‘Oh, Lord.’ I laugh. ‘We’ll all be in pink fluffy deelyboppers and there’ll be blow-up willies.’
‘I am seeing no problem,’ Lija deadpans.
‘You can let her organise it, but on your own head be it.’ I take my chance. ‘Speaking of organising, I could do with a couple of hours off tomorrow to sort out a few things. Shall I ask Edie to help out? It’s another fully booked afternoon for Christmas teas and I don’t want you to run yourself ragged.’
Lija rolls her eyes and, with overt reluctance, says, ‘Yes.’
I’m not sure how good a waitress my dear sister will be, as she usually likes to be the one waited on hand and foot, but there’s nothing like throwing her in at the deep end.
‘I’d better go.’ I risk a brief peck on Lija’s cheek and she doesn’t wipe it off. ‘Danny should be home soon.’
‘You’ve got a good one there,’ Lija observes.
‘I know. I’m very lucky.’ Then, chancing my arm, I venture, ‘You’ve still heard nothing from the man on the canal?’
Lija shakes her head and her hand goes protectively to her bump. ‘Long gone.’
‘Don’t give up on him just yet,’ I say.
‘Maybe Santa will bring him wrapped up in tinsel,’ she answers, sarcastically.
‘Wouldn’t that be a sight to see?’ I tease.
‘Go home,’ Lija says. ‘Hot Stuff will wonder where you are.’
I push myself out of the sofa, where I could quite gladly stay all night, and say, ‘See you tomorrow.’
On The Dreamcatcher, I make a quick pasta dish and, with impeccable timing, Danny arrives the minute it’s ready.
I kiss him and wrap my arms round his neck. ‘I’m glad you’re home. It’s been a long day.’
‘Tell me about it.’
‘Edie turned up again.’
‘Oh, man,’ Danny says. ‘I was hoping she’d gone back to New York. What did she want now?’
‘She’s still saying that she’s back for good. She was staying at some awful B&B place so I managed to persuade Lija to let her use my old bedroom.’
‘Are you sure that’s the right thing to do?’ Danny asks.
‘No,’ I tell him. ‘I can’t be hard-hearted, though. She seemed genuinely sorry this time.’ He looks about as convinced as Lija did. ‘With very little prompting she cleared up her room and made a start on the spare bedroom. She’s paying rent too. That’ll help us.’
‘The jury’s still out on whether Edie being back is a good thing.’
‘You don’t mind her coming to the wedding?’
He shakes his head. ‘Of course not. She’s your sister.’
‘Thank you. I know she’s difficult.’ Danny yawns and I can see that his face is white with tiredness. ‘I hope you’re getting good overtime pay for all these hours you’re putting in.’
‘Sort of,’ Danny says, evasively. ‘Let me go and have a quick shower while you dish up.’
So he does and I put the pasta in two bowls. We eat sitting on the sofa, the coffee table serving as our dining room.
‘I think I’ll go and watch some telly with Stan,’ I say. ‘I’d like to spend some time with him. I haven’t had a minute to see him properly for days. I’ve only caught him coming in and out for his meals and Rainbow has been taking him his supper, bless her.’
‘You like her, don’t you?’
‘She’s a great girl. It’s always sunny in her world.’
‘I’ll come to Stan’s with you,’ Danny says. ‘Maybe he’d like a bath before he goes to bed.’
I thought that I might be able to take my dress with me and do the minor repairs that it needs but I’d rather have Danny’s company. I’ll have to find some time soon though as I’ll be walking into the register office in a ragged frock.
‘Do you think he’s all right now?’ I ask Danny. ‘I was so worried about him for a while.’
‘He’s doing great. Due, in no small part, to your tender loving care. He’ll want more looking after now, but we’re going to be around to do that. It’s got to be hard to manage on your own at that age.’
‘Do you think we’ll grow old together?’
‘I hope so,’ Danny says. ‘I’m planning to give it my best shot.’
‘I feel terrible for Stan that he never married. He’s still in love with his first girl. After all these years. That’s true devotion for you. It’s such a shame as he would have been a lovely husband.’
‘We’ll make sure that he has the time of his life at our wedding.’
‘I’m not sure that the delights of Bletchley register office are going to blow his mind,’ I point out.
‘True,’ Danny agrees. ‘Still, he’ll love the fact that he’s giving you away. That was a great idea.’
‘I know. I’m pleased he agreed to do it.’
‘I want to invite him over here for breakfast on our wedding day too,’ he adds. ‘I haven’t done that yet.’
My stomach flips when he says it. Wedding day. Yikes! ‘The countdown really is on now.’
‘A couple of days. That’s all.’
‘I don’t even know what you’re wearing.’
‘Something suitable.’ More evasion. ‘It’s all sorted.’
I don’t press him further. I know Danny, he’ll look great whatever he wears. ‘Lija’s asked me to stay at the house the night before.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Danny says. ‘Stan and I can have our stag do in peace.’
‘No lapdancing clubs?’
‘Not on the agenda. Can’t have a heart attack the night before the wedding. Stan, not me. Thought we’d have a night in with Jack Daniel’s.’
‘I’m nervous,’ I admit. ‘We are doing the right thing?’
‘Of course.’
‘You’re not having second thoughts?’
He takes my plate and puts it on the table, then he holds my hands in his. ‘No way. I can’t wait for you to be my partner for life.’
‘I still can’t believe it’s happening,’ I tell him.
‘Believe,’ he says.
‘This is the best Christmas present ever.’ I try out my new name. ‘Mrs Danny Wilde.’ It seems so strange on my tongue and my head spins slightly. ‘This so top-trumps my bike when I was five.’
Danny laughs.
As Rainbow would say, ‘Squeeeeeeee!’
Chapter Fifty-Six
Over the course of the next few days, Edie works really hard on cleaning up the small spare room. I’ve never seen her so determined. Or so poorly groomed. Her hair is in a permanent scrunchie, she’s devoid of make-up and the polish on her normally perfect nails is chipped to bits. Instead, she’s in my old clothes, sleeves rolled up, dirt on her face and seems to be loving it.
After work one night, Danny helps us to lift the soggy, smelly carpet out and we dump it in the garage until he gets time to take it to the local tip. We place the buckets more strategically under the worst of the damp patches on the ceiling. After Christmas – my new mantra – it’ll be clear for us to repair and decorate.
In between all the cleaning, Edie quickly scrubs up and helps to cover my shifts when I pop out to run a few errands for the impending wedding. We’re so busy in the café that everything has to be squeezed in around it. I’m pleased to say that Edie is getting on better with Lija and Rainbow – I even keep finding them in huddles, whispering. Every time I come into the room, the conversation halts. I’m sure they’re plotting something for my hen night. As long as it’s not a fireman stripagram – do people even have those any more? I’d die of embarrassment.
Thankfully, this is our last opening day before Christmas. I have all of tomorrow morning to get ready for the wedding. Luxury! While I’m lifting yet another tray of mince pies out of the oven, Rainbow bounces in.
‘OMG,’ she says. ‘Christmas hats or WHAT!’
It seems that Rainbow has bought festive hats for us all. She brandishes them with glee, shaking her hips, boobs and curls for good measure.
‘They are flipping hideous,’ Lija observes.
‘It’s not even PROPER Christmas without one.’ Rainbow jams a top hat fashioned like a chimney with Santa’s legs sticking out of the top onto Lija’s head. ‘LEGEND!’
Lija looks like someone who wishes to commit murder just for the fun of it.
I’m next to receive a festive hat to grace my person. Trying to resist Rainbow in full flight is futile. My hat is a Christmas tree complete with flashing star on top which I actually quite like. She’s given Edie one with two candy canes tied with a bow – which is borderline tasteful. Especially when she stands next to Rainbow herself who’s sporting a huge Christmas pudding hat over her curls. When we brave the customers in them they, of course, love them. Next year we should definitely sell some here and then I remember that this is Lija’s choice, not mine.
‘I got my nan a polar bear hat,’ Rainbow trills. ‘It’s MASSIVE! It’ll look like it’s eating her HEAD.’
This we should obviously view as a good thing.
Our Christmas afternoon tea frenzy is at its peak and, as school has finished for the holidays, we’ve got even more people in for breakfast every day. There are more canal boats on the move – again, probably due to the festive season – so more are mooring up at the jetty next to The Dreamcatcher to pop in to see us and it’s nice to welcome back some familiar faces.
After Stan has eaten his breakfast, we make him stay at the table buttering mountains of toast for our hungry hordes. Rainbow hasn’t forgotten a hat for Stan either. He’s given a snowman decorated with red sequins and lurex holly. He loves it. No doubt it’s now his favourite Christmas hat. Though possibly his only one.
Frankly, he’s in his element all morning and shows no signs of being in a rush to go home. I’m just happy every time the till chimes as it means more money towards Lija’s leaky roof fund.
Rainbow cranks up the Christmas songs and we all sing along. Even Lija. Well, sort of. She somehow manages to replace the majority of festive words with filthy expletives. Still, she enjoys herself and that’s what matters. Though I’ve never heard ‘We Three Kings of Orient Are’ in quite that manner.
By the time the last customer leaves at five o’clock we’re all worn out. I’m glad that we’re having a quiet night in before my wedding. I’m not sure what Rainbow has planned for entertainment, but I have my fingers crossed that it’s not too taxing. At least she hasn’t organised for us to go clubbing in the city. Or maybe she did and Lija talked her out of it.
As Edie’s worked so hard in the café and hasn’t complained about anything, there’s also a slight thawing in relationships between her and Lija. When we’ve cleared up for the day, we all have a group hug and I’m pleased to see that Lija puts her arm around Edie without any hesitation. Well, not too much. I keep my fingers crossed behind my back. I don’t really want to turn up for work and find my sister’s blood up the walls. Not before Christmas. Not before my wedding.
‘I should go and get my things.’ I’m not entirely sure where I’ll be sleeping tonight as Edie’s in my old room. I could be bunking in with her, if she’ll have me. Otherwise, I’ll be on the sofa.
‘We’re not staying here,’ Edie tells me. ‘I’ve booked us all a hotel for the night.’
‘Is that what you’ve all been whispering about?’ I ask.
‘Maybe,’ she says.
‘It’s a lovely thought, Edie, but you don’t have any money.’
‘I still have my credit card though. Just about. This is my present to you. To you all. It’s good to be back and I wanted to thank you for taking me in. Again.’
‘Parteeeeeeeeee!’ Rainbow shouts and pumps her hands in the air. ‘Parteeeeeeeeee!’
I have to smile. Whatever she’s come up with, I’ll join in with good grace. I’ve never yet seen Rainbow disappointed and I don’t want to be the one to do it.
‘What about the food for tomorrow?’ I ask. ‘I thought we were going to start it tonight?’
‘No need to worry,’ Lija says. ‘We have a plan.’
‘Are you going to let me in on this plan?’
Lija looks thoughtful for a moment. ‘No.’
Fair enough. There’s only a few of us. If it doesn’t go according to Lija’s ‘plan’, then we can always knock up something quickly when we get back. We’re a café, it’s what we do.
‘No cooking tonight either. We have a table booked in the restaurant for eight o’clock,’ Edie says. ‘Better get a wiggle on.’
‘OMG!’ Rainbow is beside herself with joy. ‘I think I might WEE with happiness!’
Me too. I grin, feeling very special. ‘I’d better go and pack my things, then.’
Chapter Fifty-Seven
I’m exhausted when I make my way down to the boat to collect what I need for our night out. The air outside is freezing and this is possibly the coldest day of the year yet. The white Christmas that’s still being promised by the weathermen seems even more feasible now. On The Dreamcatcher, the log burner is roaring away and it’s cosy and warm. Danny is waiting for me and takes me into his arms.
‘You’ve finished work early for once.’
‘I’ve got a lot to do,’ he says. ‘These weddings don’t organise themselves, you know.’
‘I have no idea how on earth people manage to have parties for a hundred and thirty with all the bells and whistles.’
‘Me neither,’ Danny agrees. ‘Do we even know a hundred and thirty people?’
‘There are friends that I haven’t seen for ages that it would have been nice to invite.’ I’ve lost touch with so many of them over the last year or so, what with one thing and another. Perhaps it would have been good to make a bit more of a fuss about our marriage. Then I remember that we don’t have the type of budget that can run to ‘a fuss’. ‘Maybe we could have a belated party in the summer.’
‘Maybe.’
Danny doesn’t seem that keen, so I don’t push it. Besides, I have enough to think about now. Even though our celebration may be modest, I’m marrying the man who I love the most in the world and I couldn’t be happier.
‘We’re not staying at the house tonight. Edie’s booked us into a hotel.’ I can tell by his expression that it’s not a surprise for Danny. ‘You knew.’
He nods. ‘The girls thought it would be nice for you to be spoiled for a change.’
‘It’s a lovely thought. I can’t remember when I last stayed in a hotel. I’m just more worried about Edie’s credit card than she is.’
‘Let her treat you, for once. You deserve it. Take the opportunity to stretch out in a bath.’
‘Sounds like bliss.’ I might use all of the complimentary toiletries for the sheer hell of it. ‘You’re seeing Stan later? I don’t like to leave you while I’m out having a good time.’
‘Yeah. We’re just going to chill out,’ Danny says. ‘I splashed out on a bottle of JD and some beer snacks. Stan the Man and me are going to get seriously wasted.’
‘Don’t get so wasted that you oversleep tomorrow,’ I warn. ‘I don’t want Stan staggering down the aisle with me either.’
‘As if,’ Danny says, but he gives me a worrying wink.
‘I won’t have time to stop by and see him before I go off to the hotel. Will you give him my love and tell him I can’t wait for him to give me away tomorrow? You’ve got the wedding rings?’
‘Everything’s under control. I don’t want you to worry about a thing.’ Then Danny turns away from me. ‘One last thing. I picked this for you today.’ He produces a basket filled with holly bearing the most beautiful dark red berries which match my coat dress perfectly. There are some fronds of conifer in there too and some pine cones. ‘You haven’t said what you’d planned for your flowers, but I spotted it on my way to work and thought of you. Can you make use of it?’
‘It’s gorgeous.’ My eyes fill with tears. ‘I was going to nip to the supermarket in the morning and buy some flowers. This is so much better.’
On
the top of the foliage is a sprig or two of glossy mistletoe. I hold it up. ‘It would be a shame not to try this out. See if it works?’
‘You know, I can feel it working already,’ he teases and holds me close. His lips meet mine, softly, then more intensely. He draws me along the length of his body and his fingers leave trails of tingling pleasure. ‘We don’t have time for this,’ I murmur against his neck.
‘We should always have time for this,’ he counters.
Well, I’m hardly going to be the one to argue the night before our wedding, am I?
So in the time I should be packing, we make love and then, when I can linger in his arms no longer, I run round like a loon throwing things into a case so that I can make the appointed time for our departure to the hotel without Lija giving me a telling-off.
‘I’m running late,’ I say in a panic.
‘I was still right though.’ Danny grins at me from the bed.
‘Yes,’ I admit. ‘You were.’ I throw my toiletries into the bag. ‘You’ll make sure that Stan’s dressed and ready?’
He gets up and pulls on his jeans. ‘We have a breakfast appointment for tennish.’
‘Enjoy yourselves.’ He takes me in his arms for one last hug. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow at the register office,’ I say.
‘Until tomorrow.’ As, reluctantly, I move away, he blows me a kiss.
Then, with happiness in my heart, I leave him to go to my hen party.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
The hotel is beautiful. Edie, of course, has really pushed the boat out. I don’t think of the damage this is doing to her credit card. That’s her problem, not mine. Just as long as she doesn’t give me the bill in the new year.
The hotel isn’t that far from where The Dreamcatcher is moored, but I’ve never been here before – generally we choose the more modest establishments for our custom as befits our budget.
Tonight we have two adjoining rooms at the hotel. I have one to myself with an enormous king-size bed. Lija, Edie and Rainbow are sharing a family room next door. My suite is all cream and gold and gorgeous with a beautiful chandelier and more cushions on the bed than I thought humanly possible.