Christmas Promises at the Little Wedding Shop by Jane Linfoot

Author:Jane Linfoot
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008260651
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2017-09-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Wednesday 13th December

At Brides by the Sea: Harsh words and bulging boxes

There are certain people I meet who I can’t help but pre-judge, and Marilyn is one of them. I have to be honest here. Last time we met, Marilyn had barely stormed as far as the White Room and I already wanted to hide. By the time she left the shop after that visit, she’d made it into my ‘best avoided forever’ box. Which obviously got rapidly revised when I found out I’m taking pictures for an entire day at her son’s wedding. But when I saw in the appointments book that she was coming in with her future daughter-in-law, Katie, for a final dress fitting early this morning, I decided the best plan was to stay safely tucked up in bed. But when Poppy rang at seven to tell me Katie wanted me to be there too, to say ‘hello’ and take a couple of pictures, the only way to combat the bad news was with a stonking breakfast.

Sadly, despite our food science degrees, we can’t all whip up the kind of early morning feasts Poppy makes. Which is why it’s really lucky there’s a bakery a few doors down that sells warm flaky almond croissants and pain au chocolates, from six a.m. onwards. It’s amazing how much less intimidated you feel when you’ve worked your way through a carrier full, eaten the French way. And if my nose stays scarlet until the New Year, after half an hour of serious dipping and slurping over bowlfuls of steaming coffee, I’m just going to have to live with that. The good bit is, that by the time Marilyn gallops into the shop at eight thirty, dragging Katie behind her, I’m feeling well up for the job. Luckily Poppy’s there too, with her usual lovely welcome.

‘Hello Marilyn … and Katie …’ As Marilyn powers straight across to the mother of the bride chair, the hug Poppy gives Katie is so big there has to be some mutual bolstering going on.

After yesterday’s promises for motivational training from Rory, I can’t help wondering how I’ll be handling stuff like this in ten days’ time. For now, I’m scuttling behind the desk, thankful I have my camera to hide behind.

Poppy turns her beam in my direction. ‘And this is Holly, who you’ve met already, Marilyn. And who will be stepping in to take the wedding pictures.’

‘Hi,’ I say. I can’t help slapping my hand to my hair as I have a sudden flashback to the way Marilyn wrenched out a handful along with the tiara last time she was here. Somehow I manage to move my head rub on into a little wave at Katie and still hold onto the camera. And if Marilyn’s looking disbelieving, I completely know the feeling.

She recovers enough to give a little cough. ‘Jules already has a list of my stipulations, which no doubt he’ll forward to you.’ Her words are stiff with disapproval.

Katie’s clasping her hands into fists.

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