‘Oh, Meg.’ Tears pricked her eyes. She had been with Megan to choose the dress, which had looked glorious, but now … Amy swallowed.
‘You look like a princess,’ she told her.
Sally sat back on the bed and surveyed her sister-in-law.
The cream silk dress set off Megan’s colouring to perfection. The garland of cream rosebuds sat perfectly in her copper hair.
‘It took a lot of work to persuade her to wear nail varnish,’ she teased, ‘not to mention hairspray! But –’ she grinned at Jacey ‘– we managed it in the end.’
‘You’ve done wonders!’ Amy shook her head in amazement. ‘Has this beautiful lady anything to do with our family?’
‘Thanks, Mum.’ Megan grinned, gathering folds of the cream silk dress and swishing towards her mother. ‘I feel a bit overdone.’
Careful not to crush anything, Amy hugged her, tears welling in her eyes.
‘Luke is very, very lucky …’
Megan smiled. ‘So am I. And very happy, and not a bit nervous. Unlike Jacey.’ She laughed across the room.
‘I’ve told her that if she’s this jittery being a bridesmaid just wait until she and Mitch get married.’
‘We’ll elope,’ Jacey said quickly. ‘And tell everyone afterwards.’
Amy looked at her. It would be churlish to say nothing to this girl who was so important to Mitch, and who had done so much to ensure the future of Lavender.
She held out her hands. ‘Jacey – you look wonderful,’ she said sincerely.
‘Thanks.’ Jacey grasped Amy’s hands in hers. ‘So do you.’
Impulsively, Amy hugged her. ‘Welcome to the family, love.’
‘Thanks,’ Jacey said again, this time more gruffly, and she turned her head away.
‘Mum!’ Megan laughed. ‘Now look what you’ve done! You’ve made her cry!’
‘I’ll get some Buck’s Fizz,’ Sally put in brightly, ‘and we’ll drink a toast to the women of Lavender Lane!’
They did, laughing and teasing as Amy raised her glass.
‘To the most glamorous ladies in Oxfordshire!’
‘An’ me!’ Kim tugged at Amy’s skirt.
‘Oh, yes, and you, poppet!’ Amy picked up her granddaughter. ‘You’re the prettiest of all!’
Megan wondered fleetingly how that morning’s other bride was feeling, and laughed. Cicely would no doubt be coping with her impending wedding in her usual indomitable way.
Amy sat beside her and held her hand.
‘Well, Mrs almost-Dolan, how are you feeling?’
Meg raised her eyebrows. ‘I honestly feel calm and happy and excited. Actually I was just wondering about Gran!’
‘She’ll be fine,’ Amy assured her. ‘It’s Sam I feel sorry for. And my mum and dad!’
Stella and Jim had happily accepted Cicely’s invitation to be witnesses at her Milton St John Manor wedding, but only if it meant the entire party would be at the church in time for Megan and Luke’s.
It had taken a lot of planning, but the four of them should arrive at the church ten minutes before the service.
‘They’re not flying in that rickety plane that Sam and Gran have bought, are they?’ Megan asked. ‘I know that’s what Gran wanted to do …’
‘No!’ Amy laughed. ‘They were persuaded to save that bit of stunt flying for after their blessing. They should arrive in a rather swish Daimler …’
‘Car!’ Kim announced and they all laughed.
‘She’s obviously got Lavender blood in her veins!’ said Sally, hugging her.
‘Car!’ Kim said again, pointing to the window.
‘Goodness!’ Amy stood up. ‘She’s right. It’s time for us to go, ladies.’ She turned to look at Megan for the last time.
‘Dad’ll be here in a second. I’ll see you in church – and thanks for everything, Meg. You’re the best daughter in the world …’
Meg squeezed her hand. ‘Because I’ve got the best parents! You get the bridesmaids in the car and boss everyone around as befits the mother of the bride. Sally and Jacey will throttle you if you make me cry – they took hours with my make-up!
‘Mrs Webster!’ Cicely sat back in the plush leather seats of the Daimler and linked her arm through Sam’s, twisting her new wedding ring on her finger. ‘It’ll take some getting used to. And I suppose I’ll always be Gran Phillips to the children …’ She looked anxiously at her new husband. ‘You won’t mind, will you?’
‘Not at all,’ Sam assured her. ‘You’ll still be my Cicely, whatever they call you! I’m the proudest and happiest man in the entire world, my love. I’ve waited a lifetime for this moment.’
Cicely stretched up and kissed his cheek.
‘So have I. I’ve been doubly lucky …’
Stella straightened her new hat – a wild confection in yellow and black, and one of the nicest she’d ever bought – and smiled at them.
‘I never expected to be a bridesmaid again at my age, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! I wonder how the rest of them are coping? I must say, your wedding went without a hitch. I only hope this one does …’
Cicely laughed. ‘I’m sure it will. I doubt Megan and Luke will be nervous. I’ve never seen anyone more in love than those two – unless it was Bob and Amy. They never had eyes for anyone else, either.’
The Daimler swept along Appleford’s main road towards the church, and as Saturday morning shoppers stopped to stare, Sam had to grip Cicely’s hands tightly to prevent her giving them the benefit of a regal wave.
‘The bridesmaids are all in the porch,’ Stella announced as Jim helped her from the car. ‘And there’s Amy fussing around straightening dresses! Oh, this is such a happy day …’
Following the others slowly up the mossy path to the church door, Sam caught hold of Cicely’s hand and pulled her towards him.
‘I know the rest of today will really belong to Meg and Luke, but I just wanted to say that I love you very, very much. To me you’ll always be that crazy girl who strapped herself to the wings of my plane with such absolute trust.’
‘And you’ll always be the heart-stoppingly handsome young man to whom I entrusted my life,’ Cicely said, for once serious. ‘That’s how you’re going to stay, too.’
Fingers entwined, Mr and Mrs Webster walked forward to be enveloped in congratulations from Amy, the bridesmaids, and a stream of latecomers, before entering the cool peace of the church.
‘Nervous?’ Bob raised his eyebrows at Meg as their car pulled up. ‘If you are, you certainly don’t look it …’
‘I’m not.’ Megan straightened her veil and clutched her bouquet of roses even tighter. ‘I’m just very happy. But I’m going to miss you.’
‘We’ll miss you too, love.’ Carefully he helped her from the car. ‘Meg, you look simply lovely. I must be the proudest father in the world. Are you ready?’
She nodded as the photographer swooped. She could see Jacey, Sally, and Kim in the church porch and Luke would be waiting at the altar.
She linked her arm through her father’s and smiled.
‘I’m ready.’
They made their stately way up the aisle to where Luke and Mitch were waiting, then, his duties as father of the bride accomplished, Bob slid into the pew beside Amy and took her hand. He couldn’t speak, but as they looked at each other, as ever they had no need for words, and she squeezed his hand in understanding.
Meg and Luke were taking their vows, their voices clear and steady under the vaulted roof. The sunlight threw gemstone patterns through the stained-glass windows on to the floor of the church, filled to capacity with family and friends.
Then the newly married couple stepped aside as Cicely and Sam walked forward to have their marriage blessed.
Amy moved closer to Bob. ‘Isn’t this wonderful?’ she whispered, and he squeezed her hand.
It didn’t seem possible that so many years had flown since he and Amy had taken their vows here, with his father conducting the service. How lucky the
y had been – and how right to decide to spend the rest of their lives simply being together.
The organ wheezed into life as the wedding party moved to the vestry, and Bob took Amy’s hand.
‘I was just thinking …’
‘That thirty years ago we were doing this?’ Amy wiped away a tear. ‘I know, darling, I know.’
The reception was in full swing. The Seven Stars had pulled out all the stops – after all, they had never had two brides and bridegrooms at the same function before – and once the speeches and toasts were out of the way, the cakes cut, and the jokes made, they had cleared the room for dancing.
A small room had been set aside for the more sedate members of the party to enjoy a cup of tea. Stella, refusing to remove her hat but blissfully kicking off her shoes, wriggled her toes.
‘That was the best wedding Appleford has ever seen,’ she said proudly. ‘I wonder where everyone else is?’
Jim laughed. ‘Meg and Luke are gazing at each other in complete disbelief. I think Cicely is already trying to get everyone to do the hokey-cokey – and Bob and Amy have disappeared.’
‘It’s been a bit of a day for them, hasn’t it?’ Stella observed. ‘I expect they need some time to themselves.’
Gazing down into the little stream that trickled beneath the bridge, Bob and Amy were standing side by side in silent contentment. The wedding parties had spilled out of The Seven Stars and were dancing and talking, laughing and singing, on the lawn in the May sunshine.
Amy turned to lean her back against the worn handrail and lifted her face to the sun.
‘There’s only one fly in the ointment,’ she murmured. ‘Or rather, two.’
‘Paul and Judith?’ Bob guessed. ‘Yes, I’d be happier with those two out of the way, but there’s nothing we can do about that. The kids’ll have to do the best they can – and hope they don’t interfere too much.’
Amy looked across the stream towards the lawn where Mitch, Jacey, Matt, Sally, and Kim were sitting making daisy chains, totally disregarding their finery, laughing together. Luke and Megan, their arms round each other, were dazedly accepting yet more congratulations, with eyes only for each other.
‘With the money from the bank, and Sam’s input, maybe they’ll be persuaded to sell their shares one day,’ Amy suggested hopefully, and Bob slid his arm round her shoulders.
‘Maybe. Still, we don’t need to worry about it now. Perhaps we could talk to them again before we leave for Starpoint.’
Amy nodded, then groaned as she caught sight of Judith and Paul hurrying across the lawn towards them.
‘Oh, well, it couldn’t all be perfect,’ Bob teased her.
‘Lovely wedding!’ Judith blew air kisses and spoke as if it had been a complete surprise. ‘Megan looked wonderful – and your mother is a picture, Bob! And the reception – well!’
‘So glad you enjoyed it,’ Amy said shortly. ‘Although I’m sure that when your two get married you’ll be looking for something far more sumptuous!’
‘Oh, that won’t be for ages yet!’ Judith trilled. ‘Paul and I feel far too young to think about this sort of thing. And as for being grandparents – well! It’s positively ageing!’
‘Nonsense! I love it,’ Amy said. ‘We both do. I hope Meg and Luke start a family soon, and that Kim has a brother or sister before long. The. more the merrier …’
‘Each to his own, I suppose,’ Paul said, trying to head off a further row between the sisters. ‘Actually, Judith and I have something to tell you,’ he added with a smile.
Judith, pleating the ends of her chiffon scarf, beamed.
‘Yes, we’ve got some wonderful news. Paul and I have been offered a franchise for the Silver Bird Service Station and Diner on the Henley Road. It’s an absolutely golden business opportunity – and far enough away from Lavender not to offer any competition!’
‘It’s everything we wanted for Lavender, and more,’ Paul enthused. ‘Of course, we’ll have to sell our shares in Lavender at once. Obviously you and Bob don’t want them now, so I wondered if Mitch and Megan would consider a deal?’
Amy bit her lips to prevent herself from laughing out loud.
‘I’m sure they’ll be willing to consider it,’ she said shakily. ‘You probably won’t get much sense out of Meg at the moment, but I’m sure Mitch will be prepared to talk – especially as you want a quick decision. Why don’t you speak to him?’
‘We will.’ Judith was already leading the way towards the lawn. ‘Come along, Paul!’
As soon as they were out of earshot. Bob hugged Amy in delight.
‘I only hope Mitch makes them grovel! He mustn’t give in too easily.
Oh, what a wonderful day!’
‘Wonderful!’ Amy echoed. ‘Simply the most perfect day of our lives!’
And they kissed in the warm May sunshine.
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Copyright © Christina Jones 2014
The right of Christina Jones to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
ISBN 9781783754755
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publishers: Accent Press Ltd, Ty Cynon House, Navigation Park, Abercynon, CF45 4SN
The stories contained within this book are works of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the authors’ imaginations and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
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