Page 123 of Merrily Ever After
Will was helpless with laughter, and it took him several attempts to get his words out. ‘I should think that’s the least of his worries. Where do you think he’s put the shoe polish?’
Emily closed her eyes, trying to block out that particular image.
It only took a couple of minutes to clean the shoes with a damp cloth; Emily and Will decided not to look for the shoe polish.
‘You look really smart, Dad.’ Emily kissed his cheek. ‘You’re going to do Merry proud.’
‘Little Merry?’ He frowned.
Emily looped her arm through his and suppressed a sigh. ‘That’s the one. Let’s go.’
Ray wouldn’t budge. ‘Where’s my tin? I need my tin.’
‘We need to go, Ray, or we’ll end up missing the wedding altogether,’ Will tried to cajole him.
Ray marched to his wardrobe and flung open the doors. ‘It was in here, unless someone’s stolen it. Taken all my money,’ he chuntered.
They let him get on with it. They’d built in contingency time, and they’d still get there before the start of the service.
‘I’m exhausted already,’ Emily murmured, reaching for Will’s hand.
He laced his fingers through hers and brought her hand to his lips. ‘You’re doing great.’
She’d never get bored of this, she thought. They didn’t seem to be able to exist in the same room as each other without some sort of connection, a look, a brushing of fingers as they passed, sitting with legs entwined. She thought of this morning, waking beside him in the semi-darkness, watching him breathe, his golden lashes resting on his beautiful face. How she’d curled her body into him, sliding her leg over his, tracing circles on his lean stomach with her fingers, her cheek soft against his chest. If only every morning could start like that.
Merry’s words had come back to her about home being a person rather than a place, about following her passion. And as she lay there, she’d come to a decision, and her heart had started to beat faster. It was time to start doing something for herself, making her own life a priority. She’d slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Will, and before she had time to change her mind, typed an email to her boss. Subject line: resignation. She was going to leave her safe and steady job and do something which excited her. She’d still have to go back to school in the New Year and work her notice period until the end of January. But then … who knew? She’d give herself some time, to work out what she really wanted to do with her life. Because, as Merry had said, she’d never fulfil her dreams if she didn’t even try.
There was a crash and clatter as Ray tipped the contents of the tin on the floor and sifted.
‘Jackpot,’ he said and then got to his feet, seemingly perfectly at ease with the chaos he’d left on the carpet behind him. He looked at them both and scowled. ‘Come on then, what are we waiting for? We’ve got a wedding to get to.’
Emily bit her tongue and opened the door. ‘And who’s getting married, Dad, can you remember?’
‘Your sister,’ he said, stopping in front of her to pat her cheek. ‘Thank you, love. For making this happen.’
Will took his arm and the two of them headed for the lift.
‘No, Dad,’ she whispered to herself, blinking back a tear. ‘Thank you, for making it happen.’
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Merry
24 DECEMBER
‘Woohoo! Let’s get this wedding started!’ Nell popped the cork on the chilled bottle of German Sekt that Astrid had brought with her, and we all held out our champagne flutes in anticipation.
Foam spilled out of the top and Cesca stepped in quickly with her glass to catch it.
‘Merry, may the sun shine in your heart today and forever. Cherish the day,meine Liebe, you deserve it.’ Astrid raised her glass. ‘To our beautiful bride.’
Fliss, Nell and Cesca joined Astrid in toasting me and I did my best to hold back the tears.
So far, I was having a perfect day, and it looked as if Cole and I were to have a white wedding. Snow had been falling since first light, delicate gentle flakes as if the sky had judged it just right: enough to be pretty and dust the frozen ground with layer of sparkle, but not too heavy to make travelling to the registry office too treacherous. I could only imagine the excitement at Hester’s house, where Cole and the kids had stayed last night.
‘Thank you,’ I said with a sniff. ‘You’re all lovely and I’m so lucky to have you here with me. I’ve always wonderedwhat it would be like, getting ready on my wedding day without my mum. But I needn’t have worried. I feel surrounded by love today.’
Fliss handed me a tissue from a box on the table. ‘OK, everyone, no more making Merry cry, she doesn’t want to greet Cole looking like a panda.’
