Page 135 of All Wrapped Up
‘Are you going to announce next year’s festival today?’ Lizzie then asked, as we were beckoned towards the stage which had been set up again.
I handed Mum my bag and followed Lizzie up the steps. ‘Absolutely,’ I told her. ‘No time like the present!’
Between us we carefully and methodically went through the list I’d drawn up, making sure we thanked everyone who had contributed in any way to the festival, including Moses Talbot who had originally come up with the idea and finally we reminded the crowd of everything we’d been able to offer as a result of the generous input and donations. As we reeled it all off, I couldn’t pick out what I’d enjoyed the most.
The variety of events had ensured there had been something to appeal to everyone and I promised that next year the festival would be even bigger and the planning would start a whole lot earlier. That raised a few laughs.
‘And now,’ I announced, stepping to one side, ‘it’s time for Jake and Amber to auction off the magnificent pumpkins which have formed the main part of the wonderful displays here in the square! A percentage of the money raised will be added to the festival fund, so thank you both very much for donating that!’
‘Well,’ said Lizzie, as she took the microphone from me. ‘It’salmosttime for the pumpkin auction. There’s still one more person to thank.’
I checked my notes, but couldn’t see that we’d missed anyone. I looked into the crowd and I couldn’t see Ash either. I had hoped he might have been able to give me a clue.
‘Before the auction gets under way,’ Lizzie said, looking at me, ‘we need to thank you, Clemmie!’
Her declaration was met with many cheers and much applause and I felt myself turn the colour of a beetroot.
‘It was nothing!’ I tried to shout, but my words were drowned out.
‘She’s trying to say it was nothing,’ Lizzie tutted, ‘but weknow it was a lot and as a token of our appreciation, we’d like to give you these flowers, my darling…’
At this point, Joanne appeared at the side of the stage with another vast autumn bouquet.
‘Oh, my goodness!’ I laughed, as I took it from her and became completely hidden from sight which made everyone laugh. ‘Thank you, everyone,’ I said emotionally into the microphone that Lizzie was holding in front of my face, or where she thought my face was. ‘I’ve had the best time organising the festival and I can’t wait to do it all againand,’ I added keenly, ‘I want to thank you all most sincerely, for making me feel so welcome in Wynbridge!’
Another cheer went up and afterwards, as the crowd got ready for the pumpkin auction, Ash took the flowers from me because they weighed even more than the first bouquet Joanne had given me. I had almost got through the speech without tears, but a few had escaped.
‘Are you okay?’ Ash asked kindly.
‘I think so,’ I nodded, as I patted my face with a tissue and thanked my lucky stars that I’d opted for waterproof mascara.
‘I know you’re not just thinking about the festival today,’ Ash continued. ‘You’ve done so much in the last few weeks—’
‘Please don’t,’ I cut in, with a smile. ‘I love you dearly for understanding that, but if you talk about it now, you’re going to properly set me off.’
‘Fair enough,’ he smiled back and I kissed his cheek.
‘Right,’ I said, as I took a deep breath. ‘What now?’
‘Well, there’s another present for you back at the cottage,’ he told me as he shifted the weight of the flowers from one arm to the other. ‘Shall we go and find it?’
‘Is there?’ I laughed. ‘Well, I don’t know where you’ve hidden it because I didn’t notice anything this morning.’
‘All will be revealed…’ he said mysteriously, and I wondered if he was offering me the chance to unwrap him.
If that was the case, I wasn’t going to feel quite so guilty for slipping away for a little while, but then I remembered Mum and Dad.
‘And don’t worry about your parents,’ Ash then said, having read my mind, ‘Joanne has taken them over to the café where Jemma’s giving them an early afternoon tea.’
‘I’m not sure how I feel about Joanne talking to Mum and Dad,’ I grimaced. ‘But then I suppose, given that all of my secrets have now been revealed, she can’t do too much damage…’
‘Best not to think about it in case you’ve forgotten something,’ Ash laughed. ‘You can get the low-down from her later. Come on.’
Back at Rowan Cottage, Pixie was thrilled to see us and, while Ash tended to whatever it was that he’d somehow hidden outside, I propped the bouquet of flowers in the kitchen sink to arrange later and promised her I’d take her to town with us when we went back again.
‘It’s not exactly where it needs to be,’ Ash told me as he led me outside having made me promise not to open my eyes until he said I could. ‘But if I’d put it where I think you’re going to want it, you definitely would have seen it before now.’
‘Where was it before?’ I asked, as I tripped along.
