Page 40 of Wedding Bells By the Creek

He found Max drinking coffee in the bar.

‘Ready?’

Max nodded. ‘They’re almost done out the back. Wouldn’t let me help. Said I had to keep myself looking smart.’

‘And very smart you look too.’ Trish bustled into the bar. ‘That suit looks very nice. Much nicer than the uniform. It’ll look so much better in the photos. Which reminds me … Syd, have you got the camera?’ Trish hurried out of the bar.

Ed risked a glance through the doorway into the lounge. Crisp white tablecloths and vases of flowers gave the area a celebratory look. Syd was busy untangling several miles of fairy lights while his wife, looking very smart herself in a pink dress, gave instructions.

Ed turned to Max. ‘Do they know?’

Max shook his head. ‘I told them someone would pick them up. They don’t know it’s you.’

‘Thanks.’

‘No worries. We’ll head out to the house as soon as Syd gets those lights sorted. So give us a good half hour head start before you go to pick them up. There’s still a few things I want to do before the girls get there.’

‘Will do.’ Ed perched himself on the edge of a bar stool.

‘Mum. How do I look?’

When Helen turned to look at her daughter, she almost burst into tears. Tia was the most beautiful bride she had ever seen. Her long hair curled over her shoulders, and the tiny headband sparkled amid her auburn locks. The dress was simple yet elegant. And somehow every line of the dress, right down to the ballet slippers, seemed to perfectly suit the woman her daughter had become. But the most perfect thing of all was the way Tia’s face glowed with happiness.

‘You look beautiful.’ Helen’s voice caught in her throat. ‘I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am to be here with you … and for you … today.’

Tia reached out and hugged her mother. ‘Me too,’ she whispered.

Someone knocked loudly on the door.

Helen dabbed swiftly at her eyes. ‘That must be our driver.’

When she opened the door, Ed looked as if someone had knocked the breath right out of him. He looked from her face, down the length of her and back again. Helen knew she was blushing, but that didn’t matter. All that really mattered was the way he looked at her. No man had ever looked at her like that. Not once in her entire life. Until today. Until this man.

‘Helen. You look … wonderful.’

‘Thank you.’

Ed’s face creased with uncertainty. ‘Max asked me to drive you to the house. I will understand if you don’t want me there. I can get Jack or someone to drive you instead. But first, I need to tell you something.’

Helen’s heart was pounding. She fought to maintain her composure – but today of all days, composure was hard to find.

‘I want to say I’m sorry. I am an idiot. I thought the right thing to do was honour my wedding vows. But I was wrong. The right thing to do is to follow my heart. My marriage was over years ago. I just didn’t want to accept it. I want you to know that I have signed the rest of the paperwork for my divorce. And Stephanie is gone.’

Ed paused, waiting for her to speak.

‘I know.’ Her voice was just a little bit shaky.

‘How?’ Then understanding dawned on his face. ‘Trish is back in town.’

Helen nodded. ‘Now I understand what everyone says about her.’

‘She’s good people though,’ Ed said hurriedly. ‘The best.’

‘I know. I think we may end up being friends.’

‘Does that mean you’re thinking about staying in town?’

‘I could be persuaded.’ Helen arched her eyebrows and tilted her head as she waited.

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