Chapter 21
21
Jade got her lie-in the next day, or more accurately she pretended she was still asleep long enough for Finn to bring her a cuppa in bed.
As he clunked the mug down on the bedside table, she opened her eyes.
‘I’m awake.’
‘Maybe I ought to get back in bed then and we can carry on from where we left off last night?’ He winked, and she smiled and sat up.
‘Or maybe I should just get up as usual, Finn. Really. I’m wide awake anyway. You know what my body clock’s like. I might just as well get up and help you. But I really do appreciate the gesture.’
They both smiled then and drank their tea in bed and then they got up and slipped into the routines of the day, which now included a bunch of noisy geese, who were making their presence known. Luckily they were quite a way from the house.
As Jade fed dogs and cats and cleaned out kennels and catteries, snatches of the Saturday evening she’d spent with Declan kept popping into her mind. The times his hand had touched hers when he’d been pointing out things on the plans, the laughter they’d shared, her falling asleep on the journey back, and then finally that unwanted kiss.
It had been a little like a date in some ways, although that had certainly not been her intention, but was it possible she’d given off signals and he’d misinterpreted them?
Maybe she had played a part in him getting the wrong end of the stick? She didn’t think she had. She’d told him she had a boyfriend. Even so, she kept searching her memories, looking for clues, and ended up feeling discombobulated and uneasy.
She couldn’t be sure she hadn’t inadvertently led Declan on. The thought unsettled her. One thing she was sure about was that she would put him very straight next time she saw him. Perhaps it would be better if Finn was the one who dealt with him from now on.
Not that Declan had been in touch since Saturday night. In fact, Declan was conspicuous by his absence.
The following week passed without a word from him and Jade found this both a relief and a worry.
‘I’d say it was a good sign,’ Sarah said when Jade phoned and gave her an update. ‘He’s probably realised he’s got no chance with you, and he’s backed off. Good job.’
‘I hope you’re right. Do you think I should contact him?’
‘No. I don’t. He could be the kind of bloke that regularly tries it on. Maybe kissing clients he fancies his chances with is standard practice for him and he’s moved on.’
Sarah sounded so cheerful that Jade felt cheered too. ‘Yes, you could be right.’
‘Just forget about him. He’s bound to be in touch sooner or later about the plans. Have you said anything about him to Finn?’
‘I haven’t said we went out for dinner. Which means I feel guilty about it, doesn’t it?’
‘Yes, but you really shouldn’t. You haven’t done anything wrong. Anyway, enough of him. What did Finn say about the wedding venues?’
‘He liked the Bluebell Cliff Hotel the best. What about Callum and Ben?’
‘Callum loved that one too, and Ben was persuaded when I told him there were guinea fowl there, although he wasn’t so keen when he found out they were on the menu.’ She sighed. ‘I probably shouldn’t have told him that bit. He’ll want to rescue them all.’
Jade knew how he felt, but she was more resigned to the realities of meat eating than Ben was. She realised Sarah was still speaking. ‘It sounds like we’re all on the same page then. Shall we arrange a time to go there and have a chat with them? Could you get Dawn to cover for you for an afternoon? We were thinking if we went in the week it would be less busy.’
‘I’m sure Dawn would be happy to help. Is Ben coming with us?’
‘He’s not that keen to be honest. And I don’t want to force him. He said he’d rather go to his mate Darren’s for the afternoon than look around stuffy old buildings.’
Jade could imagine him saying that.
‘OK, I’ll ask Dawn which days she can cover. Wednesday or Thursday are best for her usually. She sometimes has her grandchildren on a Friday in the holidays.’
‘OK, in that case maybe next Wednesday or Thursday could work? I’ll check with Callum.’
‘I’ll check with Finn too.’
‘How exciting,’ Sarah said. ‘Once we get the venue organised it’s going to feel really real, isn’t it?’
* * *
They booked an appointment for the following Wednesday. The Bluebell Cliff Hotel was in a spectacular location, perched on top of a Dorset headland, overlooking the English Channel. The headland was part of the world-famous Jurassic coastline. The beautiful golden sands of Studland Bay lay to the north and Swanage Bay lay to the south.
It was an hour and a half in the car from Duck Pond Cottage, but Sarah and Callum had both insisted it was worth the drive.
Sarah picked them up at ten. It was already a beautiful blue-sky day with warmth in the air and Jade felt as though she was skiving, even though, as everyone pointed out when she mentioned it, she very rarely had a full day off from the sanctuary.
There was a holiday atmosphere in the car, helped by Sarah starting off a round of ‘We’re All Going on a Summer Holiday’. Everyone joined in, even Finn, Jade noticed with satisfaction, because he always insisted he was tone deaf. He certainly didn’t sound tone deaf to her.
By the time they reached the ruins of Corfe Castle, which was close to the Bluebell Cliff and one of the south coast’s most spectacular landmarks, they were all in really good moods.
‘Have you ever been up there?’ Callum asked Sarah as the jutting pillars of grey Purbeck stone, high on a hill, came suddenly and spectacularly into view. The eleventh-century castle, built by William the Conqueror, was impressive, even in ruins. Now owned by the National Trust, it was a major tourist attraction.
‘Yes, Jade and I went up for a picnic when we were teenagers. Do you remember, Jade? You had that ratty old Mini and we had a puncture on the way back?’
‘It was worth it though,’ Jade said, thinking back. ‘The view from Corfe Castle is stunning. You can see all the surrounding countryside.’
‘That’s right. We pretended we were ladies from King John’s court, drifting around the castle, issuing orders to our servants.’ Sarah giggled and Jade joined her. It was rare to see Sarah in this mood – all loved up and happy. She forgot sometimes that before Ben had come along and Sarah had turned into a responsible mother and for a long time a single parent, she’d been a reckless wild child, always up for an adventure.
Sarah had suggested they go to Corfe Castle at night and climb up the hill, rather than go in the conventional entrance during the day. Jade had persuaded her the daytime would be just as much fun. And it had been, in spite of the puncture.
‘We should all come again,’ Sarah suggested as they drove past. ‘Bring Ben.’
‘Aye, I’d love to,’ Callum said.
‘Same.’ Sitting beside Jade in the back, Finn squeezed her hand. She laid her head against his shoulder.
They should do more things like this. It was so easy to get tied up with the routines of Duck Pond Rescue that sometimes she forgot there was a beautiful world just on their doorstep.
Ten minutes later, Sarah pulled into the gravel car park of the Bluebell Cliff Hotel and they got their first view of the venue. It was a long, low, white-painted art deco-style building with a flat roof. Above their heads, a lone seagull squawked as it soared across the sky.
As Sarah had said, there was a disused lighthouse in the grounds, separate from the hotel, which had been refurbished to a luxury standard and was available to hire out for special events. From what they’d seen on the brochure, it was only big enough for one couple to stay there at a time. Jade wondered if either of them would stay there for their first night.
Being here, standing outside in the car park, breathing in the sea air, and the scent of roses and lavender which must be growing close by, made getting married feel incredibly real.
A few minutes later, they were inside a foyer that smelled sweetly of vanilla air freshener, and a bubbly receptionist with a name badge that said ‘Zoe’ had asked them to wait while she contacted Clara King, the manager, who would show them around.
Clara King, who was wearing a gorgeous pale lilac suit, turned out to be just as bubbly and nice as the receptionist.
‘Before we start our tour, may I offer you a complimentary drink – or would you like to see around first, and have a drink later? I believe you have a reservation for lunch too, don’t you?’
Sarah said that they did, and after some consultation, they opted for the tour first.
The Bluebell Cliff Hotel was beautiful, Jade decided as they were shown the restaurant, which had windows overlooking what she could see were extensive grounds, dotted with wooden picnic benches, wooden loungers, and was that a hammock in the distance? Lawns sloped down towards a fence, and beyond that they could see the strip of blue sparkle, which was the sea.
‘We grow all our own veg here,’ Clara told them. ‘I’ll show you our gardens when we go outside, but we’ll check out our wedding venue first, shall we? You’re in luck. We have a wedding here tomorrow so you can see it in all its full glory.’
She led them through to the back of the hotel and opened a door to reveal a large oblong room, full of light and flowers.
There were several rows of chairs, maybe five in each row, on either side of a wide aisle. At the end of each row of chairs were white candles in crystal holders with white ribbons trailing from them. A slightly raised stage, which was closest to them, was set up with a lectern. Tall vases of pink flowers were everywhere. They filled the room with their sweet scent.
‘Wow,’ Sarah said, eyes wide. ‘Isn’t it romantic?’
It was a rhetorical question. Jade knew they all felt it. She squeezed Finn’s hand. He was looking around him with a sense of wonder. His usually inscrutable face was impressed.
Callum cleared his throat. ‘In Scotland we’d say braw. It means excellent,’ he added, although his explanation was unnecessary, Jade thought. It was obvious they all felt the same.
Beside them, Clara puffed up a little, like a proud mother hen.
‘Our official honeymoon suite is in the lighthouse, although we do have another beautiful suite, here in the hotel too. It’s a little more spacious and some people prefer it, and as you are two couples…’
* * *
After their tour, they had a scrumptious lunch in the restaurant, seated at a round wooden table in one of the window alcoves. Herbs grew in terracotta pots on the table and the sparkling cutlery was rolled up in white linen napkins.
By the end of their visit, they were all high on the atmosphere, and Jade knew they’d found their dream wedding venue. It was a little pricier but between them it would work. She couldn’t believe they’d found somewhere so beautiful.
They’d provisionally booked their date for the following August with the ever-helpful Clara, paid a hefty deposit, and strolled back out to the car beneath a sky that was still blue.
‘Even the loos were amazing,’ Sarah breathed as they climbed back into her car. ‘Gorgeous toiletries and those little rolled-up hand towels.’
‘My mother used to say you can always judge a venue by its loos. Relaxed luxury is the secret,’ Jade said, aware of Finn’s glance. She rarely talked about her mother.
‘She was so right,’ Sarah said as she reversed skilfully out of the car park, which was a lot fuller than it had been when they arrived. ‘We’ve stayed in a few posh places, haven’t we, Callum, but they have to be really good to get the loos right.’
‘I can’t believe you two are talking about loos.’ Callum threw back his head and laughed. ‘It’s the food I’m interested in.’
‘That’s because cooking is in your blood, babe.’
‘Fair comment.’
The banter continued much of the way home. Callum was still threatening to wear a kilt. They were still arguing about who would have the lighthouse suite. Jade thought Sarah should have it because she’d found the venue. Sarah thought Finn and Jade should have it because it only slept two and they wanted to be close to Ben in the main hotel.
In the back of the car, Jade squeezed Finn’s fingers. She felt full of contentment. It was really happening. They had booked a venue. She was going to get married to the man she adored with the people she loved most in the world, Sarah, Ben and Callum. It felt amazing.
They got back to Duck Pond Rescue just after 5p.m.
She’d had nearly a whole day off, Jade thought with a stab of guilt. It felt really odd.
‘Some plonker’s parked in my space,’ Sarah said as she drew up behind a black Range Rover Sport outside the front gate.
‘You can park by reception if I open the gate,’ Jade said, recognising Declan’s vehicle with a little twinge of anxiety. He was in it too, by the look of it. He must have only just arrived.
‘It’s OK, we should get back anyway. We’ve got to get Ben from Darren’s.’ She turned round in the driver’s seat. ‘It’s been such a lovely day. I hope he doesn’t spoil it.’ She gave Jade a knowing look.
The last bit had been said in a stage whisper, but Finn looked at them both curiously.
‘She doesn’t mean Ben,’ Jade explained. ‘She means the guy in the car. It’s the chap from Rural Developments.’ She felt her face flush scarlet. Bloody hell, what bad timing.
‘Would you rather I dealt with him?’ Finn asked. ‘Are you worried it’s bad news?’
‘It’s fine, I can deal with him. You go on in.’ Jade undid her seat belt. ‘I’ll take him into reception. I’m sure whatever he has to say won’t take long.’