Chapter 22
TARA
‘Are you nervous?’ Carly asked Jed as the three of us walked up to Minty’s – a bar at the top of town where Bay Trade met on the second Monday of each month.
‘A little bit, which is weird because I’m usually really confident meeting new people through the gallery.’
‘You met a lot of them at the Christmas lights switch-on,’ I said, ‘and everyone’s friendly.’
We got drinks from the bar then headed upstairs to the function room.
Nick, Skye and Stuart, who’d set up Bay Trade nearly a decade ago, made a beeline for us and welcomed Jed.
I’d told Jed that, although Skye’s main business was making jewellery, she was also an artist, so he asked her about her paintings and I left them chatting and joined Carly, Jemma and Ginny.
‘How are the wedding plans going?’ Jemma asked Carly.
‘Good, I think. It’s amazing what you can achieve when there’s a tight deadline looming.
The dresses, invitations and favours are all on order, I’ve had a chat to Sarah about flowers, Liam’s chosen the suits, and I’ve narrowed down the cake to three designs which is pretty amazing considering I had eighteen at one point. ’
‘I assume you’re making the cake yourself,’ Jemma said.
‘Yes, so part of the narrowing down was ruling out designs which need too much last-minute work when I’ll have other priorities.
So it’s cake from me, dresses from Ginny, flowers from Sarah, part of the favours from Charlee and hopefully a bride and groom bear made by you or your mum. I dropped Liam enough hints.’
‘I couldn’t possibly comment,’ Jemma said, but the twinkle in her eyes suggested that Liam had picked up those hints.
Jemma ran Bear With Me, a gorgeous shop specialising in teddy bears.
Jemma made miniature collectible bears and her mum made large ones.
Whenever I passed the shop, I always paused to look at the cute faces in the window.
‘I love it when someone from Castle Street gets married and supports the traders rather than ordering everything online,’ Ginny said. ‘It’s such a special thing.’
Ginny had kept The Wedding Emporium open for us one evening as Carly had hoped.
It had been just Carly, Bethany, their mum and me although Liam’s sister, Kim, was connected on FaceTime.
Several colours were discussed before we landed on a beautiful dusky blue for the bridesmaid dresses which would suit us all and felt perfect for a spring wedding.
It had been a privilege to see Carly choosing her wedding gown and I couldn’t wait to see Liam’s face when he saw her wearing it on their big day.
Michael Heslington – a talented professional photographer who specialised in landscapes – arrived and greeted us as he passed.
He travelled the world with his work so didn’t make it to many Bay Trade meetings but I loved hearing about his travels when he did so I’d make sure I caught up with him later.
‘That reminds me,’ Carly said, ‘I need to confirm the photographer. Michael gave me a recommendation and we love the guy’s work so we’re hoping he isn’t booked already.’
Jed was still talking to Skye and, when Michael approached, they both looked surprised to see each other before smiling and shaking hands in a way that suggested to me they weren’t meeting for the first time.
‘Does Jed know Michael?’ Ginny asked.
‘Looks that way, doesn’t it?’
Nick called for hush so Jed and Michael parked themselves at the nearest table.
Jed was welcomed as a newbie, news was invited from other members and then we were asked if anyone had anything they wanted to discuss.
Sometimes a member had a problem they wanted the group’s help on but, as nobody had anything to share, the formalities were short.
I glanced across the room at Jed and Michael, smiling at the sight of them deep in conversation with their phones out, presumably showing each other their work.
I liked Michael and could imagine him and Jed having a lot in common given that Jed’s artwork came from studying landscapes as well as animals.
I left them to chat for a while then wandered over, curious as to how they knew each other.
‘We met when I was at catering college,’ Jed said.
Michael nodded. ‘I was in my final year at secondary school and experimenting with still-life photography. I contacted the college to ask whether I could photograph any of their dishes free of charge to give me some practice. They were really good to me and, after they saw my work, they gave me a budget to produce some brochures and posters of the students’ best work. ’
‘I’ve still got that brochure somewhere,’ Jed said. ‘Michael was great at photography back then but he’s been showing me some of his more recent photos and they’re exceptional.’
‘And so’s your art,’ Michael responded and I smiled at the clear respect they had for each other.
‘You’ve never mentioned still life,’ I said. ‘You obviously moved away from that.’
‘I did, but funnily enough, I’ve returned to it recently.
Travelling round the world with my camera was incredible when I was single but not so much now that I’m married with a baby.
Kayla’s ten months old now and we’d like a brother or sister for her, maybe next year.
My wife, Nia, has been brilliant. She’s never once asked me to slow down or spend more time at home but I want to be with her and our kids so I’m doing more UK-based work including still life for brochures and catalogues.
It’s different but I’m enjoying it and the main thing is getting to be with my family. ’
‘Sounds like an ideal compromise. I’ll leave you two to catch up.’
As I returned to my friends, guilt prodded at me.
How did I not know that Michael was married with a baby?
I’d had stacks of conversations with him about his overseas travels but I’d never once asked him about his personal life.
I’d made a huge assumption that he was single simply because of how much time he spent abroad.
I could have asked but, until last year, I’d avoided quizzing anyone about their personal lives because I hadn’t wanted to open up about mine.
I wondered now whether there’d been another reason – a protective mechanism to avoid hearing about the type of life I wanted but which I couldn’t imagine ever having.
Carly had asked if she could come back to The Chocolate Pot for a hot chocolate after Bay Trade because there was something she wanted to talk to me about so I suggested to Jed that he and Michael stay for another drink.
In the café, I made our drinks and we took them up to the flat where Hercules was waiting by the door for some attention.
‘I’ve missed you,’ Carly said, scooping him up and showering him with kisses. ‘You’re so snuggly.’
She carried him through to the lounge and he draped himself across her knee while I put our mugs down on the coffee table.
‘So, what did you want to discuss?’ I asked.
‘As if we don’t already have enough on with organising the wedding, Liam and I have decided to throw house hunting into the mix.’
‘You’re moving out of the flat?’ My voice came out unnecessarily high.
‘We want to start a family in a couple of years’ time and the flat’s fine for the two of us but there’s no way we can squeeze kids in there too.’
While delighted for Carly and Liam that they had clear plans for the future, I felt like the wind had just been knocked out of my sails. I loved having Carly next door to me. We weren’t in and out of each other’s homes all the time but it was reassuring to know she was so close.
‘Are you okay?’ Carly asked, looking at me with concern.
I realised I hadn’t responded and flashed her what I hoped looked like a genuine smile. ‘I don’t know why that’s taken me by surprise. Sorry. It’s fantastic news.’
‘We’re excited, but I’m going to miss having you next door. And I’m conscious that, with Ginny’s flat being empty, you won’t have anyone living either side of you.’
‘Oh! I’ll be fine. I’ve got Hercules for company and I’m sure it won’t be long before Jed stays over.’
There was no point asking Carly whether she’d consider renting her flat out because, like mine, the access was through the business and having a tenant walking through her shop during or outside of opening hours wasn’t an option.
‘What will you do about your baking?’ I asked. ‘Come in early?’
‘I’ll have to. When we first discussed it, I got really upset at the thought of leaving my lovely flat but I’ve got used to the idea now. I want to be married to Liam and I want a family with him but that means living somewhere else. New chapter.’
She picked up her hot chocolate and looked around the room. ‘What about you? Could you see Jed moving in here with you at some point?’
‘Honestly, I don’t know. My head’s a bit of a mess about it.
We haven’t discussed it yet but I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I’m in the same boat as you – the flat would be great for the two of us but we need it to fit a family.
Putting up stud walls to create bedrooms for Erin and Lucy would break my heart. ’
Carly grimaced. ‘I couldn’t imagine it not being open plan. Won’t Lucy be going away to university soon? Could you maybe create just the one bedroom?’
‘Lucy doesn’t think she wants to go to uni so she could be around for years.
It wouldn’t be fair to give her a bedroom and expect her to share it with her sister, especially when Erin has a boyfriend.
And it wouldn’t just be their bedrooms. Mine couldn’t stay open plan if we’re sharing a home so the whole flat would need reconfiguring. ’
‘Why haven’t you talked to Jed about it?’
‘I don’t feel like we’re at that stage yet. I know that sounds backwards when we’ve already said we love each other and that we want to be together forever. I don’t think we’re quite ready for the practicalities.’