Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
The journey from Hawes to the river was at a sedate pace courtesy of Matt, who was taking his role as Master of Ceremonies very seriously indeed.
‘You can go above forty, Matt,’ Harry said, as they slowly climbed passed the old Roman Fort on the other side of Bainbridge.
‘My job is to get you to the river safely,’ Matt said. ‘I’ll be going the speed I’m happy with, and that’s that.’
When they arrived in West Witton, Harry was met by guests gathering on a small triangle of grass, where the main road was met by Chantry Bank, which led out of the village and up to the foot of Penhill.
It was then that he realised he had no idea how any of them were getting down to the river, never mind himself.
Then he saw the answer parked up behind where people were standing around and chatting, a large, white tractor, pulling an equally large trailer, decked out with bails of straw as seats, and far too much bunting.
‘Rustic,’ Harry said, as Matt led him up to where the tractor was parked.
‘We’re not taking it, though,’ said Matt, and Harry saw Jim walking towards them.
‘Good to go?’ Jim asked.
‘We are,’ said Matt. ‘Everything good down at the river?’
‘Certainly is,’ said Jim. ‘Shall we head straight down?’
‘Yes,’ nodded Matt. ‘Get Harry here settled in.’
Harry and Matt followed Jim back to a Land Rover that Harry couldn’t quite believe was the same one Jim would always be seen knocking round the lanes in.
It had been cleaned inside and out. There was a gleam to the paintwork, the three seats across the cabin had been scrubbed, and even the footwells were spotless.
‘You’ve been busy,’ Harry said, as they climbed in, with Matt taking the seat in the middle.
Shoulders all touching, Jim started the engine, then drove them back along the road before taking a right, through a gate, and then along an ancient lane lined with crumbling drystone walls. The lane soon faded into the fields to become nothing more than a faint scar.
‘Just took the power hose to it, inside and out,’ Jim said. ‘Took a while to dry, but it’s come up smart, like, hasn’t it? Made a few of the holes in the floor a little bigger, but that can’t be helped.’
Cresting the brow of a hill, Jim pulled the Land Rover to a stop.
Harry stared down at the river below and was taken aback by what he saw.
Seats were laid out in rows, with a central aisle.
A table was sat in front of them covered with a white cloth.
As they drew closer, he saw flowers on the seats at the end of each row, ribbons lining the aisle, and more flowers on the table.
Opening the door with a shove of his shoulder, Harry slid out of the Land Rover.
‘Who’s set all this up, then?’ Harry asked.
‘We all mucked in,’ said Matt, ‘but Margaret was in charge, directing things. She and Rebecca brought all the ribbons and flowers. We were all up with the lark, like. Worth it though. If you’re going to do something right, then do it right, no messing about.’
Harry returned waves sent his way by Margaret Shaw, and her daughter, Rebecca, who he could now see by the table. Ethan was also there, camera clicking away, as were two old friends Harry could not have been happier to see.
He stepped into meadow to be immediately embraced by Gordy, then Jameson.
‘You travel up together, then?’ he asked.
Gordy shook her head.
‘I drove, Jameson took the train.’
‘Had myself a night in London on the way,’ said Jameson. ‘Loving the suit, by the way, Harry.’
Harry still wasn’t sure, mainly because he rarely wore a suit. And this one, a deep green tweed three-piece, which had cost him an eye-watering sum, was somewhat removed from what he would have usually chosen.
‘Very dapper,’ added Gordy, then cast a glance around where they were standing. ‘Perfect place to be doing this.’
‘Thought it was the best way to have Anna here with us, too,’ said Harry. ‘Is Charlie here?’
They’d not yet met Gordy’s new partner, and were keen to be introduced, but had been unsure if Gordy would bring her along.
‘We talked about it,’ said Gordy, ‘but in the end, I think I just wanted some time back here on my own, breathe in the place a bit, if you know what I mean?’
Harry understood completely, reached out, gave her arm a gentle squeeze.
‘Margaret’s asked me to do a reading, you know,’ Gordy said.
Harry gave a shrug.
‘Don’t look at me,’ he said. ‘We had a quick run through of how this would all go, but she didn’t tell us much about what the actual content was.’
As he said that, Margaret and Rebecca came over.
‘Well, I wouldn’t want to give away all of my secrets, would I?’ Margaret said, then added with a smile, ‘You’re looking very handsome, Harry!’
‘So, what do you want me to do, then?’ Harry asked.
‘Listen, and that’s about it,’ Margaret said. ‘We all know what we’re doing. You just need to follow our lead, listen to instructions, do as your told.’
Rebecca laughed.
‘He’s gone pale!’
‘I’ll be fine,’ said Harry.
‘You’ve got the rings and your vows?’
Harry tapped his jacket pocket, which contained Ben and Liz’s rings, with Ben responsible for bringing his and Grace’s.
He’d managed to get a measure of Grace’s ring size one night while she slept, courtesy of a very good bottle of wine, and a length of thin string.
Both rings Arthur had given him had then been resized.
They’d discussed their vows that same evening, then written them separately.
‘Then best you get yourself sat down on the front row,’ Margaret directed. ‘And Rebecca here will be keeping an eye on you.’
At that, Rebecca put her arm through Harry’s.
‘Come on,’ she said. ‘You’re with me.’
And before Harry could resist, she walked them around the side of the chairs to the front.
Once sat down, Rebecca kept Harry distracted with a bit of chitchat, before being called away by Margaret to help with people arriving. Ethan was stood just far enough away to not interrupt, his face hidden behind his camera.
Harry glanced over his shoulder to see that Matt was ready to welcome people as they arrived, though Jim was nowhere to be seen.
Gordy and Jameson were standing down by the river.
Harry guessed they were talking about Anna.
For a moment, he cast his memory back to the funeral, and to when they’d all watched as Gordy had scattered Anna’s ashes.
Sadness swept through him, but then he heard Gordy laugh, and happiness replaced it.
Love was a strange thing, he thought. Dangerous.
Risky. He’d lived those two words his whole life.
And right now, he’d never felt more alive because of it.
The sound of an approaching vehicle made Harry turn, as the tractor and trailer he’d seen up in West Witton made its way down the hill towards where he was sat. The trailer was full, and familiar faces smiled at him as the driver pulled alongside.
‘Now then, Harry!’ the driver called over, leaning out of his cab with a tanned hand raised.
Harry waved back, seeing that it was Jim’s dad behind the wheel.
Once the trailer was unloaded, and folk were being directed to their seats, the tractor headed back up the hill to collect the rest of the guests.
Harry forced himself to face the table. It was all very well seeing so many people here just to be with him and Grace, but it was also a little overwhelming.
Then, just as he was beginning to wonder where Ben was, he spotted Jim’s Land Rover creeping slowly down the hill once more.
A few moments later, Ben was striding over to meet him.
Harry stood, went to say something, but before he could, Ben had gripped him in a tight hug.
‘We’re doing this, then?’ Ben said.
‘Hate to break it to you, but we already have,’ Harry laughed. ‘Rings?’
‘What?’
‘The rings, Ben,’ said Harry. ‘Mine and Grace’s.’
‘Haven’t you got them?’ Ben asked.
Harry went cold.
‘What? No! We’re each other’s best men, remember? You were to bring ours, and I was to bring yours, which I have.’
‘Are you sure? I thought you were bringing them all.’
Harry wasn’t listening. He was searching the faces of everyone who was already there.
‘It’s okay, we can get Jim to go fetch them. Jim? Jim! Ben’s—’
Ben was laughing.
‘Look,’ he said, and held out his hand. Sitting in his palm was the ring box.
‘Not funny,’ Harry smiled, relief flooding his system, as a cough interrupted them.
Harry turned from Ben to see that Margaret was now standing before them.
‘You’re both ready, then?’
‘We are,’ said Harry.
‘Never been more ready in my life,’ added Ben.
‘Good,’ said Maragaret, ‘because once the rest of the guests have arrived, Grace and Liz will be making quite the entrance!’
Harry didn’t fully understand what Margaret meant by that.
‘How do you mean?’ he asked.
‘Watch,’ Margaret said, and pointed up the hill.