Chapter 7
The Mews, St Aidan, Cornwall
Family ties and wild hearts
Tuesday
As we come out of the shop I look up to see fluffy clouds racing across a forget-me-not blue sky and then look back down to see Tia’s veil blowing across her face.
I wrap my sweatshirt sleeves around my neck for warmth. ‘It’s as sunny as the forecast promised, and brides in a breeze look very real.’
Tia grins at me. ‘It’s lucky we planned for gales and put on our padded bras.’
She’s talking in code here, so as not to alert Lando to our immediate problem. There aren’t any bras, but there are two sets of nipples peaking through very thin fabric. I’m kicking myself for forgetting for a second time that it’s a lot colder outside than in.
I make another snap decision. ‘Real brides must face this all the time. We’ll do the whole thing with our sweatshirts on.’ It takes two seconds for me to pull mine over my head, push in my arms, and pull out my veil. I look at Tia. ‘How’s that?’
Lando jumps in. ‘If you’re looking for a groom’s view, I definitely preferred the bare shoulders.’
Tia rolls her eyes. ‘Which we will be doing another – warmer – day, thanks, Lando.’ She slips into her own top and shakes out her hair and shorter veil. ‘Yay! Brides in a Force 9 gale! Way to go!’
If I’m going to speed this through, there’s no time to be wishy-washy. I’d never call myself forceful, but suddenly I’m rattling out orders.
‘Right, we’ll set up the tripod and take a shot of us bursting out of the wedding shop onto the mews. Then we’ll film ourselves browsing in the shop window. Then we’ll move on to the High Street, and film ourselves running up and down different sections and maybe visiting a shop or two.’
Tia nods. ‘That might be enough for today.’
Lando gives a cough. ‘Would it be easier if I held the camera?’ He hesitates. ‘I’m not a complete novice. I do wildlife photography all the time with my conservation work.’
I’m about to exchange ‘man taking over’ glances with Tia when it hits me. If Lando’s behind the camera, then he’s nowhere near me. And this way we’ll keep the couple shots to an absolute minimum.
‘Fabulous idea, Lando. It’ll be quicker too.’ If I play this right, I might get away with only having a single pose with Lando. At this rate, it’ll be over in minutes.
Tia’s eyebrows go up. ‘You’re okay letting Lando use your phone?’
Lando rolls his eyes. ‘I promise not to scroll through your messages.’
I flick to my camera, then pass it over. ‘Go for it! There’s nothing on there you can’t see.’
It’s a crazy bluff. My instinct is to bury my entire life under an invisibility cloak for the time Lando is here, but I’m hoping that if I act as if there’s nothing to hide, I won’t arouse his curiosity.
Tia straightens my veil, gives us both another dab of lippy, and a few seconds later we’re bursting out of the shop door and running down the mews.
Tia looks up from scrolling through the pictures a short time later. ‘After all this running around I’m ravenous. How about we kill two birds with one stone and let Lando film us buying cakes from the bakery?’
I nod enthusiastically as I take back my phone. I have to admit that he got some great shots. ‘And then we’ll go to the gallery and eat the cakes on the deck.’
I’ve somehow missed that Lando’s next to me, looking over my shoulder.
‘Who’s that in the picture on your wallpaper?’ He must sense that he’s overstepped, because he backs straight off. ‘They’ve got a lovely smile, that’s all.’
My heart skips a beat, and then starts banging against my chest wall.
It’s my own fault. What was I thinking, waltzing around town with Nemmie burying her cheek against Angel on my home screen? My two favourite beings in the world. My family. I should have swapped the photo, but that would have been like admitting Lando was going to disrupt our life.
I rehearse it in my head before I say it. That’s Angel and Nemmie. As long as my voice doesn’t wobble and give me away, I can do this.
‘That’s Angel and—’
Before I get any further he cuts in. ‘Cool name for a girl.’
I can’t believe this has already gone so wrong.
‘Angel’s my dog. His full title is Archangel Michael of Uxbridge, but that’s a bit of a mouthful, and he’s truly not that angelic.
’ I can’t put this off any longer. I feel like I’m about to swallow a balloon.
‘The child he’s nuzzling is Nemmie. You knew I had a daughter? ’
The question hangs in the air, and it feels like light years pass while no one replies.
His expression doesn’t change, but eventually his mouth moves. ‘I did hear, yes. But not her name.’
I carry on. ‘Nemmie’s short for Anemone. She’s nine, and Angel’s approximately five. Salvador got him from a rescue as a pup, then immediately left him with me.’
Lando shakes his head. ‘No surprise there.’
I’d meant to keep Salvador out of this, and dissing him to Lando isn’t getting us anywhere, so I claw that back. ‘Angel and I are very happy with that outcome. He was supposed to be small, but he just kept growing.’
Lando frowns. ‘Did you rescue Nemmie as well?’
‘Mum still does foster care, but Nemmie’s mine.’ I need to justify myself, make it sound more deliberate. ‘Some people leave uni desperate for a career, but I wanted a baby and I’ve never regretted that choice.’
Lando’s eyes are wide. ‘I’m happy it’s working out for you.’
‘I have half-siblings around Nemmie’s age. We’ve extended the kitchen and we all live together at home.’
Lando looks wistful. ‘Your mum always liked her house full back in the day. It’s good to know that’s not changed.’
Tia’s giving me a nudge. ‘It’s great to reminisce, but shouldn’t we get back to the job in hand?’
Lando jumps in. ‘You’re right! The bakery! I noticed on my way up it’s still Crusty Cobs!’
Tia picks that up and runs with it. ‘They still do all the old favourites too. Their coffee eclairs are to die for; their apricot pastries are pure heaven; their custard slices are the best in the west…’
By the time we arrive at the shop she’s listed every cake in the history of the universe, while I have barely begun to process the significance of what I’ve just shared with Lando.
Lando pauses by the door. ‘Maybe some stills of you both looking at the cakes in the window would work, then I’ll film you at the counter?’
I stare blankly at his outstretched hand, then land back in the present with a bump. ‘Great, you’ll be needing this then.’
His smile fades as he takes my phone. ‘I’m sorry about before. I didn’t mean to overstep.’
My laugh is like an explosion. ‘You absolutely didn’t. Everyone and their aunt has seen that picture; there’s nothing to apologise for.’ I give a shrug and try to normalise this. ‘There’s a lot of catching up to do. As far as we know you could have a people carrier full of your own kids back home.’
He shakes his head. ‘I’ve yet to put down roots, and kids aren’t on my agenda either. I can’t think of anything less appropriate, more unlikely or terrifying. There was very little in my childhood I’d want to replicate.’ He pulls a card out of his pocket. ‘Anyway, please let me get the cakes.’
I give a sniff. ‘Sav certainly wouldn’t have grumbled if he’d been given a Land Rover at seventeen and a flat of his own for uni. Or unlimited access to a sailing fleet.’
Lando turns on me. ‘Possessions don’t bring happiness in isolation, Maeve.’
I give a snort. ‘I’m not sure Sav would agree with you on that.’ This is the first inkling I’ve had that everything in the castle garden wasn’t totally rosy, so I put it in a ‘pending’ file to revisit later.
Tia flashes me a look and pulls a card from somewhere under her sweatshirt. ‘We appreciate the offer, Lando, but today is on Brides by the Sea.’
After ten years with no exchange of information, it’s hitting me that the gaps are vast, but I jump in to back up Tia.
‘In any case, we probably need you filming not shopping, Lando. Stay behind the camera, not in front of it.’ Then I slip my arm through Tia’s and guide her towards the window display.
‘Five seconds to get this, Lando. Any longer and there will be too much drool.’
It isn’t much more, and he’s soon calling, ‘Okay, all done.’
Tia’s already heading towards the door. ‘What are you going to have, Lando?’
Lando’s back to smiling. ‘To borrow from a very famous film, “I’ll have what she’s having.”’ He nods at me. ‘You were always queen of the cakes, Maevey. I hope that hasn’t changed?’
‘No surprise there. I’m still all about the sugar rush.’
As we push our way into the shop and the smell of fresh baking hits me, I’m anticipating more than the pastries. Lando definitely knows Nemmie exists now, and he’s also seen her face. If we’re talking about lines in the sand, he’s two closer in than he was.
I need to hold my nerve. So long as I get through the next twenty minutes, we can go back to where we were before. Nothing needs to change.
There’s a tiny voice in my head saying, ‘What if that doesn’t happen?’ but I squash it and follow the others towards the counter.