The Affectionate Player - Part2

Chapter 25

That same smile had spread from ear to ear filling me with joy but as the merriment advanced I was unaware the best had yet to come. With our delicious wedding breakfast eaten and bridal party speeches over, the Master of Ceremonies had opened the floor inviting our guests to speak.

Henri was first to offer congratulations retelling the story of when he first met Max and how given more time he may himself have had a chance with my husband. Everyone had laughed including Max who having grown fond of my friend, embraced the good humour intended.

A few friends and kinfolk welcomed each family with Granny Mac offering her own blessings assuring all she'd known this day was destined, and finally when all was said and done, Willie had stood.

"Most of ye who know us Munroe's will be aware of our love of the beautiful game, and anyone who knew Max and me as bairns, ye'll know we played footie every day in the park." Confused I'd turned to Max who'd sat wittingly grinning.

"So, I've put up a wee slide show - nothing too long mind – I donnae want to keep my ma from dancing," he'd scoffed. Most had chuckled knowing Martha of old prompting her to throw Willie a mocking scowl. Her son, taking control, had sprung to life a large screen and from God knows where images from our childhood appeared together in unison; Max and I as babies and toddlers, him in primary school, me in church just as Mrs Stewart had described. God, the embarrassment but boy did we love it, especially at Willie's recollection of their teenage trips into Martha's beer cellar. And as the images changed from my teens to Max's, they clearly displayed the shift from spotty teenager to dashing young man. Photo after photo we'd continued to jeer until one image sent my heart racing.

Before my eyes appeared an old capture showing the handsome player who had paused to stroke my dog. With menacing blue eyes as deep as oceans, head shaved and teeth crooked, there'd been no mistaking him. I'd gasped, fixated on the screen as Max knowingly slipped his fingers in mine. In silence we'd watched as more recent times came with photos of us all together, until finally shown was today's snapshot of us holding our children, while my husband kissed the tip of my nose.

Responding to the applause from our family and friends Willie had finished his trip down memory lane and addressed his audience.

"There's a very important lesson here, kin. You see, you never can rush a good thing and what's meant to be will happen when we're ready for it. Until then we live our lives as best we can; we love, we laugh and we strive to be the best for those around us and ourselves."

"Here, here!" Surprised by his outburst I'd spun to Max who was once more stood by my side.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm well aware I made my speech earlier so to put Granny's mind at rest I can assure you all I'm not drunk. Seventeen years ago this summer, I met this amazing woman for the first time in Breadlebane Park but unbeknown to me another lucky beggar had snapped her up.

"Most of you know I was shy back then and having seen Gracie in the park for two weeks solid, I couldn't get her out of my mind. But this one day her dog chased our ball and it gave me the perfect excuse to approach her, except to my horror I barely could string a sentence together."

My pounding heart echoed in my ears as he'd shared every word, recalling how he'd stopped to pat Suki's head, how she'd playfully licked his muddy hand. He'd mumbled how lucky she was though he'd meant because she had me, and how he'd added I was pretty but now knows I'd misheard him.

"I never saw her again for the rest of that holiday nor did she return the following year to see my funky new braces. I decided that summer to follow my dream, moving to London the following month to become an actor. You see everyone, it's because of Gracie I learned the acute ill consequence of a missed opportunity and I swore I'd never be my own nemesis again.