CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE – SYLVIE
“And on that note, all I can say is, she’s your problem now, Julian.” I raised my glass in the direction of my brother-in-law and winked.
Hazel pouted playfully.
Julian grinned, lifting his glass back in response.
Nana chuckled.
The only person who seemed unamused with my speech was my mother, who was currently looking at me with mild disapproval, but that was hardly new.
Julian’s brother got to his feet, covering a laugh with a cough, and said, “Wow. I spent hours writing this thing, but how the heck am I supposed to follow that up?”
The guests all laughed.
He looked over at me. “I think you have an unfair advantage having been to hundreds of these things. Couldn’t you give me some tips beforehand?”
Laughing, I shook my head and motioned for him to get on with it. “Don’t ruin my schedule!”
Hazel nodded frantically. “You’re thirty seconds behind, quick! Start talking!”
I swatted at her as she fell into a fit of little giggles, collapsing against my arm. Julian’s brother gave the piece of paper with his speech on a good shake, cleared his throat, and got on with it.
I had no idea how we’d even reached this point.
The entire day felt like a fever dream. Was it real?
Had I really watched my baby sister get married?
Had it really gone off without any issues whatsoever?
Was I really sitting here at the top table at the reception, knowing that the only thing that could go wrong would be someone having a few too many?
All I knew without a sliver of doubt was that this was my favourite wedding I’d ever planned. Not just because it was my sister’s, but because Castleton Manor truly was the dreamiest venue in the world. Everything had ended up so perfectly that I was sure I was dreaming.
Who could blame me, after all the drama that had befallen us up until this point?
The rest of the speeches went down well with everyone present, and like the rest of the day, dinner was drama-free and easy going.
I slipped away when the food was done to quickly meet with the band and DJ for one last run-through of the evening’s plans.
That was followed by a quick chinwag with Emily and Heath since tables had to be cleared in the ballroom, and once we’d gone over those plans one final time, I was about to scoot off somewhere else when Emily shoved a glass of something in my hand and told me to sit down.
I did as I was told.
Julian’s dad tapped the top of a microphone and stood up.
“Ladies and gents, thank you all for coming this evening. Meals are being cleared away momentarily, then we’d like to ask you all to please vacate your tables for a short period while the wonderful staff here at Castleton Manor reorganise the room for the evening’s festivities.
On your entry to the ballroom before dinner, you were all given a small envelope containing two tickets for free alcoholic drinks, and we encourage you to redeem your first one from the bars set up over there.
” He motioned to the temporary bars that had been set up.
“After your tickets are used, they will be cash bars. Don’t look at me like that, Aunt Hilda—I’ve seen how some of you drink! ”
Yes.
I’d been warned about her.
Apparently, Aunt Hilda was quite the dancer.
“The bride and groom will now retire while we set up for the evening, so don’t go thinking they’ve ditched us.
They’ve still got a very long night ahead of them dancing with you miserable lot.
” Steve grinned. “Just before they go, I’d like to express my most heartfelt thanks to a very special lady, without whom, this wedding would not be happening right now.
” He looked over at me and smiled warmly.
“Sylvie Harding, my wonderful daughter-in-law’s older sister, maid of honour, and wedding planner.
It’s no secret that the last few weeks have been disaster after disaster, and I know I speak for us all today when I assure you everything would have fallen apart without her.
From minor crises to major disasters, she’s navigated them all without complaint and with true professionalism.
That is to say, if you’re getting married, you should absolutely hire her. ”
My cheeks flamed, and I touched my hand to one side of my face as everyone laughed, and a few cheers were sent in my direction.
Steve smiled, raising his glass. “Thank you for making their dreams come true, Sylvie.”
Ahh.
I was never very good at this part.
Still, I stood and accepted the toast, tilting my own glass in the direction of the top table. Taking credit for it all seemed wrong—it wasn’t as if I’d pulled miracles out of my arse, nor was I solely responsible for making sure today was as successful as it had been so far.
I’d had help.
A lot of it.
Especially from the one man who would never, ever admit he was behind it all.
Hazel appeared at my side and kissed my cheek. “He’s in the corner. Staring at you. Like he has been all night.”
My breath caught, and I snapped my gaze towards her. “What are you—”
She squeezed my hand. “You’ve given me everything I ever wanted, Syl. Now choose you.”
“But, I—”
“You’re off-duty, sis.” Julian grinned, wrapping his arm around Hazel’s waist. “Everything is done, and Heath can more than handle all this. Enjoy yourself for once.”
“After the first dance,” I said quickly. “Then, I promise I’ll put down my clipboard and have fun.”
“You better.” He glanced across the room. “Because I know there’s someone hoping to dance with you tonight.”
My cheeks flushed with heat once again, and I turned my face away from them. “Aren’t you two supposed to be resting? Stop teasing me, or I’ll have the DJ play Ms Carey’s greatest hits.”
Hazel gasped. “Don’t you dare!”
“Then take your husband before he makes me do it.”
“We’re leaving!” She grabbed Julian’s tie and yanked.
He coughed, making her loosen her hold. “She wouldn’t do it.”
“She would!” Hazel grabbed his sleeve instead. “She so would!”
***
“You did good, birdie,” Gramps whispered, leaning into me and wrapping his arm around my shoulders as we watched Hazel and Julian laugh their way through their first dance together.
“Thanks, Gramps.” I smiled, settling into his gentle embrace. “Bloody glad it’s over, though.”
He chuckled. “You and me both.”
Cassandra and Dad took to the floor as the song ended, and the music instantly changed to the one Hazel and Julian had chosen for the respective dance. Thirty seconds or so passed before Mum and Steve joined them, followed by Julian’s brother and his girlfriend.
Gramps nudged me and winked as I felt someone step up beside me.
“Would you mind if I stole her for a few, Gramps?” Thomas asked.
My stomach fluttered.
“She’s all yours, son.” He winked at him and stepped back, presumably to go find Nana so they could join in.
Thomas cleared his throat and held out his hand. “May I have this dance, Miss Harding?”
My lips twitched to the side, and I gently rested my fingers on top of his. “You may, Your Grace.”
With a smile, he pulled me onto the dancefloor and swept me into his arms. His eyes glimmered, even in the low light, and my skin thrummed with our closeness. We’d barely seen each other all day, let alone shared a word, but right now, it didn’t feel like we needed to.
So, we just danced.
And, oh, how we danced.
Song after song played, and we danced together and next to each other. We danced six feet apart and with barely a millimetre between us. I twirled with my sister and grooved with my grandparents only to end right back up in his arms.
Like a pull I couldn’t fight. A tug I couldn’t ignore.
No matter how much time passed, how many times we parted, I always, always ended up with Thomas’ breath fluttering across my cheek and our fingers intertwined.
“Come with me,” he whispered into my ear. He released my hand only to grab it again with the other, linking our fingers so he could pull me after him.
I squealed, almost stumbling in my heels, but all he did was flash me a knowing grin over his shoulder and keep walking.
This guy…
“Where are we—”
“Put this on.” He draped a coat around my shoulders.
“Where are we going?” I tried again, sliding my arms into the sleeves.
“Shh.” He shrugged on his own coat and zipped it up, then tied a scarf around my neck. “Hmm. A hat is probably one step too far in Hazel’s goodwill.”
“What are you—”
He pressed a finger to my lips and grabbed me once again, tugging me out through the door and onto the back patio.
Fairy lights illuminated the entire area, hanging from the pergola beams above us.
Miniature fir trees decorated the corners, and they were lit up with twinkling little lights that flickered to a silent beat.
Snow fluttered dreamily out of the sky, a far cry from the torrent snowfall of the past few days.
Thomas stepped up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, pressing his face into the side of my hair. Reaching up, I rested my hands on his forearm and leant back into him, closing my eyes.
The sound of music from the reception was the faintest rumble in the background. If not for that, it would be almost completely silent bar the ethereal whispers of the wind through the few evergreen trees in the garden before us.
Thomas sighed and pressed a kiss into my hair. “You pulled it off. Congratulations.”
I laughed. “Me? No. We pulled it off. I didn’t do this alone.”
“If not for your meticulous planning, there would have been no saving it.”
“And if not for your stroke of brilliance remembering that the license had been re-filed, my planning wouldn’t have mattered, meticulous or not.”
He stilled. “What do you mean? It was Mum’s idea.”
“Shall I pretend to believe you? Would that make you feel better?”
“Ah, fuck. When did you find out?”