by Rachel Dove
Amanda laughed, nuzzling into him. ‘Well, at least we will save money on clothes,’ she said, wrapping her arms around him.
‘Exactly,’ said Ben. ‘Be nice to have a playmate for Pinky and Perky too. The chickens have been ruling the roost for far too long.’
Elaine strode up to the top table, and turned on her heel as she saw the embracing pair.
‘Hey you,’ Amanda called, spying her from the corner of her eye. She swatted at Ben as he nipped her bottom before going to talk to the band.
He dodged her and shouted, ‘Better luck next time, Mrs Evans’ as he walked away.
Elaine came and sat in Ben’s chair, looking sheepish. ‘Sorry,’ she said.
Amanda giggled, giving her a hug.
‘Don’t be silly,’ she said. ‘So, settling in OK?’
Elaine looked gorgeous in her bridesmaid dress, and Amanda was once again thanking her lucky stars that Elaine, her friend from work, and loyal ally, had taken her job offer and come to live in Westfield. Amanda and the kittens lived with Ben now, and Elaine had moved into the flat above A New Lease of Life. With business being so busy, and Dotty retiring, there was more than enough work for her to do in the businesses, and she had taken to village life like a duck to water.
Elaine nodded, casting a shy smile to someone across the room. Amanda followed her gaze and spied a handsome man that she had not seen before, looking back at Elaine with the same puppy dog expression. She nudged Elaine discreetly. ‘He is gorgeous, who is he?’
Elaine flushed. ‘He is the greengrocer’s son, Simon. He just moved back here. He’s an architect and is going to set up round here.’
‘Oh really, get his life story, did you?’ Amanda teased and Elaine flushed a deeper shade of red.
‘Nooo! I was just making conversation, that’s all. He is new here too, or kind of.’
‘Single?’ Amanda asked, smirking at her friend’s discomfort.
‘Oh yes,’ Elaine rushed. ‘Er, I think so, anyway, didn’t really ask,’ she said, trying and failing to shrug noncommittally. ‘Er, anyway, I am going for a drink.’ She motioned to the refreshments tent, which Simon just happened to be standing in. ‘You want one?’
Amanda shook her head. ‘No thanks, I don’t want to be blotto for my wedding night!’
Elaine kissed her on the cheek and practically ran off towards the bar. Agatha came over with Taylor then, taking their seats at the top table. Agatha air-kissed her, and Taylor threw his arms around her, giving her a sloppy cheek kiss, to annoy Agatha obviously. Agatha shot him a look that said ‘wait till I get you home’ and Taylor whooped and gave her one to match, much to her chagrin. She tried and failed to look unamused.
‘You do look truly wonderful, my dear,’ she said to her for the fiftieth time.
Amanda’s face lit up at her praise. ‘Thanks, Agatha, and thank you both for everything. Today is amazing.’
Agatha brushed her off with a flick of her manicured hand. ‘No need to thank us, dear, you are family.’
Amanda squeezed her hand tight, feeling happy tears sting at her eyes.
‘Now,’ Agatha said, back to business. ‘Elaine and Simon, do you think we could help there?’
Taylor groaned loudly as he realised what she was up to, and Amanda choked on her champagne.
‘Not again, woman! Not again,’ Taylor said, dragging her to her feet. ‘Come on, Mrs Taylor, let’s work some of that matchmaking energy off on the dance floor!’ Agatha allowed herself to be dragged away, surreptitiously giving a wink to Hetty, who in turn nodded to Dotty. They are at it again, Amanda thought to herself as Ben appeared before her, offering her his hand.
‘Come on, Mrs Evans, they are playing our song.’
Amanda took his hand and marvelled as their wedding rings kissed each other with a click. ‘Uptown Girl’ struck up with the band, and Ben waggled his eyebrows at her devilishly. She groaned, trying and failing again to tap him on the arm as he folded her into his arms. Agatha and Taylor flashed past, and her parents nodded at them both as they swished past. Dotty, Hetty, Marlene and Grace, for once knitting-free, danced close by. Elaine and Simon were dancing too, eyes for no one but each other, and Ben kept dropping kisses on her lips with his own warm soft ones as they moved on the dance floor. They began to twirl around, and everyone else joined in, till the dance floor was full. As she was dancing away with her new husband, family and friends around her having fun, she cherished the moment in her heart. Amanda Perry truly had found A New Lease of Life, and she was going to enjoy every single moment of it.
ISBN: 978-1-474-04959-7
THE CHIC BOUTIQUE ON BAKER STREET
© 2016 Rachel Dove
Published in Great Britain 2016
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
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