Page 128 of My Kind of Happy

‘Tell me more.’ I was all ears; as far as I was concerned none was more special than Laura and Hamish’s.

Gina scooped up her hair and knotted it in a messy bun, while checking the time.

‘It was a chance conversation I had with Delphine at the beginning of the year about getting married later in life. She said that finding somewhere to host a wedding when you’re not in the first flush of youth isn’t that straightforward. Weddings are marketed to the young, or at most to couples in their forties and fifties: the venues, the food, even the wedding cars. But where do you go if you’re eighty? Where do you go if your dream wedding can’t involve many stairs, or if you don’t want incessant background music or staff young enough to be your great grandchildren?’

I nodded in sympathy, thinking that Terry probably wouldn’t be able to manage stairs either. ‘And wedding vows are no less important just because you might not have to keep them for so long.’

‘Oh, that’s an excellent way of putting it. You’re right!’ she agreed. ‘And whether the older couple is a bride and groom, or two grooms or two brides, they deserve a dignified service designed to suit their particular needs. So from January next year, that’s where The Evergreens wedding package comes in.’

‘But that’s five months away,’ I said, crestfallen. ‘Laura and Hamish don’t have that long. I’ve got a friend who needs my help …’

Gina chewed her lip while I explained the situation.

‘So with Terry so ill, I’m really looking for somewhere they can get married as soon as legally possible.’

‘Gosh, that is so sad.’ Gina sighed. ‘The thing is, we’re not ready.’

‘Please say yes!’ I begged. ‘All I need is a licensed venue; I can do the rest. The Evergreens is perfect. I’ve got a young couple in love, a sick father of the bride and a deadline of thirty days.’

‘Sounds like a premise for a film,’ said a deep voice from the doorway.

A man with dark wavy hair and friendly brown eyes crossed the kitchen, kissed Gina’s head and dropped his laptop casually on the kitchen table.

He looked vaguely familiar, I thought, as Gina introduced me to her boyfriend.

‘Dexter, this is Fearne the florist.’

‘Pleased to meet you, Dexter.’

He grinned as he shook my hand. ‘We’ve met before. And I’m pretty sure you told me you weren’t a florist then.’

‘Of course!’ I laughed, realising where I’d seen him before: at the church on my first day in Barnaby when I’d been looking at the flowers over the lychgate. ‘You were the photographer!’

‘Technically, I’m a writer,’ he corrected me.

‘Rosie and Gabe didn’t want a formal photographer doing stilted shots,’ Gina explained, ‘Dex is pretty handy with a camera so he offered to do it.’

My ears pricked up. ‘I need a photographer for my wedding. Can I tempt you?’

‘Gina!’ Paige called from the garden. ‘We should go.’

‘Arrghh!’ Gina yelped, jumping to her feet. ‘Music club. The woman in charge is a right harridan if you’re late.’

‘Of course,’ I said, trying not to show my disappointment.

‘I think we should go for it, Gina,’ said Dexter, pinching a biscuit. ‘this could be a good way of doing a dry run. Especially if Fearne is going to organise everything.’

‘Good point. Yes, very good point,’ Gina said thoughtfully. ‘And it’ll be a simple, minimum fuss wedding?’

‘Absolutely minimum fuss.’ I held my breath and kept everything crossed.

Dexter and Gina regarded each other for a moment and a slow smile crept over Dexter’s face.

‘Oh sod it,’ said Gina, laughing. ‘Why not.’

‘Thank you!’ I leapt up and kissed them both. ‘And can I put you down as photographer?’

‘Sure,’ Dexter laughed. ‘I’ll have to take it up professionally at this rate.’

Twenty minutes later I was back at Nina’s Flowers, having collected Scamp from Biddy.

I took out my phone and sent Laura a text.

I’m delighted to announce that on the last Saturday in July you and Hamish will be getting married in the stunning setting of The Evergreens in Barnaby. You are going to love it xxx

You STAR! I love you Fearne, sooo much. I’ll start texting all the guests. And I’ll tell Hamish – obvs – no backing out now! xxx

I heaved a sigh of relief; it was all starting to come together nicely. Just the catering, venue decorations, music, cake, bridesmaid’s dress for me and flowers to go.

My head spun just thinking about it. Minimum fuss, I’d promised Gina. Even doing it simply carried a fair few complications. It was only when I wrote the details down in the diary that I realised that the day after the wedding would be the first anniversary of Freddie’s death.

It was a day I’d been dreading, but now, the next few weeks would be filled with the joy of organising a wedding for the people he and I loved most in the world. I smiled to myself and a sense of peace settled over me. I had the distinct feeling that wherever my brother was, he’d be smiling with me.