Chapter 23
The next week raced by so fast that Jade didn’t have time to worry any more about their wedding day.
They rehomed three dogs. One of them to the couple for whom Finn was doing the Salisbury Cathedral commission, who’d come to see the work and had been given the promised tour of the sanctuary by Jade.
They’d fallen in love with a little golden Labrador cross who was a real sweetie and Jade had promised them they could have her, subject to a home check, which Dawn said she would do the very next day.
Much to everyone’s relief, this went without a hitch.
They also rehomed two cats, Sampson and Delilah, and to Jade’s delight they’d gone to the same home. As had a pair of younger dogs who’d come in together. It was always great when this happened.
Dick and Harry had phoned too with an update to say that Tom had settled in sublimely, and they might at some point in the future rescue a second little dog.
All this meant they weren’t quite as full as they usually were and Jade was pleased about this.
Although she and Finn were only taking a four-day minimoon in the Cotswolds, it was good to know that Dawn, who’d be taking care of the animals, and Dorrie and Ray, who’d offered to help her, wouldn’t have quite so much work on their hands.
On the day before their wedding, in keeping with tradition so as not to see their brides on their wedding day, Finn and Callum had booked a night at an Airbnb, halfway between Duck Pond Cottage and the Bluebell Cliff Hotel.
Sarah had protested to Jade briefly about this. ‘How come they get to go off on a jolly? It should be us.’ But they’d both agreed it made more sense for the men to stop out for the night.
Jade preferred to be on site at Duck Pond Rescue, just in case she was needed. And Sarah said she wasn’t sure she trusted Callum to get Ben and himself dressed and ready for their wedding. ‘He’s bound to forget something important.’
Dorrie and Ray had collected the wedding dresses and accessories while they’d been getting some last-minute shopping and Ray had taken the opportunity to go into the Turkish barbers for a steam shave with hot towels.
He had come back stroking his chin and saying it was amazing how much better it was than a normal shave and how soft his skin felt.
‘We also need to make sure the dogs are ready for their big day,’ Jade said.
‘Mickey’s had a closer clip than usual, so he can actually see out, and the groomer’s spruced up Buddy too while she was here.
’ Although Buddy wasn’t part of the wedding procession, Jade had decided it would be best if he went along to the Bluebell Cliff too.
That way, all three dogs would be in the kennels at the Bluebell Cliff when they weren’t needed for ring-bearing duties, and would hopefully be a calming influence on each other.
Dawn was taking the dogs over in her car.
Jade hadn’t dared entrust this to anyone less senior.
Dawn was responsible and sensible and would make sure there were no mishaps and the timing was right.
Dawn’s own dog, Monet, would stay at Duck Pond Rescue where Elaine, helped by a crew of trusted volunteers, was overseeing things for the day.
The sanctuary would be closed to the public, but Jade felt happier that someone was in charge.
Being away from the animals too long was a logistical nightmare, because they all still needed feeding, cleaning out and, in the case of the dogs and horses, exercising.
There had been a couple of occasions when Jade had said to Finn, ‘I’m not sure we should go away, Finn. It would be so much easier if we stayed at the sanctuary and just had days out.’
‘We’re going away,’ he’d told her firmly. ‘The hotel is booked and you need a proper break. And come to that, so do I.’
She knew he was right. They had never taken a proper holiday together. Four days to themselves was going to be bliss.
Jade had also had a couple of conversations on the phone with Hector, who she liked more and more as she got to know him, and Charlotte, who she was starting to feel the same way about.
They were driving up the day before and staying at the Bluebell Cliff, so that on the day itself they would be refreshed and ready.
Jade didn’t have room to put anyone else up at Duck Pond Cottage, although she was really looking forward to them both staying at Duck Pond Rescue in the months and years to come.
Jade had also found out via a throwaway line from Charlotte that Hector drove his ancient blue Astra because he was sentimentally attached to it.
‘I’ve begged him to upgrade it,’ she’d confided. ‘It’s not as though he can’t afford it. But he just ignores me. He’s had it since new and says it’s never let him down, so he doesn’t feel it’s necessary.’
Finn and Jade had laughed about this later. Hector was a man who had nothing to prove, they’d both agreed, and they liked him all the more because of it.
Finn and Callum were being driven to the venue by Hamish, who had the flashiest car. He had borrowed an old Mercedes from his father.
Sarah and Jade were being picked up by a white Bentley that Jade thought was extravagant but Sarah had refused to budge on.
‘If you had your way we’d be rocking up in your old Land Rover,’ she’d quipped when they’d discussed it. ‘And that is not happening.’
Jade had laughed. She’d have liked to arrive at their wedding in a horse and carriage, but the venue was so far away from home that had been out of the question too.
The wedding ceremony was taking place at midday, which meant they needed to leave Duck Pond Cottage no later than 10.
15 a.m. just to allow for any hold-ups. The distance was the one disadvantage of choosing the Bluebell Cliff, but everyone concerned had said that it was worth it because the place was so perfect.
Jade and Sarah and Ben, and of course Ray and Dorrie, had all got ready at Duck Pond Cottage.
Jade had been up since the crack of dawn as she always was, although the morning had been slightly different from usual because Dorrie had said that on no account should Jade be down there ‘mucking out’, as she put it.
‘Not on your wedding day, my love.’ Her blue eyes had sparkled as she’d said it. ‘This is a day you’re going to remember for the rest of your life, which means that it’s going to be different and unique from all the others.’
Jade had given in when Dorrie had told her she had it in hand. The volunteers who’d be helping out when Jade and Finn were on their minimoon would simply be starting a day early. Besides, it was pointless arguing with Dorrie. She was a force of nature when she had made up her mind about something.
So Jade and Sarah, who’d arrived with an overexcited Ben just before 8 a.m. and just before the wedding hair and make-up team they’d hired, had all got ready together. And Jade had to admit it had been the best fun.
She wasn’t used to being pampered, she didn’t usually even wear that much make-up, but Dorrie had been right. She was going to remember this day for the rest of her life. When she finally looked in the mirror, encouraged by Jilly, her make-up artist, she hardly recognised herself.
Her long dark hair was up in an elaborate braid which showed off the antique sapphire earrings that had belonged to her mother. Her eyes looked huge and dark and her cheekbones looked chiselled.
‘Oh, my goodness. Is that me?’
‘It’s gorgeous you,’ Jilly said. ‘You’re going to knock his socks off.’
Jade turned to look at Sarah, who was standing behind her. In contrast, Sarah’s shorter fair hair was partially clipped up, Ben’s blue clip, her ‘something blue’, on show and complementing her summer-blue eyes.
But she also looked stunningly beautiful.
‘I love that dress. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful pair of brides.’ Jilly’s eyes misted suddenly, as did Dorrie’s when she came into the room.
‘Oh, my word. Look at you girls.’ She dabbed her eyes with a hanky. ‘Just stunning. If your mother could only see you now, Jade.’
Jade smiled at her.
‘Well, I’m very glad you’re here as my honorary mother. I can’t think of anyone better.’
‘Oh, stop it. You’ll have me in floods.’
‘Yes, stop it,’ Jilly said. ‘We haven’t got time for too many repairs.’
Sarah’s eyes were shining too, and although Sarah had an adoptive mother she mainly got on with, their relationship was up and down, and Jade wondered if she too was wondering what her birth mother would have thought, had she been here to see her.
It was milestones like this that pinpointed and zoomed in on your emotions, intensifying them and magnifying them until they became overwhelming.
Jade blinked a few times as she met Sarah’s eyes and then squeezed her arm.
‘Today’s going to be amazing.’
‘I know it is. Thank you.’
When they were all ready, and standing outside in the pale morning sunshine, Jade touched Sarah’s arm.
‘Thanks for arranging the sunshine. Is it like this at the Bluebell Cliff too?’
‘Of course it is. I booked it with Zoe.’ Sarah giggled. ‘I can’t believe it’s finally here. We’re finally doing it. How do you feel?’
‘I feel like it’s going to be the best day of our lives.’
‘Me too.’
‘Soppy stuff. And we’re not even at the flaming wedding yet…’ Ben’s voice brought the moment back to earth and both women smiled.
‘Don’t go disappearing and getting mud on that suit,’ Sarah warned him.
‘As if!’ Ben folded his arms. ‘Dawn wouldn’t even let me stroke Chocko before they went.’
‘Good job. You need to keep clean for a couple more hours.’
Jade realised that several volunteers were coming up the yard to wish them well. They were all smiling and calling out lovely things like, ‘Wow, you two look amazing,’ and, ‘Good luck, ladies.’
And at that moment the white Bentley drew in through the open gates. Everyone turned to look as it drew to a gentle halt.
‘Right then,’ Sarah said, giving Jade a wink as they prepared to meet the uniformed chauffeur, complete with posh cap. ‘Let’s do it. Let’s crack on with the best day of our lives.’