Chapter Ten
Wren
“Oh my God.” My mother is literally shaking in her shoes beside me as the minibus pulls up outside the vineyard. “I have no idea what I’m doing here. What if they all hate me?” As she always does when she’s nervous, she pulls her hair forward to hide the scar on the left side of her face.
“Oh stop it,” Clare scolds her. “They’re only people. Wren told you they were farmers before they got their money. Just imagine them with Wellies on and straws in their mouths.”
Privately, I can’t picture Edward Ashford or his sons dressed as Old MacDonald, but I’m too nervous to laugh.
For once, I agree with my mother. I have no idea what we’re doing here, either.
Clare held her engagement party at the local bar and bought everyone fish and chips.
We buy our wine from the supermarket and struggle to tell the difference between a Sauvignon and a Pinot Gris, let alone which vineyard they’re from.
I’m worried we’re going to make fools of ourselves and embarrass Marcus.
I can see him already, walking toward us with Caesar and his parents beside him. Both brothers look gorgeous, confident, and wealthy, even though they’re in jackets and trousers rather than suits.
“Which one is he?” Mum asks breathlessly.
“The one on the right.”
“Oh Wren, he’s so young. You’re such a dark horse.”
I blush furiously, causing my friends around me to giggle. I didn’t want to turn up without anyone, so I invited Emily and a couple of teachers I got on well with last year, who were all stunned that I’ve somehow hooked one of the most eligible bachelors in the city, if not the country.
“How on earth did you manage to land him?” Georgie asks, her eyes nearly falling out of her head.
“I have no idea,” I mumble.
“He fell in love with you because you’re stunningly beautiful, surprisingly witty, smart as, and a complete catch,” Clare states.
Knowing I’m none of those things doesn’t exactly help my confidence as the door opens and everyone starts getting out.
As I wait to descend, I peer out of the windows.
Waiheke Island is a ferry ride away from the North Shore, with lots of boutique vineyards and stunning views across the Hauraki Gulf during the daytime.
The exclusive Midnight Resort and Club isn’t somewhere that any of us would ever have a chance to visit, and the nearby vineyard feels like something out of a Shakespeare play, another Midsummer Night’s Dream with the fairy lights that make it glow like a grotto in the evening sunshine.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
I look down the steps to see Marcus waiting, hand extended. He smiles as I slide my hand into his, and helps me down.
“Look at you,” he says. “What a stunning outfit. You’re the most beautiful woman here.”
A couple of days ago, I logged into my banking app to discover my bank balance had grown from a few hundred dollars to six figures.
I rang him immediately. “A hundred thousand dollars!” I said as soon as he answered. “Marcus!”
“I’m sure you’d like something to wear for the party,” he replied. “And you’re going to need a wedding dress and all the accoutrements that go with it.”
“I only need one wedding dress, right? I mean, we’re only getting married once?”
“I’m not having my fiancée turn up for any event in a hundred-dollar dress from a high-street store,” he told me firmly. “Let alone her wedding. Buy something nice. And whatever money you have left over, you can spend on the baby when it comes.”
That shut me up. I feel awkward about spending his money on myself, but somehow the thought of spending it on our child doesn’t feel as much of a problem.
I didn’t want to embarrass him by turning up in something that was obviously cheap, though, so for the first time in my life, I ventured into one of the more exclusive boutiques that I’d normally never set foot in because I know the dresses would cost more than a month’s wages.
I half expected to reenact Pretty Woman, but to my relief the assistant was friendly.
We went for black in the end, because I felt more comfortable in it, but she convinced me to go for a slinky off-the-shoulder number with a wraparound tulip skirt that flatters what curves I have and reveals my long legs, which I consider my best feature.
She also convinced me to buy sandals with a small heel once I told her that Marcus was taller than me.
“So gorgeous,” he murmurs, dropping a kiss on my bare shoulder, which makes me tingle all over. “And this must be your mum,” he continues, extending a hand to my mother as she navigates the steps. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Ms. Carter.”
I’ve told him that we all use her maiden name now she’s divorced for the second time. But as he shakes her hand and gives her a warm smile, she says, “Oh, Tina, please.”
“Of course, Tina. Wren’s told me so much about you. It’s great to meet you at last. And Clare, hello again. No Ben today?”
“Much to his chagrin,” she says. “He wanted to show you his new LEGO kit.”
“Aw, next time we’ll have to have a mega LEGO building session.”
“You know Emily,” I say, “and this is Georgie and Helen, who are both teachers at my primary school.”
He smiles. “Please, let me introduce you all to my brother, Caesar, my sister, Aurelia, my father, Edward, and my mother, Cece.”
Everyone shakes hands, and I watch the Ashford family greeting everyone warmly. Cece immediately says to my mother, “Oh, I just love your dress, that color really goes well with your hair.”
Mum blushes, but keeps composed enough to joke, “Thank you, but then gray goes with everything.”
Cece laughs and slides her arm through Mum’s. “I suppose that’s true, but yours is such a pretty shade, almost silver. Now come on, you must sit next to me. I want to find out all about you and your lovely girls now we’ll be joined by marriage. We’re going to be best friends; I can feel it.”
I swallow hard as she leads Mum into the vineyard. Mum has trouble making friends, and she’s suffered from depression many times over the years. It’s touching to see someone be so kind to her.
“Come on, ladies,” Caesar says to the others. “This vineyard has an amazing array of reds and whites to try, so I’ve asked them to give us a tasting session. Who’s up for it!”
With a squeal, Clare and the girls follow him into the vineyard, all talking at once.
Edward smiles. “Big night,” he says to me. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” I say, a little shyly, as we start walking toward the gate that leads to a central courtyard, Marcus holding my hand. “Wow, it’s busy. Is there an event going on?”
Edward laughs, and Marcus grins. “They’re here to see you,” he says, gesturing for me to precede him.
My stomach drops. That was a stupid question.
I go through the gate, and Marcus follows.
There are so many people here, all dressed in clothes that I instantly know haven’t come from high-street stores.
There’s a lot of money here tonight. It shows in the coiffed hairdos, expensive watches, and designer dresses.
“This is Oliver Huxley,” Marcus says, introducing me to another tall, dark, good-looking guy in a navy jacket and cream trousers. “He’s one of the owners of the Midnight Club, and he organized the evening for me. Huxley, this is my fiancée, Wren Carter.”
“Pleased to meet you, Wren.” He shakes my hand and gives me a warm smile. “This is my wife, Elizabeth.”
I shake hands with a small, attractive woman with short dark hair in a bob.
“So nice to meet you at last!” she says.
“Marcus has told us so much about you, and I thought you couldn’t possibly be as gorgeous as he insisted you were, but it turns out he was right.
Hey, I hear you’re a primary school teacher, is that true? ”
I nod, trying to calm my racing heart.
“Our eldest is going to be starting school soon. I was wondering what you consider to be the most important things we should look for when we start vetting schools.”
She leads me into the main building as we talk, and gets me a glass of wine from one of the guys wandering around with silver trays.
It’s a large room with a flagstone floor and circular tables with white cloths where you can sit if you want, but most people are wandering around chatting, helping themselves to the food from the platters on the side tables, and frequently topping up their glasses from the many bottles of wine that magically appear.
I’m conscious that Marcus has obviously asked his friends and family to put me and everyone who came with me at ease.
Cece has also introduced Mum to a couple of her friends, and I can see them all sampling the vintages while they discuss whether black cohosh actually works for hot flashes.
Caesar and a few of his mates are currently entertaining my sister and friends while they sample the wines amidst much giggling and flirting.
And Marcus and Huxley soon join us and encourage us to wander through the vineyard, introducing me to various business associates of theirs and other friends who’ve obviously come to see just who has managed to snare the youngest Ashford brother.
I thought I’d be more nervous, but it’s a very relaxed atmosphere, with plenty of food to nibble and wine to sip. Marcus doesn’t leave my side, and after a while I actually find myself enjoying the evening.
After a while, Huxley goes to the front of the room and calls for quiet, and then to my surprise, Edward gives a short speech, thanking everyone for coming, and saying he’d like them all to join him in a toast congratulating his son on his engagement to me.
Everyone toasts and cheers, and Marcus slides his arm around me and takes me outside so a couple of photographers can take a few snaps against the backdrop of the courtyard with the fairy lights.
It’s very understated, and soon everyone returns to eating and drinking and chatting.
“Is that it?” I ask Marcus as we walk back into the building. “I was so nervous.”