Chapter Thirty-Nine
Hattie loved a wedding. There was no finer day out in her opinion and this particular day was going to be very special.
Several months after the flood, Boomerville was re-opening its doors and James and Kate were to be married in the church on the village green, followed by celebrations at the hotel arranged by Hattie, their wedding planner.
The hotel was still far from ready to take guests but the kitchen was operational and Hattie had arranged a catering service to help Sandra prepare for the wedding meal.
Kate and James were delighted to let Hattie make all the arrangements.
A marquee had been erected and an events company hired to furnish and decorate the structure. Boomerville staff were back in their uniforms and there was much excitement as finishing touches to the preparations were made.
Hattie sat in her bedroom at home in Marland and fiddled with the corsage she’d chosen to match her outfit. She was thoughtful as she stroked the pretty pink roses, remembering everything that had happened to lead up to this day.
Thank goodness Andy Mack had been arrested.
It was a funny old world and the gods moved in mysterious ways.
Hattie was pleased that their own Shaman had captured Andy and thanked the day that she’d suggested to Jo that they bring the Shaman down off his hillside to run classes at Boomerville.
Her instincts had been correct about Andy the conman and with the Shaman’s help, and Hattie’s call to Harry the Helmet, Andy had ended his scamming days in the Shaman’s rural tepee.
From there he was taken to Marland police station and held behind bars as a guest of Her Majesty’s Prison Service, awaiting trial.
Hattie hoped that he’d receive a very long sentence.
The trip to Hereford for Sir Henry’s funeral had been memorable.
It had been a beautiful winter’s day with a crisp frost underfoot as the procession made their way from the Mulberry country home, where Henry and Hugo had grown up, to the quaint little church in the village.
Hattie, Jo and Pete were joined by Bob, James and Kate and they walked together behind relatives, friends and workers from the cider factory.
Guests from Boomerville who’d known Sir Henry had come along too.
Dressed formally in black and carrying a top hat, the funeral director walked in front of the hearse.
The cortège slowly followed as they made their way through the village to the overflowing church.
Sun beamed through the windows onto Henry’s flower-laden coffin, where his silver cane lay on a mass of lilies and gardenias, and Hattie could still remember the overpowering smell of the blooms.
A wake was held at Raven Hall, the family home, where Hugo was the perfect host. It was a poignant day with fond recollections of Henry from his youth to his dotage.
Lucinda was very subdued. She wore her engagement ring and was dressed in a smart wool coat.
The black fabric emphasised her pale skin and she seemed frail as she moved amongst the mourners.
At Jo’s invitation, Lucinda would move permanently to Boomerville and would take up her post as artist-in-residence when the retreat opened once more.
Hattie looked up and studied her reflection.
She’d selected her outfit with care. The dress had a firm foundation with Lycra in all the right places and was overlaid with a layer of salmon-pink lace.
A crown of roses, matching her corsage, lay on the dressing table.
Hattie knew that it was over the top but she wanted to feel special and with handbag and shoes matching the ensemble, she thought that she’d chosen well.
Jo had wanted Hattie to stay at Boomerville the previous evening, but with guests arriving for the wedding, Hattie insisted on all rooms being made available. Hugo was back in his suite and Bob, who’d arrived with Anthony, was staying in Jo’s spare room.
Hattie looked at the clock on the bedside table. Kate and James were getting married at two o’clock and although it was only ten, Hattie had much to do.
She picked up the corsage.
‘Happy wedding day, everyone,’ she whispered and pinned the flowers to her chest.
* * *
Jo stood beside Pete and pinned a single rose to the lapel of his suit. She tweaked and pulled at the fern surrounding the petals, until she was satisfied that the bloom was perfectly in place.
‘Is she coming too?’ Pete looked down at Bunty who was asleep in her box and snoring softly. She wore her fancy pink collar with a matching bow.
‘No, I wouldn’t dream of taking her to the church.’ Jo smiled. ‘I walked the paws off her earlier and she’ll doze until later.’
She picked up a wrap and Pete draped the silk fabric over her shoulders.
‘You look beautiful,’ Pete said as he admired her outfit. The knee-length dress with matching accessories was perfect for a spring wedding.
‘We’d better go, I don’t want to be late.’ Jo picked up a hat and carefully placed it on her head. She looked at her reflection in the mirror over the fireplace. ‘Thank goodness we got this room done up in time for the wedding,’ she said as she turned and took Pete’s arm.
‘Aye, it will serve well as a makeshift lounge for your guests.’
The downstairs area of Boomerville was still recovering from the flood and with electrics under repair and re-plastered walls drying, they were months away from completing the renovations.
But no one seemed to mind.
The bedrooms were warm and cosy and guests attending the wedding were perfectly happy to stay in the half-finished hotel, with any overflow accommodated at the King’s Arms.
‘Look,’ Jo said as they crossed the road to the church, ‘everyone has come out to see the happy couple.’ She waved as she recognised villagers and local folk who stood in the sunshine waiting for the bride to arrive.
Pete escorted Jo into the church. It was full to capacity with friends and family and as they slid into their seats, Jo gazed at the beautiful flowers and ribbon-decked pews and felt her heart overflow with pleasure.
Her first wedding at Boomerville.
She saw James standing at the front of the church, beneath a stained-glass window.
Tom and Jack were by his side and as light poured through the multihued glass, the family likeness was clear.
They all looked handsome in their wedding suits and appeared relaxed as they chatted and joked.
Jack kept glancing at a woman a few rows back and Jo recognised a heavily pregnant Desiree.
‘I wonder how things are with Helen?’ Jo whispered to Pete.
‘The gossip I heard earlier is that she’s in rehab and making progress.’
‘I hope she sorts things out, especially with a grandchild on the way.’
‘Where’s Hattie?’ Pete asked. He studied the faces around them but Hattie was nowhere to be seen.
‘I don’t know. I can’t see Anthony or Hugo either.’ Jo was fretful. ‘I wonder what on earth can have happened to them.’
Moments later, she sighed with relief when she heard the sound of a familiar step as heels sped along stone slabs.
‘Sorry we’re late,’ Hattie whispered. Hugo and Anthony were with her and they escorted her to her seat.
The organist began to play and as the familiar chords of The Wedding March began, Pete took hold of Jo’s hand.
Everyone got to their feet.
James’ face was a portrait of joy as he turned and looked down the aisle.
His bride had arrived.
* * *
Kate waited on the steps at the doorway to the church and gripped her bouquet.
She turned to her Matron of Honour who fussed around with the veil.
Lucinda, conscious of her responsibility, was attentive and thorough as she knelt down to make sure that the fishtail hem of Kate’s floor-length silk dress flowed in a neat line and would match her own shorter version.
Satisfied that the bride was perfect, Lucinda took her place behind Kate and they entered the church.
Kate’s heart was pounding as she stepped forward and she wished that her parents were alive to be a part of this day.
But her feelings were of pure happiness and elation as she reached out to take Bob’s arm.
Her new friend, resplendent in his formal wedding suit, beamed as he proudly prepared to carry out his duty and give Kate away.
Bob nestled Kate to his side and patted her hand.
‘You look beautiful, my darling,’ Bob said. ‘Are you ready?’
They heard The Wedding March begin and, as they started their slow walk down the aisle, heads turned. Many had tears in their eyes, for Kate was a stunning bride.
She’d never in all her wildest dreams thought that this day would actually come and that a man as wonderful as James would be waiting to place a ring on her finger and give his simple oath that he would love and honour his new wife.
’Till death do us part.
Kate looked up and saw James at the altar.
He stood proud and tall beside his sons and wore a look of elation that matched her own.
His expression spoke of the love he felt and she choked back a tear as she felt Bob grip her tightly.
As James stepped forward and Bob stood back, nodding with pride as he watched James take Kate’s hand, Lucinda reached for the bride’s bouquet.
Kate looked into James’ eyes and knew that her life was going to be everything that she could ever have wished for, and when the vicar pronounced them man and wife, she held him tightly as the congregation cheered.
The couple kissed and sealed their union.
Outside, villagers clapped as the newly-weds stepped into the sunshine to be showered in a blizzard of confetti. Cameras clicked, and when the photographer was satisfied that he’d captured the moment, James and Kate were guided to a waiting vehicle.
‘Hop up!’ Willie called out. ‘Mind tha’ step.’ He was suited and booted and grinning like a Cheshire cat as he took Kate’s hand.
The coach from William’s Wheels looked splendid and gleamed with polish and shiny ribbons. Huge bows draped around the paintwork.