Page 64 of Merrily Ever After
‘Jurgos took my arm ready to go inside. But I told him I couldn’t go through with it.’ She smiled sadly, hitching her shoulders.
‘You got cold feet?’ Fliss nodded sagely.
‘Oh no,’ said Astrid. ‘It was July.’
Cesca and Hester laughed so hard at her misunderstanding that they could hardly breathe.
‘Go on, Astrid, what happened then?’ I prompted.
‘I said that now we’re here it feels real, but at the same time it’s fake. We were having fun, but I knew deep inside that a joke wedding isn’t something I’d be proud of in the future. Marriage should be about commitment and honesty. I didn’t know the first thing about him. And also, I had told him a lie. I did not like Elvis Presley.’
We all gasped. ‘What did he say to that?’ Nell asked.
‘He kissed me and thanked me for making him see sense. He also said that I’d done him a favour: his mother would be sad if she missed his wedding. But mostly, he could never marry someone who didn’t love Elvis as much as he did. And that, my friends, is as near as I’ve been to marriage,’ Astrid concluded.
‘Ah, well at least it ended amicably,’ I consoled.
‘Who says it ended there?’ said Astrid with a twinkle inher eye. ‘He’d booked the honeymoon suite at his motel; we didn’t letthatgo to waste.’
‘Astrid! You minx!’ Hester pressed a hand to her mouth.
And we all laughed again until the waitstaff arrived and cleared away our empty plates.
‘Cesca and I wanted to club together to get you a wedding present,’ said Fliss. ‘Have you got a list yet?’
We hadn’t. No gift list, no photographer, no cars to get us to the registry office, let alone invitations, presents for the bridesmaid, writing wedding vows, organising a wedding rehearsal … My stomach churned at the thought of all the jobs left to do.
‘There isn’t a gift list,’ I admitted. ‘But you’re already doing my hair and make-up on the day. So no presents please, just your presence.’
‘Risky move.’ Cesca sucked in a breath. ‘Because I guarantee you will get gifts and then instead of getting a complete set of stuff, nothing will match.’
‘But things chosen for us,’ I argued. ‘So they’ll be special.’
‘My gift will be your wedding cake,’ Astrid said. ‘What sort would you like?’
‘That’s a great gift, thank you.’ I reached across the table and squeezed her hand. ‘How about Christmas cake? It’s the same as wedding cake, so it kills two birds with one stone.’
‘Forget about making things easier, this is your wedding,’ Astrid chided. ‘Have what you like.’
‘Does Cole like Christmas cake?’ I asked Hester. ‘I feel bad that I don’t know, but last Christmas I was still getting to know him.’
‘He does,’ she confirmed. ‘But he hates marzipan and isn’t bothered about icing.’
‘What?’ I pretended to look horrified. ‘They’re my favourite bits!’
‘That’s it then, you’re made for each other.’ Hester chinked her glass against mine.
‘To the perfect couple!’ Nell proposed another toast, and we all drank. ‘I know what I’d like to give you,’ Nell said. ‘My services as a sales assistant for Merry and Bright. That way, you can have two weeks honeymoon without worrying about the shop.’
‘That would be amazing!’ My heart leapt. I’d been unsure what to do about the business. I hadn’t had time to find an assistant and I didn’t want to put even more work on Fred’s shoulders. ‘But what about your own business?’
She wrinkled her nose. ‘You’d be doing me a favour, I promise. I need a break from the market. Funnily enough, one of my regulars was asking the other day if I’d ever consider selling and, if so, to let her know. I’m seriously considering it. I fancy a new challenge.’
‘I salute you,’ said Astrid. ‘We should always be open to new ideas and adventures.’
‘Thanks, Astrid.’ Nell touched her glass to hers.
‘But you built that stall from nothing. I thought you loved it?’ I said, bewildered. ‘Besides, you can sell nuts to full-cheeked squirrels, you’re brilliant at it!’
