Page 12 of Merrily Ever After
‘Oh Fred,’ I sighed, ‘what would I do without you?’
Fred had asked if he could help me out last December because he was interested in seeing how candles were made. We’d jokingly referred to him as the work experience boy, even though he’d retired from his profession as a chemistry teacher years earlier. Now he was my right-hand man. I’d trialled other staff over the course of the year, but none of them could hold a candle to Fred – literally. He had an amazing nose; his favourite thing was to experiment with essential oils and he had helped me grow the product range considerably since coming on board.
‘You’d manage fine,’ he said, patting my shoulder. ‘Just like you did before I came along and got under your feet.’
I watched him make us both coffee, aware of an uneasy sensation deep inside. I knew I was over-reliant on him; Astrid had hinted more than once that she’d like them tospend more time together, spread their wings a little and, for that to happen, I needed to take on an extra member of staff. But winter was setting in now, I was sure I could put off doing anything about it until spring.
We took our mugs into the front of the shop and were stuffing parcels into a postal sack ready for collection when the door opened and in came Nell. She was hidden behind an enormous bouquet of flowers.
‘Congratulations, my darling girl!’ she cried, enveloping me in a tight hug and waving to Fred over my shoulder.
Nell and I held on to each other for a long moment and I felt close to tears. We’d been best friends for twenty years, at each other’s sides through good and bad times, and she was closer to me than anyone else in the world.
‘I am so pleased to see you.’ I pressed my cheek to hers.
We’d spoken on the phone last night after Cole had taken the children back to Lydia, but it was no substitute for seeing each other face to face.
‘Me too. Sorry I couldn’t come earlier. But you know what Mondays are like.’
It was the day of her weekly visit to the wholesaler to stock up on the nuts and dried fruit for her market stall Nell’s Nuts.
‘I do.’ I pulled a guilty face. ‘It’s busy here too, not that I’ve achieved much today.’
‘Of course, you haven’t,’ she scoffed. ‘How are you feeling today, has it sunk in yet?’
‘She’s been floating around the shop humming to herself all morning,’ Fred piped up. ‘So I’d say she’s pretty happy. Quite happy about it myself, I must admit.’
‘Awww,’ said Nell and I together.
‘I can’t help it,’ I admitted. ‘I feel like I’m on cloud nine. It’s all so sudden and exciting. I’m almost too happy.’
‘No such thing,’ Nell said firmly. ‘Oh, I forgot. These are for you.’
She handed me the flowers and produced a bottle from her bag. ‘And I insist you open the bubbly when you get home tonight and celebrate with Cole.’
‘Champagne? Wow.’ I glanced at the label. ‘Not sure about having it on a Monday. Isn’t that a bit extravagant?’
‘It’s not just any old Monday,’ she pointed out. ‘My best friend is getting married to someone I actually approve of and if that isn’t a good reason to celebrate, then I’m Tinkerbell the fairy.’
‘I’m so glad you approve of him. His dad’s not too bad either.’ I slid my eyes to Fred, who flapped a hand in embarrassment. ‘I promise I’ll open it. The flowers are gorgeous too.’ The red of the roses and hypericum berries were vivid amongst glossy evergreens, feathery ferns and snowy white gypsophila. ‘Perfect flowers for a winter wedding.’
‘That did cross my mind,’ Nell said. ‘Depending on your colour scheme.’
My colour scheme. A small sigh escaped me; I was excited to get married, but it was slowly dawning on me just how much there was to do between now and Christmas Eve.
Nell narrowed her eyes, sensitive as always to my every mood. ‘By your own admission you aren’t doing anything, so you won’t put up a fight if I drag you out for a coffee and a celebratory cake, will you?’
‘Are you not supposed to be on your stall?’
She shook her head. ‘I’m not opening today, I thought we might have a wedding to plan.’
The chance to share the load with my best mate over coffee and cake was too good to miss. I looked at Fred.‘Is that all right with you?’
‘Of course! I’ll put these in water for you.’ He picked up the flowers and shooed me off. ‘Leave everything to me.’
Nell jerked her head towards Fred. ‘He’s a keeper.’
‘I hope so,’ I replied, pulling on my coat. ‘Now, come on, let’s go and talk weddings.’
