“Okay, can we perhaps get back to the pictures?” Stuart’s voice cut through the chatter, and everyone straightened guiltily and faced forwards.
When enough pictures had been taken to satisfy every photographer present, the wedding party headed to the marque for the Asian-English fusion buffet. Although Sharni was wearing traditional English white, having had a separate Asian ceremony in Bradford the previous weekend, there were still a few Asian elements to the day. Some of her younger family members had made it out to Jersey for the English wedding and the marque was a riot of clashing colours, sounds and smells.
“Is everything okay?” Dawn stopped Sharni and Helen as they headed into the marque to take their places at the top table. Helen had Luca asleep in her arms.
“Everything is right grand, Dawn, thanks!” Sharni’s voice bubbled with happiness. “This place is amazing. I can’t believe you’ve done all this in just a year.”
“John did most of it.” Dawn looked around at their hilltop house, with views over the ocean to mainland France. “Once we’d decided to start a wedding-venue business, he threw all his energy into it. I think he was glad to build something, you know, to have something to show for his efforts. And to have Daisy be the first bride was the icing on the wedding cake, as it were.”
“It’s beautiful. It must have been great to have your daughter married here.” Sharni looked out over the sea, and then down at Luca as he gave a little burp in his sleep.
“I have some news, seeing as I have the two of you together.” Sharni gestured for her two best friends to come closer. Whispering so low the words were barely audible, she breathed “I’m going to have a baby.”
“Wow!” Helen breathed in reply, her eyes wide. “I thought babies terrified you?”
“Well, you know, I’ve spent a bit more time with them now, you being on your second set of twins. Please Allah don’t let ours be twins.”
“Don’t you know yet?” Dawn whispered.
“No, too early. Scan’s the day after we get back from honeymoon.”
“How is Ben handling it?”
“He’s right thrilled. Happen he’s ready to be a dad now.” She thought back to a time, a lifetime ago, when Ben had declared he wasn’t ready to be a father.
“Well, congratulations. I’m so happy for you both. Do come and stay, we love having babies here.” Dawn beamed, then bustled off to make sure the food was all ready as required.
Helen propped Luca up under her chin then put her other arm through Sharni’s.
“Going to be a mummy eh?”
“Yes,” Sharni smiled. “Any advice?”
“Get plenty of sleep now, while you can. You have no idea how precious it’s going to become.”
Sharni laughed a little nervously.
“You’ll be fine,” Helen reassured her. “Ben’s a good man, and you have lots of family to help out. How have they been, with Ben I mean? I assume they don’t know about the baby?”
“Hell no! Can you imagine? It’s bad enough I’m marrying a white man, without being pregnant before my wedding night. They’re doing okay. Ben can be very charming, when he wants to be. And after Derek…”
Helen smiled. She could imagine that even the strictest parent would prefer Ben as a son-in-law to their daughter running off with a man old enough to be her father.
“You invited Derek to the wedding though?”
“Well, someone has to make sure Stuart’s doing a good job of the pictures!” Sharni spoke loud enough for Stuart to hear, as he stood near the top table, taking pictures of the cake.
“How dare you! I’ll have you know I have taken wedding pictures for Hello! Magazine. I’m photographer to the stars, don’t you know.”
“Oh I do, Stuart, I do. I’m right grateful you would condescend to come to our paltry affair.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. You and Ben finally admitting you fancy the pants off each other. I had to witness that.”
Sharni and Helen took their seats, and Maggie headed over to collect her grandson. “Thanks mum, you’re an angel. How’s dad?”
“He’s cuddling Johan, and is happy as a puddle full of pigs because John has brought him a frothing pint of real ale.”
She hurried away as Ben began to tap his glass, preparing for his speech.
Helen only heard half the words. She looked out at the crowd of people crammed into the marque. She could see Marcio sitting with her parents and the babies, with James and Jasmine perched either side of him. She thought her heart might burst with pride at the sight of her family all together. She made a mental note to ask Stuart to take a picture of the elder twins for Daniel. He would be returning from his honeymoon soon and she knew he and Lucinda would love to see the twins looking so smart for once. James and Jasmine would be glad to have him back; they missed him and their half-sister, while they were sunning themselves in the Maldives.
Thank god Daniel came to his senses when they sacked him from that job, Helen thought, as everyone laughed at something Ben had said. Laughing along so no one would notice she wasn’t listening, Helen thought back over the last few years. It had taken a while, but everything seemed to be coming together. Having a second set of twins had come as a shock, and poor Jasmine was glad to have a half-sister, with so many brothers at home, even if Charlotte was still only a baby.
Helen sensed a change in Sharni’s body language and tuned back into the speech. Ben was explaining how he had longed to rescue Sharni from an arranged marriage. Poor Ben, Helen thought, he was desperate to be the knight in shining armour. In the end Sharni rescued him. Ben was saying something similar to the crowd. They all laughed as he said, “If you can call it a rescue, going from a boring bank job to teaching Reception Class. There are days when boredom would be lovely.”
He looked down at Sharni and grinned, and Helen felt the tension leave her friend’s shoulders. Helen knew Sharni had worried about talking Ben into a job as a primary school teacher. Privately Helen thought Ben was brilliant with the kids, as he would be with his own.
Ben returned to his seat, and it was the best man’s turn to talk. Ben had chosen one of his former flat-mates, and Helen tuned out again as a litany of embarrassing stories was presented for Ben’s humiliation and the crowd’s amusement.
Helen became aware of the click click of Stuart’s camera and turned to watch him as he captured pictures of the best man addressing the crowd; Ben’s flushing red face at a ribald anecdote; Sharni’s rapt expression as she gazed at her husband; the crowd’s laughing faces; John and Dawn watching proudly from the door of the marque; Derek and his latest model snuggled together drinking champagne; James and Jasmine escaping to steal cakes from the tempting table; Her Mum tickling Luca and making him giggle; Marcio taking a wriggling Johan from her Dad so he could enjoy his pint.
With her friends and family around her, Helen felt complete at last, as if she could take on the world. Dawn was right, strength did come. Strength, and love.
The End
About the Author
Amanda Martin was born in Hertfordshire in 1976. After graduating with first class honours from Leeds University she wandered around the world trying to find her place in it. She tried various roles, in England and New Zealand, including Bar Manager, Marketing Manager, Consultant and Artist, before deciding that Writer/Mummy best summed her up. She lives in Northamptonshire with her husband, two children and labradoodle Kara and can mostly be found at http://writermummy.wordpress.com
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Baby Blues and Wedding Shoes Page 37