Love Letters in the Sand

by June Francis

  Peggy accepted the offer but continued to pray as she listened to the forecast on the wireless which spoke of the snow moving south. She read in the Echo of cars crashing on icy roads in Liverpool and commuters having to leave buses stranded in the snow and walking home. On the Friday, a freezing fog blanketed Merseyside but, thank God, that evening, the wind blew lifting the fog, and the rain came down in torrents.

  There might have only been a watery pale sun in the clouded sky the morning of her wedding day but Peggy’s heart was singing as Marty cooked the breakfast and she roused Josie from her slumbers. As they both sat at the breakfast table with Marty, Peggy said, ‘Isn’t it a lovely morning.’

  He smiled. ‘There speaks a woman who’s besotted. All the snow hasn’t gone yet, you know?’

  ‘But there isn’t so much of it and you have to admit that it’s slightly warmer,’ said Peggy.

  ‘When can I put on my new frock?’ asked Josie.

  Peggy looked at her niece, who no longer asked when Jerry and Mam were coming back. ‘Soon.’

  Within the hour, the florist had delivered the flowers and Irene had arrived. She hugged Marty because in her eyes he was already an unmarried man and then asked aunt and niece if they were ready to go to the hairdresser’s.

  Two hours later, Marty’s mother and younger sister and her husband turned up. Then a trickle of other guests began to arrive. Marty dealt with them with the help of his mother and sister. While upstairs Irene dressed Josie in her peach bridesmaid frock before changing herself. Then she helped Peggy on with her bridal gown made of satin and lace, decorated here and there with sparkling crystals. Josie watched with shining eyes as her Auntie Lil set a chaplet of artificial orange blossom and diamantés on Peggy’s light brown hair, holding the veil in place.

  Irene handed a bouquet of white and peach carnations and trailing maidenhead fern to Peggy. ‘You look beautiful,’ she said sincerely. ‘All set to go and meet your Prince Charming?’

  There came a knock at the bedroom door. ‘The cars are here,’ called Marty. ‘Irene, you and Josie will have to come down.’

  Irene opened the door and they smiled at each other. ‘You look stunning,’ he said. ‘You suit peach.’

  She laughed and kissed him. ‘Wait until you see your sister.’

  ‘Will I get another shock?’ he said, returning her kiss and whispering in her ear, ‘Our day will come.’

  ‘Daddy, look at me! Am I stunning, too?’ asked Josie.

  He swung his daughter up into his arms. ‘You’re fantastic! Come on, Princess, time for everyone to see how lovely you look.’

  Twenty minutes later there came another knock on the bedroom door. ‘Are you ready, Peg?’ asked Marty.

  Peggy opened the door. ‘Am I ever!’ she said, smiling up at him. She linked her arm through her brother’s. ‘This is the day I’ve been waiting for!’