Maeva had been writing as much as she could as she didn’t expect to write much after the wedding. Sky had been so helpful and considerate. He proposed that, after the wedding, her son’s family come spend some time with them. He knew he would have to leave for work soon but still didn’t know where they would start to film. Once he found out, they could decide what they would do from there. Would she follow him on location? She had reflected on it and thought she would try to stay as close as possible to him. Wherever it took her.
 
That he offered the travel and lodging to her son, so that she could spend more time with them and that he could get to know them as well, deeply touched her. When she talked to her son, he seemed really happy to get this opportunity. She asked him jokingly, if he was more eager to spend time with her or with a celebrity? They were all laughing but seemed to acknowledge playfully that getting to know Sky was quite an event for him. He would first need to see if he could get that specific time off work.
 
 
 
Maeva was happy that her dress was finally ready. The Taylor Shop team was so creative, talented and professional. They had found a way to transform the Celtic vintage dress without altering it by simply adding stand-alone pieces that melted with the dress as if they had always been part of the dress. The dress was phenomenal, unique and not too extravagant. Her sash included a loop where her small wildflowers bouquet would be inserted. She wanted her hands to be free. It was so easy to plan a wedding when you had someone doing everything for you. Jess was a master planner. No wonder Sky chose her to be his personal assistant.
 
She was sitting at the kitchen island typing. She liked to write there as she had an excellent view of the garden as well as the dogs’ area. She saw movement and realized it was Sky who was running with the dogs, probably as a cool down to his training. She watched him adoringly. He seemed to be having as much fun as the dogs were. It really was paradise for her here. Everything was easy and writing could be her priority when he wasn’t around, which gave her ample time to write. The pace at which she could write was quite bizarre. She had been afraid to start this new career as we constantly hear about “writer’s block” which turned excellent writers into alcoholics, pot heads or worse, depressed individuals. Maeva also remembered a time, younger, when she had started novels, which she never completed as the research needed became an obstacle to creativity. She also wanted things to be perfect. If she wrote about an era, she needed to know everything, and all dates and events that comprised it. The need for that precision always hindered the looseness and flexibility you needed to let your imagination do its work. She found two solutions to this: first, she would start a few books at the same time, or according to the ideas she got. She would write on that story as long as it kept growing within her. Stories grew within her mind during her sleep, during daydreaming, with events in her past or present life or with links made with movie sequences or book parts. Her novels always carried some parts of herself in them, some parts of people she met or loved and naturally, contained point of views that crossed eras and traveled far away over mountains and seas. If the story came to a halt, which could be caused by events in her life, or by her inner emotions, turmoil, and growth, she would pursue on another one she had started. The second way she found helpful was to only work with fiction. Some parts of the novels could be true, or not, some characters could be based on someone’s physical appearance mixed with the personality and traits of another. The period in which her characters lived, the geographical locations, the languages they spoke, how they dressed, what their values were, could all be taken from everyone and anyone. They were imagined or they were real. When she described a world, a city, a street, a forest, a branch, a leaf or a flower, they would be described as she saw them, from some opportunistic person that happened to be near her, and even from the internet. “Miss, I am sorry to disturb you. I am writing a book and would like to know how you would describe this odor, or this type of flower, or a storm, and so much more.”, she would ask strangers.
 
Maeva always felt it was important to see life through the eyes of others. This made her too inquisitive around new friends or acquaintances, always wanting to know where they came from, what they did, if they had family, and much more. In fact, some people even said she asked too many questions. They were right, but she did so with an honest interest in what they had to say. She was an anthropologist at heart.
 
The day before the wedding, Sky called her during his training period, which was something he had never done yet. He did sometimes text her red hearts emojis or “I miss you” but it was rare and quite irregular, certainly not a habit.
 
“Hello my love! I just received a call from Jess and she wants to meet with us tonight.”
 
“Oh, isn’t this quite unusual?”, Maeva was surprised and concerned.
 
“Well, yes and no. She has done this before, but it was always about some news she had concerning a work-related matter. It could also be about something coming out in the press.”
 
“Well, that’s fine. Was there some specific reason you wanted to let me know?”
 
“I will always make it a point to let you know if a visitor wants to come over, my love.” Sky said this with such a tender and beautiful deep-set voice.
 
“Thank you, my love, for letting me hear your beautiful voice. It will keep me on my toes until you come back into my arms.”, she also said in a voice dipped in honey. Sky chuckled.
 
“Oh my! You are in a romance writing mood or you want to be sure I don’t linger too long up here… See you soon, my one and only love.”, Sky just cut the call. He always had this weird way with calls. Never waited for you to answer or say “Bye”. She smiled and returned to her writing. Then, she reconsidered and thought she would take the time to bake some cookies, just for the guest. Yvonne might also be happy to have cookies to dig her teeth into tomorrow.
 
Jess arrived right after they finished supper. They were still chatting on the garden terrace. Sky went to let her  in.
 
“Hey Jess, welcome. I am happy to see you.”, she presented a chair to her.
 
“Likewise, likewise. Thank you!”, said Jess.
 
Maeva had never seen Jess for very long and always in a specific setting that did not allow for her to really see her up close. She was quite a pretty lady. Blond straight hair layered shoulder length with bangs, a soft cheeked face with a natural pinkish glow and bright green eyes. She was probably in her late thirties and although she carried on some extra weight, her movements were agile. She was in good shape. Maeva reminded herself that many women with a weight surplus could be much healthier than thin ones that did not exercise regularly. It was important not to judge people.
 
“I wish I was here for a nice quiet visit, but I am here because of some calls I received today. It seems that, some little bird announced to the press that you are getting married tomorrow.”, Jess paused and waited for their reactions. Mostly for Sky’s reaction. He remained standing and was looking at Maeva with a wide-eyed expression. He brought a chair closer to her and took her hand in his, in a protective gesture.
 
“What do you want to do, Jess? Your advice is important to us.”. Maeva liked to hear the word “us” in this context, but still felt it mostly affected him and his career.
 
“I say, let’s go all out! They know. They will have helixes all over, disturbing the ceremony, if we do not make some sort of a deal with them.”, Jess shrugged her shoulders.
 
“Who’s they?”, Sky asked holding his forehead between his finger and slightly rubbing.
“They are the Press Association. They do not mention exactly which of their members, but you know the drill.”
 
Sky explained to Maeva that this was an association that worked for their paying media members. They made a deal with the star’s agent for a certain amount and style of pictures, videos and more and, then made them available to their members according to their membership status. Higher paying members had the bigger package, and low paying members would sometimes only receive one picture. When you were contacted by the Press Association, you knew you would be in trouble. First, you couldn’t negotiate a fee like you would when contacted by one lone media. The only benefit they offered was that the press would leave you alone so you could hold your event peacefully. Without a deal, it would be havoc.
 
“I say just give them what they want and you will control what goes out to the public, as well as have a peaceful and beautiful wedding.” Jess seemed sure that this was the best thing to do.
 
“I know Jess, but I am concerned of the response. You know what happen with Caroline?”
 
“True. Still, you obviously see that Caroline and Maeva are two completely different women, with completely different styles, personalities and reputations. Caroline had terrible pictures and videos of her already in the media. She was shown and known as being a bitch even at a very young age.”,  Jess then looked at Maeva.
 
“Maeva, dear, what do we get when we type in your name in Google?”
 
“If you type Maeva Cantley, you might get some scientific journal articles, and my name might come up in link with the Covid 19 Vaccination Campaign in Canada, or as being an expert in children and young families’ health and social issues.”
 
“Aren’t you an author?”, Jess was surprised by Maeva’s answer.
 
“Under Maeva Cantley’s name you will find reports, journal articles and one or two books on health and social issues. My actual novel writing, and even my blog, are under a pseudonym.”
 
“And this is covered under your NDA, Jess.  No one is to know her real name.”, Sky was quick to add.
 
“Perfect! So you see, there is a huge difference between Caroline and Maeva. Your fans will love her. I am sure of it.”, Jess looked at Maeva again.
 
“Are you completely sure there are no skeleton in your closet?”
 
“Everybody has skeletons in their closet. I have a past personal life. I have been married before. I have a son from that union. If they search far enough, they can interview people who knew me, from my ex’s family. They could even contact my son. I can’t stop that. It would be sad if they dug up what my in-laws have to say about of me, but I cannot control that and will not let it concern me.”, Maeva was not a happy woman at that point. Sky felt it. He went to stand behind her, leaned over her, kissed her head and played with her hair.
 
“Let’s make a deal for some pictures and a video of the bride’s entrance. We should try to have her head turned and a shot taken from a distance. Just enough to satisfy them. No names. Not any mention of who she is and where she comes from. They will need to wait for that. They probably will not find out, even if we did not accept this deal.”. Jess kept a serious look. “I don’t think it will satisfy them, but I will try to sell this. Can I promise a more complete package for a later time? It would give us time to think about a strategy.”
 
“OK. But don’t say exactly what the package would allow. Good?”, Sky said.
 
“OK. I will not disclose that.” Maeva had entered the house and was coming back with some freshly baked cookies and a teapot of hot steaming very perfumed Earl Grey tea. It was Sky’s favorite and Maeva had learned to prepare it just right.
 
“Can I offer you some tea, Jess?”
 
“Oh Maeva, who cooked those cookies? Sky, are you still following your diet? Is today cheating day? Oh yes, I will have a cuppa. And a cookie, for sure!”
“No worries Jess. I am fully training and I am following my diet. Not my cheat day either, so I will pass on the cookies, but they look delicious my love. Thank you.”, Sky was happy Maeva had thought about this attention and even more, that she made them herself. He expected she would ask Yvonne. He did smell the baking  when he returned, but thought it was something Yvonne baked and that the smell still lingered on.
 
They chatted away with Jess about her life with her mom. It happened that she was suffering from dementia and Sky had some questions related to his mother. Maeva was surprised he was opening up about it as he had never brought the subject back up since their visit at his parents. It was only then that Maeva realized she never mentioned to Sky how her own mother died. She made a mental note to bring the subject up when the time and place was right.



 
The morning of the wedding did not present well. It was raining hard and Maeva was now worried about the borrowed dress. What they had found was exquisite, but it belonged to the Hawthorne Heritage Foundation, and they were really concerned that the dress would be damaged. It was a slightly yellowed white that gave it an eggshell color, and the material was a thin inlaid jacquard pattern on a satin velvet. It was more a tunic than a dress and it fit like a tapered overcoat. It was below the knee in length, slightly rounded and longer in the back with a straight cut in the front. It was buttoned all the way from mid-thigh to the sternum and continued in a simple V shaped collar that extended into a pointed hood in the back. The tiny buttons were pearls looped by tiny bands of the same satiny color, just like the finishing touches of the collar, the edges and dress and sleeves hems. The sleeves were open wide and elbow length, but long open-handed gloves, in the same jacquard material, would be worn. The top of the sleeve attached to the middle finger with a satin loop. A gray-blue sash was delicately sown in the back of the tunic and fell in a pointed pattern in the front, ending with the Hawthorne family armory. The whole tunic was a gem of execution. When the Tailor Shop went to look at it, they had a vision of what the final product would look like. It would be glamourous they would add a trendier look to it, all the while completely respecting its authenticity. They also wanted this to be a polyvalent wear that she could transform as the evening went on.
 
When the team showed it to her for the first time, it was all assembled on a couture mannequin. The team worked together to first, explain the ‘ensemble’, and then, starting by the last item put on, took away layer upon layer. First the gray-blue sash and metal armory was unhooked and the hood was taken off the mannequin’s head. Then, they delicately unbuttoned each little pearl. They delicately removed the tunic from the mannequin showing her how she would need to take it off herself. They placed the tunic carefully on another mannequin. That is when Maeva realized what they were doing. Underneath the tunic was another dress that came together by assembling four different pieces, all made in white mousseline; a short top with long puffy sleeves that were to be worn on the outside of the tunic’s sleeves, a simple elastic banded skirted, shaped mermaid style with the lower hem flaring out as you walked, a second skirt identical to the first but only covering her back and sides. It was longer in the back and tied in the front with a blue ribbon sash. This gave the effect of a mousseline veil trail. The fourth and last piece was a wide shawl, again in the same white mousseline, which could be worn around her shoulders, tied around her waist or crisscrossed around her thorax and neck. Then, they suggested that she keep the gloves on to give it a more wedding like look, but the gloves were of the same era as the Celtic dress and, if she wished to wear them, she wouldn’t be able to eat nor drink with them on, even though they were fingerless glove with a point looped on the middle finger.
 
The rain kept on falling as if the Rain God was somewhat upset at not being invited to this luscious wedding. Jess called the Castle manager who searched all over the Channel Islands to find a few tunnel tents that could be set up and attached to one another. They would need to go all the way to the big chapiteau tent. No rain was allowed to touch the vintage dress. Maeva worried a little but saw that Jess was real quick to react, just as she had been for everything else, so she just put the worries aside and continued with her numerous appointments for her make-up, hair, nails and every other little thing that was to be taken care of. Sky had already informed everyone that he did not want to be bothered by trivial things and he was off on his own scheduled appointments. Maeva had not seen nor received any answer when she inquired about what he would be wearing. Sky and Jess also remained mute about the cake which they had chosen but told her it was a surprise.
 
Sky and Maeva had both been taken to the Castle early morning the day before the wedding in a limousine, huddled up together, chatting and kissing along the way, Sky sometimes pointing out restaurants, historic buildings and special areas, he had missed the last time they drove. She had her head on his shoulder and could often feel his gaze on her throughout the trip. She could feel the love and the pride he had of her becoming his wife. She felt she was in a huge protective cloud and was almost high from his scent and closeness. Arrived at the Castle, they were told they should say goodbye to each other as the bride and groom to be, were never to be together the night before the wedding. Sky hugged her hard, lifted her face to him with his index finger, looked deeply into her eyes, kissed her softly keeping his face on hers.
 
“When we see each other next, we will be giving ourselves to one another forever. I will dream of you and everything I will be doing from this moment on, will be done towards this goal. I will miss you. Oh, how I will miss you.”, he kissed her again.  “Jess will be my assistant and you will have Kate assigned to you. She is aware of all your appointments and the wedding’s schedule. You might hear some noises from the outside as our guests and families will be having a diner on the castle’s terrace tonight. We are to stay inside to work on our wedding vows and to meditate or chat with a best friend or anything we feel like doing to be fresh and ready for tomorrow. I think you have appointments today as well as tomorrow. You’ll be busier than I will. Remember, I love you. If you need me, you know how to reach me.”, and he left.
 
Maeva stood there, not knowing how to react. She had not asked about this tradition that she knew existed but didn’t think it would apply to them. A Castle employee brought her to her room, showed her where the food, the tea and coffee were and gave her a cell number to call if she needed anything at all. He also said Kate would arrive for her first appointment, which was at 3 pm this afternoon. Maeva looked around the room and saw her luggage had already been put away and organized. The wedding dress, and all its parts, were hanging on a special multi-pronged hook. It was even more beautiful than she remembered. The shoes lay beneath the dress. She had chosen one and a half inch heels and they were off-white satin sandal embroidered with white pearls, blue sashes were used to lace the shoe up to her ankle. Her bouquet of wildflowers was resting in a vase with a special liquid to keep it fresh for tomorrow.
 
On the vanity, she saw her hair jewelry: a round pearled flower crown in off-white and white. Ribbons hung from the back of it and would reach the crook of her back, in unity with her hair. Her gaze stopped on a black velvet box of about twelve by five inches. A white envelop garnished and written in gold letters.
 
“To my fiancée, Maeva. Do not open before tomorrow once your wedding dress in on. I love you, Sky.”. Maeva remembered Sky said her would take care of the jewelry. He did. 
 
The night before the wedding, Sky hardly slept. He was constantly reminding himself that Maeva was near, in her room, and that he should be with her. Why did he accept to respect this weirdly archaic tradition? Well, in fact, he felt he had no say in the matter, as it was the Castle’s policy. If you wanted to get married at the Castle, you had to respect their policy. Another custom was that the night of the wedding, the new couple had to spent it in the groom’s room. Not in the bride’s room. They were also not allowed to leave the room until the marriage was consummated. The next morning, there were the be left undisturbed until the same hours their wedding was set the previous day. Breakfast and coffee would be left outside their door at the time they would ask for it or in advance.
 
Sky was usually completely in control of his life, decisions and actions. He found it quite uncomfortable to have to do as he was told. He had enough of that from his PR team and from the Set Directors. He breathed in deeply, trying to control his thoughts and render them more positive. He always tried to have a positive outlook on life, but his brain did return to his grumbling ways if he was not careful. Tomorrow was a beautiful day for him and Maeva and he wanted to be at his best. If he could, he would call his brother, but he was probably getting unpacked or getting ready for the pre-wedding dinner. Again, because of the Castle’s policies, the bride and groom to be could not attend that dinner. Well, he was not doing too well at being positive. He called Maeva.
 
Maeva hear her phone ring and saw Sky’s pic appear on her phone. She smiled.
 
“Hello my love.”
 
“I miss you so bloody much! I don’t know why we need to respect this weird custom.”, he said almost angry.
 
“I am right here Sky. We will only be happier to see each other tomorrow. Also, do you realize we might be parted soon, and you will be far away and busy. We need to get used to it.”, she said trying to calm him.
 
“I do know this but if, and that is a big “if”, we do part, I will be busy and there will be a good reason for this separation. Furthermore, we will have taken this decision. It will not be imposed.”

“I hear you my love. I also hear someone who is quite privileged to always be able to obtain what he wants. Remember that for most people, they must follow many laws and live within a very limited budget. Please my love, let’s just be in love.  I am really excited for tomorrow. You know, talking to you on the phone like this is just like our beginnings. It is quite lovely actually.”. Sky was silent for a moment.
 
“Sky? Are you okay?”, Maeva was really worried. She didn’t know Sky to be this way.
 
“Yea, yea. I’m more than good. “. Maeva heard him crying softly. She wanted to go to him, now.
 
‘Sky? Where are you? What room? I will go to you.”, she was opening her door. She heard another door open at the end of the hall. She looked around, saw no one and ran directly to the noise. He was there. His eyes were red and he didn’t look too good. She threw herself in his arms with her legs around his waist. He picked her up and closed the door behind them. They stayed glued to each other for awhile and she heard his sobs in her neck. She was the first to move, taking his face in her hands and kissing his face, licking his tears, starting to cry with him without knowing why. He walked with her in his arms and brought her to the bed. He sat with her on his lap. He was not crying anymore; his mouth was avidly searching for hers and he repeated “I love you’s” without end. She was wearing a short gray nightgown, and he was in black shorts and a white singlet. His hands went to her thighs and slid up to her rounded buttocks. She looked into his red rimmed eyes.
 
“Why Sky? Why the tears?”, she asked, seriously looking for an answer.
 
“I was feeling lost, completely disempowered and when you mentioned I was privileged, I realized I was being selfish and all my past feelings of inadequacy and lack of confidence suddenly flooded back. Memories of my past, of that time when I was a mess, it all came back to me. It also made me realize that I could lose you one day. I never thought I would find you and now, that I have you in my life, it makes me insecure about always being away.”. He kissed her as he ceased talking, he thrust his tongue into her mouth finding hers and when she responded, his sadness was completely reversed into desire, a desire so strong he couldn’t control it. She slid closer to him and felt his lust on her. She moved up and down, rubbing herself against him and his breathing quickened. He groaned slightly when she pressed harder and accelerated her movements. He lifted her from him, she slipped his shorts down on his thighs. He wasn’t wearing briefs so his manhood sprung back and forth from the release. She took off his singlet and he pulled off her nightgown. He buried his face in her heavy breasts, pulled her chest away from him and continued kissing slightly lower until his body wouldn’t let him go further. He then whispered in her ear to let him know if he was hurting her while he placed his hands under her arms and lifted her onto his fully erect penis. Maeva moaned loudly when she felt him penetrate her and her eyes opened wide. She had never felt him going this deep into her. It was as if he had grown a few inches in length and girth.
 
“Why is lovemaking so delicious and powerful?”, she whispered in his ear. He thrust even harder into her as an answer. They continued this way until they were both completely spent. He ejaculated what felt like a river of semen. They remained sitting upward, still tightly in each other’s arms. Maeva was gently kissing his shoulder, his neck, his ear. She whispered to him how important he was to her and how great a man he was. He tightened his hold onto her. He then pushed her legs down slowly and lay back on the bed, laying her on her side, still holding her close to him. After a few minutes, he heard her sobbing.
 
“Hey, what is this about, my love?”, he lifted her chin up to look at her.
 
“I am just overwhelmed with happiness.”, she continued sobbing. Sky turned his body on his left side and faced her, leaving her head to rest on his arm.
 
“My dearest love. Let’s stay together always? Please follow me, wherever I go? I always travel private so we can always stay together, and we can always travel with the dogs. Please my love, can we do that? Can you promise me to always be with me?”, he looked at her with his charming smile and innocent eyes.
 
“You will get fed up with me. You will be busy and I will be a pain in the butt for you.”, she answered, still crying.
 
“Never…never. It will be mostly difficult for you. You will sometimes be in a trailer, sometimes in a rental, sometimes at a hotel and you will follow my awful and crazy schedule. I don’t care if you are asleep when I finish work, as long as I can sleep with you in my arms or simply next to you. You will have someone driving you around or we can have a rental car if you wish so you can go sightseeing, go shopping, see a movie, whatever will make it pleasant for you. You can write all day, all night, or go out. It will be up to you. Meals will be prepared for me, you do not have to worry about coming back for meals. You can eat with the team if you wish or eat out, whatever you wish. You could sometimes watch me work. Anything you want; however you want it, but be with me. Please.”, he kissed her forehead. Maeva had stopped crying although some tears still lingered on her face. His arm was all wet and she felt embarrassed, trying to get up to get a tissue or something, but he held her in place.
 
“You’re all wet.”, she said.
 
“It’s not a problem my love. Stay.”.
 
“Humm…I also can’t breathe. I need a tissue.”. He got up and went to get the box of tissue and brought it to her. He looked at her smiling tenderly as she was blowing her nose. He pulled himself up on the pillows and pulled the covers. He signaled for her to come near him.
 
“But I must get back. They will know.”, she said worried.
 
“Look at us, two adults worried about silly rules.”, they both laughed as it was kind of ridiculous. Sky pulled her hand to come to sleep near him.
 
“Don’t worry. Jess told me of a way to get back without anyone knowing, or at least, if they suspect, they will not say anything as the castle itself, was built for that.”
 
“What do you mean?”, she asked and then she started to understand. “Is there a passage? A secret passage?”, she asked.
 
“Well yes, my love. This castle was built during the Tudors’, right? All castles were built like that then.”
 
“Do you know where it is?”.
 
“It is in the middle of the wall over there.”. They kissed, a long and soft kiss, with kisses within kisses.
 
“We will have a magnificent life, won’t we.”, Maeva said, not so much meant as a question.
 
“Yes, we will. I promise…Oh, no. I will keep that for tomorrow. They both giggled and continued caressing and kissing each other until they both fell into a deep peaceful sleep.