Never Too Late (43 page)

He kissed her slowly. “Can’t come soon enough, my darling girl. I’m still terrified you’ll realise what you’re letting yourself in for and change your mind.”

“Oh? You really think you’d escape me now? No chance!” She bit his nose and received a slap on her rear in return.

“I hope Maggie was being truthful about feeling back to normal. I get the feeling Chloe will have her dressmaking until the wee small hours given half a chance.”

“Tell you what,” Adam whispered, his nose buried in her fragrant hair, “how about we just elope and grab the cleaners in a registry office to be our witnesses? No family, no friends, no fuss.”

Schez leaned away from him so she could see his face. “Is that what you really want?”

“I want whatever will make you happy. I know you’ve always dreamed of a white wedding, so that’s what you’ll have. Even if I have to go through torture for the next two weeks, five days and nineteen hours.”

“Not that you’re counting or anything.”

“Certainly not, my petal. Besides, I’m now really curious to find out who this mystery guest is that Chloe’s invited. It’s not like her to be reticent about anything.”

“It’s not as if it’s a formal sit down meal with named place settings or anything so let her enjoy her bit of mystery.”

Adam resettled her on his lap and kissed her eyelids. “You’re the mystery. A mystery I’m going to spend the rest of my life investigating.” He nibbled her ear lobe and trailed kisses down her neck. “I know you really are one of the elven folk and you have me under your spell.”

“Come to bed my love, and let me show you how human I am.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

October

The wedding plans were progressing well but Schez was fretting about the weather. October had roared in with high winds that lashed the trees into a tormented frenzy, sending multi-hued leaves whirling in huge clouds. When she arrived at Maggie’s for a dress fitting it was a real struggle to hold on to the mud room door as the wind tried to wrench it out of her hand

“Hi Schez,” Keela called over. She and James were eating a huge meal at the big table.

“How’s it going?” Schez asked as she hung up her coat.

“Exhausting,” Keela admitted. “Thank goodness I don’t have to cook a meal most nights, thanks to Maggie.”

“Oh, it’s the least I can do to help,” Maggie said, pouring out mugs of tea for them all. “Do you want tea or coffee Schez? Have you eaten yet? There’s plenty there for one more.”

James laughed. “When is there ever not, Mum?”

“Just tea thanks, Maggie. I don’t seem to have much of an appetite lately.”

“A wedding’s a joyful event, Schez, not one that should have you worrying yourself sick over.”

“I can’t help it,” Schez admitted. “I mean, what if this weather continues? They won’t be able to raise the marquee in winds like this, and we’ll all look a fright for the photos and…”

“And nothing,” James interrupted her growing hysteria. “There’s over a week to go and this country just doesn’t get winds this high for that long. It’s sure to be beautiful next week, a real Indian summer.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I know so. Now pull up a chair and have some fruit cake at least. It’s delicious.”

Privately, though, he too had been wondering about the marquee. Angela had cleared it with Maggie that she wouldn’t find it distressing if they were to hire the same company for the marquee and catering as had done Maggie’s ill-fated birthday party. Which was all well and good if the lawn was not too wet and the wind was not too strong.

He dismissed the thought as a problem they needed a solution to only if the event arose. There were far more pressing matters than a calamity that may never happen. And didn’t they always pull together and muddle through somehow anyway? He and Adam had got into more than a few tricky situations together over the years, but nothing had ever fazed their mothers totally.

Schez had been adamant about not wanting a formal meal at a hotel. She had convinced Adam she would feel far more relaxed with an informal buffet where everyone could mingle, chat and dance. The traditional sit down meal, speeches and all the rest of it would have her nervous all day. She wanted everyone, including herself, to relax and have fun.

The cake really was excellent and Schez readily accepted a second thin slice. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, Maggie, do you think you’d have time at all to teach me to cook? With it being just me and Dad I didn’t get to learn much at home and I don’t want to let Adam down.”

She was very aware of the consequences of losing her mother as far as domestic skills were concerned. She rarely had any meals that involved more than a basic knowledge of cookery, more often than not eating salads and fruit, or single pan recipes like chilli. Home-made cake was a real treat.

“What about equality?” Chloe asked as she entered the kitchen from the front hallway. “Adam should take responsibility for household stuff too. After all, you’ll both have full time jobs so it’s only fair.”

“Chloe, I didn’t know you’d be here this evening too.”

“What, the dress designer not be here for the main fitting?”

“Do you not trust the dressmaker then?” Maggie asked in mock pique.

Chloe cuddled her mother from behind then sat beside her. “Of course I do. I’m just excited at seeing how my first creation is coming along.”

“You may not feel so excited after helping me sew on the rest of those crystals you insisted on. I’ve only managed about half so far.”

“But I bet they look fabulous.” Chloe grinned. “Go on, admit it. I’m a genius.”

“I’ll admit it if we get it finished on time, so get your thimble ready my girl.”

“It might not be finished in time?” Schez wailed. “What will I wear?”

“Calm down! Of course it will be finished, even if I have to break off the last thread as you enter the church,” Maggie joked. She took Schez’s hands. “Honestly, Schez, it will be finished in plenty of time and you will look stunning.”

“Tell us then, bro, how are your plans progressing?” Chloe asked in order to change the subject.

James wiped his lips and took a mouthful of tea before answering. “It’s a good job Keela’s redundancy will be through and the firm’s new partner takes over soon, that’s for sure. The nights are drawing in, so we need to make the most of the daylight hours we have before winter sets in. We have all the necessary permits in place now, though, so excavating the fishing lake can go ahead next week.”

“You’re not going to have Sherry and Beauty doing that are you?” Schez asked. She had formed a real bond with the two heavy horses since their arrival on the smallholding. James had needed patience and persistence convincing her that an accountant knew enough about horses to care for them well and not overwork them.

“No, at nearly three acres we decided to bite the bullet and get it done fast with excavators. They’ll be on site on Monday. They’re doing the full project – digging it out, lining it, planting up with reeds and flag iris, various water plants, water snails, and the initial fish stock, and it won’t cost us a penny.”

“What? How did you manage that one?” Maggie asked, quite shocked. “It is a reputable company you’re dealing with isn’t it?”

“The company’s owned and run by two brothers, with nearly a decade of very satisfied customers. That’s why I went to them in the first place to get advice on what I needed to do and costs involved. We got chatting and it turns out they need an accountant. Their last one just retired and they don’t get on with the new guy. The long and the short of it is, in payment, I’m contracted to do their accounts until my notional fees equate to the work done on the lake.”

“Neat move!” Chloe was admiring. “That’ll save your capital for things you have to pay up front for.”

“Really? That hadn’t occurred to us,” Keela commented drily.

“Oh, give over,” Chloe play punched Keela on the arm. “So I state the bleeding obvious at times, but give me time – I’ll grow out of it.”

It was nice, Maggie thought, to see she’d grown out of not being able to take criticism. “Come on, then, we’ve work to do ourselves this evening. Let’s get that dress sorted.”

*

James’ words proved prophetic and a truly brilliant Indian summer had descended three days earlier. The lawn was dry, the marquee was raised and fitted out, and now it was time for his duties as best man to commence. He tapped at the kitchen door and went straight in.

“Good morning, Angela, and what a beautiful mother-of-the-groom you are in that outfit. You’ll outshine the sun on this spectacular day.”

Angela looked down at her housecoat and fluffy slippers and raised an eyebrow. “I hope you are being facetious and haven’t been at the lager already? I saw you giving the marquee the once over.”

“Shtone cold sober, your Honour,” he slurred, swaying, then gave her a big hug. “I’m just so thrilled Adam has finally found a girl who’s worthy of him. After all, aren’t we two the finest catches in the land?”

“We’ll ask Keela and Schez that in a year, shall we? That is if Keela is still physically capable of speech with the heavy work she’s doing for you.”

“For us, Angela, for us. Her muscles are coming on a treat. I’m thinking of entering her in the Mr Universe contest next year.”

“Well she should be more careful in her condition.”

It took a moment but when it did the joshing died in his throat. “What?” James was stunned at the realisation of the only thing Angela could mean. “You mean she’s pregnant? And she didn’t tell me first?”

Damnation, Angela thought, her and her big mouth. “James, she hasn’t said a word to me, honestly. It’s just, well, that certain look a woman gets in the early stages.”

James was white as a ghost.

“Look, I’m probably totally wrong here. I must be mistaken. Of course she’d tell you first. It’s probably just the effect of such totally different work and such long hours and… Oh, I don’t know. I was bang out of order for even mentioning it. Please, just forget I said anything.”

“Forget? I don’t think that’s possible.” He turned to the door. “Excuse me. I’ll just go and see how Adam’s getting on.” He reeled out as though he truly was drunk.

In the hallway he decided to divert to the lounge first where he could make a call without being overheard. He had to speak to Keela.

When he got upstairs he found Adam already in his morning suit and pacing the room.

“What’s up mate? Having second thoughts about letting that noose over your head?” James quipped, trying desperately to bring his mind back to the event in hand.

“What if I let her down as a husband? What if I’m not good enough? Do you think I’ve got it in me to last the distance? After all, I haven’t a very good track record with women.”

“Because you hadn’t met the right woman before, that’s all,” James tried to calm him. “You and Schez are perfect together. A match made in heaven if ever I saw one.”

“What’s the time?”

“About 5 seconds later than when you last looked at your watch. Look, there’s well over an hour to go yet. Let’s get down the pub for a dram to settle your nerves. It’s just across from the church so you’re guaranteed not to be late.”

Adam readily agreed. He’d have agreed to anything to stop the inactivity that allowed the nerves to build. He’d been up since dawn and dressed in his morning suit since not long after that.

“See you in church, Mrs C,” James called as they left by the front door.

“I wish Gavin could have made it over,” Adam said dismally. “Maybe I should have checked with him first before booking the date.”

“You know your brother. He never gives a firm commitment to any date for anything. Never has, never will. It still amazes me he managed to get wed himself, with how he is. Honestly, if you’d waited for agreement from Gavin, you’d be an old man before you married Schez.”

Adam grabbed his arm and swung him round as another possibility struck. “What if she’s changed her mind?” he asked, with a look of horror. “She’s had such crap in her life already, perhaps she’s decided she can’t risk it.”

“Give over will you,” James laughed. “She’ll be there, she’ll be radiantly happy, looking absolutely stunning, and the only problem will be getting you out of a dead faint brought on by emotional overload when you see her walk up the aisle.”

“You think I’ll faint?”

“NO!” roared James. “Christ, do you need a brandy or three.”

In the Oak they found Ken, Frank, Keith, David and the rest of their cronies having a pre-wedding drink. They walked in to a chorus of Another One Bites The Dust. When Adam tried to buy a round Frank refused, albeit regretfully.

“I’ll be late if I have another, thanks all the same,” he told him. “I promised Jean I’d be back prompt at noon to do the last hour in the shop before shutting up for the wedding.”

“You’re lucky,” Ken said. “It used to take my lass much more than an hour to primp herself for a do, bless her. I spent half my life waiting for her, one way and another.”

“Anyway, these are on me,” the landlord told them. “Good health and happiness to you both!”

“Happiness?” Frank asked in mock horror. “We should be giving our commiserations. This poor lad is about to lose his freedom. They’re not called trouble and strife for nothing you know.”

“Yeah yeah, we really think you feel like that, and you with a grin to split your face in two when you celebrated your silver wedding not so long since.”

“That was because I was holding my grandson, a Man U star player in the making if ever I saw one.”

Adam downed his first brandy in no time flat and ordered another. With the combined effects of alcohol and gentle joshing from his companions he stopped worrying so much. After three more brandies he was much more relaxed and led an enthusiastic, if not altogether tuneful, rendition of I’m Getting Married In The Morning, at which point James insisted on fizzy water rather than more brandy for his next drink.

“In ten minutes we’re walking across that road there and I don’t want you passing out before you’ve said your vows,” he told Adam sternly.