Four months later. 12 September
Standing in the front bedroom of Leo’s cottage, Anna saw Daisy and Nat hand in hand, making their way under the lynch gate and along the path leading to St. Nicholas In The Field church where in half an hour’s time she would become Mrs Leo Hunter. Five minutes earlier she’d seen Leo’s daughter Alison and her husband tread the same path, and now Poppy and Tom were being welcomed by one of the ushers.
Anna smiled to herself. It was almost unbelievable how things had fallen into place over the past few months just as Leo had insisted they would.
‘It’s because it’s meant to be,’ Leo had teased her twenty-four hours before when he’d moved out to a friend’s cottage in the village so they could follow the tradition of not seeing each other the night before their wedding.
Downstairs a door banged and thirty seconds later Cindy burst into the bedroom.
‘Granny, Granny, we’re here. Can I put my dress on?’
‘Not until you’ve given me a cuddle, young lady,’ Anna said holding out her arms for Cindy to run into.
‘I’m sorry we’re late,’ Verity said, following Cindy into the room. ‘Traffic. Honestly, you’d think we lived fifty miles away not fifteen.’
‘No problem. We’ve got plenty of time. You’re looking very glamorous. I love your hat,’ Anna said. ‘Where’s Teddy?’
‘He dropped us and walked down to the pub to check on Leo and his best man. Make sure they’ve got everything – like the rings! He’ll be back here soon.’
‘Come on then Cindy, let’s get you dressed,’ Anna said. ‘Then you and Mummy can walk to the church and wait for me.’
‘Cindy, you are the most beautiful flower girl I’ve ever seen,’ Anna said a few minutes later. ‘I’m so proud you’re mine.’ Placing the halo of flowers on to Cindy’s head, she gently clipped it into place, before dropping a gentle kiss on the little girl’s head. ‘Go and have a look in the mirror – see how beautiful you look.’
‘Is your dress pink too?’ Cindy asked as she twirled in front of the dressing table mirror.
‘No. I did think about a pale pink one but decided it was really your colour,’ Anna said, crossing to the large wardrobe and taking her own wedding ensemble out.
‘Can I give you a hand dressing?’ Verity asked.
‘Please. Lots of hidden buttons down the back that I can’t reach,’ Anna said, slipping the Grecian style gown made in the palest of pale yellow chiffon off its hanger and over her head.
‘What d’you think?’ she asked anxiously. ‘I wanted something special but felt I was a bit too old for a traditional wedding gown.’
‘Anna, I’m speechless and I know Leo will be too when he sees you walking towards him. You look amazing,’ Verity said. ‘Anything in your hair?’
Anna shook her head. ‘No. I’m just going to carry a simple posy which is in the kitchen with Cindy’s flower basket. Oh I think I can hear Teddy.’
Downstairs, Verity collected the flower basket and she and Cindy kissed Anna before leaving for the church. ‘We’ll see you there,’ Verity said.
Left alone with Teddy, Anna suddenly felt shy and was glad when he took charge.
‘We’ll give them a head start and then we’ll set off,’ he said glancing at his watch. ‘If we walk slowly you should be a fashionable five minutes late.’
Looking at Teddy, handsome and immaculate in his morning suit, as he checked the cottage doors were locked before they left, Anna felt a sudden rush of happiness.
‘Ready?’ Teddy handed her the posy of flowers and ushered her out of the cottage, slamming the front door securely behind them. Together they made their way along the path, through the lynch gate and on into the church.
Standing in the church porch as Verity made a couple of last minute adjustments to Anna’s dress and Cindy jiggled on one foot desperate to start throwing rose petals, Anna saw Leo waiting for her by the altar.
She turned to Teddy. ‘I can’t believe how much my life has changed in the past year. When I met Leo I didn’t believe things could get any better, and then you happened.’ She was silent for a moment. ‘We’ve come a long way in the last few months, haven’t we?’ she said. ‘Who would have thought my own son would be walking me down the aisle to marry the man I love.’
‘It’s a whole new stage of life for us all,’ Teddy said. ‘After years of wondering, I know my roots. Now, I’m sure you are going to be very happy married to Leo but, remember, Mum, I’m here if you ever need me.’
Anna smiled tremulously. ‘I still can’t get used to hearing you call me that, but I do love it so.’
As the organist began a joyful rendition of the Wedding March, Teddy took her by the arm and Anna began her walk down the aisle to marry Leo, at the side of her son and behind her granddaughter joyfully scattering rose petals at her feet.