Page 117 of Merrily Ever After
‘Oh gosh, of course.’ Emily darted out of the room and closed the bedroom door to give Merry some privacy. She should probably have done that right from the start, she thought, cringing at herself. What sort ofweirdo hung around when someone was trying to get changed?
‘Ems?’ Merry called. ‘Can you help do me up?’
‘Sure!’ she said, opening the door again, relieved to be useful after all, and making quick work of the row of mother-of-pearl buttons at the back of the dress. ‘OK, you’re ready.’
As the two of them made their way downstairs, there was a knock at the door.
‘I bet that’s Will, he must have forgotten something,’ Emily said, running down the rest of the stairs.
The front door opened straight into the living room, where she’d set up her sewing equipment. She opened the door and gasped. ‘Mum!’
Emily held her breath for a few seconds, time seemed to stand still. Tina was the last person she’d expected to see. She’d kept her mum updated, telling her as much as she thought she ought to know, always conscious that discovering Merry’s existence hadn’t been the joyful event for Tina that it had been for her. She felt a rush of panic and she glanced from Tina to Merry, unsure how this was going to go.
‘Hello, love.’ Tina stood on the doorstep, her sewing box in one hand and a cake tin in the other, her eyes bright with nerves. ‘I thought you might need a spare pair of hands.’
‘Oh, um, thank you.’ Emily let out the breath she’d been holding with a shaky smile.
‘Tina!’ Merry hurried down the rest of the stairs and threw her arms around the older woman’s neck. ‘Emily has told me so much about you, I am so thrilled to meet you, and yes to an extra pair of hands, the more, the merrier. No pun intended.’
Emily breathed a sigh of relief as Tina returned Merry’s hug. ‘You’ve met before remember, in the market.’
‘Of course I remember,’ Tina said, stepping into the room. She handed Emily the cake tin and unwound her scarf. ‘And I made a silly comment about your mum being at your hen party. I’ve been cursing myself ever since Emily told me that she’d passed away. I’m sorry, Merry.’
‘You weren’t to know,’ said Merry kindly, a big smile on her face. ‘And thank you for coming, I’m really touched.’
‘Me too.’ Emily puffed her cheeks out and exhaled. ‘I think yours is the first wedding dress I’ve even touched, let alone tried to alter. What do you think of the dress, Mum?’
‘Give me a minute,’ Tina replied softly, her eyes still on Merry. ‘I want a proper look at the bride first.’
Emily gazed at her mum, knowing how much it would have cost her to come today. How meeting Merry would rewrite the memories Tina had of her and Ray’s relationship. And yet here she was, lending her support, building bridges, and Emily knew it was all for her.
Merry obliged good-naturedly, holding her arms out and doing a twirl.
‘Well.’ Tina shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears. ‘If you two aren’t just peas in a pod. There’s no mistaking that you’re sisters. I’ll say something for Ray Meadows, he makes beautiful children. Now come on, ladies, let’s crack on. Emily, you start pinning, I’ll get the kettle on.’
Tina marched off to the kitchen with her cake tin, leaving Emily and Merry staring at each other open-mouthed.
‘I called her this morning to ask her advice on what sort of thread to use with vintage silk,’ Emily whispered. ‘I had no idea she’d turn up. I hope it’s not going to make it awkward for you?’
Merry shook her head. ‘Things are only awkward if you make them so. I love you, so it stands to reason that I’ll love your mum too.’
‘That’s probably the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.’
Five minutes later, Merry was standing as still as a statue while Emily examined all the darts around the bodice of the dress, wondering how best to tackle the alterations.
Tina came in with a loaded tray. ‘I must say, that really is a beautiful dress.’
‘Isn’t it just,’ said Emily, making space on the little table for the tray. ‘And it’ll be even more gorgeous when we’ve finished with it. I think we might be able to get away with just taking in each of the darts.’
‘I’m so grateful to the two of you.’ Merry plucked at the spare fabric around her torso. ‘There’s no way I could have got it altered in time if Emily hadn’t offered. You’re lifesavers.’
‘Oh goodness.’ Tina flapped a hand, embarrassed by the compliment. ‘Let’s save the thanks until we’ve done a good job, shall we? Right. Emily, you pour the coffee, while I look at what’s going on around this bodice. If you could stand with your arms slightly away from your body, love.’
While Merry did as she was told, Emily glanced at the tray her mum had prepared: her best mugs, a cafetière of fresh coffee, despite Tina preferring instant, and a plate of home-made chocolate cookies, fanned out in a perfect circle.
‘Wow, Merry!’ Emily grinned. ‘You’re getting the star treatment today. Nice coffee and Mum’s legendary cookies. You are honoured.’
‘Oh shush, you madam,’ Tina said, going a bit pink. ‘This is a pre-wedding celebration. You can’t drink coffeeout of any old mug while you’re wearing a beautiful gown like this.’
