Chapter Twenty-Seven

‘Ohmigod!’ Louise cried as she opened the curtains the next morning. ‘The weather forecast was right. It’s been snowing. There must be at least six inches. We’re going –’

‘It can’t be – not today!’ Nicci jumped out of bed and joined her sister at the window.

‘April Fool!’

Nicci thumped her arm, hard.

‘Ow!’

‘You nearly gave me a heart attack.’

‘Well, that’ll teach you to get married on April 1st, you daft mare.’ Louise grinned. ‘And I can get my own back on you for last night. You snored like a pig.’

Nicci grinned. They stood silent for a moment and then she threw herself back on the bed, laughing.

‘I’m getting married today. Can you believe it?’

‘Believe it? I can’t forget it. It’s the only thing I’ve heard about in weeks since I let it slip.’ Louise sat on the edge of the bed as Nicci pulled down the zip to the cover of her dress; smiled as she watched her sister run a hand down the material afterwards.

‘I’m so proud of you,’ she told her. ‘I hope you have a fantastic day today.’

Nicci shuffled back across the bed and gave her a hug.

‘Don’t worry, big sis,’ she soothed. ‘You’ll find your Prince Charming one day.’

‘Now’s the time you shout April Fool.’

Nicci sighed. ‘It wasn’t meant as a joke. You never know.’

‘Yeah, right. And my bum is blue.’

‘It will be if it snows!’

Louise grinned, not really knowing where that saying had come from. Then she sniffed long and hard. Her eyes lit up with anticipation. ‘Can you smell that?’

Nicci smiled. ‘Bacon!’

‘Race you for the first sarnie.’

As if they were teenagers again, they flew down the stairs and into the kitchen. Their dad, Terry, was the one frying the bacon; while their mum was busy buttering toast and making tea.

‘Just in time, girls,’ she smiled. ‘Nicci, you can set the table and—’

Nicci looked puzzled. ‘Since when have we set the table for breakfast?’

‘Since my youngest daughter decided to get married.’ With a warm smile, Sandra slapped her hand away as Nicci tried to grab a piece of toast. ‘Do as you’re told, Missy, or else ... Louise, go and see where Charley is.’

‘It’s seven thirty, Mum. She’ll still be asleep.’

‘Well, get her up then. We have a busy day ahead.’

‘Yes, because,’ Terry broke out into song, ‘you’re getting married in five ho-urs. Ding dong the bells are going to CHIME!’

Nicci laughed and then her face was etched in worry. ‘Oh, I hope everything goes all right today. I’ve waited so long for this moment.’

‘Everything will be fine.’ Sandra placed a pot of tea onto the table. ‘And besides, something has to go wrong on the day – it’s tradition.’

‘It’s also a tradition that the bride eats a lovely big fry up.’ Terry slid the bacon and eggs on to plates and handed one to Nicci. ‘Get that down you, my lovely.’

Later that morning over at the market, Sam stood mentally ticking off her list, scrutinising everything to make sure nothing was out of place or hadn’t been done. She removed a rogue piece of cotton from the tablecloth at the wedding table and smiled. It all looked so special. The wedding party wouldn’t know but they would be sitting at several trestle tables covered in cream material, gold tassles hanging from a runner that ran the whole length and down the sides, almost touching the floor. Two chairs at its middle had been covered too, for the bride and groom.

She sat down on Nicci’s seat and surveyed what everyone had worked hard to create. Gone was the market hall and in its place was a spectacular wedding room. All the junk had been moved to the stock room, leaving them ample space for eight circular tables set out for guests. Each table had mini chocolate wedding fancies for the women, miniature bottles of whisky for the men. Gold and cream helium balloon decorations graced the centres. The places were set and she was waiting on Mr Adams bringing in the food. The wine glasses shined and awaited the drink. There was a space left in the middle of the floor which would do as a makeshift dance floor and a local DJ had set up in readiness at the far end of the room. The only noise at the moment was coming from the clink of glassware as the bar was set up to her right.

Sam prayed it would all go well for Nicci and Jay. They were a lovely couple and doted on each other. She realised she and Reece must have been the same all those years ago, imagining they’d be together forever. She wished she knew the secret to keeping it that way. But for her, there was no going back.

Taking one last look around, with great satisfaction and anticipation of what was to come, Sam left to get changed for the wedding ceremony. Things might not have gone to plan for Nicci but everyone had certainly done her proud today. She couldn’t wait to see her face.

It was half past eleven. Upstairs in Nicci’s old bedroom, the chatter was loud and the champagne was flowing. The women were adding the final preparations to ensure everything was just perfect for the big day.

Louise and Sam helped Nicci step into her wedding dress and then fasten it up. The off-white dress was understated perfection; long and sleeveless satin with a v-neckline pleated bodice. The skirt was A-line and cut on the bias.

‘At least you don’t have to breathe in to fit in your dress,’ sighed Louise, zipping it up easily and fastening the hook and eye.

‘That’s because I’ve been on the wedding nerves diet,’ Nicci laughed.

‘Oh, don’t worry,’ said Sarah, running a brush through her daughter Abigail’s hair as Amelia, her other daughter, tried to do her own. ‘Besides you’ve got the old traditional good luck charms, haven’t you? Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?’

‘Have I?’ Nicci turned round with a worried look on her face.

‘Sure you have,’ said Louise. ‘Something old is Jay.’

Nicci’s mouth dropped open before she grinned.

‘Something new is your dress,’ said Sam, running a hand down the front of it to smooth it out.

‘Something borrowed is your necklace,’ said Sandra, doing the same to the back. ‘Borrowed from your mum.’ Nicci fingered the thin gold chain with its diamond pendant.

‘And something blue is this.’ Nicci lifted up the skirt of her dress, much to the annoyance of Sam and Sandra, and snapped the elastic on her lacy garter. ‘Perfect!’

Charley’s hair was piled up in a bun, tendrils hanging down by her ears to frame her face; tiny white flowers weaved in here and there. In her pale pink dress, she looked angelic.

‘You look like a magical princess,’ Louise smiled affectionately.

Charley grinned at her. ‘I look more like a fairy. I can’t wait to wear the new dress you bought me this evening.’

Sarah was helping the twins into their clothes, tying ballet shoe ribbons round two pairs of fidgety legs. They each wore halos of flowers matching their three-quarter length dresses with a huge bow at the centre of the back. Cream tights and fluffy angora cardigans finished their outfits off completely. She gave them both a hug before showing them off to everyone.

‘Now, that’s what fairies look like,’ muttered Charley. Louise giggled.

Over in the corner of the room, Jess stood quietly, trying to get ready alone. She didn’t want to join in even if they had let her; she wanted to blend into the background. It was hurtful to see Sarah and the twins.

She stepped into a simple pink dress that stopped at her ankles. A month ago, it would have fitted perfectly but due to the baby bump she was now showing, the dress had to be let out at the last minute and was stretched to its maximum. Still, it was only for one day.

Jess put her hand around her back to pull up the zip. But it was a struggle to do it by herself.

‘Here, let me help,’ Sarah offered, coming over to her.

Oh no, not her of all people, thought Jess.

‘Oh, it’s fine,’ she said blushing crimson.

‘It won’t take me a minute.’ Sarah pulled up the zip and turned Jess round to face her. She stared at her for a moment, eyes brimming with tears. Then she smiled.

‘You look gorgeous,’ she said.

‘I look fat and pregnant,’ said Jess.

‘No. You look radiant because you’re pregnant.’ Sarah paused for a moment and then spoke quietly. ‘Was it you?’

Jess decided she didn’t want to lie again. Besides, she’d been deceitful and Sarah deserved to know the truth. She nodded.

Sarah’s eyes dropped and then met Jess’s again. ‘Is it his baby?’

‘No.’ Jess shook her head this time. ‘It was only the once or twice.’

‘Was it once or twice?’

‘Well, I—’

‘Oh, what does it matter anyway? It’s another once or twice too much again as far as I’m concerned. Ryan is good-looking and he has the gift of the gab. You weren’t the first woman to fall for his charms.’

The two women looked at each other. There was no need for any more words, even though Jess knew that Ryan wasn’t the only one to blame.

‘Mummy, Abby needs a wee and my ribbon has come undone,’ Amelia shouted from the other side of the room.

Sarah took a deep breath and held her head high. With one last look at Jess, she gave her a faint smile before reaching down for her daughter’s hands.

‘Come on then, poppet,’ she said. ‘Let’s get you sorted. We can’t have any mishaps, today of all days.’

Before she moved away, Jess reached for Sarah’s arm. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘And, for what’s it worth, I’ve learned my lesson. I just never saw what this would do to you, and your family.’

‘I don’t blame you,’ Sarah replied. ‘I blame Ryan.’ She paused. ‘Still, that won’t be my problem soon. Okay, okay. I’m coming!’

As Sarah was dragged away by an impatient Amelia, Jess stood alone again. She wanted to cry but knew she needed to stay strong. This wasn’t the time or the place for self-pity. Besides, she didn’t want to stress herself out. She knew it wouldn’t be good for the baby.

She cradled her bump and looked around the room – grandmother, mother, sister, niece, auntie, all intent on making this day special. And she would be Nicci’s sister-in-law, despite trying to scupper the wedding when she’d come back to Hedworth.

If she changed, she had a loving family to bring her baby into. And she needed them. Bringing up a child on her own would be hard enough, she could do far worse than settle in Hedworth again, surrounded by family – and maybe even make some friends. She could make a fresh start.

She glanced at her own mother, Maureen, who was laughing at something Sandra had said to her. Maureen caught her eye, smiled and beckoned her over. Jess paused for a moment. She had two choices. Either she joined in and enjoyed the day or she sat back and sulked, causing an atmosphere.

She decided to choose the former.