Spark (GH Series #5)

Part 17

Jack

"I'm not following." Of course, I was following. Carson knows something about Ellie and Grant but I'm not willing to open my mouth until it comes out of Carson's. It's never been my place to out what is going on with Ellie.

"You are. You know things with her and Grant have been shit for a while. The reason why she has avoided us all since Malta, it because he knocked the fucking living daylights out of her and last night was the first time she was able to move without being in pain."

"That mother fucker... I'm going to kill him." I paced my living room, and I was trying to formulate a plan, but I was coming up empty.

"I've gave her a code word if it ever gets so bad that she needs help from one of us."

"Dare I ask what that code word is?"

"Banana's."

"Are you fucking insane!?" We both chuckled at my comment and that released some tension in the air. "I've been researching domestic violence since we came back from Malta. I've spoken to several people, but I can't force Ellie to leave Grant." Then Carson gave me a smirk that caught my attention. "What do you know that I don't?"

"She plans to leave him after the wedding." My heart thudded so hard I thought that it would jump out of my chest in absolute joy. "She also stated that she stuck with him partly because of the wedding commitments. I called her fucking stupid."

"I said that. I warned her that you would have changed things for her if needs be. But she's kind of stubborn." Carson nodded her head and I sat back down next to her. "I wanted to save her so badly, but the only person that can save Ellie right now, is Ellie. I knew if I intervened or said or even looked at her in the wrong way, I was putting her in harm's way."

"Why do you want to save her Jack?"

"What sort of question is that?!" Again, the Carson look that indicates that you must tell her, or all hell will break loose. "She's a great friend, helped me a lot after my split with Dani. Then she helped me with my books and discovered that Dani was shoving away a lot of money in an account and needless to say I'm still waiting on Dani to find out that account is empty but yeah."

"So, this has nothing to do with you harbouring feelings for her?" Well, fuck. She has me there and I don't know where to look.

"Whilst I admit I have some feelings for Ellie, her safety and wellbeing are more paramount than trying to win her heart. No matter how attracted I am to her, no matter how bad I wanted to kiss her, I have to be the bigger person here."

"I am impressed Jack, really. I think you aren't alone with your feelings. There's something there with Ellie, she's just probably too scared to say or do anything."

"I know, we've spoke about it, I don't want to rehash it. Now, what time do you need me there on Friday?"

Friday

Jack

We've all checked into the hotel and I've had my hair and makeup done and now standing in my tuxedo, ready to give my sister away on her special day. Carson didn't want anyone in the room when she was getting assisted into her dress and I was told to knock on her room door at one thirty sharp. When the time came around and I knocked on her door, Ellie answered it and seeing her in her maid of honour dress, knocked the wind out of my lungs and I was unable to speak. "Jack, you look amazing. Are you ready to see Carson?" I nodded my head and she stood aside, and I stepped into the room.

"Oh...wow." I walked closer to my sister and with us both smiling at one another I gave her a gentle hug, determined to not ruin her hair or her style or I would never hear the end of it. "Honestly, Carson, Mum and Dad would be so proud of you today, as am I."

"Don't. You will set me off." I nodded my head and she pulled me aside to whisper to me. "Talk to her, she's been dying to see you." Carson went back to the dressmaker and they were talking amongst themselves and I walked over to Ellie who was looking out the window.

"Hey Ellie. I'm sorry I was a bit tongue tied at the door, you look amazing, truly." Ellie turned and faced me and smiled. I was taken aback when she threw her arms around my neck and I placed my hands around her back and held her close to me.

"Thanks Jack. I meant what I said, you look amazing." We broke from our hug and I honestly didn't know where to look. "I'm sorry for being distant, I had no choice, trust me. I wanted to reply to your messages." I waved my hand to stop her talking, not in a dismissive way, but more in a way that she understood that I knew where she was coming from. A knock on the door brought us out of our conversation. It was the hotel wedding coordinator, signalling that it was time.

Tasha and Bree who were already in the hallway waiting to go in, walked down the aisle first, followed by Ellie. There was that brief moment in the doors opening and closing and I looked at Carson. "Are you ready?"

"More than ever." The door swung open, and we stepped inside the stunning venue. Carson locked eyes with Damien who I could tell was feeling slightly overwhelmed at the sight of my sister. Inwardly I was celebrating already, but I caught sight of Grant momentarily and I could swear that he was already under the influence of alcohol. I'm disappointed that he couldn't wait but I know the guys often have their whisky decanters shoved in their pocket at celebrations. I looked at Carson with pride and love in my heart and she finally stood by Damien, allowing me to take my seat in the front row.

The ceremony was beautiful and the words they used to explain how they felt about one another blew me away. There was a time when I would have gladly said them to Dani, but in hindsight, I know that we would have never made it this far, despite being together for as long as we were. Once the wedding party had left the room and relocated in a quiet space, we mingled together and then Damien was seen grabbing Grant by the arm and having a quiet word in his ear.

Before we knew it, we were whisked away for photos and I was nervous when standing next to Ellie as Carson had requested a photo with just the two of us in it. But Damien had Grant distracted at that point, so I smiled broadly for the camera, hand around Ellie's waist and that was our photo done. I walked away quickly, and Ellie was standing posing for the photographer and then Tasha and Bree joined her and finally Carson was there amongst her girls. I'm glad the weather was gorgeous today as it really is a hit and a miss when it comes to our weather system here in Ayrshire.

There was this fleeting moment when our eyes locked, my stomach fluttered, and I just wanted to stride across the grass and grab her and kiss her hard on her lips. I want to be the person that can protect her, want her in the way she deserves. Then Grant swaggered up to her and posed for a couple of pictures and I diverted my gaze away from her and chatted to Tasha and Bree. Once the photographer advised us that the photographs were done with what Carson and Damien requested, we made our way back into the hotel. I'm glad it's nearly the wedding breakfast time, I'm absolutely starving from running about all day.

Sitting at the top table, proud as punch next to my baby sister who is now a married woman, I smiled broadly at people coming towards them and wishing them the best before finding their own seats. We enjoyed our celebratory meal, and I knew it was almost time for me to stand up and give my speech as sister of the bride, but Damien leaned behind and tapped me on the shoulder and beckoned me away from the table. "What's up bro?"

"I was wondering if you would perhaps like to do a best man's speech as well. It looks as though Grant is going to let me down, he's absolutely rat arsed and I'm furious with him. Once the speeches are done, I'm getting rid of him. I'm going to escort him to his room and make him sleep it off."

"I get that, I really do, and I would be honoured to do a speech for you Damien, you know that." In my heart and head, I was doing the happy snoopy dance, it meant that I got to dance with Ellie at the bridal dance, without Grant's eyes drawing daggers into the back of me.