Page 127 of Merrily Ever After
You could have heard a pin drop in the room; the four women stared at me, open-mouthed, completely silent.
‘That bad, huh?’ I said with a nervous laugh, breaking the tension.
The next second, my friends crowded around me, all talking at once.
‘That dress is out of this world.’
‘Give us a twirl!’
‘Wait until Cole sees you.’
‘And not just Cole, everyone is going to fall in love with you.’
‘You look radiant!’
Astrid, her face soft with love, pressed a hand to her mouth and whispered something in German, which for once I didn’t understand, but I was fairly sure was a compliment.
We all took photos on our phones, doing selfies in front of the Christmas tree, until my phone buzzed with a message from Emily to say that they were on their way, and we realised what the time was.
Cesca and Fliss packed up their hair and make-up stuff and got into the car and Astrid made a last trip to the bathroom, leaving Nell and me looking at our reflectionsin the hall mirror, arms around each other’s waists.
Nell swallowed and I could see she was struggling to get her words out. ‘You look … incredible.’
‘So do you,’ I said. ‘We are going to turn some heads walking down that aisle.’
‘I’m so proud of you, you know,’ she said. ‘You’ve made such a success of your life.’
‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’ I leaned my head against hers. ‘Ican’tdo it without you, which is why I’ve got a proposition for you.’
Nell quirked an eyebrow. ‘Go on.’
I took her hands in mine. ‘I’d like you to become a partner in Merry and Bright.’
I’d been planning on saying that after Christmas, but now just felt like the right time.
Her jaw fell open. ‘What did you say?’
‘I’d really like you to join me, grow the business together, see how far we can take it,’ I explained. ‘I thought I wanted more staff, but actually, I want someone to share my dream with me and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather do that with than you.’
She shook her head, completely stunned. ‘I didn’t see that coming. At. All.’
I shrugged nonchalantly. ‘You know me, full of ideas. Although, full disclosure, it was Emily who pointed out how perfect we’d be together. Clever girl. What do you say?’
‘Oh my God.’ She hugged me tight. ‘Yes! Absolutely yes!’
My heart swelled with love for my friend. We’d be perfect partners; next year was going to be so exciting, so full of possibilities.
‘OK,’ I laughed, peeling her off me. ‘Mind the dress.’
‘Sorry, sorry,’ she said, smoothing my shoulders andpatting my hair back into position. ‘Remember last Christmas when you were grumpy and adamant that you wanted to veto Christmas Day altogether?’
I gave a snort. ‘And instead, I fell in love and woke up in an airport hotel with the man of my dreams.’
‘Twelve months later and you’re marrying him.’ Nell lifted her hand. ‘High five.’
We touched our hands together and ended up in another hug.
‘So’ – Astrid appeared beside us, wrapping her arms around both of us – ‘I think you’re ready.’
