"Come here," he pointed at his lap and Talia smiled.

This guy...

She got up and sat between his legs. She leaned on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, covering her. The gentle sea breeze caressed her face and it ruffled their hair.

"Are you happy, darling?" he asked kissing her cheek. He always found her giggles as the perfect symphony.

"Very," she turned and looked at him. In the moonlight, his face glowed and even the fine wrinkles at the corner of his eyes were very attractive.

"You have wrinkles already." She giggled some more. "I’m marrying an old guy. Poor me."

"Yes, older by a whole seven hundred and thirty-seven days. Oh, the humanity!" he chuckled and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"That much? You’re basically a cradle-robber." She laughed and he laughed along. Then there was a comfortable silence between them as they silently watched the waves crashing along the shores.

"You were in deep thoughts," He asked.

"Hmm, I was wondering what is the significance of the wedding ceremony and what good does the title change achieve." Talia held his hand and rested her cheek on his arms. His warm breath fell on her ears and she closed her eyes.

"Marriage is not just a title change or a piece of paper... It is not just a public spectacle too in our case. It is us pledging publicly that we are committed to spending the rest of our life together. Private promises are good, but the public pledge identifies us as a couple as we enter the public institution of marriage. This public pledge gives security emotionally and legally. So a wedding is not just a piece of paper or a public spectacle. We are including everyone in our happy day as we proclaim our commitment to each other in front of God and others." Arthur spoke in a soft tone.

"Wow! What you said makes sense," Talia said. "Wedding is a public affair, while marriage is the private affair that needs to be nurtured properly. And it does give more security saying that ’He’s my husband’ rather than ’He’s my partner’, right? But you sounded preachy like grandpa." She giggled.

"Preachy? I thought it was wise." Arthur was defensive.

"Did grandpa speak to you?" Somehow, Talia could sense these conservative words of wisdom coming out of her grandpa’s mouth.

"Actually it was both your grandpa and my pa. Both got mad when I complained that there is no need to spend this much for a public spectacle," Arthur winced. "I’ve never seen your grandpa that mad before."

"Thank goodness I didn’t speak to him about reducing the cost of my wedding dress," Talia gulped. She really didn’t have the energy to listen to his lecture anymore.

"What did you do with the extra money then?" Arthur asked. He wasn’t that surprised by the amount Jerome allotted for her dresses.

"I opened another account in a tax haven bank and saved it." Talia was proud.

"What a smart one I am marrying!" Arthur was proud too. She should not feel bad about it since her grandpa gave that money to her. She can use it however she wants.

"Old people... They can be pretty condescending at times. Do you know? My great-grandma once said that my great-grandpa wouldn’t have accepted my lifestyle choices, but would have loved me nonetheless. I was so mad I wanted to say something back, but I held back. They are people from a different century and values have changed a lot." Talia said fiddling with Arthur’s fingers.

"Lifestyle choices?" Arthur was confused as to what it might mean.

"She meant me having three boyfriends before you. Also, you just broke your engagement then. I think she was under the impression that I had slept with three men before you at least, and you with at least one woman. I was so mad, I didn’t even want to explain to her that we only ever have slept with each other and no one else."

"Yes, it is anger-inducing." Arthur rubbed her arms. "But as someone from a generation who believed in chastity and fidelity, it is understandable she couldn’t understand the mentality of youngsters these days."

"I know, it is better to have old people round even though our values differ. They know a lot about life better than us. I know how much she loves me. She’s kind of cute and pitiful at times."

"She is cute." Arthur kissed her head. She agreed with her. The elders around her love her too much.

Sniffing her hair, he closed his eyes. He remembered the drunken confession of his father the other day. Somehow Ray’s name came up in their conversation.

’Don’t think of Ray anymore, Artie. You don’t have to. I will, for the sin of giving birth to him. But You don’t have to feel bad. Maybe, it runs in the family... I killed your grandfather... I knew if he gets healed and returns to the mansion, he will try to get back at the Bruntons for taking his precious son away from him... And so, I changed his medication and made sure he never returns.’

Arthur didn’t know if this really happened or it was just his father’s wish. But either way, he needed to keep it a secret.

I am glad my grandfather didn’t survive... After taking away Iris’ mother, what more would he have taken from her?

He felt bad for thinking that way. He is in a way monstrous in his heart, with no guilt. A dark personality. In fact, his family might have the genetics for the dark personalities.

Will I pass it for our kids? Do I even love her for real? Am I really worthy of her?

Somehow his mind spiralled in with dark thoughts.

"Hubby..."

After a long silence, Talia said as a whisper and Arthur felt himself floating, getting away from his dark thoughts. He thought this word was as good as s*x.

"Wifey," he whispered in her ears. "Repeat it."

Talia turned and sat facing him. Wrapping her arms around his shoulder, she got closer to his lips.

"Hubby dear," she pressed her lips on his and he held the back of her head with his hand and reciprocated her kiss.

Time trickled away slowly and when Talia’s lips parted from his, they were slightly swollen.

"I love you, Fred," she said.

Arthur placed his forehead over hers. Whether he deserved her or not, he wanted her.

"You had a miscarriage then, Iris."

He hugged her closer.