Chapter Twenty-Five
‘Whatever are you doing here,’ I said foolishly.
‘Getting married,’ said Theresa, giving me a peculiar look.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I said, quickly recovering. ‘I meant Dylan. I mean… I didn’t realise…’
‘Maggie,’ said Dylan, equally astonished.
‘I take it you two know each other,’ said Theresa, gathering up her skirts.
‘Er, yes. Sorry, Theresa’ – I quickly shifted to professional mode – ‘don’t get out of the car. Hold it there. Bring the bouquet forward a bit. That’s it. Now turn towards me. Smile. Beautiful.’ I snapped away. ‘And just to say, you look absolutely gorgeous.’
‘Thank you,’ she said.
Theresa was looking at me curiously. Likely trying to figure out how I knew her father.
Dylan was now out of the car and moving over to Theresa’s side.
‘Lovely to see you, Maggie,’ he murmured.
‘You too,’ I muttered.
‘Who’s looking after Bess?’
‘My youngest. What about Charlie?’
‘He’s with my neighbour.’
The snatched conversation ended as Dylan moved in to assist Theresa. Once again, I reverted to photographer mode.
‘Let me stop you there,’ I said to Dylan. ‘Take Theresa’s hand – as if you’re helping her out of the car. Perfect.’ I stood back, framed father and daughter in the viewfinder, clicked, then moved smartly out of the way. After all, the bride wouldn’t thank me for treading on her trailing hemline when she exited the vehicle.
‘Give me your flowers, Terry,’ said Dylan. ‘You need to gather up your dress.’
Terry. Ah ha! When Dylan and I had taken the dogs on that second walk, he’d mentioned a daughter – Terry – and that she was getting married. Blimey, he’d never said it was this weekend!
I’d failed to join the dots. Not only regarding my client, one Theresa Alexander, sharing Dylan’s surname, but also her mother being Dylan’s deceased wife. Flipping heck, sometimes it was such a small world. Emotions were always elevated at weddings, and I suspected this one would be running at full throttle.
I had yet to deal with Ruby or Ella getting married without Greg by my side. No doubt, when that day came, it would be tricky for all.
My eyes momentarily brimmed. What must this father and daughter be feeling right now? I blinked rapidly. Gave myself a swift pep talk.
Concentrate, Maggie. You’re on a professional assignment.
The bride was now out of the car. She smoothed her dress, then retrieved her bouquet from Dylan.
‘Theresa… Terry,’ I said. ‘Link Dad’s arm, please.’ I pointed the camera at them both. ‘Perfect. Okay, I’m now going to run ahead and will shortly take a series of candid shots as you make your way into the building. Before you walk down the aisle, give me a moment to get in position. I need to be behind the officiant.’
I didn’t wait for either of them to reply. Time was of the essence. I scampered ahead, pausing only to photograph father and daughter strolling towards me… Terry turning to look at her father… a moment of anxiety on her pretty face… Dylan reassuring her… Terry nodding… her features tensing as she became emotional… Dylan mirroring Terry… his eyes suddenly very bright… continuing forward… heads held high… two people so obviously thinking about someone else. A missing mother. An absent wife. It was all there. Captured on film. Or, rather, digital memory. It had been a long time since I’d used a Hasselblad.
I disappeared inside the hotel leaving father and daughter to take a moment. Hastening to the rear of the ceremony room, I moved past Tobias and the best man.
‘You’re okay, mate,’ the best man said. ‘Another twenty minutes and it will all be over.’
He sounded like a dentist reassuring a patient who was about to have a tooth extraction.
Once in position, I took an informal shot of Tobias looking like he was about to have that extraction without local anaesthetic, then hid a smile in the palm of my hand. Poor chap.
The wedding officiant stepped forward. She greeted everyone and suddenly Vivaldi’s Four Seasons filled the air. The bride appeared, pausing for effect as everyone’s heads swivelled.
I snapped away, capturing guests’ reactions. Delight at the bride’s beauty. Pleasure at her gorgeous dress. And then Dylan and Terry were off; walking sedately down the aisle.
Tobias was now staring at his future wife. He looked awestruck. And surprised. As if that hypothetical tooth extraction had been better than he’d dared to hope.
Dylan passed Terry’s right hand to the groom’s left, then melted into an aisle. For a moment his eyes snagged on mine. Held my gaze. And then he winked.
Daringly, I did the same.