A Wedding in the Olive Garden by Leah Fleming

Author:Leah Fleming [Fleming, Leah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788548694
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Published: 2020-05-06T18:30:00+00:00

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Chloë laid the table out on the veranda. ‘I love spring, don’t you? All those wonderful wildflowers. Have you been up to Agios Nikolaos chapel high on the rocks? There’s a carpet of wild chamomile, daisies and poppies. You must see the wild orchids and tulips. It’s just beautiful.’

Sara shook her head; between being busy online and trying to tidy Ariadne’s rampant garden, she had hardly left the villa. ‘I must try and get up there,’ she replied.

Chloë’s house looked down towards the glittering silver bay, an ancient stone house built on a series of neatly planted terraced slopes, and above the house was an olive grove and bushes full of oranges, pomegranates and lemons. It was a dream setting.

‘Alexa wants a garden ceremony here but it is such a steep slope, I can’t see it myself,’ Chloë confided.

Sara had discreetly surveyed the terrain after the book club one night. ‘There is a flat area just before the olive grove and perhaps that would make a platform.’

‘Oh no, that’s far too small. With all her London crowd and local friends, we’re expecting at least a hundred guests, and then there’s the wedding breakfast to consider.’

‘Griff said Alexa wanted a small affair.’ Sara was hoping she hadn’t spoken out of turn.

Chloë poured the coffee. ‘That won’t do. I mean, what will our friends think if they are not invited?’

‘Perhaps there’s a compromise,’ Sara suggested. ‘A ceremony here and a party later.’

‘But where? I thought they might have had a blessing in our little church but Alexa says no. I suggested photos taken outside the chapel on the rocks up the steps but she said that was too narrow a path and Olympia might fall off. I’m hoping to fly over to help her choose her dress so it would be useful to have ideas.’

Sara brought out her iPad with Pinterest images. ‘I thought you might like to look out over these settings, just ideas to share with her. Alexa emailed me with some decorative suggestions.’

‘Oh, I didn’t realise that.’ Chloë looked a little put out. ‘I suppose it is her choice, after all.’

Sara could see Chloë was feeling left out. ‘There is one solution, though, if you want more guests, family and friends. The retreat garden is large and open if the committee would rent it out,’ Sara offered.

‘No, I wouldn’t want it decked out like Pippa and Duke’s hippy nuptials.’

‘I don’t think Alexa is thinking on those lines either.’

‘You’ve discussed it with her already then?’ Chloë said.

‘It is just a possibility. The backdrop of the house, its views are rather spectacular in their own way.’ Sara could see it all in her mind’s eye.

‘But I wanted our daughter to celebrate in our garden.’

‘Don’t worry, she’s thought of that too,’ Sara added, sensing Chloë’s disappointment. She was finding it hard to let go of her own dreams for her daughter’s wedding. Tact was needed here.

‘Have you thought of the American custom of having an eve of wedding dinner, quite formal, a

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