Page 82 of Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘Thank you.’

‘Okay, nails. You need to look the part, Rach, a glamorous, gorgeous bride, not like you’ve just walked out of the cowshed. So, let’s soak your hands first and get some lotion on them, then you’re going to be buffed and polished.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Rachel laughed.

‘And Jill, you’re next. The mother of the bride needs lots of attention too.’

‘Well, in that case, I’ll get topping up the prosecco before I can’t touch anything.’

‘Sounds a plan. What happened to Mrs Sensible there a minute ago?’

‘Well, I’m sure two glasses each won’t send us into hangover mode. I’ve enjoyed that first one, I must say. May as well finish the bottle.’

They raised their glasses with a ‘Cheers!’

Suddenly, there was a feeling of fizz and anticipation all around them.

43

The morning light crept in, warm and golden, through the gap in Rachel’s curtains. She opened one eye, guessing it was early. Oh, someone else was in her bed … she focused, to find Eve slumbering there beside her …

Eve – her maid of honour.

It was today! Her wedding day!

Ah yes, it was coming back now; after all the emotions of yesterday, they’d both piled into Rachel’s double bed, slightly tiddly on prosecco, memories, and a nightcap of Baileys on ice with a couple of Jill’s rose-petal wedding cupcakes for good measure. The girls had decided they needed to taste-test them ready for the reception. They passed with mouth-wateringly, meltingly sweet flying colours.

Rachel was only just coming to when the bedroom door blasted open and a very excited six-year-old came bouncing onto the bed.

‘Mummy … Auntie Eve … it’s today!’ She tumbled onto them in a rush of pyjama-clad limbs, sunny smiles and blonde curls.

Rachel bundled Maisy into her arms. ‘I know, petal.’

Eve was a little slower on the uptake, it still being far too early. ‘Ahh, hi Maisy … what time is it?’

Rachel glanced at her watch. ‘Six thirty.’ She was used to being up with the lark with all her farmyard chores. Farmhand Simon had offered to do this morning’s jobs, thank goodness.

‘Oooh,’ Eve moaned softly, ‘I think I need a huge cup of tea.’

‘Come on Mais, let’s go get the kettle on. We’ve a big day ahead.’

‘Yay. And my pretty dress is all ready. Grandma has it in her room. Can I go see it?’

‘Ah, let’s just give Grandma a few more minutes, yet. It’s still pretty early.’

‘O-kay. Can we have pancakes for breakfast like you promised? Chocolate ones.’

‘Ah-hah. With strawberries on the side?’

‘Yum.’

‘But … we need to wait just a little while longer.’

Rachel wondered then what Tom was doing … fast asleep still, probably. Or going over his speech, polishing his best shoes …? Maybe he’d be out checking his livestock on his quad, like on any normal day. He had ages until the service, after all, and no hair or make-up to do. A thought struck her: tomorrow, she’d be there with him at his house, waking up with him, and all the days after that. And she found that, yes, that was a very good thought indeed.

‘Will there be lots of people at the church? And at the big party after?’ Maisy was racing on with a gazillion questions.

‘Yep. Well over a hundred.’