Summer At Skylark Farm

by Heidi Swain

  ‘I don’t see why Harriet can’t help you do all this,’ he had moaned as I passed him the seemingly endless lengths of fabric and lights.

  ‘Because she’s overseeing proceedings in the marquee,’ I reminded him.

  That, I admit, was only half the story. Having seen the hash she’d made of the lanterns I couldn’t even begin to imagine what she was capable of doing with a few metres of loose bunting and a light breeze and had decided not to mention that I needed any help.

  ‘We’ll get finished a lot sooner,’ I goaded Jake, ‘if you stop complaining.’

  ‘Oh, don’t worry about Jake,’ Annie smiled, ‘when he sees you in that dress tomorrow he’ll forget all about bunting and twinkly lights!’

  ‘Well, I hope so,’ I blushed.

  ‘In fact,’ Annie continued, ‘it wouldn’t surprise me if the two of you aren’t making an announcement of your own before long. A country wedding, in my experience, always brings out the romantic spirit in everyone.’

  My heart skipped a beat at the idea, but then I began to worry if Annie was perhaps a staunch traditionalist, and that she’d be disappointed that our own announcement was, in the traditional sense of the word, going to be the wrong way around.

  ‘Well, I don’t know about that,’ I said, trying to pull her off the bridal path, ‘but tell me, Annie. What do you really think of the changes we’ve made to the cottage? You do think it looks all right, don’t you?’

  I had been shocked by Annie’s initial reaction as I walked her through the rooms for the very first time since the makeover had been completed. She had been quiet for much of the tour and when I finally dared to steal a glance at her, mortified that I had got it all wrong, I discovered to my surprise that her face was wet and there were tears coursing unchecked down her cheeks.

  ‘I adore it,’ she said, nodding enthusiastically, ‘absolutely adore it, although I admit it was a shock seeing so many of the things my mother had known and used all back together again. It almost felt as if she could walk into the room at any moment.’

  ‘But how do you feel now about keeping all of those precious things in there?’ I frowned. ‘Please say if you’d rather I put everything back in the loft and sourced the bits and pieces from somewhere else. The auction proved invaluable when it came to furniture so I’m sure I’d have as much luck there with finding everything else.’

  ‘Absolutely not,’ she said, patting my hand, ‘everything is perfect. Don’t for one minute think about changing a single thing,’ she added with a wink.

  ‘OK,’ I said, kissing her cheek and feeling relieved, ‘I won’t.’

  I dropped her back at the house and while waiting for Jake to finish up in the orchards and take us to The Mermaid, I made a quick inspection of the small box I had hidden under the shelf in the porch. I planned to put the blanket and extra lanterns on the riverbank early the next morning before I drove over to Jess’s to get ready. I felt my heart flutter wildly as I pictured Jake and me sitting under the willows as I told him about the baby, our baby. I still couldn’t believe it. Physically I didn’t really feel any different, but my brain was struggling to think of anything other than the fragile new life I was carrying inside me.

  ‘You ready then?’

  I spun round, my heart very definitely hammering in my chest now rather than fluttering.

  ‘God, you scared me,’ I said, clutching my chest. ‘Yes, yes, I’m ready.’

  ‘I’ll just wash my hands and change my shirt and we’ll get off then. We’d better not keep Jess waiting.’

  ‘Quite,’ I smiled. ‘To tell you the truth I’m not sure whether I’m looking forward to this evening or not.’

  ‘Me neither,’ Jake grinned conspiratorially. ‘We’ll give it an hour and if she’s too much, duck out early.’

  ‘If we dare,’ I giggled.

  By the time we got to the pub everyone else was already there and thanks to a celebratory bottle of champagne from Jim and Evelyn, Jessica was considerably more relaxed than she had been when I saw her earlier.

  ‘I’ve only had half a glass,’ Henry whispered with a naughty grin, ‘and giving Jess the rest seems to have done the trick. She’s more relaxed than I’ve seen her in weeks.’

  ‘But she’s been too nervous to eat anything since breakfast,’ I whispered back. ‘You don’t want to get her completely squiffy.’

  ‘Oh, I didn’t think of that,’ said Henry, looking rather disconcerted and definitely less pleased with his crafty plan.

  ‘If she has a hangover tomorrow,’ Jake joined in with a throaty chuckle, ‘your life won’t be worth living, mate!’

  ‘Hello, you two,’ said Jessica, rushing over and enveloping us both in a rib crushing hug. ‘I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.’

  ‘We wouldn’t have missed this for the world,’ grinned Jake, passing me a glass of wine, ‘would we, Amber?’

  ‘Absolutely not,’ I agreed, wondering what on earth I was going to do with the glass, ‘but if you don’t mind,’ I said, pushing it back towards him as inspiration struck, ‘I’m going to stick to juice tonight. I think at least one of us should have a clear head.’

  ‘I don’t mind,’ said Jake, ‘I’ll drive us home if you like.’

  ‘No,’ I insisted, ‘it’s fine. Pass this on to Harriet.’

  ‘Well, if you’re sure?’

  ‘Definitely,’ I nodded, ‘you have a pint with Henry. He’s missing out on Dublin after all.’

  ‘Well, that’s very generous of you,’ smiled Henry, giving me a swift kiss.

  ‘Hey,’ slurred Jessica, ‘there’ll be no canoodling with my bridesmaid, thank you very much.’

  ‘Have you seen who just walked in?’ said Harriet, suddenly appearing at my elbow. ‘Would you look at the colour of her. She didn’t get that sitting on the beach at Cromer!’

  ‘Hello!’ beamed Holly, immediately heading in our direction. ‘And how are the bride and groom feeling? Any last minute nerves kicking in yet?’

  ‘Not yet,’ said Jessica, kissing the air about a metre either side of Holly’s flawless face, ‘but there’s still time. Where on earth,’ she said, holding her at arm’s length and looking her up and down, ‘have you been to get a tan like that?’

  ‘Secret,’ said Holly smugly, ‘all will be revealed tomorrow.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Jessica, ‘I’m intrigued.’

  ‘Good,’ laughed Holly, ‘that’s the idea. You are sure it’s still OK if I bring someone, aren’t you?’

  ‘Absolutely!’ said Jessica, sloshing champagne over the side of her flute. ‘The more the merrier.’

  Harriet and I exchanged stunned glances. That wasn’t what she’d been saying when she’d asked us to help her out with the intricacies of the marquee seating plan for the evening sit down supper! Just how, I wondered, did Holly do it? I was going to have to study her technique a little more closely because her ability to wrap people around her little finger was astounding.

  ‘Excellent,’ she smiled, dazzling us all with her pearly whites, which of course looked all the whiter next to her gorgeous, golden skin, ‘can’t wait. Anyway, I mustn’t stand here any longer, paling you all into insignificance!’

  She said it with a smile on her lips, but I wasn’t entirely convinced that she wasn’t laughing at us, rather than with us.

  ‘What did you make of that?’ I said to Harriet as we watched her sashay away.

  ‘Classic Holly,’ said Harriet, rolling her eyes.

  ‘Oh really?’ I said and turned my gaze back to her.

  ‘God yeah,’ laughed Harriet, ‘you might think you’ve got away with it, but then it sinks in and it’s too late for a comeback.’

  ‘A proper jellyfish,’ I said.

  ‘Exactly,’ nodded Harriet, ‘you don’t feel the sting until she’s gone. She might have apologised to everyone, but she’ll never change.’

  I was surprised by Harriet’s admission.

  ‘Hmm,’ I said, watching Holly slide elega
ntly on to a stool and engage Jim in conversation. ‘What do you think she meant by “all will be revealed tomorrow”?’

  ‘God knows,’ sighed Harriet, ‘dread to think.’

  ‘You don’t think she’s planning to upstage the bride and groom, do you?’ I asked, wide eyed.

  ‘I doubt it,’ said Harriet, ‘not now she’s gone out of her way to make friends with everyone again.’

  ‘So what is she up to then?’

  ‘No idea,’ Harriet shrugged, ‘but, don’t worry about it. If she starts getting out of hand we’ll just ask her to leave.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  Before she had time to answer Henry stepped forward and we all quietened down and looked at him politely, expecting some kind of pre-wedding speech.

  ‘Right,’ he announced, ‘I’m going to take Jess home.’

  ‘What?’ chorused Harriet and I.

  ‘You aren’t serious?’ frowned Jake. ‘We’ve only just got here!’

  ‘I know,’ he said, ‘but I think I’ve rather buggered up on the champagne front.’

  ‘I’m fine,’ said Jessica with an accompanying hiccup that ripped through the air and made us all laugh, ‘absolutely fine.’

  ‘Yes,’ I said, looking at Henry, ‘I think perhaps you have.’

  ‘Oh God,’ he groaned, ‘her mother’s going to go mad.’

  ‘Take her for a brisk walk,’ Jake suggested, ‘that’ll sort her out.’

  ‘What, my prospective mother-in-law?’ said Henry, looking confused.

  ‘No, you twit,’ laughed Jake, ‘Jess, take Jess for a walk to help her sober up.’

  ‘I think I’d better come with you,’ said Harriet, ‘just in case she needs someone to hold her hair back on the journey home. God, I get all the best jobs.’

  ‘What a disaster,’ moaned Henry. ‘I’m really sorry, everyone.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it,’ I told him, patting his arm and stifling a yawn. ‘Probably just as well if we all get an early night. See you at the church tomorrow.’

  ‘Oh no,’ said Jess, giving me another hug, ‘are you going already? You’ve only just got here.’

  ‘Oh for pity’s sake,’ tutted Harriet, ‘let’s get her out of here, Henry; the sooner we put her to bed the better!’

  Chapter 46

  Jessica and Henry’s wedding day dawned exactly as everyone had been praying it would, sunny and bright but with a light breeze that had just enough strength to stave off the intense heat. My first job was to meet Harriet at the marquee and await the arrival of Jemma and Lizzie from The Cherry Tree. It was our responsibility to ensure the cake was displayed on the right table and that everything else was shipshape, the finishing touches perfected and up to meeting Jessica’s exacting standards.

  I set off through the orchards and down to the marquee, determined to ensure I played my part in making Jessica and Henry’s special day as seamless as possible, before quickly rushing down to the river to set up the blanket and lanterns for later. I was sure the butterfly feelings in my stomach last night were more to do with the baby than nerves and I was even more excited to share the news with Jake now.

  ‘I hope you don’t mind but we’ve made a start already!’ called Jemma, as I approached.

  I walked around the back of the marquee and discovered a pristinely restored Morris van loaded with rigid cake boxes parked next to the caterers’ entrance. Taking in the pretty cherry tree and cupcake livery it was immediately obvious that the cake was in safe hands and that Jemma and Lizzie had the same lofty standards both within and beyond the café walls.

  ‘Morning, Amber,’ smiled Jemma as she appeared slightly out of breath in the doorway, ‘I’ve almost finished with the cake.’

  ‘Hello, hello,’ laughed Lizzie, ‘nice day for a white wedding, don’t you think?’

  I laughed along as Jemma rolled her eyes and the pair carried on bustling about in their spotless matching aprons each stylishly embellished with the same cherry tree design as the van. The pair worked together in a well practised fashion, and not for the first time I thought what a splendid set up they’d created.

  ‘So,’ I said, checking my watch and feeling appalled to discover that the time was already ticking away far faster than I realised, ‘how is it all shaping up?’

  ‘Come and see,’ said Jemma, standing aside to let me into the marquee.

  The pastel cupcake tower, floral bridal favours, kids’ craft goodie bags and endless other clever touches completed the simple but stylish vintage country theme that I had already worked out Jessica was going for, as did the hand painted banner that was now artistically hung behind the top table.

  ‘That’s just a little extra gift from us,’ Jemma smiled, ‘Lizzie’s idea. What do you think?’

  ‘Oh wow!’ Harriet, who had finally arrived, beamed. ‘That is stunning!’

  Lizzie blushed an even deeper shade of red than her hair and waved her hand dismissively.

  ‘Well,’ she said, ‘I hope they like it. It’s the first one I’ve made. I can soon take it down if you think it’s not their sort of thing.’

  ‘No,’ I told her, ‘absolutely not. You leave it right there. I know they’ll love it, it’s really beautiful.’

  ‘Right,’ Jemma announced, once she and Lizzie had again checked everything was in place, ‘we’d better get back to the café. Lizzie has a felting session this afternoon and I’ve about a thousand cakes left to frost, but before I go,’ she said, turning so only I could hear her, ‘Amber, can I have a quick word?’

  ‘Of course,’ I nodded and followed her out to the back of the van.

  ‘About what I said at the café the other day,’ she said awkwardly, her eyes never leaving her feet, ‘about whether there might be a chance that you were pregnant.’

  ‘What about it?’ I said, as I tried to focus on my breathing and stop my face flooding a tell-tale shade of puce.

  ‘I hope I didn’t offend you,’ she said, looking at me quickly, ‘only you’d gone a few minutes later and I can’t help thinking it’s because of what I said.’

  ‘No,’ I told her, trying to keep my tone light, ‘absolutely not.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ she said, her eyes now searching my face. ‘Because I would hate to think it was.’

  ‘No,’ I said again, ‘honestly. I was just in a rush, that’s all. You’ll find out why at the reception later,’ I blagged.

  ‘Oh well, that’s all right then,’ she sighed. ‘I’ve been so worried that I’d upset you!’

  ‘Not at all,’ I smiled, giving her a swift hug.

  ‘Come on, Jem,’ called Lizzie from the driver’s seat as she revved up the engine, ‘we’re late!’

  ‘Coming!’ she called back, rushing round to the passenger door and jumping in. ‘OK, leave the cake covered until the last minute and have a fabulous day!’

  ‘But you are coming back later, aren’t you?’ Harriet called after them. ‘The more the merrier!’

  ‘Yes, we promised Jessica! As soon as the café’s closed we’ll be back for the reception.’

  We watched the van bounce across the field and went back inside for one final look at everything.

  ‘Stunning, isn’t it?’ Harriet sighed dreamily.

  ‘Yes,’ I said, nodding in agreement, ‘if I was getting married this is exactly what I’d want.’

  My former Caribbean poolside wedding fantasy had been kicked firmly into touch since I’d arrived at Skylark Farm and happily found myself ensnared by the raw splendour of the Fenland horizon and the romantic beauty of the orchards.

  ‘There’ll be plenty of time to think about that,’ winked Harriet, pulling me out of my reverie as she impatiently tapped her watch. ‘Are you ready to go? Time’s pushing on.’

  ‘Can I just have ten minutes?’ I begged. ‘There’s one final thing I have to do.’

  ‘I’ll go and wait in the car,’ she said, ‘but if you aren’t there in five minutes I’m leaving without you and you can incur Jessica’s
hangover wrath all on your own.’

  ‘Crikey,’ I giggled as we closed the marquee doors, ‘she was in a state, wasn’t she?’

  ‘I don’t know what Henry was thinking,’ she laughed back. ‘God help him if his bride-to-be is feeling anything less than radiant!’

  Just a few minutes later, with the tea lights, lanterns and blanket arranged at Jake’s favourite stretch next to the river, Harriet and I set off to enjoy Jessica and Henry’s big day.

  I’d never been much of a gusher when it came to showing emotion and neither, from what I’d seen, had down to earth Harriet, but the sight of our friend in her bridal gown sent us both rushing for the tissues.

  ‘I know it isn’t a meringue or anything,’ Jessica smiled as she span around in front of the floor length mirror in her bedroom, ‘but it is right, isn’t it? It is me.’

  ‘It’s perfect,’ I told her, smoothing down my own similarly styled dress, ‘in every way.’

  Jessica had opted for a cream strapless, calf length, fifties number with a green waistband and silk pink roses in her hair and bouquet. The bridesmaids’ dresses, with their halter necks, were the same soft green as Jessica’s waistband and our clever silk posies and hair accessories matched the pink of hers perfectly.

  ‘Aren’t the roses fabulous?’ Jessica beamed.

  She appeared to have absolutely no lingering hangover from the champagne Henry had so foolishly pressed on her and Harriet and I had already exchanged relieved glances when we found her so happy and excited.

  ‘Lizzie made them. Which reminds me,’ Jessica said suddenly, ‘how are things at the marquee? Everything is all right, isn’t it?’

  ‘It all looks beautiful, Jess,’ Harriet sniffed. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a pretty wedding venue. It’s simply exquisite.’

  Jessica fussily checked the slightly strained zip on my dress and raised her eyebrows at my reflection in the mirror. I shrugged my shoulders in response but didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say; it was such a shock to hear Harriet, the least frilly, girlie girl we knew, spouting lyrical about flowers and bridal favours.