Clare's brother-in-law Stephen, gave her away at the Civil Ceremony. It was upsetting, for Clare, not to have her father with them on her wedding day and she had a few tears the night before. She wore a white lace wedding dress with a fitted bodice, long sleeves and a plain, short veil. It was a truly beautiful dress and Hal insisted on paying for it. Spending so much money went against the grain, but as it fitted so well and made her feel so special, it was another temptation she was unable to resist.

It was an emotional moment when Hal made his promises to Clare at the Civil Ceremony. When he looked down on her and said "I do" in his deep, rich voice her knees turned to jelly. His voice always had that effect on her and it probably always would. And when she made her vows to him she meant every word, "Till death us do part."

Clare carried a bouquet of yellow roses and the bridemaids, Laura and Sophie small posies. They both looked very pretty in their dark blue velvet dresses with yellow rose buds fastened into their curly, blonde hair. Hal wore a dark grey suit, made to measure because of his broad shoulders. At the Church Blessing Ceremony, they walked arm in arm down the red carpet towards the altar, whilst the organist played the Wedding March.

Laura and Sophie behaved impeccably in the Church, but were naughty at the Reception. Sandra, who was expecting another baby by this time, was embarrassed and Stephen very cross. The girls kept hiding under the table and got very dirty. Hal found it very funny and spent a lot of time playing with them. He made everyone laugh when he gave his speech, telling everyone who didn't know, how he'd met Clare in Gerald's Book Store.

Clare's mother and sister shed a few tears when Hal's Best Man, Gerald, gave his speech and it also brought tears to Clare's eyes. She was proud to be the wife of such a wonderful, kind man. What a fool his first wife had been to run off and leave him!

They spent their Wedding night in the Hotel where the Reception was held.  Hal was warm and tender and his love making thrilling, beyond Clare's wildest dreams. After consummating their marriage, Hal gave Clare a gift. "Just a little something for you." he said "I hope you like it, but I can change it if you don't." Clare opened the small package. It was a beautiful platinum cross, studded with diamonds .  It was unusual in that the cross was curved instead of straight and looked almost like a branch of a tree.  The largest diamond was in the middle and then they decreased in size.  "Oh Hal, it's exquisite, of course I like it, I love it!" Hal fastened the cross around her neck and started to sing "Have I told you lately that I love you..." but he was so out of tune, Clare finished the song for him.

The rest of the honeymoon was spent in Lanzarote and they spent two glorious weeks in the sunshine, their first Christmas together as man and wife. As Hal was nine years older than Clare, they'd decided to try for a baby straight away. Clare could remember Mrs Felton saying "Sex is over-rated". Clare felt differently and she wondered what kind of relationship she'd had with her husband. It sounded strange, to say the least. Falling asleep each night in Hal's arms was wonderful and it would be fun trying for a baby. He was, after all, the man of her dreams.

Most days, Clare swam in the pool while Hal sat on a sun bed reading Science Fiction. (She'd made him leave the economics books behind.) They did take some trips out during the day, but mostly they went back to their Hotel room in the afternoon and did some more 'practising', as Hal put it. She said to him once, "We should have got it right by now", but Hal said he didn't intend to get it right, he always intended to 'practise'. He had a very dry sense of humour and was always smiling. All this practising was enough to make anybody smile!

Hal had a habit of lying on his stomach with his back uncovered, with one arm stretched up over the pillow and the other arm down in the bed. He had a fantastic body, as he worked out in the gym twice a week and now, with a suntan, he looked even more appealing. As Clare sat on the edge of the bed she said admiringly, "You've got such a lovely back." She ran her fingers over his skin. He turned over and pulled her towards him on to the bed. "And you've got a lovely front!" he said. He caressed her body and off they went again.

One afternoon by the poolside, they had their first argument. As she sat on the edge of the pool resting between swims, he came up behind her and pushed her in. She fell under the water and wet her hair. When she climbed out of the pool, he was laughing and she was very annoyed. "You shouldn't push anyone into a pool like that, it's dangerous. People can be left paralysed from accidents in pools. I'm surprised at you! Fancy doing such a stupid thing! And you've wet my hair, I'll have to wash it now." Unfortunately, Clare didn't leave it there, she went on and on and Hal felt bad about it.

Hal apologised and Clare washed her hair and took a shower back in the hotel room. When she came out of the bathroom he apologised again and they made up. He said he was sorry, he didn't mean to upset her and she told him she forgave him and that perhaps she'd over reacted. After all, it was usually diving accidents in swimming pools, not someone sitting on the edge. She'd often heard that it was a good part in a relationship, making up after an argument and now she knew it was true.

On the last night of their honeymoon as they snuggled up close together in bed, holding hands and with legs entwined, Clare said to Hal "I love you so much, I hope we grow old together, that's what I want more than anything, even more than a baby. I want us to grow old together." Hal said "I couldn't agree more, my darling." He kissed her tenderly and they fell asleep in one another's arms.