by Jo Bartlett
‘And now for the pièce de résistance.’ Beth turned towards Ella. ‘Would you mind holding the baby so I can get the dress out for Anna?’
‘Of course I will.’ Stanley gave Ella a quizzical look as his mother handed him over. For a moment the baby’s mouth opened as if he was about to start yelling in protest, but then he relaxed into Ella’s arms.
‘It’s a vintage dress I got from a shop in London. It felt like I’d traipsed all over the city by the time I found it. I just hope you like it.’
‘Oh!’ Anna made a strange, almost strangled sound and it was impossible to tell from the look on her face what she was thinking.
‘Don’t feel like you’ve got to wear it.’ Beth ran a hand over the dress. ‘If you only want to take the bridesmaids’ dresses, that’s fine. I just wanted to help if I could.’
‘Oh no, please, I love it.’ When Anna turned towards them, it was obvious she was trying – and failing – not to cry. The dress wouldn’t have looked out of place in a 1930s Hollywood movie. It was vintage silk with a high neck and long sleeves, the silhouette looking as if it would hug her body in all the right places. ‘It’s just that if I could have worn any wedding dress, it would have been the one Mum wore when she married Dad. It was my Nanna’s too. It got lost in one of their moves. I looked online for something like it before I thought I’d better just settle for a dress from Susie’s shop. The dress I bought from Susie was a similar style, but I never dreamt I’d be able to find anything as close to Mum’s dress as this.’
‘Maybe it is your mum’s dress?’ Ella couldn’t help hoping for the perfect fairy-tale ending, but even she knew that was a ten-million-to-one shot.
‘It’s not, but it’s every bit as beautiful. Stupid as it sounds, it makes it feel as if Mum’s having a hand in things. I don’t know what’s happening to me lately, but I’m seeing silly superstitions in everything, just like she did, except I’m only focusing on the good signs.’ Anna took a deep breath. ‘Are you sure you’re okay with me borrowing it, Beth? It’s really lovely of you, but I’d be mortified if anything happened to it while I had it.’
‘It doesn’t matter if it does.’ Beth was struggling to get the words out. ‘Just seeing the look on your face has given me a thousand times more pleasure than having it hung up in my wardrobe for the next sixty years ever could.’
‘You two are killing me!’ Ella laughed. ‘Can you just put it on already, before we all end up soggy messes and Anna completely ruins her wedding make-up.’
Beth handed Anna the dress and the two of them disappeared upstairs, so Beth could zip it up for her. Ella was still rocking the baby in her arms and willing Dan to text her and say he’d found a wedding venue, when she heard one of the floorboards creak. So much for thinking that Anna putting the dress on would stop them all feeling so emotional. Seeing her in it was ten times worse.
‘Oh Anna, Brae is going to sob as hard as I want to right now.’ Ella’s throat was burning. It was almost impossible to believe that the dress hadn’t been made for her best friend, and that she hadn’t spent months planning the perfect hairstyle to go with it. The long-sleeved lace bodice made Anna look like a Hollywood star from an old black-and-white movie.
‘I want to hate you for looking so much better in it than I ever did,’ Beth laughed, taking the baby from Ella, ‘but I can’t. You look absolutely fantastic!’
‘Do you want to come along tonight? I’d love you to be there, to say thank you for this? Andy too, and the baby, of course.’ Anna turned to Beth, who nodded in response.
‘We’d love to? Where is it?’
‘Your guess is as good as mine.’ Anna nodded her head towards Ella. ‘My chief bridesmaid over there thinks I need a bit more excitement in my life, and won’t tell me what she’s got planned yet. I feel like I’m trapped in an extreme version of Don’t Tell The Bride.’
‘I’m not deliberately trying to be difficult, I promise.’ An internal battle was already raging in Ella’s head, about whether to tell Anna they still hadn’t found a venue. There was so little time left, she’d have to face up to it soon. ‘It’s just that—’ Ella actually jumped as her phone started to ring, hoping against hope that someone up there had been listening to the silent prayer that had been running through her head all day. It was Dan’s name on the display. He’d promised not to call until every option had been exhausted, or he’d found somewhere… Ella’s blood was rushing in her ears as she snatched up the phone.
‘Everything okay?’ Her tone sounded falsely bright, even to her own ears.
‘It is now. I think I’ve found somewhere.’
‘Think?’ Ella lowered her voice, knowing Anna would be able to hear every word she said.
‘Okay, I have found somewhere. It’s not exactly what you’d call conventional, but Brae thinks we should go for it and he’s arranged for the registrar to meet us there. She’s given it the okay too.’
‘Great! So where’s it going to be?’
‘I need you to meet me at the harbour in twenty minutes with everything you need for the wedding, because you’re not going to have time to get home again beforehand. If you can tell Toni and Jess to meet us there too, we can all head over together.’
‘Okay, but where?’ If they were meeting at the harbour, Ella couldn’t think of anywhere it could be other than the Sisters of Agnes Island. But the hotel had said there was nothing they could do, and she didn’t want to give Anna false hope. The only other large venue near the harbour was the fish market, and surely not even Dan and Brae would settle for that.
‘Is Anna with you?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Just tell her to be ready at her place forty-five minutes before the wedding. Bobby’s picking her up and he’ll get her to the venue. That’s all she needs to know for now. I don’t want either of you to worry about anything. If I tell you, you won’t be able to keep it to yourself and then you’ll both be worrying unnecessarily, because it’s all going to be fine.’
‘You better be sure, because she looks amazing and she deserves an equally amazing day.’ Ella was whispering now and she wasn’t even sure if Dan heard her.
‘I’ll see you in twenty minutes. I love you.’ Not waiting for her response, Dan ended the call. Whatever it was that he and Brae had organised, there was nothing she could do about it now. She just hoped Anna could live with being in her own version of Don’t Tell The Bride for another couple of hours, because the biggest part of the wedding was still a complete mystery to them both.
Anna’s body shook as she stood on the edge of the harbour. It was half-past six and she was supposed to be getting married in half an hour, but she still had no idea where the wedding was going to be. Across the water, the lights of the hotel on the Sisters of Agnes Island shone like a beacon of hope. She wouldn’t be going over there, though. The hotel was always booked solid in the summer and, in the five minutes she’d been standing by Bobby’s side waiting to find out where she was going, a steady stream of boats had already made their way over to the island. Not just the hotel’s own launch, but a mismatched collection that made it look like Port Agnes’ attempt to recreate the flotilla for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. There was probably a party going on at the hotel, but Anna wasn’t even sure if Ella had really known where the wedding was going to be herself. When she’d taken the call at Beth’s house, she’d said Brae wanted it to be a surprise for Anna and that she’d promised not to tell. But she hadn’t exactly radiated calm, scooping up the bridesmaids’ dresses and dashing off to meet Toni and Jess.
Anna didn’t really care where it was, as long as it happened. Bobby had picked her up from the cottage, but he wouldn’t be drawn on where they were going either, not even when she’d fired question after question at him on the drive down.
‘I think your ride’s here.’ Bobby reached out and squeezed Anna’s hand as she turned her head to look up the road that led away from the harbour.
‘I can’t see anything coming.’
‘Your carriage, my lady.’ Bobby laughed at the look that must have crossed her face as the boat pulled up to the jetty in front of them.
‘Are we getting married on a boat?’ Anna couldn’t see Brae, but getting married on the boat that had saved his life and brought him back to her would have so much meaning to it. There’d be no room for guests and, okay, it would only be a blessing, but it was a reminder of the really important thing; that they were both there to get married at all.
‘No, this is just how you’re getting there.’ Bobby took hold of her arm and led her to where the coxswain was holding out a hand to help her on board. ‘But we couldn’t think of any better mode of transport.’
‘And we were happy to get involved after all you’ve done to help raise the profile of the campaign to save the lifeboat station.’ Beth’s husband, Andy, smiled as she stepped onto the boat.
‘That’s all down to Ella.’
‘Listen, I’ve seen you dressed as Sleepy from Snow White! Not only that, you delivered my son, and most of the crew have got you to thank for bringing their children into the world. This was the least we could do.’
‘Am I allowed to ask where we’re going?’ Anna still couldn’t fathom it out. Maybe Brae had found a venue further up the coast and had wanted to make it even more special by organising the lifeboat. Wherever they were going, they now only had twenty-five minutes before the ceremony was due to start.
‘Let’s just say we’ll be there in less than ten minutes.’ Bobby tapped the side of his nose. ‘That’ll only give you another fifteen minutes or so to get yourself ready, so we’d better get you inside the wheelhouse to make sure your hairstyle stays intact. Toni warned me on pain of death not to let you down.’
‘What’s going on between you two?’ Anna turned and fixed him with a look as he followed her into the wheelhouse. If she didn’t get him to open up now, he probably never would.
‘More than she’ll admit to anyone, but less than I want there to be. I’d do all this tomorrow, if she’d say yes.’ Bobby shrugged and Anna caught her breath. She hadn’t expected a response quite that honest.
‘You two would be so brilliant together, you already are. I’ve got to say I don’t really understand the secrecy.’ Anna locked eyes with him for a second. ‘But I hope you can find a way forward.’
‘Me too.’ Bobby grinned, breaking the tension. ‘I mean who doesn’t want a crazy last-minute wedding, with a bride who has no idea where she’s going and almost anything could happen!’
‘Quite frankly, I’m surprised that Hello magazine isn’t covering it.’ She took a deep breath as the boat surged forward, heading out of the harbour into the bluey green water beyond. ‘Here we go!’
When the boat pulled up on the dock at the Sisters of Agnes Island, Anna couldn’t contain herself any more.
‘Bobby, you’re going to have to tell me what’s happening, before the tension actually kills me!’
‘You’re getting married, that’s what’s happening.’ He gave her another maddening grin, as some of the crew helped them off the boat.
‘And you’re in danger of me shoving you into the sea if you don’t tell me in the next thirty seconds what’s going on.’ She was only half joking. ‘The hotel told us they were completely booked up for the next two summers.’
‘That was before.’
‘Before what?’
‘Before a crack team of midwives and their other halves got on the case. We’ve called in every favour and every thank you we’ve ever been given for delivering babies in Port Agnes to make this happen.’ Bobby took hold of her arm again. ‘One of the guests has even given up their room, so you and Brae can stay here tonight. You’re not getting married in the hotel, though, that bit’s a secret for a little while longer.’
‘I don’t understand.’ Maybe they’d managed to erect a marquee or something in the grounds, but she couldn’t see anything from where they were standing.
‘Don’t worry about that, let’s head up to your room. Ella, Jess and Toni are waiting up there and all will be revealed.’ Bobby nodded towards the lifeboat. ‘You might just want to thank this lot first, because they’ve got another job to get to now.’
‘Thank you so much.’ Anna waved a hand to the crew. ‘But please tell me I haven’t held you up from a real call-out?’
‘Don’t worry, the crew in Port Kara are covering this evening, unless there’s a major emergency, and nearly all the traffic in the waters around here at the moment is heading to and from the Sisters of Agnes Island anyway.’ Andy dropped an expert wink. ‘But your wedding breakfast relies on us doing our next job, so we’ll see you after the ceremony. Good luck!’
‘Thank you!’ Anna had finally given up trying to work out what on earth was going on. The whole world had gone crazy, but they all seemed to be doing it for her benefit, and thank you didn’t seem nearly enough.
Ella pulled back the door of the hotel room before they even knocked, and enveloped Anna in a hug.
‘You’re here! So what do you think?’
‘I think you all look gorgeous.’ Anna couldn’t keep the smile off her face. They really did look great, especially Ella, who had been run off her feet all day, yet somehow managed to be glowing.
‘Not a patch on you.’ Toni, who was usually stoical, looked close to tears and she didn’t flinch when Bobby slid an arm around her waist. Whatever magic spell had been cast to allow the wedding to take place on the Sisters of Agnes Island seemed to be rubbing off on them all.
‘Here, have a glass of champagne.’ Jess moved over to a silver tray on the table by the window that looked out onto the grounds. ‘We’re already a couple of glasses ahead of you.’
‘I’d better not.’ Anna shook her head to emphasise the point. ‘My stomach has been a mass of butterflies ever since I got the phone call from the Red Cliff Hotel and I haven’t been able to eat anything. One glass would probably knock me off my feet!’
‘Well I’ll have to drink it for you then.’ Jess raised the glass she’d just filled into the air. ‘Cheers to the best boss in the world and a wonderful friend on her wedding day.’
‘Cheers!’ Toni and Ella raised their glasses in response.
‘I’ve got something I was supposed to give you from Brae, by the way.’ Bobby held a closed fist out in front of him. ‘But I wanted to wait until we were in the safety of the hotel room, so I didn’t drop them.’
‘Earrings?’ Anna looked up at Bobby after he’d unfurled his hands to reveal a pair of pearl earrings.
‘Apparently they’re Brae’s mum’s. They were zipped into his coat when he got caught in the storm with Dan, but the coat washed up on the beach somewhere down the coast and the earrings were still zipped in the inside pocket. The coat had the Penrose Plaice logo on it, so the person who found it was able to track Brae down and send the earrings back to the shop. He wanted it to be a surprise.’
‘That’s amazing, they were supposed to be my something borrowed.’ Anna’s hands were shaking again as she reached out to take the earrings.
‘So now Beth’s dress can be your something old.’ Ella smiled. ‘Have you got something blue?’
‘I went old school.’ Anna lowered her voice. ‘I’ve got a garter on! Gwen bought it for me, but I wasn’t going to wear it so I didn’t take it to the Red Cliff Hotel, but when everything else went up in the fire I thought I should use whatever I had left.’
‘Now you just need your something new.’ Jess shot Ella a sideways look.
‘I think we can take care of that. Brae dropped this off earlier and said we all had to wear it today.’ Ella took a bottle of Chanel N°5, still in its wrapper, out of her bag. Peeling
back the cellophane, she took the bottle out of the box and held it out to Anna. ‘You go first.’
‘It’s the perfume Mum always wore.’
‘I know.’ Ella’s eyes had taken on a glassy look. ‘He wanted you to have another reminder of her around you today. I hope it’s okay?’
‘Of course it’s okay, it’s much more than that.’ Anna sprayed the perfume on and inhaled the scent, closing her eyes for just a second as she passed the bottle back to Ella. She might never be as superstitious as her mum had been, but Brae had been right again, it did make it feel like her mum was right there with her. She had her something borrowed, something blue, something old and something new. That covered all the bases and her mum would have loved it.
‘Thank you all so much.’ A lump formed in Anna’s throat, as she tried to get the words out. ‘Whatever is about to happen, I know you’ve all been working really hard so Brae and I could still get married today and I promise I’ll never forget it.’
‘Everyone I spoke to wanted to help. You and Brae are so well-loved in Port Agnes, it was easy to get what we needed. The trickiest part was the venue, but you’re about to discover the solution that Brae and Dan came up with, and I just know you’re going to love it.’ Ella hugged her again, before pulling away. ‘Are you ready?’
‘As I’ll ever be.’
‘Let’s get going then. You don’t want to keep Brae in suspense, he’s barely been able to stand still since we got here, and I don’t think he can wait much longer.’
‘Neither can I.’ Anna stepped out into the corridor, taking the last few steps towards a new life that couldn’t start soon enough.
22
There were petals sprinkled all over the path that led away from the main building to the chapel that had been deserted when the last of the nuns finally left the island, a few days after the start of the millennium. Anna had seen an article in the paper when the hotel had gained its licence as a venue for civil ceremonies the summer before, announcing that they’d got permission to use the conservatory and two other locations in the hotel. The article had said the conservatory would be available to book with immediate effect, and the other locations were scheduled for renovation over the next twelve months in readiness to expand their wedding services. The old chapel was one of them, but the last time Anna had seen it, it had looked dilapidated and a long way off being ready to host anything, let alone a wedding.