A Vintage Wedding by Katie Fforde

Author:Katie Fforde [Fforde, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781448136971
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2015-02-11T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

‘So, Rachel,’ said Beth. ‘Do you think you could have my mother – better known as Mrs Fussy Knickers – to stay? As a B-and-B owner?’

Rachel nodded. ‘Actually I think I could. I really like a challenge and I think a touch of OCD is what you need to be really good at B and B. I’d move into the spare room and let my room so it would have the en-suite. Could be a nice little income source for us.’ She paused. ‘I’d only do it for people connected with the wedding. I couldn’t have just anyone. And possibly only women.’

‘You couldn’t do that, Rachel.’ Lindy was horrified. ‘Not give up your bedroom. And if you did, it would be your money. The business couldn’t take a share in it.’

Rachel thought how she could explain. ‘I wouldn’t do it if it weren’t for the business. I don’t need the money. I have a fairly regular income.’ She considered what it might be like to have a stranger in her perfect bedroom and sighed. ‘But everyone has to make sacrifices when they start up a business.’

‘I know I’ve worked hard,’ said Lindy. ‘But I haven’t actually sacrificed anything.’

‘Nor have I!’ said Beth. ‘And I haven’t done as much as you and Rachel, I don’t think.’

‘There’s still time, girls. Beth might be forced to learn synchronised swimming so we can offer it as entertainment and Lindy, well, you’ve got two charming little boys. I’m sure we can find some way of making money out of them!’

As Rachel didn’t often say things like that it took the others a few seconds to work out she was joking.

‘But, seriously,’ said Rachel, ‘I so want this business to work. I’m prepared to do anything. It’s the first time – ever, I think – that I’ve really enjoyed my work. Creating your own business and working for it is the way forward, I’m convinced.’

‘Um, when we’ve finished our wine,’ said Lindy, ‘could we go and look at your room? Just make sure it’s good enough?’ she teased.

Rachel considered. It was white wine. ‘You can bring your wine with you, I’m sure you won’t spill it.’

‘We won’t!’ they said in unison.

‘This is so exciting!’ said Beth.

Rachel tried to keep up as her colleagues headed for her bedroom. She was aware that they’d never been in there before; it had been her shrine. Now she was prepared to rent it out. How times had changed – or rather how she had changed.

No one spoke as they surveyed the room. An antique brass bedstead stood at right angles to the windows. Opposite was an antique pine wardrobe. An old washstand, in the same pale old pine, stood in between the windows. On it was a jug and bowl. There was a framed antique sampler hanging over the bed and a blanket box under the window added to the impression that the room belonged in a different century.

‘I’m sorry about the mess,’ said Rachel, because when she’d got up that morning she hadn’t thought that anyone but her would see her room.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.