Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
The reception was a whirlwind. Everyone at the Fountain had sorted out the most amazing carvery Harry had ever seen.
The smell of Cockett’s meat roasting in the pub had met Harry and Grace as they’d arrived in Hawes’ marketplace and clambered out of a wedding vehicle neither of them had been expecting.
‘Do you have a secret barn somewhere filled with vehicles no one knows about?’ Harry had asked, as, back in West Witton, Dave had opened the rear door of a very old, pristine, Series One Land Rover.
It was a long wheel base, painted in heritage green with gleaming chrome trim, the back done out in beige leather, with cushions, silk, and bunting added for the occasion.
Harry wasn’t so sure it was comfortable, but he could appreciate the thought, and the amount of work Dave must have put in to restoring it.
Dave’s response had been simple: ‘Working on the rigs, the money’s good. Always liked cars. Bought a few, that’s all.’ He’d then added, ‘And no funny business in the back, you hear? I’ll be watching.’
With a laugh from Harry, and a playful slap from Grace, they’d sat back in the leather seats, and enjoyed the ride back up the dale. Behind them, Ben and Liz had followed, chauffeured by Jadyn in a Triumph Stag, provided for the day courtesy of Mike.
Harry had wondered if the pub would close for the day, because of the sheer volume of people coming along to the reception.
Instead, the bar had been kept open, so that anyone and everyone could come along and join in the fun.
Though there was an official list of guests for the reception itself, if only to make sure that enough food was provided, the pub had remained busy throughout the afternoon and evening.
Those not on the guest list had respectfully stayed in the bar, spilled out onto the street, and filled the car park round the back of the pub.
At no point during the day had Harry had to worry about getting himself a drink.
Mostly, he seemed to be chasing at least three, bought for him by a waving hand here, and a smiling face there.
To Harry’s relief, none of Dave’s goats escaped.
It was a small point, true, but one that had had the potential to go very wrong indeed.
Once the carvery was near enough done, everyone had settled in for the speeches.
Harry had been nervous, but a quick pep talk from Matt had put an end to that, as had a nip from the hipflask he’d had in his pocket.
Arthur somehow managed to pull off both a speech as Grace’s dad, and stand-in for Liz, making himself cry, as well as pretty much everyone else in attendance.
Matt’s speech, which was apparently on behalf of the whole of the Dales, was a whistlestop tour of Harry and Ben’s lives, peppered with just enough humour to keep everyone engaged.
Ben’s speech had been short, the words of a man who had yet to fully come to terms with just how different his life now was.
And Harry’s had been pretty much the same, though he’d thrown in a few more stories here and there, because he knew from experience that sometimes a memory shared with a wider audience was the best thank you that you could ever give.
Finally, Grace and Liz had stood up, and as a double-act, brought the speeches to a close, with a thank you to everyone for coming along, and a final toast.
A good while later, and with the food done, the spectacular wedding cake cut, and a cheese board let loose, Harry was with Grace out the front of the Fountain, as Gordy and Jameson made to leave.
‘Thank you,’ Gordy said. ‘And you know why, I’m sure, so I won’t be going into it or getting all emotional.’
‘Just wanted Anna to be a part of it,’ said Grace.
‘She was already,’ said Gordy. ‘Her ring looks lovely on Liz’s finger. But having everyone down by the river? That was really special.’
‘It certainly was,’ said Harry.
For a moment, no one said a word. A faint breeze hushed past, and to Harry it seemed as though Anna had swung by just to make sure everything was going nice and smoothly.
‘You’ve done bloody well, Harry,’ Jameson said.
‘I’m not going to say you deserve it, because that always makes me think that those who don’t get to have all of this don’t deserve it, and that’s not the case.
What I will say, though, is that I couldn’t be happier for you, and that even though it’s been a long time coming, I reckon it’s been well worth the wait, don’t you? ’
Grace gave Jameson the softest of kisses on the cheek.
‘Visit soon, okay?’ she said.
‘I will.’
Harry wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself. He’d never hugged Jameson in his life, but now, such an act seemed almost inevitable.
‘Come here, you massive idiot,’ Jameson said, and before Harry could react, he’d thrown his arms around him.
Harry returned the gesture, then they both pulled away.
‘I’ve never said this before, but now seems about the right time,’ Jameson said, eyeballing Harry. ‘I know I’m not your dad, mainly because he was an arsehole, I know, but ignoring that, I just want you to know, that had I been, I can honestly say, I could not have been more proud.’
Before Harry had a chance to respond, Jameson turned on his heels and walked away.
‘I’d best catch him up,’ said Gordy. ‘I’m dropping him at the train station on my way back. I said he was welcome to come back with me, but he seemed keen to have another stopover in London.’
Harry was once again pulled into an embrace.
‘You should visit Somerset soon,’ Gordy said. ‘Both of you.’
‘We will,’ said Harry.
‘And we’d love to meet Charlie,’ Grace added.
Then, with a nod, Gordy was gone, and Harry was alone with Grace.
The sound of laughter and conversation spilled into the evening from the pub. It rolled out of Hawes and up into the fells to dance with the sounds of sheep calling for their lambs, and the melancholy trill of the curlew.
Harry found Grace’s hand with his own, and lifted it, so they could both look at the rings they now wore.
‘Well?’ he said. ‘Shall we head back in?’
‘Not sure we’ve got much choice,’ Grace said, and gestured towards the Fountain with a nod.
Harry turned his head. The whole team stood outside the pub, all of them with glasses raised. Arthur was with them, too, and Margaret and Rebecca, and next to Liz was Ben, so happy that Harry almost didn’t recognise him. A good number of other faces were there, too.
‘Mr and Mrs Grimm!’ bellowed Dave.
To a rowdy cheer and rapturous applause, Harry and Grace headed back into the party.