Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Daisy
D aisy awoke on her wedding day with a thrill of anticipation. She hadn’t slept much, her mind too overflowing with excitement for Nate and the day to come. She rolled out of bed, feet already padding across the carpet to her bathroom before her eyes had even opened.
Nate stayed at the workshop even though they’d spent every night together since they’d first slept together.
She smiled at the old-fashioned tradition, thinking she would be Mrs Hill in a few hours. Reverend Wendy Sprite would meet them at Copper Island church. They’d toyed with marrying in the Turner Chapel, but Daisy didn’t want to risk her mother being spotted by her brothers or her Aunt Cynthia.
It was a chilly day in early December, but the sun shone brightly through the window, and the sky was painted blue for a beautiful day.
Daisy hummed as she descended the stairs to her kitchen and filled the kettle. Nothing would take the smile off her face that day. As she leaned against the countertop, scrolling mindlessly through her social media, waiting for the kettle to boil, her attention was directed to the tapping on the glass.
She looked up at her back door and almost dropped her phone. Daisy put the phone down, lifted her robe and ran to the back door. She flipped the lock and swung the door open.
“Mum,” she said and sobbed. “I thought you were coming later.”
“You’re worth the risk, Daisy. I took an earlier boat. Mum and Dad met me at the boat, and we had breakfast. They’ll meet us at the church. Have you had breakfast?”
“No, I’m too nervous.”
“You must eat, even if it’s a piece of toast. Have you got any peanut butter?”
“Yeah,” Daisy said, grinning. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
Daisy grabbed her mum and hugged her hard. The bonus of her brothers not talking to her was that there was no danger of them being interrupted. Still, she wasn’t going to risk sitting out on the back patio. Her mother made her breakfast while she dashed upstairs to have a shower. When she came back downstairs, a feast awaited her in the dining room.
“That is not peanut butter on toast,” Daisy said, pointing to the scrambled egg, bacon, toast, coffee and orange juice spread. “I didn’t have half of those ingredients in my fridge.”
“No, but Maggie did. She snuck in and made this for you. She wanted to make you your pre-wedding breakfast so we could have some mum-and-daughter time.”
“I love Maggie. ”
“Me too. She writes amazing letters about you all. I feel like I have been with you for the last twelve months.”
Daisy’s shoulders sagged, and she shuffled to the table.
“It does look good,” she relented.
They tucked into their food and chatted and laughed about nothing in particular. It was soon time to get ready. Daisy hadn’t thought about how she would get to the church undetected and now was in a panic in her bedroom.
“Mum!” she shouted down the stairs.
Her mum came racing up the stairs and skidded into the bathroom, looking like she was about to fight a bear if need be.
“What’s wrong?”
“How am I going to get to the church in a wedding dress and no one see me and instantly know what’s going on?”
“Oh, sweetheart. It’s winter time. You’ve got that long black wool coat. That will cover your dress, and I can take your veil, and we can put that on when we get there.”
Daisy let out a puff of air. “Right, okay. Crisis averted. Will you help me into my dress?”
“I want nothing more. This is everything I dreamed it would be. Just you and me on your wedding day, giving you away. I wish your dad was here.”
“Don’t make me cry, Mum. You’ll spoil my makeup.”
Daisy stepped into her flowing gown of white. A thousand tiny pearls seemed to dance around her as the fabric floated around her feet like a willow in the breeze. She smiled, her heart alight with joy and anticipation for what the day would bring.
Daisy studied her reflection in the mirror, her eyes dancing with joy. She was happy, and she felt it right down to her bones. Daisy would soon be a married woman. It wouldn’t matter what her brothers or her aunt did. She would have Nate by her side. Daisy wondered if that was how her mum felt when she married her dad. Them against the world.
Her mind drifted to Nate, the man she was going to marry. He had such a gentle soul and a kind heart. She thought of the way he had taken care of her that first time she had an episode. He didn’t shy away or think she was weird.
Somehow she knew they were meant to be together, and today was the day they would become man and wife.
She moved through the house, her steps light as she checked her clutch bag. They would come straight back to the cottage after the ceremony. Her mum would get on the next boat leaving the harbour, and Daisy’s grandparents would go back to the butcher’s, so it didn’t attract any attention. Maggie and Bailey would go back to Turner Hall like nothing had happened.
Finally, she stepped out into the sunshine, breathing in the crisp fresh air.
“Let’s do this, Mum. Can you drive?”
“I will be your chauffeur with pleasure, but I think it would be best if Bailey drove you. I’ll take the back path to the church across the graveyard.”
Bailey cleared his throat at the end of the pathway.
“Good morning, Miss Turner. You have a beautiful day for it,” he said in his low baritone voice.
“Hi, Bailey. Thank you for driving me.”
“It will be my pleasure. Even though I think these buggies are death traps.”
Maggie laughed behind him and took her mum’s arm, and they hurried off out of sight. There was an advantage to being the end cottage. To get to the church, she didn’t have to pass her brother’s cottages .
“I’ve parked the buggy at the other end. We’ll nip through those trees so we don’t pass the other cottages.”
“Good thinking Bailey. Let’s go. I don’t want Nate to think I’m not coming.”
“Absolutely.”
Nate was waiting for her at the church. His parents were in the front row. Nate was ready to receive her as his bride. Daisy’s heart raced as she thought of the moment when they would finally be together, the look of love and devotion in his eyes when he caught sight of her.
The minutes ticked by, and Daisy felt her excitement growing. She couldn’t believe she was about to start a new life with the man she loved.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she stepped into the vestibule. Imelda was there, ready to affix her veil. Bailey took her coat, and then Daisy turned to look at her mother.
She burst out laughing.
“How did you get that hat here undetected?”
“Stealth, Daisy. I’m the mother of the bride, and it’s my duty to wear a big hat.”
“You look fabulous,” Daisy said and clutched her hand.
Daisy stepped forward to the wooden door that would take her inside the church. Her eyes were wide, and her heart was pounding with anticipation. Daisy took a deep breath and walked through the doors.
She saw Nate standing at the end of the aisle, his eyes meeting hers. Time and space seemed to melt away as the two of them locked eyes. Daisy felt a wave of emotion wash over her, and tears welled in her eyes. Imelda hooked her arm through Daisy’s arm and walked her down the short aisle where she handed Daisy over to Nate.
“You look sensational in a suit,” Daisy said, her voice all breathy .
“I love your dress, but I can’t wait to get you out of it,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
Nate extended his arm, and Daisy stepped forwards, allowing him to pull her close. Daisy felt the warmth of his embrace and knew that she was home. They held each other for what felt like an eternity until the officiant cleared his throat and asked them to turn and face each other.
She and Nate spoke their vows with all the love and commitment they felt for each other, their eyes never leaving each other’s faces. When Reverend Sprite declared them husband and wife, there were cheers and tears of joy from those gathered.
As they turned to walk down the aisle, Daisy and Nate’s gazes met, and they shared a knowing smile. They would never forget the day.
They stepped out into the sunshine, now Mr and Mrs Hill. Daisy smiled, her heart lighter than ever. They had made it, and now their life together could begin.
The day was everything Daisy had dreamed it would be. Cynthia Turner hadn’t spoiled it.
Nate drove Daisy back to the cottage when everyone scattered to their homes.
Daisy felt the gentle warmth of Nate’s arm around her shoulder, and she felt more content and at peace than ever. She and Nate were husband and wife, and that was all that mattered.
From then on, their life together would begin. With or without her brothers in her life.