Epilogue
Three months later
The afternoon sun was hot on Zennor’s bare shoulders at the front of the Old Guildhall in St Ives. Now, in peak school holiday, the streets were heaving as usual.
‘We’re becoming a tourist attraction,’ she said to Roo, smiling as people took photos and wished her luck. ‘Where’s Matt?’
‘Don’t worry, he’ll be here.’
A minute later, Matt appeared, slightly out of breath with Tyler and Yolande by his side. ‘Sorry. It’s chaos. Couldn’t park. Oh my God. You look amazing.’
‘Thank you,’ Zennor murmured; her heart was beating so fast, she could barely breathe. ‘You scrub up well too.’
Grinning, he rubbed his hair. ‘I do try. Shall we go inside?’ he asked softly. ‘It’s only ten minutes to our ceremony and we may need a moment to take it all in.’
Matt took her hand. She felt as if she were floating. The whole morning had been surreal: staying at Roo’s and getting ready with Roo’s kids dancing around her in excitement and Jake taking endless photos.
It must have been the same for Matt, who had been staying at Tyler’s.
Not telling anyone apart from their parents and their best friends had almost killed Zennor but they wanted minimal fuss for the actual ceremony.
While she and Matt might have loved to elope to Gretna Green, they owed it to their family and friends to mark the occasion.
So they’d finally decided on a secret, low-key registrar ceremony followed by a big informal reception at the club – with the excuse that it was a surprise party for Tyler’s fortieth.
‘Do you think anyone has guessed?’ she asked as they all sat on leather chairs outside the room used for weddings.
‘I doubt it. Everyone at the Surf Club thinks all the secrecy is about Tyler’s do,’ Matt said. ‘Thanks, mate.’
‘Any time. I owe you a favour.’
The registrar, a woman in a navy trouser suit, emerged from the door. ‘Matt and Zennor. Are you ready?’
Her heart galloped away. ‘Oh, yes.’
Matt stood up and held out his hand to her, his eyes shining with the happiness she felt. ‘Shall we?’
‘SURPRISE!’
Zennor and Matt crept into the foyer of the Harry Veryan Clubhouse as Tyler walked in. Matt’s hand was around hers and she marvelled at the weight of the gold ring around her finger. It had been a while since that hand had worn anything and it felt … perfect.
A raucous chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ rang out.
Matt inched the door open a little more so that Zennor could peer inside.
‘Thanks, guys!’ Tyler shouted.
‘You’re dressed up!’ Vince said. ‘What’s with the flower on your jacket?’
There were groans.
‘Did you know about this?’ Dawn asked.
‘Well, maybe … but only because I was keeping a bigger secret than my birthday. And that is because this party is also to celebrate another special event. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the newly married Mr and Mrs Matt and Zennor Veryan!’
On cue, Tyler opened the doors. Zennor and Matt walked in to gasps and then total pandemonium. Party poppers went off, streamers exploded into the air, and everyone was whooping and cheering.
‘You bloody dark horses!’
‘I had no idea!’
‘About bleddy time!’
‘Let’s get the party started!’ Tyler declared, and someone passed glasses of fizz to Matt and Zennor.
‘Congratulations, Zennor and Matt!’
Matt stood on stage, hand in hand with Zennor.
‘Sorry about the mystery, folks! We just wanted to do it in as small a way as possible but we also wanted to share the day with our friends and family.’
‘So, no one knew?’ Dawn asked, shaking her head in amazement.
‘Zennor’s mum and her partner André, Sybil, Tyler and Yolande, and Roo and Jake. That’s it.’
More cheers rang out.
‘You two are full of bleddy surprises!’ Jago called.
Matt laughed and then called for hush. ‘I also have a surprise for my mate, Tyler, who has sacrificed his birthday party for my wife and me.’
Laughter and jeers rose up and Zennor rolled her eyes.
The choir members stepped out from among the guests, pints in their hands.
‘What’s this? A flash mob?’ Tyler joked.
‘Wait and see.’
Matt joined them, someone handed him a glass, and they did a rousing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’. The Digey bakers were invited and they rolled out a cake shaped like a whale with ‘Happy 40th, Ty’ on it.
After Tyler had hugged Matt and thanked him, Matt called for silence. ‘And now, I’d like to do one more song. It’s one that my mates here in the choir will know – good job as we couldn’t rehearse it – and it’s for a very special person. The woman I love, the new Mrs Veryan, Zennor.’
There were more cheers. Zennor’s mouth was open. She’d had no idea he had this planned.
‘It’s not a love song, per se, but then again, it is a love song to Cornwall, and the most important thing is that it’s for you.’
‘I think he’s a keeper,’ her mum whispered, holding her hand as Matt and his mates assembled in front of her.
‘A good sword and a trusty hand,
A merry heart and true!’
Matt hadn’t finished the second verse when Zennor saw his eyes widen like saucers. To do him credit, he carried on singing even as two people walked into the room and made their way to the front of the guests.
They were both tanned. Matt’s mother had tears in her eyes and both she and his dad – who suddenly reminded Zennor very much of Harry – were clearly bursting with pride.
He saw them and his voice faltered and then it became louder and louder.
‘Here’s twenty thousand Cornishmen
Will know the reason why!’
A cheer almost lifted off the repaired roof and Matt broke free of the choir to hug his mum and dad. ‘It’s been four years. Four years!’
Zennor joined them, tears in her own eyes.
‘Yes. It’s been too long,’ his mum said, hugging them both. ‘When you told us about the wedding, we knew we had to be here. It’s our wedding present.’
Matt looked at Zennor. ‘Did you know about this?’
‘I might’ve.’ She grinned.
‘It’s – it’s amazing!’
Zennor’s heart swelled with emotion until she feared it might crack.
‘Your grandad would be proud,’ his dad said, putting his arm around Matt.
As the party carried on into the evening and the sun set, Zennor found Matt standing on the terrace, looking out over the beach.
‘Penny for them,’ she said.
‘I just never thought we’d get to this moment or that I could be so happy.’
Zennor slipped into his arms and leaned against him. ‘Me neither, but I know this. We needed to grow up and make mistakes before we could finally realise the truth. Sometimes, the unforgivable suddenly becomes forgivable.’
‘What’s the point of nurturing a toxic flame?’ Matt said. ‘You know, I might even forgive Trev because I have you and he doesn’t.’
‘He’s probably just as happy with that new girlfriend who runs his new hotel with him,’ Zennor said.
‘Naw …’ Matt laughed. ‘No one could be happy without you.’
Zennor rolled her eyes.
‘Have I told you that you look absolutely beautiful?’
‘Um. Once or twice.’
‘Aren’t you going to tell me how handsome I am? This suit cost a bomb and I’ll never wear it again.’
Zennor laughed. ‘I am not telling you again how handsome you look. That’s just fishing!’
‘Well, I had to try.’
She kissed him and whispered, ‘I’ll show you how I feel about you later. But first we have a wedding party to go to!’
‘Can’t we bunk off and just do the part where you show me how sexy I am?’
‘You’ll have to be patient!’
The band started playing and they danced the night away in the Harry Veryan Clubhouse and out on the terrace overlooking the beach, which was illuminated with strings of coloured lights.
Her mum danced with André, and Matt’s parents joined in with Roo, Tyler, Vince and Dawn.
Soon almost everyone had taken to the floor.
During a breather, Zennor nudged Matt.
‘Is that …?’ Matt whispered to Zennor.
‘Um. I can’t believe my eyes but – yes.’
Jago from the Fishermen’s Choir had his arm around Sybil. ‘My God, yes. I – Jeez, he has his hand on her bum!’
‘And Sybil hasn’t slapped him.’
‘No … I’d have never put them together.’
‘What do we know?’
‘Clearly nothing and now it’s time to go.’
‘You have to chuck your bouquet, you know,’ Roo told her.
‘It’s a bit of an old-fashioned tradition,’ Zennor said.
‘It probably means seven years’ bad luck or something if you don’t.’ Roo grinned. ‘And besides, it’ll be fun.’
Overhearing them, Dawn was almost panting like a golden retriever. ‘Oh, are you going to throw the bouquet? I’ll announce it!’
‘Erm …’
‘You have to now,’ said Roo.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the bride will now throw her bouquet. Anyone who wants to catch it, please assemble on the beach.’
Almost all the guests followed her and Matt, even if most were only spectating or too shy to join the dozen willing people waiting behind her.
‘Is everyone here who wants to be here?’ Dawn shouted.
Zennor turned around so she couldn’t see the assembled hopefuls.
‘Three, two, one!’
She threw her bouquet high over her shoulder and a shriek pierced the night air.
‘Oh dear, it appears to be me.’
Zennor whipped around to find Sybil with her mouth hanging open and the flowers in her arms. ‘I wasn’t even trying to catch it! It went awry and landed on me. I had to grab it or risk being brained.’
‘That’s what you say!’ Roo said.
‘Is it so awful, maid?’ Jago slipped his arm around her again.
‘Well, it’s a very conventional and archaic tradition – but the flowers are lovely. Thank you, my dear,’ she said to Zennor.
Zennor roared with laughter and ran over to Sybil. ‘You’re welcome.’ She kissed her.
Zennor’s mum joined her. ‘Well done on the flowers,’ she said with a knowing look at Sybil and a smile for Jago.
‘I’m really pleased it’s you and to have you all together here on my wedding day is the best present ever.’
‘I don’t think we’ll leave it as long to be together again,’ her mum said. ‘Will we, Sybil?’
Sybil’s eyes glistened with tears. ‘No, and thank you both for welcoming me.’
‘Shall we go and get a drink, Sybil, and let the young folk get on their way?’ Jago asked, and with a happy nod, Sybil let him sweep her off to the bar, leaving Zennor with her mother.
‘Have an amazing life, darling. Both of you.’
‘Thank you, Helen,’ Matt said as Zennor hugged her mother goodbye, her heart fit to burst.
Matt took Zennor’s hand. ‘And now can we finally go off on our honeymoon? Even if it is only to our new house?’
To cheers, they left the club, knowing the party would go on long into the night.
Zennor took off her shoes and carried them down the steps to the beach. With Matt’s arm around her, they walked along the sand, where the waves were a line of froth as creamy as the lace on her dress.
‘After what happened the first time, I didn’t expect you to sing at my wedding again,’ she said when they finally reached the house and stood on the terrace overlooking the ocean.
‘No, and I won’t make a habit of it – singing at weddings.’ He grinned cheekily. ‘But I might sing in the shower, occasionally, as a special treat.’
He wrapped his arms around her waist and the moonlight shone down, creating a golden path along the sea.
‘Oh, I can think of much better things to do in the shower,’ said Zennor and led him into their house.