Lizzie's List

by Melling, Diane

  We are the last team to leave the centre. Tabitha trusts me this time when I take us in a totally different direction to the one every other team goes in. “That’s my girl!” I hear James mutter to Pete as we head off. Elizabeth must have heard this as well as she looks as though she is about to protest at our direction, but then follows me obligingly.

  “Right girls, we need to work fast and this part of the field is pretty flat so run as fast as you can and follow my torch. Tabitha and Ruth–you head to the bridge to find point 20, whilst Elizabeth and I get point 15 just down here.” I surprise myself with my team-leading efficiency.

  Once finished, we race back towards the centre like rabbits hopping from left to right to avoid tuffs of grass or rocks; I know we’ve made a good time. Two teams are already there, but as we set off last, I’m not surprised or daunted by their arrival before us. James checks our time on his stop watch and whispers to Pete, not giving anything away in his facial expression. James’ dad is waiting and looking at Elizabeth quite smugly as if he is sure he’s beaten us. Mark’s team has also arrived, looking quite proud.

  “Where are the professionals – haven’t they arrived back?” I ask quite surprised, referring to the expert team leaders who work at the Centre.

  “No not yet, but then they’re both so laid back, they’re horizontal. They’ve probably stopped for a beer part-way around the course,” laughs Pete.

  Once all teams are back, we eagerly await the results. “Right, well I have to say it’s very close between three teams – a matter of a mere 15 seconds. But it’s pretty cold out here and you’re all extremely muddy, so go and get showered and I’ll announce the winning team later,” says James to a plethora of disappointed groans. I shuffle up to him and lovingly place my arms around his neck.

  “Did we win?” I ask, kissing his neck softly.

  “Lizzie Parker – get your hands off him. I’m not having you cheating and getting your boyfriend to fix the result!” shouts Mark with mock anger.

  “He’s right, Lizzie. I’m not telling you who won – you’ll find out with everybody else.” replies James firmly.

  Back in our room, I dress in a wine-coloured, long, lace dress and pin my hair up loosely so it still hangs around my neck in large curls. James dresses in a smart, black shirt looking very sexy. I don’t often see him dressed up and can’t help squeezing his bum. “If you’re trying to use sexual favours as a way to find out who won, it won’t work – well on this occasion, anyway. However, I don’t want to put you off trying in future Lizzie,” he mumbles into my neck as he takes me into his arms and slowly moves his hands to squeeze my own bum. “Come on, we’d best get down stairs or I’ll want to take that dress right back off you. You look beautiful by the way,” he says as he takes my hand leading me toward the door.

  “Thanks – you don’t look too bad yourself,” I answer.

  “Too bad? Too bad? Do you realise how many of your soaps I had to use to look as good as this?”

  “Don’t ever, ever touch my soaps!” I reply with the force of an angry lioness protecting her cubs. James just chuckles as he heads out of the room.

  “As if I’d touch them – they stink out the bathroom – in fact they stink out the whole cottage. I’m thinking perhaps that you should move back to your flat, but I could probably smell them from there,” he teases.

  Down in the large lounge area, everybody gathers, all heartily competitive and wanting to know the results. “Okay, Pete do you have the results?” asks James.

  “Yes I do. The third team was .......................... Mark’s,” announces Pete to protests and groans from Mark’s team. “Just ten seconds ahead was ..... John’s team, which means the winning team and a whole five seconds in the lead, is Lizzie’s team!” Big cheers are heard from our team, along with Elizabeth’s chirpy voice gloating loudly to her husband, saying that he’s losing his touch and that it must be his age. I smile and think to myself – thanks Dad.

  Mum must have been thinking something similar, as pointing at me accusingly, she says, “That’s your father in her Mark –she’s always had a freakishly good sense of direction, just as he did.” My heart flips with pride at the similarity and the moment is made more precious as Mum is smiling, the same as me.

  “I know, I just can’t beat her at this. But one day, Lizzie, just you and I will do the course against each other and I will beat you. I won’t let this rest until I’ve won,” threatens Mark.

  “In your dreams, Mark Parker. That will just never happen.” I respond, whilst popping the cork off the champagne bottle that James has given us as our prize.

  The lively banter continues into the evening, during the many party games and the guzzling of various alcoholic beverages. The orienteering really did break the ice for people who haven’t met each other before. I was conscious that James’ parents and my own haven’t met before, even though Mark and James have met each other’s parents during university holidays and visits.

  Later on, I take a moment to watch the scene and feel contentment. Sometimes I forget Dad has died and then the memory returns like a dull pain, but he would enjoy this scene too. If he were here now, I am sure he’d be sitting in a corner with a pint of real ale watching everybody, but then I feel as though he’s doing that anyway – watching us and being with us–if not necessarily in person.

  On the stroke of midnight, fireworks explode impressively in the clear night’s sky, with their sparkle of colours, throwing carnival colours of light on the faces of those watching. The magical element of the lights and sound creating gasps of oooooooooooooooos and arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghs from their grateful audience.

  Following this, the moment becomes more sombre as we send lanterns into the air and all toast my dad with our drinks. The biting cold forces most people swiftly back inside, leaving just Mum and me watching the now tiny specks of light that can still be seen from the lanterns high up in the sky looking like stars themselves. As the lanterns slowly glide deeper into the night’s sky, I feel like I am saying farewell to Dad, letting go of my grief. “Thanks for this Lizzie – for organising the party, Christmas Day and also these lanterns. It means a lot to me...” Mum says quietly as her thoughts drift off following the lanterns.

  “Well, I just keep thinking that Dad would want us to carry on and try to enjoy our lives, despite his not being here.”

  “It’s not just that Lizzie, but you think the same way he did – you seem to know what he’d have wanted and how to still keep a feeling of him with us. You’re like him very much, both accepting and enjoying the simple pleasures in life, whereas Mark and I are often searching for more. More often than not, the things Mark and I are searching for are what we already have – love. I wonder if Mark has realised this to, with his proposal to Tabitha. It’s taken me until now to learn that. The loss of my true-love has made me realise that all I ever needed and wanted was there all the time,” Mum says this quietly as if she is talking to Dad, but also to me and I notice tears very slowly making a path down her cheeks.

  After a deep breath, Mum changes the subject. “Come on, it’s freezing out here – let’s get some music on and get this party started!” It’s as if her moment of reflection, needed at the time, is now over. The lanterns have taken away some of her thoughts and feelings allowing her to now continue with her life.

  Note to self – New Year’s Resolutions

  To lose 3 pounds before Kate’s wedding, without eating less cake. Find out how this is possible.

  Try really hard to start putting lids on jars properly. I can fully appreciate it might be an annoying habit, especially since the beetroot stain will not come out of James’ shirt.

  I cannot compromise on bath bombs and hand-made soaps – sorry James!

  Chapter 26

  The Dress

  January blows in icy, cold weather that sharply pinches your cheeks each time you go ou
tside, therefore making log fires, hot chocolate and warm clothes part of daily life. I throw myself into working at The Tea Cosy 2, since I have neglected work over the last few months. Kate has done an outstanding job developing it and ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. I am aware that I will have to return her favour and let her have some time off, especially with her upcoming nuptials. Even though we now have two businesses to run, the commitment and gamble at taking on more staff seems to have paid off with both businesses having a steady flow of customers. Kate and I actually could have more time, yet the temptation to keep an eye on things always beckons like an enchanted chocolate cake – you need more of it!

  Mum has started work with us again and I cannot even pretend that she is beyond coping with the loss of Dad, however, she is throwing herself into being with other people, which seems to temporarily lift her spirits. I actually love working with Mum and also with Laura back at Tea Cosy 1. The mixture of spending time at the two cafes is like a constant juxtaposition, so that the contrast between the two venues provides Kate and me with an ever changing working environment – a greater freedom to be creative within our work. We have discussed opening a third Tea Cosy, but are keen to ensure Tea Cosy 2 is more established first, and of course, searching for the perfect premises takes time.

  Tabitha and Mark are throwing themselves into their own wedding plans and Tabitha is kindly involving Mum in everything, helping to keep Mum busy when she’s not working with me. At the moment, an autumn wedding seems to be on the cards, but the plans Tabitha informs us about are as ever changing as the cakes we bake daily for our customers. Talking of their wedding, one plan that’s not changed it Tabitha’s request for me to make their wedding cake. My goodness, her ideas are elaborate, so I keep forgetting about this as the fear rises within, but then again .... let’s remember my dismissal of fear and recognition of the fact that I will rise to the challenge of pleasing Tabitha and her very, very, very detailed and intricate designs – even if it kills me!

  As January creeps along, Kate and I start to become excited over her and Ben’s wedding. I have baked the fruit cake, but am only going to decorate it once I return from Canada. Kate doesn’t know this yet, but I am also making loads of miniature blackberry cheesecakes as well. This is for three reasons. Firstly, Kate and I have always gone blackberry picking every year and we use the blackberries we pick in The Tea Cosy – the customers love it. When we went picking last September I froze a load of them, which I thought would be nice to use this. Secondly, the colour of blackberries almost fits in with the colour theme of her wedding, them being purple a little like blue bells. Purple is also a colour to represent magic and wealth, which I hope Kate and Ben’s marriage has. Thirdly, Kate personality suits a cheesecake, with Kate being soft hearted like the top of a cheesecake, but a really strong person underneath, similar to the base of a cheesecake.

  We have chosen bridesmaid dresses and Kate has chosen her wedding dress with her mum, so am heading off with her to see it soon. We have decided that we’ll have a pamper night away for her hen do and James is letting the boys use the centre for a weekend stag do, especially as it is still fairly quiet in February before the storm of bookings which James informs me is relentless from March through to November.

  The following Monday, I drive over to collect Kate from her cottage to go for her wedding dress fitting, my head fizzing with excitement like sherbet does on your tongue. As I arrive, the for sale sign in her front garden stands out like an ugly concrete post in the middle of a beautiful field of poppies, turning my fizzing thoughts into explosions similar to the popping candy chocolate I use to eat as a child. A barrage of questions build up in my head as she opens the door and I stutter unable to process which questions should leave my mouth first, as I point up at the sign. “It only went up yesterday Lizzie. Let’s get in the car or we’ll be late and I’ll explain on the way,” Kate answers to my gaping jaw and frozen statue pose. Thankfully she grasps my arm and propels me towards the car.

  Once inside, she begins the torrent of information that she knows will answer my unasked questions. “Well, Ben has bought into a partnership with his vet’s practice and they are opening another branch, which comes with a house, much bigger than our cottage. It’s also closer to the Tea Cosy 2, so we thought it’d be perfect. Sorry I haven’t told you, but it all happened so quickly and I didn’t want to say anything until they definitely knew they’d got the premises.”

  “Well that’s great news Kate – congratulations! How far is it?” I ask trying to hide the alarm in my voice at the thought of not living a stones-throw away from Kate, even though Kate has a right to move wherever she wishes to.

  “It’s only about ten minutes away, don’t worry – not far. And it’s got loads of bedrooms, so you and James can stay over if we get together, just like we stay over at yours. It’s weird that we’re both going to end up living outside our beloved village, isn’t it?”

  “It is, but then there aren’t that many houses in the village are there and most of them are tiny? I’m so happy that we’ve both ended up close though. I know life can take people in different directions, but I couldn’t imagine not living close to you.”

  “I’d hate that too, but luckily we don’t even have to consider it. Shall I show you it on the way home; it’s not far out of the way, so you can see it for yourself?”

  “I’d love to see it Kate, but first things first, let me see your dress.”

  The wedding dress shop is stunning from the outside, with its quaint heritage-green painted wood surrounding the windows. White roses are scattered at the bottom of the window display, and at there is some beautiful white bunting at the top of the window. It’s a mixture of white lace triangles and white fabric ones with a very delicate bluebell flower on each one, so faint that you can just make out the colour of the bluebell. I stop and stare at it mesmerised by its exquisite beauty, and seeing how perfect it would be for Kate’s wedding theme.

  “I know; that’s what I thought, too!” Kate answers, knowing exactly what I’m thinking without my uttering even one word. “Come on inside and see the dress.”

  “I never knew this shop existed – how did you find it?” I ask her.

  “Well, that’s because you’re not in the habit of searching for local wedding dress shops yet Lizzie. I saw it in a wedding magazine and came with my mum just before Christmas. We didn’t even bother going anywhere else. You’ll know what I mean, when you see my dress.”

  Once inside the shop, I am struck by the attention to detail of the decor, before I even see any of the dresses. A lady greets Kate in a gracious manner that reflects the shop’s atmosphere. She has an air of confidence about her, but in a subtle way – perfect for dealing with nervous, excited or even demanding brides.

  I sit down whilst Kate is taken away to try on her dress. Imagining what it would be like, if I were here as a soon-to-be bride, I think about what sort of dress I would have – one of the few things yet to be decided in my head’s wedding planning file.

  My day-dream is broken when, finally the lady steps out and slowly opens the huge curtains, revealing the stunning vision of Kate in the most elegant and unique wedding dress I have ever seen. She looks so truly radiant and I can’t help the tears of emotion fall from seeing my best friend standing there–just perfect. Her dress is very simple and fitted to show off her small waist, but what makes the dress special, is the detail. The delicate lace sleeves fall gracefully at the top of Kate’s arms and the fabric at the bottom of the dress is scattered with tiny bluebells so subtle they look like they are dancing in the breeze as Kate moves.

  “You look beautiful, Kate and now I know why this is the perfect dress. I hope you’re having the bunting up to decorate the Centre as well,” I reply, with my voice breaking frequently from the affection I feel for my best friend.

  “Yes, of course I am. The New year’s Eve party gave me some idea
s, so I’d like to go up to the centre some time with you and we can discuss the decorations, including where this bunting will go,” Kate answers, handling her dress beautifully as she turns slowly round so I can see the dress from all angles. “So you think this is the right one then Lizzie?”

  “It’s perfect!”

  On the way back home, Kate directs me towards her new home, which is just off the main road connecting our village to The Tea Cosy 2. As we arrive, I take in the surroundings and feel relieved that, first it isn’t too far away and second, it’s not just a vet’s surgery, but a beautiful home for Kate. The surgery will be in a separate barn that is due to be converted for this purpose and can house larger animals than the current surgery can in the village. There is a small area at the side for cars, but the main house is situated a short distance behind, with a huge garden that seems to go on forever. “Kate this is fab!” I enthuse as I wander around the side of the house. “What’s great is that the surgery is totally separate, so you will be totally private from it. And just look at this garden!”

  “I know, it’s a bit too big – Ben says we’ll get a goat to keep it trim,” Kate replies, rolling her eyes.

  “Imagine the barbeques you could have. I feel happier now that I’ve seen it and I think it will be a lovely home and not too far from me.”

  “You’re right. It needs quite a bit of work doing inside, but I’d rather it be that way, because if we’re going to be here for some time, I’d rather start from scratch. It’s big enough for a family one day, so I’m hoping we won’t be moving again.”