Epilogue
‘You may now kiss the bride!’ As the celebrant’s cheerful voice filled the garden and Jackson leaned into Laura beneath the wedding arch Murray had built for them and Ellie had covered in flowers, a round of applause and whoops of delight rang out from those gathered to witness Laura and Jackson’s wedding.
‘You did this. You made all of this possible.’ Standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her middle, Murray lowered his head, so his words were tickling her ear.
Gripping Murray’s hands in hers, Ellie grinned, and she leaned back against him.
This was her favourite part of her job. When all the chaos of the planning, preparations and setting up had been done and she could watch her couples say their vows and promises to each other.
Yes, she still needed to be on alert in case any tweaks were needed during the reception, but all being well, everything should be fine.
And she was particularly confident it would be today.
The brightly coloured bunting and small wicker hearts hanging from the railing surrounding the newly refurbished decking looked perfect and glints of the sun’s rays against the glass lanterns hung in the trees ready to be lit as the sun set cast dancing rainbows across the grass.
Yes, she was proud of this one. Particularly proud.
‘Ours next,’ Murray whispered in her ear again.
‘What?’ Twisting in his arms, she cupped his cheeks with her hands and searched his eyes. Was he saying what she thought he was? ‘What did you just say?’
Murray grinned that lopsided smile of his. ‘I said, ours next. If you’ll have me, of course.’
Narrowing her eyes, Ellie frowned. ‘Are you asking me to marry you?’
‘Take this as a pre-question to the real question.’ Murray chuckled. ‘I’ll ask you properly, but…’ He shrugged, a pink hue cascading across his skin.
Biting down on her bottom lip, it was all Ellie could do not to laugh. ‘You just want to know if I’d say yes?’
Murray chuckled. ‘Exactly that.’
‘Of course I’d say yes. I’d marry you tomorrow if I could.’ Leaning forward, she kissed him.
‘Eleanor, love. Sorry to intrude, but your dad and I were just wondering where to put this.’ Kathy waved a pale pink envelope in their direction.
Dropping her hands to her sides, Ellie looked at her parents, who had appeared next to them.
Laura had kindly invited them to the wedding after Kathy had not-so-subtly asked for an invite whilst she’d been staying at the inn so they could support their daughter during her first solo wedding.
‘Oh, Mum, the presents are all on the reception desk.’
‘Okay, lovely. I’ll go and pop it there then.’
‘Don’t worry, Mum, I’ll take it. I need to go and check if the DJ has arrived for the reception yet, anyway.’ Turning, she took the card before watching her parents walk back to join the throng of people throwing confetti over the newly married couple.
‘One moment, I don’t think we were finished yet.’ Taking her hand, Murray pulled her back into his arms. ‘Just so I’m clear, that was a definite yes?’
Throwing her head back, Ellie laughed. ‘It was a yes. If you ask me to marry you, then I’ll say yes.’
Murray grinned. ‘Perfect. And just one more question…’
‘Go on.’
‘Are you likely to be adding the option of planning the perfect engagement to your wedding planning any time soon?’
‘Uh, no. You’re on your own with that one.’
This time, it was Murray who drew her closer to him.
As their lips touched, Ellie wrapped her hands tighter around him.
She couldn’t have asked for a better day today.
The sun was shining, Laura and Jackson’s wedding was going without a hitch – so far – and Murray had all but asked her to marry him.
In just a couple of short months, her life had transformed.
With two more weddings in the pipeline, both products of a social media campaign, her business was building, her parents had finally accepted Murray was to be a part of her life, and she felt at home here in Meadowfield for the first time since she’d moved.
She’d got to know more and more local residents just through her work and by spending time at Pennycress.
Murray had moved into the cottage the day he’d chosen to stay, and she was quickly getting used to their loving, fun atmosphere, a stark contrast to when she’d shared the space with Rick.
They’d had fun making the cottage their own and filling it with things they’d chosen together, everything from a new TV to cheerful yellow-handled cutlery, and she now realised Rick clearing everything out had been a blessing in disguise.
The only thing which remained from her time before was her old squishy sofa because Murray appreciated its level of comfiness as much as she did.
And she was happy. Something she hadn’t thought possible a short while ago.
Reluctantly, she pulled away. ‘I should really check on the DJ.’
‘Yes, you go. I’ll get my thinking cap on.’ Murray winked at her.
Grinning, she turned and ran up the decking stairs and into the kitchen, where Ruby and her team were busy preparing the wedding breakfast. ‘That smells delicious.’
‘Thanks!’ Ruby called from the other side of the room.
Pushing the door to the hallway open, Ellie made sure to close it behind her.
Hiring Ruby to do the catering had been one of her best business decisions since setting up Forever Thyme.
Not only would Laura and Jackson and their guests be shortly enjoying the perfect meal, but she’d made a valuable contact and she was excited to work with Ruby and her team again.
She carefully placed her parents’ card on the stack on the reception desk and shifted a large gift tied with ribbon a little further back away from the edge.
Looking up, she checked the time on the clock above the desk.
Yep, the DJ should be arriving any time now and, with any luck, she’d be able to catch him before he carried all his speakers through the kitchen and divert him to the side gate where he’d be able to seamlessly set up before the live band who had sung Laura down the aisle and who would be performing whilst the wedding breakfast was served finished.
After pulling open Pennycress’s front door, Ellie stepped outside and shielded her eyes from the sun as she glanced up and down the road.
There he was, the DJ. As she began walking down the steps towards his van, she frowned as a woman wearing a pale pink dress and clutching a small gift in her hands ran up the path towards her.
As she neared, Ellie tried to catch her eye before talking. ‘Hi.’
Slowing, the woman caught her breath before coming to a stop in front of Ellie. ‘Am I late? Have I missed it? Please tell me I’ve not missed the wedding.’
‘Umm, the ceremony has just finished, but you’re in time for the wedding breakfast.’ Ellie hoped the woman wouldn’t be too disappointed.
‘Oh no.’ Glancing down, the woman stubbed her clunky Doc Martens against the path. ‘The heel on my stupid sandals snapped, so I had to run back to the camper for these.’
‘I’m sure both Laura and Jackson will be thrilled you’re able to join them for the reception.’ Ellie glanced towards the DJ as he was unloading his set and pointed towards the side gate, grinning at him as he gave her the thumbs-up. ‘I can show you in, if you like?’
‘Thanks. I’m Scarlett, Laura’s cousin. I don’t think I’ve met you before?’ Scarlett knelt and tucked in a stray boot lace.
‘Lovely to meet you, Scarlett. I’m Ellie, Laura and Jackson’s wedding planner.’ Ellie pointed towards the door. ‘Why don’t we go and find them?’
‘Thanks, that would be great. I’ve not been here before. This is Pennycress, their inn, right?’ Scarlett looked up at the Cotswold stone thatched inn as they headed up the stairs to the front door.
‘That’s right.’ Ellie grinned. As she guided Scarlett through the kitchen and out onto the decking, Ellie could hear the laughter and chatter from the wedding guests.
‘Scarlett! You made it!’ Laura’s voice rose above the general chatter as they made their way down the steps of the decking to the garden below.
‘Laura.’ Waving her hands above her head, the ribbon from the wedding gift wafting in the air, Scarlett ran towards her cousin.
As she watched Laura and Scarlett embrace, Ellie glanced around the group of people celebrating until she spotted Murray, who held his hand up and blew a kiss towards her.
Catching it in one hand, she grinned. He was speaking to her parents, a sight she was worried she’d never get to see.
Weaving her way through the wedding guests, Ellie walked towards Murray and her parents and slipped her hand into Murray’s.
‘This is wonderful, love. Absolutely wonderful.’ Kathy beamed with pride as she held up a glass of bubbly.
‘Thanks, Mum.’ Smiling, Ellie squeezed Murray’s hand in hers. For the first time in years, she felt happy and hopeful for the future.