Page 13 of Merrily Ever After
Fifteen minutes later, we were ensconced at a window table in the café across the market square from Merry and Bright waiting for our lattes and cinnamon buns. Outside, the market was full of colour and noise, people buying and selling everything, from fabric to falafel, books to baby clothes, and a thousand other things besides. Before having the shop, I’d worked from home, but I thrived having people around me and feeling part of Wetherley’s town centre. Growing up in care had always made me feel different, as if I didn’t belong anywhere. I still had flashes of self-doubt, but this last year had changed my outlook and I was beginning to accept that I had a valuable part to play in the community.
‘So? Let’s have a proper look at the rock then,’ said Nell once the waiter had delivered our order.
‘Ta-dah!’ I held up my hand to show her the ring. ‘He chose it himself. I love it.’
‘I’m not surprised, it’s perfect for you. He’s pushed the boat out, hasn’t he?’ She pulled an impressed face. ‘No Granny’s old cast-offs for you.’
I stroked the diamond with the pad of my right thumb. It still felt odd having a ring on my actual ring finger. The sparkle surprised me every time it caught the light. ‘I think Hester’s already claimed all the family heirlooms, which is absolutely fine by me. I haven’t got anything of my mum’s, so hopefully this will become an heirloom one day to pass on to my own children.’
I was all for family traditions, always enjoying listening to tales of Nell’s family rituals and learning and joining in with the things Cole and his family did, and I was eager to have traditions of my own –ourown.
Nell raised her cup. ‘To you and Cole, may you be blissfully happy. Cheers!’
I chinked my coffee against hers and we both took a sip and while we tucked into our buns, I took her through the highlights of Cole’s surprise proposal again.
‘I spent most of the afternoon in tears – happy ones, obviously. Cole had already told his dad that he was planning to propose and had organised for Hester and Paul to be there too. Astrid had also been in on the secret; she was beside herself with excitement and confessed that she’d almost given it away several times. Fred made a speech saying how happy he was that I was joining the family and I felt surrounded by love,’ I said.
Nell gave a dreamy sigh. ‘Such a happy day. And the kids? How did they take the news?’
I pondered that as I popped the last piece of cake into my mouth. ‘Good question. At first, Freya seemed happy that I’d asked her to be a bridesmaid. Although then I worried that I should have checked with Cole and Lydia first.’
Nell tutted softly. ‘You don’t always have to put other people first, you know, especially when it comes to your own wedding.’
‘It’s a minefield, though, trying not to overstep the mark and tread on other people’s toes.’ I smiled ruefully. ‘Anyway, then Freya started to worry that Lydia might be sad that Daddy’s having a wedding without her, and she said she wants us to invite Lydia.’
‘I’d leave that one for Cole to sort out.’ Nell winced. ‘Try not to worry. And Harley?’
I thought back to his demeanour yesterday. He had changed since coming back from Canada and not just physically. He had been gregarious and outgoing when Cole and I had gone out at Easter to visit, bristling with more energy than he knew what to do with. Now he was quieter and glued to his phone. Cole put it down to hormones and being a teenager and he was probably right. I’d loved seeing Harley come alive when it had started to snow, but once at Astrid’s he’d retreated into his shell again.
‘He didn’t say much about us getting married,’ I admitted. ‘He was more bothered about who he was going to be spending Christmas Day with. They were in Canada with Lydia last year, but then Cole flew out to join them. I don’t know what’s happening this year.’
‘Maybe you’ll be otherwise engaged on Christmas Day.’ Nell raised her eyebrows suggestively. ‘Seeing as it’ll be your honeymoon.’
I shook my head. ‘Christmas is a special time for the kids; Freya still believes in Santa. Cole and I have the rest of our lives together. If we get the opportunity to spend the day with them, we will.’
Family was the best gift of all. By marrying me, Cole was giving me the one thing I’d been searching for my whole life. Honeymoon or not, I didn’t want to miss spending Christmas Day with my new family, and I was sure he’d feel the same.
‘As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.’ Nell knew how important family was to me. ‘Cole came to see me you know, before he proposed.’
‘Bloody hell!’ I stared at her. ‘You knew too? I think I must have been the only person on the planet in the dark about it.’
She laughed at my indignant expression. ‘You know what he’s like. He wanted to make sure he got everything right.’
Love for him swelled inside me. That was Cole to a tee; he liked to think things through. It was my role in the relationship to throw spur-of-the-moment suggestions into the mix and his to consider the pros and cons before agreeing.
My face softened into a smile. ‘That’s my Cole. What did he say?’
‘He phoned and said he had something to talk to me about and could he come over. I spent the day worrying that you were ill and hadn’t told me. Then he turned up and said he intended to propose to you and wanted to know if I had any objections. I can’t tell you how relieved I was.’
‘Sounds very Victorian,’ I replied, bemused. ‘As if he was asking permission for my hand.’
Nell giggled. ‘It was a bit like that. But I think he knew I’d give it to him straight and tell him if you were unlikely to say yes, or whether I had any concerns.’
‘And did you have concerns?’
‘Not at all. If you remember, I was the one who encouraged you to live together.’
‘True.’
