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‘The church is going to look absolutely stunning. The perfect wedding,’ Madison said happily. ‘Candlelight, snow, roses, and the feel you can only get from a wedding in an ancient country church.’
There was a knock at the door. ‘Delivery for the bride.’ Katrina recognised the voice as Theo’s.
‘You can’t come in, Kat’s not dressed!’ Madison called. ‘Hang on. I’ll come and fetch it.’
‘That’s just an excuse to give his wife-to-be a kiss,’ Katrina teased. Madison and Theo had set a date for their own wedding for the first of May.
‘Be quiet and drink your tea, you,’ Madison retorted with a grin.
When Madison left the room, Babs hugged her daughter. ‘You look so beautiful, darling. And I know how much Rhys loves you—he’s put so much into making today perfect for you. This is going to be one of the happiest days of my life,’ she said.
‘Mine, too,’ Katrina said softly. And she really, really hoped it would be like that for Rhys, too. That he wouldn’t let his mother’s bitterness spoil this for him.
‘Delivery from the groom,’ Madison said as she walked back in. ‘He’s sent you a sprig of myrtle, which he says has to go in your bouquet for luck and then be given to me afterwards, so Mum’s sorting that. And he also sent this for you.’
It was a single deep red rose, with a card. Katrina recognised Rhys’s spiky handwriting and opened it, then smiled.
‘What does it say, then?’ Madison demanded.
‘I love you,’ Katrina said simply.
Madison rolled her eyes. ‘I love you, too. But…Oh. Duh. Of course he loves you. He’s going to get married to you this morning.’
Katrina laughed. ‘I love you too, Maddie. And I don’t think I’ve ever been so…’ She swallowed hard.
‘No, no, no.’ Madison crossed her hands rapidly. ‘Don’t cry, hon. You can’t cry on your wedding day, even if they’re happy tears.’ She hugged her cousin. ‘Drink your tea while I get my face on.’
‘You’ve got half an hour before the car leaves,’ Babs told them. ‘And I, meanwhile, am going to steal my great-niece for a cuddle.’
Twenty-five minutes later, they were both ready. Katrina and Madison stood side by side in front of the cheval mirror, staring at their reflections.
‘You look stunning,’ Katrina said softly. Madison’s dress was made from wine-coloured chiffon with a V-neck, a V-back and a gathered empire bodice that flattered her post-baby figure and also made her look taller. Her stole was in matching chiffon and, with Madison’s dark hair worn loose, the outfit looked incredible.
‘So do you,’ Madison breathed. ‘On me, that dress would look appalling. I’m too short and too round. But because you’re tall and slender and gorgeous…It’s just fantastic.’ Katrina’s ivory dress was bias cut, with a scoop neckline, ending in a puddle train. With her mother’s pearls at choker length round her neck and a simple pearl tiara and a short pearl-edged veil, she looked the perfect bride. ‘I’m so proud of you,’ Madison said. ‘My little better-than-sister.’
‘Don’t cry. You’ll set me off again,’ Katrina warned huskily.
There was a rap at the door. ‘Are you ready yet? The car’s going to have to leave,’ Babs called.
‘Come in, Mum.’
Babs walked in and swallowed hard. ‘Look at you both. I…’ She shook her head. ‘Our girls, Rose. They look amazing.’
‘Our girls,’ Rose echoed, coming in with the bouquets. ‘Oh, my lord. There’s not going to be a dry eye in the church. You both look fantastic.’
‘Car,’ Madison said. ‘Now. Before you make her cry and ruin her make-up.’ But she, too, was sniffing slightly.
Danny held his daughter’s hand in the car all the way to the church, too overcome to say anything after he’d hugged her and told her how proud he was of her. Madison was waiting for them in the porch, peering out of the heavy oak doors to see where they’d got to.
‘Message from the bridegroom,’ she said. ‘You have a last-minute wedding guest.’
Katrina blinked at her. ‘Rhys’s mum? She decided to come after all?’
Madison nodded and made last-minute adjustments to Katrina’s veil. ‘Don’t worry. Rhys is fine. He’s smiling. I think his mum’s going to cry in a minute, but so is your mum and mine and Dilys—it’s what mums are meant to do at weddings. Oh, and Rhys says to tell you he loves you.’ She stood back for a moment. ‘Oh, Kat. You look wonderful. You and Rhys are going to look so perfect together—because you are perfect together.’ Swallowing back her tears, she moved into her position as bridesmaid.
