Page 88 of Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘Yes, better than all right. I feel amazing, I’m so happy, Tom. We did it!’

‘Yeah, we did it. No going back now.’

‘Don’t want to.’

‘Me neither. Never …’ And he pulled her close into the most tender kiss, their foreheads resting gently together, and their arms wrapped around each other. And even when they had to pull away, neither had lost that feeling of finding each other, of coming home.

‘I suppose we’d better get back and join the party. There might be just a few people waiting for us,’ said Tom.

‘Hah, yes, and I bet they’re starving too.’

They made their way across the field holding hands, with the sun on their faces, and a breeze rippling through Rachel’s hair. Strolling across the grass in a wedding gown, kilt, and wellies, should have felt slightly weird, but it felt just right.

As they entered the tipi, everyone at the gathering was standing up by their tables, with Ben calling out, ‘Can we welcome Mr and Mrs Watson!’ The crowd cheered and clapped, and gave a few raucous hoots. The couple’s smiles suddenly widened. There was no official master of ceremonies, this being a very rustic, homemade wedding, but Ben was doing a grand job; he had a loud voice as he was used to shouting across the noise of banging at the garage where he worked.

Rachel and Tom wove their way towards the top table, created from the village-hall trestles and covered with white linen tablecloths, floral decorations, and lanterns with ivory candles inside. Then Rachel spotted the table beside that, where the wedding cake stood … yet, there shouldn’t be a wedding cake … The wedding cake had been trashed just yesterday in a pile-up on the A1. But there it was, a three-tiered ‘naked’ sponge, very like the one she had ordered, with barely-there buttercream smeared in a white haze around the sides. Oh my …

She moved closer to take a proper look. On the top was pale green icing made to look like a field, which was drizzled very carefully down the top tier, with a tractor made of icing, two gorgeous little figures sitting on straw bales – hah yes, her and Tom – and even Petie the lamb stood looking on, and Moss was there in icing in a bow tie. Amazing.

‘Oh, wow! Tom, come over and see this! Who’s made this? How?’ Rachel marvelled.

‘Oh, well,’ Jan moved in beside her, with a big smile on her face, ‘we ladies at the WI can soon get into gear when needs must. It was a real team effort.’

‘Wow,’ Rachel repeated, gobsmacked.

‘Yes, I made the top layer of sponge, Mary Stevens did the middle tier, that’s a lemon sponge, and Christine the lower tier, that one’s vanilla. The tractor was made by Eileen, and Sue Smith made the dog and sheep. Alice from your Pudding Club created the figures – aren’t they great?’

‘Hah, yes, look Tom, you’re even in your red boiler suit.’

‘Brilliant.’ Tom grinned.

Rachel couldn’t help but break into a smile. ‘That’s just wonderful.’ She mouthed a big ‘Thank you’ across the gathering, trying to spot all the master bakers involved. It really was the icing on the literal cake.

Waiters and waitresses, dressed smartly in black with white aprons, then appeared ready to hand out the Towers of Treats, along with neatly cut triangle sandwiches, and large pots of tea. The vintage cups, saucers and tea plates had already been set out. But … Rachel was confused, she and Jill hadn’t hired any waiting staff. The bridesmaids and some friends from the WI were going to help serve, or so Rachel had thought. It was then she recognised that the ‘staff’ were several of the teenagers from the village.

‘Yes, it’s our kids. Something to keep them out of mischief on a Saturday!’ Eileen and Christine called across. ‘They’ve been volunteered.’

Christine’s lad, Ethan, then served a plate of scones to the top table, muttering, ‘Feels like community service this,’ right in front of Tom, but then he looked up at Rachel, cracked a broad smile and gave the newlyweds a wink.

The food was incredible: cakes and scones, tarts and treats, sandwiches, sausage rolls, and so much more. The fantastic Pudding Clubbers, the WI, and all the villagers had come together to create the best afternoon tea ever.

It was soon time for the speeches. Ben did a great job as best man, with touches of humour throughout, ending with a nice quip about how he could vouch for married life, sending Eve a bright shade of pink. And then it was Tom’s turn. The tent hushed as he stood up and looked proudly at his new wife.

‘Rachel, you look so beautiful today. Seeing you walk down that aisle; well, you took my breath away. And Eve, that dress, wow. I don’t know how many hours you must have put in to create all that detail, but it’s absolutely stunning.’

Eve gave a heartfelt smile.

‘Rachel, thank you for showing me how to love again.’ He took a breath. ‘And, thank you for saying yes. And I knew if I took you on, then I had to take all of you Swinton ladies on – Maisy, Jill, Ruth … and if you know these ladies, then you know that’s no mean feat.’ A ripple of laughter washed over the room. ‘I know how hard these last few years have been for you all. So, all I have to add is that, in all honesty, I will do everything in my power to love, respect and protect you all, always.’

Aw, Tom. Rachel took his hand, her eyes a little misty.

Jill had her hanky out and Ruth was looking on proudly, whilst Tom’s parents were nodding in support. The whole tipi had an emotional hush over it.

Rachel then stood, feeling slightly nervous with all eyes now trained on her, but she had planned to say a few words. ‘Thank you, Tom … hubbie.’ She tried out the new word with a smile. ‘Well then,’ she continued, ‘someone special is very noticeably missing from this table. Someone we all miss dearly every day. So, in my father’s absence, I want to say a few brief words.’ She paused, gathering herself for a second. ‘I know how much my dad thought of you, Tom, before we even got together as a couple, so I know he would have given his full blessing to this marriage. Just before we left the house for the church this morning, I asked Granny what she thought made a good marriage, and if she had any tips. She told me we had to be a team, and to never take each other for granted.’ Rachel looked at Tom and then up at the faces in the audience who were nodding and smiling. ‘So, I promise to try my best to do that … and if ever we lose our way, I promise I’ll do everything to find you again.’

Rachel caught Eve’s eye by chance, who was nodding earnestly too. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house by this point.

‘Today has been so special already,’ Rachel continued. ‘Thank you all for coming, and supporting us, and for the gifts, for all the amazing food you’ve made … and that cake. But I know also that this, however special, is just one day. So Tom Watson, I am so looking forward to all the other days and the journey we’ll take in life together. There’s no one else I’d rather share it with.’ They held each other’s gaze for a second. ‘Well then, all I have to add is … cheers folks and let’s party!’