Page 134 of All Wrapped Up
I pulled out the single sheet of notepaper and took a deep breath.
‘?“Our dearest, Clemmie,”?’ I slowly and steadily read aloud. ‘?“This is without doubt one of the happiest letters I have written in a very long time.”?’
I felt Dad move closer to where Mum was sitting and kept my eyes on the paper.
‘?“Your wonderful news has given us so much joy and we want you to know that we’re absolutely delighted for you. We have always hoped that you would find love again and now that you finally have, we couldn’t be any happier. You were such a wonderful wife to Callum.”?’ At this point my voice started to wobble and I had to take another breath. ‘?“And we know that you would have his heartfelt blessing. We’re sending you and Ash all the love in the world with these words and hope that you’ll keep in touch. With love, Jill and Colin.”?’
‘They’re right,’ Mum said, her words catching as I handed her the note. ‘You were a wonderful wife to Callum.’
‘And you do deserve so much happiness,’ swallowed Dad.
‘I definitely will keep in touch,’ I responded, ‘and perhaps one day, we’ll all meet again.’
‘I’m sure they’d love that,’ said Dad, as Mum passed him the letter. ‘Now, how about you put this somewhere safe, my love?’
‘I have just the place,’ I said, thinking of the box in the wardrobe.
‘And I’ll go and put the kettle on,’ Dad offered.
‘My goodness,’ Mum smiled. ‘Wonders will never cease!’
We all laughed and the mood, even though it hadn’t felt particularly sombre, lifted back to what it had happily been when they arrived.
The next day, the last day of the first Wynbridge Autumn Festival, dawned sunny and cold. It was perfect weather for spending the day outside and celebrating the season. Especially when there were such wonderful shops and the pub and café to warm up in. Every spot on the market was filled and I made a point of introducing Mum to Bella because I knew she’d love her fairies as much as I did. Dad found a friend in Jason and while Ash and I showed Mum further around the town, they went off to the pub for a lunchtime pint.
‘You’re looking rosy,’ I laughed, when Dad came to find us just ahead of the time when Lizzie and I would be making our ‘farewell to the festival’ speech.
I had been terrified by the prospect of public speaking the day we launched, but looking around the town that day, seeing it so beautifully dressed thanks to the efforts of the whole community and recognising so many friendly and familiar faces, I wasn’t fazed at all.
‘I only had one pint,’ Dad grinned. ‘But it was some guest ale, and I think it was a little on the strong side.’
‘In that case,’ said Mum, ‘I’ll definitely be driving us back.’
Ash, Pixie and I had come to town in the Land Rover, but Mum said it was too high for her to climb in and out of so she and Dad had followed on behind in their car.
‘So,’ said Lizzie, as she came over to join us. ‘Are you ready, Clemmie?’
‘I am,’ I told her, still carrying the air of confidence I wouldn’t have thought possible just a few weeks ago. ‘But first, can I introduce you to my mum and dad?’
‘You certainly can,’ she smiled.
‘So, we’ve you to thank for getting Clemmie involved with all this, have we?’ Dad asked, his voice carrying further than usual because of the lunchtime tipple, once I’d said her name.
‘Not really,’ Lizzie laughed. ‘It’s me and everyone else in town who has to thank Clemmie for taking it on. Had she not put herself forward,’ I gasped at that, ‘after some mild encouragement,’ she then added sheepishly, ‘the festival would never have happened.’
‘And that would have been a tragedy,’ said Ash. ‘I honestly don’t know how you’ve managed to pull it all off in such a short amount of time, Clem.’
I felt myself turning warm under his and Lizzie’s praise and loosened my scarf.
‘I’ve pulled it off because everyone was so willing to pitch in,’ I pointed out. ‘Everyone who could offer to do something has and of course, I’ve had the best deputy in the business to help me every step of the way.’
Ash wouldn’t accept that.
‘I haven’t been able to do as much as I would have liked,’ he shrugged.
‘You’ve done loads,’ I reassured him. ‘But don’t worry, if you’re feeling like there’s more you could have done, you’ll get your chance next year.’
He laughed at that and Dad nudged him, but I wasn’t joking and Ash knew it.
