Baby It's Cold Outside (10 page)

‘Starving,' I said.

‘Sit down and I'll bring you something over.'

I chose one of the squishy sofas, sat down and closed my eyes. Oh it was good to be here.

I breathed in the smell of coffee and cakes and freshly baked bread and let the comforting buzz of voices wash over me and I began to feel much calmer. I sometimes wondered if Mum, Suky and Eva enchanted the very air in the café to give it a welcoming feel, though they swore they didn't.

Whatever it was, it was working. My mind stopped racing like it had been since Tansy knocked on the door on Friday night, and instead stopped on a solution. It wasn't perfect but I couldn't really see anything else to do, given the circumstances.

Mum put a delicious-looking salad and a glass of water in front of me and I looked up at her.

‘We need to cancel the wedding,' I said.

Mum's mouth fell open in shock.

‘Oh no, Esme,' she said. ‘Is this because of Parker?'

I realised I'd been a bit over-dramatic.

‘Postpone,' I said. ‘We need to postpone the wedding.'

Mum sat down next to me and handed me some cutlery.

‘Oh that's a relief,' she said. ‘I thought you'd changed your mind about getting married again.'

I scowled at her. I didn't like being reminded that Jamie and I had been engaged and planning a wedding before, and I'd stuffed things up.

‘Actually getting married is about the only thing I'm sure of in this whole mess,' I said, tucking into the salad. ‘This is really tasty.'

‘Eva makes all our salads,' Mum said. ‘They're going down a storm.'

‘Not surprised,' I said through a mouthful of goat's cheese. ‘It's amazing.'

‘So you think you should postpone the whole wedding?' Mum said, getting back to the point.

I nodded.

‘It's the only thing we can do,' I said. ‘If we put it off until maybe March or April, we can reorganise everything. Leona can hang on to the dresses when they eventually arrive, I'll rebook the registrar and it gives Jamie a bit of breathing space to get to know Parker.'

‘That sounds sensible,' Mum said, patting me gently on the shoulder. ‘But it also sounds like such a shame.'

The delicious, freshly made breadstick I was chewing turned to sawdust in my mouth. I swigged from the glass of water Mum had given me to wash it away.

‘It is a shame,' I said, finding myself fighting tears again. ‘It's horrible. But I can't think of another way.'

Mum put her arms round me and hugged me.

‘I'll help in any way I can,' she said. ‘Make some phone calls. Help with arrangements.'

I nodded glumly and pushed the remainder of my salad away. I wasn't hungry any more.

‘I need to talk to Jamie first,' I said. ‘And Chloe – I've not even spoken to her since everything happened. And Dad – wherever he is.'

I put my head in my hands. It seemed that un-arranging a wedding was just as much of a nightmare as arranging one. Especially without a phone.

Mum kissed my temple.

‘Back in a minute,' she said.

I didn't raise my head, just stayed slumped on the sofa. I felt completely defeated by the events of the last two days, which was unlike me. I was a coper. A fixer. A bundle of energy who wouldn't let the world win. Harry was more morose than me – the Eeyore to my Pooh. But today I felt more like her.

‘Ez?' I looked up. It was Harry.

‘Oh what? I just think about you and you appear now?' I snapped.

Harry looked surprised. And uncharacteristically perky.

‘Why are you looking so pleased with yourself?' I asked her. She actually gave a little bounce on her toes, like an excited child. Or Tigger. And there was me thinking she was Eeyore.

‘Because,' she said. ‘You're getting married.'

I'd sat up when she called my name, but now I threw myself back against the sofa cushions once more.

‘I'm not getting married,' I said, through gritted teeth. ‘The wedding's off.'

‘Nope,' said Harry in glee. ‘It's on.'

She sat down next to me, shoving me along to make room for her skinny thighs, which were today clad in leather-look leggings and seemed out of place among the ski wear on show in the café. Lou was talking to Mum at the counter and Harry beckoned her over. She and Mum arrived bearing coffees and a plate of biscuits and sat down on the chairs opposite me. Everyone was grinning like loons.

‘What's going on? I said, suspicious of this new over-excited Harry.

‘It was Louise's idea really,' Harry said. ‘Parker was asking us about the queen you see…'

Louise picked up the story.

‘I suddenly thought that the queen got married in the war right? And remember that other brides-to-be sent her their clothing coupons so she could use them all to get enough fabric to make her dress?'

I nodded, but I really had no idea where Lou was going with this.

‘It was a team effort,' she said, taking a biscuit. ‘Everyone pitched in. And so we thought we could do that too.'

I looked at her blankly. Harry wrapped her long fingers round her coffee mug.

‘We went to see Leona,' she said. ‘She's not got your wedding dress, has she? But she's got like a hundred other dresses – samples and whatnot – and she's got fabric, and she's an amazing seamstress…'

I had butterflies in my tummy. I started to understand what Harry and Lou were talking about.

‘She says with a bit of help she can make you a new dress in time for Saturday,' Harry said. ‘And one for me too, and Chloe. We've been spreading the word round the village, finding people who'll help with the sewing. There are quite a few volunteers already.'

‘Really?' I said, incredulous. ‘People will do this for me?'

Harry reached out and took my hand.

‘Everyone knows what you did, Ez. They know you saved those people. They're falling over themselves to help you.'

I felt dizzy with joy. I looked from Harry to Lou and to Mum. They were all beaming at me, waiting for me to agree to their plan.

‘So everyone's going to help with our wedding,' I said slowly. ‘We can get married on Saturday after all?'

‘Yes,' said Harry. ‘If you're still up for it?'

‘What about Dad, Olivia and the boys?' I asked. ‘And Chloe?'

Harry shrugged.

‘I've not worked out a way to get them here yet,' she admitted. ‘But I will. We will.'

She paused.

‘So do you want to?'

‘Well of course I still want to,' I said. I threw my arms round Harry. ‘Thank you!'

She pushed me away, uncomfortable with my PDA but she still grinned at me.

‘Oh, oh, oh,' said Lou, delving into her bag. ‘I almost forgot. Leona's just got a new phone so she gave me this for you to use for now.' She threw an iPhone across the table at me – an old model but an iPhone all the same – followed by a small packet with a SIM in it. I screamed with joy and flung myself across the table to hug Louise.

‘You're amazing – both of you,' I said.

‘Well it's not all sorted quite yet,' Harry said. ‘There's your hair, a photographer, the music – but we're getting there. Millicent's organising the food. She's making a list of who's got what and who can make different dishes. We might not be able to control what you end up with, mind you.'

I waved my hand, unconcerned.

‘That doesn't matter,' I said. ‘We should add everyone who's helping to the guest list though. We can't expect them to help out and not come to the party.'

A thought struck me.

‘What about the registrar?'

Mum and Harry looked at each other.

‘Ah,' said Harry.

‘Ah?' I repeated. ‘Ah doesn't sound good.'

‘We've had an idea about that,' Harry said. ‘But we weren't sure you'd go for it.'

‘It's Douglas,' Mum said.

‘Oh,' I said. I'd kind of forgotten about him in all the drama. I'd not seen him since just before the avalanche.

Mum adopted her stern face. The one she used to use when I was small and refusing to eat my vegetables.

‘Now Esme,' she said. ‘I know you're not thrilled about me and Douglas and I can understand why. But he is a good man. He makes me happy, and me being in a relationship will never affect the way I feel about you.'

She breathed out and looked at me, as if defying me to argue. I wondered how long she'd been practising that speech in her head. The thought of Mum standing in front of the mirror in her bedroom, rehearsing a speech to make me accept her new boyfriend, made me feel guilty. I smiled at her.

‘Douglas?' I repeated, ignoring her heartfelt plea and cutting straight to the chase. ‘How do you think he can help?'

‘Well he's in the business, isn't he?' Harry said.

‘He's an undertaker,' I wailed.

‘Well, a funeral director,' Louise pointed out. ‘And it's all the same people isn't it? Officially I mean. The ones who marry people, and conduct funerals and christenings and whatever.'

I thought about it. She was right.

‘So he'd know people?' I said. ‘People who might be able to hold a wedding ceremony?'

‘Finally she gets it,' Harry said. ‘He's bound to know registrars, celebrants, whatever. And some of them must live this side of the avalanche. There's got to be someone we can ask. We just need Doug to put a word in for us.'

‘Okay,' I said, nodding. ‘But I'm not sure he'll help. I've not been very nice to him so far.'

Mum gave me one of her looks and I turned away so I didn't have to meet her eyes.

‘I was a bit surprised by it, that's all,' I muttered.

‘You'll have to be extra nice to him this evening,' Mum said.

‘What's happening this evening?'

‘They're having a survivors' party in the town hall,' Mum explained. ‘Douglas's niece is singing. I said we'd all go. I think we could do with a night out.'

Mum's lips were pursed in a way that I'd learned through bitter experience meant she would not be argued with.

‘Okay,' I said. ‘We'll go.'

Chapter 14

I left Mum, Harry and Louise down in town and walked back up the snowy hill alone. I wasn't convinced about going to watch Kirsty sing – judging by her staid appearance I was fairly sure the sort of music she performed wouldn't be my cup of tea. I pictured some sort of religious group with guitars and perhaps a flute. But Harry and Mum were right that Douglas was the person to ask. I'd have to make an effort.

But before then, I wanted to see Jamie. And I also wanted to put on my lawyer hat and quiz Tansy about where Jamie stood, legally.

As I walked, I pulled Leona's phone out of my pocket and called Jamie.

‘It's me,' I said when he answered, knowing he wouldn't recognise the number. ‘I've got a new phone.'

‘Hello you,' he said. ‘That's brilliant. Where did you get it from?'

‘Harry sorted it,' I panted. It was hard work tramping up the hill and talking at the same time.

‘And,' I said, ‘she's also worked out a way for us to get married. We don't have to cancel the wedding!'

Feeling triumphant I ended the call, threw my phone into my bag and marched on up the hill with renewed vigour.

Jamie was waiting for me at the front door. I wrapped my arms round him and he kissed my cold nose.

‘You're looking much better,' he said as I de-layered – winter clothes were so time consuming. Then he frowned at me, mock-stern.

‘What's this about cancelling the wedding?'

I giggled at his cross face.

‘It's fine,' I said. ‘I thought it was the only thing we could do, but Claddach has sprung into action.'

I explained about Leona and the dress as I followed him into the kitchen. Eva and Allan were there, sitting at the table with Parker. Allan was drawing pictures for Parker and Eva was watching them, a funny wee smile on her face.

She should have had grandkids, I thought. Her son Simon had been a year or so older than Harry. If he'd lived maybe he'd have had kids by now. Bad things really did happen to good people sometimes.

Tansy was leaning against the worktop drinking from a mug. She looked up as Jamie and I entered.

‘Esme's figured out a way for us to go ahead with the wedding,' Jamie told her. She smiled at me. It seemed genuine but it was hard to tell.

‘I heard what you were telling Jamie – it's great news,' she said. ‘So Leona's sorting out your dress?'

‘Third time lucky, eh?' Jamie joked. I glared at him. I wanted Tansy to think Jamie and I had a perfect relationship. Not that we had in fact broken up twice and I was indeed about to buy wedding dress number three.

‘The dress and the food are all under control,' I said. ‘Harry's come up with an idea of finding a celebrant too, then it's just my dad we need to worry about.'

‘What's Harry's idea?' Tansy asked. I grimaced.

‘She thinks we should ask Douglas,' I said.

‘He's a funeral director, right?' Tansy said. ‘Makes sense he'd know people.'

‘I guess,' I said. ‘I just feel funny about asking him because I don't know him very well.'

Jamie gave me a sharp look.

‘More likely because you don't want to know him well,' he said.

Eva looked up.

‘He's a nice man, Esme,' she said. ‘And your mum adores him.'

‘Seems he thinks she's pretty wonderful too,' Allan added, giving Parker a crayon so he could colour in the cat he'd just drawn.

I fidgeted guiltily.

‘She is wonderful,' I muttered. ‘That's the problem.'

‘Don't like sharing, huh?' Tansy said. ‘Parker was the same when I started seeing Michael.'

Embarrassed to be compared to a five-year-old, I changed the subject.