Chapter 32
Brides by the Sea, St Aidan, Cornwall
New days and the bigger picture
Monday
I spend all Sunday trying to banish the image of Lando and his anguish from my brain, then devote Monday morning to driving every sand grain and peony petal out of the beach hut and cleaning all the windows.
By the time Tia calls to ask me to drop Angel at home and go into the shop, Windflowers has benefitted greatly from my frustration and regrets.
As I walk into the office Jess is beaming. ‘Well done for Saturday, Maeve! Daniella posted the beach hut photos on her own channels, the papers picked them up, and now the phone has been ringing all morning with enquiries.’
Tia’s eyes are shining. ‘We’re going to be busy!’
I’m amazed. ‘Who knew so many people wanted to get married? Thank goodness the registrars need four weeks’ notice – that gives me a month to recover before we do it again.’
Tia gives a cough. ‘There may be one or two bookings we haven’t told you about.’
‘Surely not?’
Jess nods. ‘We wanted you to get the big one under your belt and then move on to the rest.’
I’m biting my lip. ‘How many are we talking?’
Tia opens the bookings log and flicks through the pages. ‘With the ones we already have booked and the sheer volume of interest we’ve had today, there’s a good chance you’ll be beating Sav and Silver Meadows.’
‘Really?’ I’m suddenly less worried and more eager.
Tia grins. ‘I knew that would make a difference. Do you want to know about them one at a time, or altogether?’
Jess cries. ‘They’re so impressive. Read them all!’
Tia looks at her list. ‘On Saturday we have a young couple from Penzance. She collected her dress last week. But before that, on Thursday we have twins marrying twins; all four women are coming in one after another this afternoon to collect their outfits, and then next week—’
I put up my hand. ‘Hold it there and tell me about the twins.’
Jess looks like she’s going to burst. ‘Double weddings with four brides are rarer than unicorns!’
I’m calculating. ‘Four brides means four dresses?’
She claps her hands. ‘It’s exactly as we’d hoped: beach hut weddings are so instant and accessible they’re attracting spur-of-the-moment couples, and beach hut brides are already swelling our dress sales.’
I’m thinking back. ‘I guess it’s not a complete surprise. Lando did mention there were bookings.’
Tia raises an eyebrow. ‘How are things with you two?’
I turn to Jess. ‘Away from the shop, Lando and I have conflicts.’
Jess looks serious. ‘All that chemistry and no outlet, it was bound to explode.’ Her face breaks into a smile. ‘Take it from me and Bart, the sex will be phenomenal when you do make up.’
I choke. ‘That is never going to happen.’
Tia laughs. ‘If we ask someone other than Lando to help us, that’ll ease the pressure.’
Jess has her phone out. ‘We’ll see if Lily’s husband Kip can cover. He manages the weddings at the farm and the manor.’
Tia smiles at me. ‘He’s a lot like Lando, but with more experience.’
‘Honestly, anyone else will do.’ I check the time on my phone. ‘Do we have collections to prepare for?’
Tia nods and leads the way across the hall. ‘It’s Monday so we’ll use the Seraphina room.’ She waits until we’re out of earshot of Jess, then murmurs, ‘I take it Lando is struggling?’
‘I was the one who was supposed to be cross, and now I feel guilty for how much I hurt him.’
‘Sweetie…’ Tia hands me a bride’s mum’s tissue, and her arms close around me as I bury my face in her shoulder.
‘I felt bad when I hadn’t told him, but the fallout from him knowing has been so much worse.’ I gulp down a sob and dab my eyes. ‘I can’t cry when there’s a bride arriving.’
Tia pats my back and lets me go. She darts away to the office, and comes back and hands me a bun with ivory icing and an ‘I do’ label on the top. ‘Here, Poppy left some cupcakes. If that doesn’t revive you, I’ll bring you some Rescue Remedy.’
I bite into the vanilla sponge and my mood instantly lifts. I know reaching for the cupcakes isn’t always the answer, but a six-hundred-calorie energy boost makes me feel more balanced.
Once done, I lean towards the mirror and scrape the eyeliner smudges from under my lashes. ‘So tell me about the next four brides! What have they chosen?’
Tia wiggles her eyebrows. ‘They found out about the beach hut after seeing our Incarnations reel.’
‘So are they all wearing variations?’
Tia flicks through the dress covers lined up waiting on the rail.
‘Like every other bride, they came in with that in mind and chose something else entirely. One is having a mini version of the silk sheath, another added a full tulle overskirt, one fell in love with a waisted dress sample in cotton lawn from Sera’s seashore range, and the fourth chose a white silk tux and crop trousers. ’
I’m already thinking beyond this afternoon, and my chest clamps. ‘How’s the forecast looking for later in the week?’
Tia pulls a face. ‘Less sunny than for Daniella’s, but the next two weddings are walking in so at least we won’t have a helicopter to contend with.’
Which immediately spins me back to thinking about Lando. In any other situation Lando and I could keep our distance, but we’re both tied to Jess. It’s going to be a long, hard summer for both of us.
Having failed so badly with Lando, it’s more important than ever to make the Weddings at Windflowers a success. I’ll just take them one at a time.