The Long Dream by Serena Summers Page A

garden. We managed to get a mortgage and raised the deposit together. Paul had to sell his BMW, but considered it a small sacrifice, in order to get the home we wanted to live in together.
    We had a gorgeous wedding in the village church on a bright June day. I wore an ivory silk dress, embroidered at the neckline and hem, and carried a bouquet of pink rosebuds. My two little nieces wore pink taffeta puff sleeved dresses with white sashes and white shoes. Paul looked so handsome in his best navy suit and white silk tie. I was really nervous walking up the aisle with my dad, and my voice sounded tiny as I tried to say my vows. The vicar, Mr Mayfield, was very patient and gave me plenty of time to answer.
    It went like a dream and a white Rolls-Royce took us to the reception, which we had in a country house hotel. It was all decorated beautifully in pink and white. The champagne was going to my head as I floated round the room, chatting to everyone. We had over fifty guests and we all enjoyed a four course meal, but I couldn't eat much of it. I was far too excited for eating, and afterwards, we strolled out to the lovely gardens for the photographs.
    We had booked the dance floor for the evening, and we would be staying in the hotel for the weekend. Paul and I took to the dance floor for the first slow dance, and then the bar was opened and we all started to party. It was great fun, but by half past ten, we were absolutely shattered. The guests could party on, but we took our leave and went upstairs to our room in the bridal suite.
    We collapsed onto the four-poster bed and Paul looked into my eyes. "What a perfect day, it couldn't have gone better. This is the start of the rest of our lives together, and I love you more than ever."
    "I love you too and I know we're going to be blissfully happy," I whispered, revelling in the romance of it all. Despite rushing all the arrangements through, it had gone amazingly well and it had been the most perfect wedding in the world.
    I commuted to work for a few years and Paul was promoted. We had some wonderful holidays, including a belated honeymoon to Venice which was out of this world. We were at that stage where we started to discuss having a family. We had a good home with a big garden and Paul was earning enough for me to leave work, so I learned to drive and got my first car.
    Things kept getting better and better, and we were thrilled when we went on to have two beautiful baby boys. We were madly in love and Paul proved to be a good hardworking husband and a great dad. I thought I was leading a charmed life, safe, secure, and even our babies started to sleep through the night quite early on. Sometimes, I had to ask myself whether it was all too good to be true.

Chapter Two
    It was a Sunday morning thirteen years later, one of those warm spring days that made your heart sing. I had developed a keen interest in gardening and was pleased to see the daffodils coming out and the boys were already playing outside.
    "I must pop to the office to get some paperwork," Paul suddenly announced.
    I was taken aback by this. "Oh, is it really that important? I hoped that we'd spend the day together in the garden."
    "Yes, it just can't wait. I've really got to sort something out today," was his reply. With that he quickly left and drove off.
    This was a bit disconcerting as Paul had never worked on a Sunday before, so I went into the garden and carried on as best I could. I thought that he wouldn't be very long so decided not to worry too much.
    By one o'clock we were all hungry, so I made a brunch for me and the boys, thinking that we'd have dinner with Paul when he got back later. At three, I decided to ring the office, but strangely, there was no reply. I felt a small twinge of fear go through me, but then it occurred to me that he must be on his way back. I relaxed again and carried on gardening and the boys didn't seem unduly concerned.
    "Where's dad, why hasn't he come home yet," cried Jamie