Page 77 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

Service 1 p.m., followed by a Wedding Breakfast.

Cocktails, canapes and pizzas to follow from 7 p.m. in the Castle Courtyard.

Carriages at Midnight

Chapter 42

The castle’s honey-blush stone walls and crenelated towers rose majestically at the far end of the coastal village of Bamburgh, looking like something out of a fairytale. A beautiful seascape filled the horizon behind it. The happy couple getting married, Jen and Rob, were going to be lucky with the weather today, by the looks of it. A little blowy, perhaps, but with a gorgeous blue sky and a mere hint of confetti cloud as the backdrop. Lucy approached the stunning venue of her next event with a sense of nervous anticipation, not least as she knew that a certain someone would be there too.

Today’s special couple seemed really lovely when they’d chatted on the phone with her, several weeks ago now, to organise her gourmet pizza catering for the evening do. Jack, true to his word in supporting her business-wise at least, had mentioned her pizza horsebox to them, when they’d told him they were looking for some additional evening catering. The traditional wedding breakfast was due to take place mid-afternoon within the castle, after the marriage ceremony in the King’s Hall.

So, Lucy already knew that Jack would be here. As the castle towered before her, and she indicated, ready to turn off from the village road, a twist of anxiety about seeing him once more started to put her insides through the wringer.

The last time she had seen him, she was on a date with another guy. And what a disastrous night that had been. There’d been no more personal texts, nor calls between her and Jack for a few weeks now. She’d merely allowed herself a quick peek at the couple of photos she had of him saved on her phone. That one of him stood by Ruby on the first night they had met, and the other from their spontaneous cocktail-in-the-dunes afternoon. It made her smile to look at them. A third image, one that was never taken but was in fact safely stowed in her head and her heart, was of him sat beside her at dawn, the morning after the storm, looking out to sea, talking whilst they drank coffee from tin mugs. His golden hair lit by the morning sunlight. His smile gentle, just for her.

Enough! What she needed to do was to focus on the job in hand, she told herself. Remain professional, stay calm. The more times they met like this, surely the easier it would become, and they could get back to being catering acquaintances. Why did that thought make her heart dip? Anyway, she had Abby with her to help today, as she anticipated a really busy spell from 8 p.m., when they were booked to start serving. There would be plenty for them to do in the meanwhile, setting up and getting organised.

Lucy drove the horsebox up the curving driveway to the castle gates, where a friendly sixty-something man with thick white hair, after confirming their booking, let them in through an amazing cast-iron portcullis entrance. A warden would be there on hand at the top of the inner driveway, he advised, to show them where to park.

There was a large cream-coloured tipi positioned on the grass of the inner courtyard, evidently the setting for the evening celebrations. An area of white-painted table and chairs was set up outside of it, with flower posies in ivories and cream with deep-green foliage on each.

‘Aw, that is sooo pretty,’ gushed Abby. ‘This is amazing.’

‘It is pretty awesome, isn’t it. A wedding in a castle by the sea. They’ll need a supper to remember too.’

‘No pressure then, Luce.’

‘We’ll do them proud with Papa’s pizzas, I’m sure.’ She had a few tricks up her sleeve to make tonight extra special for the couple too. She was determined to make her pizza experience the best it could possibly be for her customers.

Oh, Jack was already there, with a gleaming Ruby positioned at one side of the tipi. Vintage Ruby had been decorated in keeping with the wedding theme, with pretty white flowers and foliage in an arch-like canopy over the lifted rooftop, which Jack must have created especially for this event. The campervan looked fabulous, she had to credit him with that. Lucy too had taken on board that tip, to theme differently for each booking and give that personal touch. So, for today, she had splashed out on a gorgeous Mr and Mrs banner and grey-and-white bunting, with a couple of pearly-white helium balloons to tie to the horsebox, and two pretty jugs of white carnations and delicate gypsophila ready to set out on her counter top.

Guests soon came spilling out from the castle building, all in their smart suits and posh frocks. There was a natural lull in the proceedings, as they’d now finished the wedding breakfast and were building up for round two. Some made the most of Jack’s services; topping up the late-lunchtime champagne and wine levels with fabulous cocktails and bottled beers. Several couples and groups of friends took a stroll around the grounds, some climbing the battlement walls for a better view of the long sweeping bay and the sea.

There was more hubbub and excitement as they re-grouped at the tipi area just before 7 p.m. Soon afterwards, the bride and groom appeared, Jen in a stunning fitted ivory lace dress and Rob smartly suited in navy, coming out from the castle hand in hand. A big ‘hoorah’ broke out, with lots of clapping from the gathering. The newlyweds looked so happy, as Rob swept Jen literally off her feet and carried her into the tipi, for the first dance. With the tipi sides flapped open by the entrance, Lucy couldn’t resist stopping her work and watching for a little while. The groom whispered something to his new wife, and she smiled broadly, then planted a joyful kiss on his lips. Oh, to be so sure of each other, to promise a lifetime together. That strength of emotion was held so magically in the way the pair of them looked at each other.

As the music came to a close, Lucy couldn’t help but glance Ruby’s way and in the direction of a certain barman, who just happened to be looking her way too. For a second or two their eyes met … and held. Lucy felt the glimmer of a smile cross her lips, but she quickly pulled it back, closed her heart, focussing once more on the safe image of the happy couple on the dance floor.

The evening rolled on. With the wedding guests growing hungry, a queue started to build for Lucy’s Papa-style pizzas. Her assistant, Abby, was all go taking orders, and hand-stretching the dough bases. She was a natural, and could pull the dough to exactly the right shape and thinness with a deft hand and light touch, just how Lucy had shown her. Lucy was in charge of loading the toppings, then baking each pizza with a quick turn halfway through, and keeping the pizza fires burning. They worked as a slick and contented team.

After the mad 8–9 p.m. rush, things eased a little at the horsebox, and Lucy could take in the party surroundings and activities once more. With many of the guests now dancing, drinking, or sitting out on the wooden chairs chatting as the summer sun began to set, Lucy couldn’t help her gaze moving across to the campervan. Three adult bridesmaids, wearing gorgeous floor-length dresses in a pretty pale-lilac shade, were gathered around Ruby, chatting, gesticulating and giggling. Jack was his usual charming barman self. She could hear him commenting about a violet gin cocktail he’d make for them all to try: ‘the perfect drink to match your gowns’. Then he went into mixology mode, crushing ice, using his shaker theatrically, blending perfect lilac shades of alcohol with a dash of tonic and a splash of personality.

‘There you go, ladies. Enjoy!’

It was all just an act, she realised, a part he played whilst working. An act that was required for him to be the fun, charming barman everybody wanted. But the real Jack was the one she witnessed before and after these events. The one who’d made her cocktails and canapés on the beach, the one who’d shared his summer storm tent, the one who was shyer, a more thoughtful soul. A soul, she now had to admit, she had fallen for, if only for a while.

It had been a hectic day, running the outdoor bar for this wedding function, but Jack liked the buzz, and the guests seemed a good bunch, easy-going and fun.

Jack spotted the wedding couple strolling his way. Jen’s arm linked with Rob’s, and both had smiles like Cheshire cats. Getting married obviously suited some people.

He hadn’t had a chance to catch up with them since the ceremony earlier and called out, ‘Hey guys, huge congratulations!’

‘Aw, thank you.’

‘Cheers, mate.’

‘Hey, let me fix you a Wedding Day Cocktail. And this one’s on me.’

‘Ah, thanks.’