Page 53 of New Beginnings at Lullbury Bay

Surveyingall her hard work she thought it was perfect.Theflower arrangements were of the palest of pink roses combined with ones the colour of clotted cream, delicate freesias and sprigs of lavender, with snowball-globe chrysanthemums, pastel-pink peonies and soft silver-dollar eucalyptus greenery to add volume.Classybut quietly dramatic.Alongthe aisle the pew-end flowers added prettiness to what was already a magnificent church interior.Itwas everything she’d planned: subtly romantic and sweetly fragrant.

Shewatched contentedly as the church came to life.Theorganist took his place and began playing a quiet medley, groomsmen directed guests to their seats who then promptly got back up to greet relatives and friends, and a much calmer-lookingVeritymingled and chatted.Thevolume of noise increased as the church filled up, perfume and aftershave mingling headily with the scent from the flowers and the faint whiff of musky damp from the old walls.AndthenJagoand best manJamieentered.Daisyknew through her cousinLuciethat the two men had bonded through theirRNLIvolunteering; there would be a good smattering ofRNLIvolunteers in the congregation today.Jagotwitched nervously at his cufflinks but looked piratically handsome in his grey-jacketed morning suit, his earring glinting in the lights.Veritygave him a hug and what looked like some reassuring words.

Mostof the town seemed to have been invited,Daisythought.ThelargeWiscombefamily, withLuciegiving her a wave, theCatesbysfrom the animal sanctuary,Tracyfrom theSeaSpraycafé,BeeandBella,Sidfrom the farm shop,AggieandAustin,BrendaPearceand her husband and a gaggle of staff fromStWinifred’sPrimarySchool.

Daisy’sphone vibrated.Amessage fromMarionat the marquee:Thingsall set here.Lookingperfect.WilldropJanoff for the big event.Daisysighed in relief.She’dwanted to oversee thereception-venue flowers herself but had had to delegate, withJanandMarionoffering as a favour.Maybe, withWebFloriststatus now secured, it was time to take on another member of staff?Shecouldn’t be in two places at once.Switchingher phone off, it wouldn’t do for it to go off during the ceremony, she stowed it in her breast pocket.Marionmust have broken all land speed records as, ten minutes later,Miaslid onto the pew bringingJanwith her.

‘Shejust made it,’Miawhispered. ‘Secondsbefore the bride arrived.Marionsaid hi but is off home now.’

Daisynodded.Ithad been good ofMarionto work an extra morning.Shesaw her mum fish out a tissue and smiled; she always cried at weddings.Ata signal fromVerity,Jagostood up,Jamieat his side.Asense of expectation rippled through the church.Everyonestopped gossiping, sat up a bit straighter and primped themselves for the main event.Oneor two kept glancing backwards to see if they could get the first glimpse of the bride.Honor’smum, resplendent in pale grey and an impressive hat made of pale-pink feathers, took her place at the front of the church.Veritystood at the altar ready to receive the bridal party and the organ music swelled to a crescendo.

‘Ooh, and here we go,’Jansaid. ‘Isuppose as soon as the happy couple go off to sign the register, we can leave.Weneed to get back up toCheneyHousebefore anyone else.’

‘Oh, we can’t leave before the end,’Daisywhispered back, leaning forward pastMiaand looking cagey. ‘I’vea feeling they’ve got something special organised for whenHonorandJagoleave the church.’Miagave her a conspiratorial look.

‘Everything’slooking beautiful up at the marquee anyway,’Janhissed over the organ music. ‘Wecan relax a bit and enjoy the wedding.They’llbe having photos done outside the church for ages.Supposeit’ll give us plenty of time to get toCheneyHousebefore them.’

Daisysat back, unable to answer as a blast from theorgan playing the first notes of ‘TheArrivalof theQueenofSheba’announced the bride and they all had to stand up.

Thecongregation held its collective breath asHonorwalked along the nave on the arm of her father.Oneor two sniffs could be heard.Withher honey-gold hair and cornflower-blue eyes she was a stunning woman and made a beautiful bride.Wearinga simple satin ballgown with a lace bodice and the merest hint of sparkle, she was enchanting.Itwas more than that though, the town was deeply fond of their deputy headmistress and the little church swelled with love for one of their own.

Daisysighed in relief that the bouquets she’d dropped off at eight that morning had survived the heat and looked pristine.

BridesmaidsLexiandSarika, teachers from school, followed, withHonor’solder sister as matron of honour and then in bounced a beamingMerryn,Jago’sirrepressible little sister.Shecaused one or two murmurs as she held, on a pale-pink plaited satin lead,IvythePengethleys’ black-and-white rescue spaniel.Moresniffs were audible asHonorreachedJagoand everyone saw the love light in his eyes as he gazed down at her.ThankfullyIvy, and a fidgetyMerryn, went to sit withAvril,Jago’smum.

‘Pleasebe seated,’Veritysaid and the congregation, with a rustle of silk dresses and programmes of service settled back in their pews. ‘Thankyou all for joiningHonor,Jagoand their families on this gloriously sunnyDorsetday for this happiest of events.Justone or two housekeeping notices and then we can get this wonderful couple married.’Veritystared over her specs and raised her brows comically. ‘Andgo somewhere a little warmer for a glass of fizz.’Therewere one or two nervous titters as those guests unused toVerity’shumour didn’t know if it was allowed to laugh in church. ‘Wewelcome most warmly babies and children,’ she paused, ‘and evendogsintoStWinifred’sbut church services can sometimes seem dull, even the onesIlead, for little ones and those with four paws and a tail, so we respectfully ask that they be quiet during the solemn part when the bride and groom take their vows.’Sheglared in comic fashion at some children. ‘However,Idemand you children in the second pew there make as much noise as possible when singing the hymns.Wewant to raise the roof today.’

Thevicar was a beloved figure in theLullburyBaycommunity and this caused a few giggles. ‘Agentle reminder to turn all phones off or on to silent please.Thatis unless you are anRNLIvolunteer.Ifwe have a shout we’ll probably have a mass exodus as we have so many of them here.Includingthe groom.’Morelaughter. ‘Inwhich case, we’d better getJagomarried toHonorbefore he disappears!Letus stand for our first hymn, “GiveMeJoyInMyHeart”.’

Theservice was as beautiful as the couple getting married.Blythe,Honor’ssister, read fromCorinthians, the babies mostly stayed quiet, no one objected whenVerityreached that horribly awkward part in the ceremony, the couple declared their vows with clear voices and enthusiasm and the kiss as husband and wife was greeted with cheers and applause.Itwas just the right balance of warmth, humour, worship and solemnity.

Itwas all perfect,thoughtDaisy.I’dlike to get married in exactly the same way, one day.She,JanandMiasneaked out just after the main bridal party and followed them to be greeted by a uniformed guard of honour ofRNLIvolunteers.Onceeveryone was out of church and the formal photographs had been taken,Jamieushered the guests onto either side of the wide path which led to the church.Theysoon saw why.

ALandRoverDefenderchugged up, towing a trailer holding the newRNLIlifeboat.Theone named in memory ofJago’sfather.

‘Hopaboard theKenanPengethley, newlyweds,’Jamiecommanded. ‘We’retaking you to the harbour and you can cast your bouquet onto the water.’

BesideherDaisyheardJangasp. ‘Ohmy.They’vefound a way of includingJago’sdad in the celebrations.’Sheturned to her daughter. ‘Didyou know anythingabout this?’

‘OfcourseIdid.There’sa replica bride’s bouquet in the vestry soHonorcan throw the first onto the sea and still have one featured in the photographs atCheneyHouse.’Daisysmiled, feeling her throat thicken with tears. ‘Judgingfrom the look onJago’sface though,Idon’t think he had a scoobie.’

‘Clevergirl,’ her mother approved.

Therest of her words were drowned out by cheers as the newMrandMrsPengethleyclimbed aboard the lifeboat.Honor, giggling, and a little hampered by her beautiful dress, was gallantly helped by her husband.Onceperched on the bench seats,Jagopulled his wife to him and kissed her passionately.Theguests surged forward and threw confetti so the sky was full of gently swirling dried rose petals.ThentheLandRoverwas expertly backed onto the road, the happy couple waving and laughing, and headed to the harbour.

‘Ohthat was all so lovely.’Jansniffed. ‘Whata wonderful service.’Sheblew her nose on a tissue. ‘Isuppose we’d better get ourselves up toCheneyHousethen, hadn’t we?’Sheturned toDaisyand hugged her arm. ‘Oneday, chickadee,I’dreally love to see you get married like that.You’dbe just as beautiful a bride.Andthe flowers would be wonderful!’

Daisypulled a face.Sheheard the wistfulness in her mother’s voice and tried not to get resentful or defensive; she knewJanwould love to see at least one of her offspring married. ‘I’lltry my best,Mum, butI’vegot to find myself a groom first and, funnily enough, they seem to be evading me.Maybeif yourColinhas a younger brother, you could introduce me!’

Chapter Twenty-Six

AfterHonorandJago’sweddingDaisyfelt scratchy and unsettled.Theaftermath of the pressure of a big job, she supposed.Ithad gone like clockwork, and she’d received endless compliments for the church and the reception flowers.Themarquee atCheneyHouse, decorated in the same frothy pink and cream roses, peonies, lavender, freesias, snowy chrysanthemums and silvery eucalyptus had looked and smelled heavenly.She,JanandMiastayed for a quick glass of fizz and had then left them all to it.

Walk-in trade had dropped off.Althoughthe month ofAugustseemed to have gone on for about a year, it was now hurtling to its summer bank holiday and everyone was squeezing in last moments of leisure until the rush back to school.Daisyhad no more weddings to cater for until lateSeptemberand, for once, she had little to do and was bored.Shewandered outside, a pair of secateurs in her hand.TheStranglersbelted out ‘Peaches’ fromBayRadiofrom the shop’s interior and, looking around the deserted high street, it looked as if that’s where everyone was – down on the beach.Apall of heat hung over the street, shop doors yawned open in a desperate bid to get some air circulating and windows glintedin the hard sun.Eventhe summer bunting strung across looked a little weary.Thepromenade, beaches and harbour would be packed;Daisydidn’t begrudge anyone seeking a sea breeze and cooling dip in the bay.Shemight pop down herself whenJakobhad gone.

Asshe snipped at one of the lavender bushes on either side of the shop door her thoughts drifted to sunny golden sunflowers and raffia, clashing tangerine andSchiaparelli-pink gerberas.She’dloved the classy subtlety of the flowers she’d done forHonorbut, now summer was in its dog days, she longed for the vibrancy autumn brought.Forthe excuse to use hot pink and yellow together with orange ribbon to bind.Andthen it would beChristmaswhich was always full on inLullburyBay.Daisyloved the buzz tourists brought to the town but when they went home andLullburyBayembraced its own withChristmascraft fayres, carol concerts and the legendary best decorated beach hut competition, she relished living in a little seaside town all the more.Awalk along a storm-battered seafront with towering waves and a face numb from icy sea spray followed by hot chocolate and marshmallows was her idea of heaven.And, as a florist, it meant holly and ivy andChristmaswreaths.Theprickly holly wrecked her hands every year but she loved making them and they sold like some ofBella’shot cakes.Maybeshe should think about classy white wreaths this year too?Driedbaby’s breath.Wouldthat work?Mightsell well, along with her usual holly and mistletoe bunches at the annual craft fayre.

Autumnfirst though.Callingthrough toJakob, who was inside the shop unpacking a box of agapanthus he’d just delivered, she asked him to bring over some yellow and bronze chrysanthemums on his next trip.Maybesome statuesque strelitzia too.TheBirdofParadiseflowers would go down well withMaz’scrowd.Thewealthy women in the big houses in the new development liked statement flowers: big and bold.Therewas no answer so she assumed he had disappeared into the office to sort thepaperwork.Thehot sun prickling on the back of her neck reminded her she was still in summer and cosy autumn was some way off.Tryingnot to lapse into nostalgia for a home-made steak-and-ale pie in front of a roaring fire inTheShip, she flicked sweat off her nose and concentrated on the task in hand.

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