The Chocolate Lovers’ Wedding (19 page)

For the children’s sake, she’d had a separate room at the house. But when the children were fast asleep, she sneaked into James’s room and lay in his arms in his vast bed amid a sea of covers. It was the first week that Lewis had been content to sleep all night without her – which was a relief, but also left her feeling a little sad. Her son was growing up quickly. He was sharing a bedroom with Seth and she knew that they were probably both up playing with Lego and goodness knows what else when they should be asleep, but she didn’t begrudge him the fun and companionship. She hadn’t seen him so happy in a long time.

‘Here in particular or Cumbria in general?’ he teased as he stroked her hair.
‘Both.’
‘Then don’t go back,’ he said. ‘Stay.’
‘It isn’t that simple.’
‘It is if you want it to be.’
‘There’s a lot to think about, James.’
‘Just think about us. That, surely, should make it easier.’ He sat up, leaning on his elbow and traced a meandering finger down between her breasts. ‘I worry about you. I don’t want anything happening to you while I’m not there to protect you.’
She knew what he was referring to. The mugging was always there somewhere at the back of her mind. It was only when she was out walking on the hills that she could say she’d completely forgotten about it.
‘The worst that can happen here is that you stand in sheep poo.’
‘If that’s the worst that can happen, then it doesn’t sound like a bad life.’
He moved above her, kissing her with increasing passion. ‘I’ll miss you.’
She melted to his touch. It had been so long since she’d been loved like this and it was intoxicating.
It was raining now outside, the downpour pelting against the windows. She’d left the curtains open so that she could see the black silhouette of the mountains. In here it was cosy, safe. If only she didn’t have to leave ever again . . . but they were both fully aware that their time together was running out.
‘If you won’t stay, then come back soon.’
‘I promise. Lewis’s half-term holiday is only six weeks away.’
James sighed and feathered kisses on her neck. ‘That’s a lifetime away. Just think of how many of Penny’s pies I’ll have to eat before then.’
She grabbed his bottom and dug her fingernails in. ‘You fiend.’
He laughed and flipped over, pulling her on top of him. His hands roved her hips, the curve of her buttocks, and she’d never wanted him more. He looked so handsome, lit only by the moon shining through the raindrops on the window.
‘I love you,’ he said, softly. ‘Marry me.’
Her breath caught in her throat. Had she heard him right?
Then his mobile phone on the bedside table rang.
‘Don’t answer,’ she said.
‘Hold that thought,’ he told her before he picked up the phone and said, ‘Hello?’
When he hung up, he was frowning. ‘One of the lambs has fallen between the bars of a cattle grid further down the road. My neighbour was on his way home from the pub and saw it in his headlights. They’ve had a go, but they can’t get it out. I’d better head down there.’
‘You’re going out in this?’ The rain was pelting the glass even harder. ‘Now?’
James was already out of bed and slipping on his jeans. ‘This would be the joy of being a farmer’s wife.’ He took her hand and kissed her fingers to his lips. ‘I did, however, mean what I said.’ He pulled on his shirt and headed for the door. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can. Hopefully, it won’t take long.’
As he left, Nadia flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. He’d asked her to marry him. There was a big squiggle of happiness inside her, but it was tinged with terror. Now what should she do?

The day after Nadia comes home from her travels, we are all sitting in a wedding-dress shop in Sloane Square. It’s a very posh one, even though I don’t have a very posh budget to warrant it. But this place has a great reputation and I thought it would be worth a lickle-ickle, teeny-tiny peek.

Maybe it was a big mistake.
The dress I have on is absolutely beautiful. It’s a lace number in a gorgeous champagne colour, slightly retro style. I wouldn’t have looked at it at all, but Chantal picked it out for me and I have to say that she has fantastic taste. It has a scooped neck, three-quarter-length lace sleeves, a nipped-in waist and a full skirt. It says demure, but sexy. If you know what I mean.
When my Executive Bridal Consultant – their term, not mine – has zipped me up, I step out of the changing room with a ‘Ta-dah!’
The girls, who are sitting on a curved sofa sipping a glass of fizz while waiting patiently, gasp.
‘Oh, Lucy,’ Chantal says, dabbing tears from her eyes as if she’s the mother of the bride. ‘That is
perfect
.’
I’m sure she’s tearful because her emotions are running so high at the moment. I smooth down the skirt. ‘Thanks. It does feel amazing.’
The Executive Bridal Consultant wanders off to the accessories area to get me a hat and shoes to try on.
When she’s gone, I lower my voice and whisper, ‘It’s perfect except for one thing. It has three noughts on the price tag rather than the two I can actually afford.’
‘A small consideration.’ Chantal dismisses my concerns with a wave of her hand.
‘You
have
to get that,’ Autumn agrees. ‘You look stunning.’
‘It also blows half of my wedding budget.’
‘You’ll never get anything else as nice as that,’ Nadia says.
‘I’ll
have
to try other dresses. This is monster expensive.’ I give the skirt a little swish. Oh, so nice. ‘Maybe we could pop along to Debenhams instead? Don’t they do wedding frocks?’ Which are likely to be hundreds rather than thousands. See how sensible I’m being?
‘This isn’t any old
frock
, Lucy. It’s your bridal gown,’ Chantal says.
‘I know, but . . . ’ Then I catch sight of myself in the mirror again and, they’re right, it does look incredible. I am the hottest bride there ever will be.
‘It’s elegant, sophisticated,’ she continues. ‘I’d wear that in a heartbeat. It’s going to be the best day of your life. You deserve to feel fabulous.’
I do feel fabulous, but Crush will kill me if I blow all our cash on this. We are on a Budget with a capital ‘B’.
‘This is the second time I’ll have splashed out on a wedding dress,’ I remind them. ‘And I got a measly few quid on eBay for the last one when I didn’t even actually use it.’
‘It
was
covered in chocolate, Lucy.’
Oh yeah. I’d forgotten that. I had a slightly emotional coming together with the chocolate fountain at the reception after my non-wedding to Marcus, now you come to mention it.
‘That won’t happen this time,’ Autumn says.
‘I know.’ I turn this way and that and look longingly at myself. ‘But it’s a lot of money.’
The Executive Bridal Consultant returns. ‘I have a little pillbox hat that I think would go perfectly.’
And, of course, it does. The crown is embellished with glass beads, crystals and tiny seed pearls. I am in love. It’s exactly the same colour as the dress and a wisp of net covers my eyes in a coquettish manner. Beautiful. More gasps from my girls.
‘And some silk shoes.’
Oh, these are beyond divine! They’re tiny and are fit for a princess. She places them at my feet and, of course, they fit as wonderfully as the glass slipper did when Cinders slid her tootsies into it.
I check out the mirror again. I’m a vision of bridal loveliness.
This could end my wedding-outfit shopping now. I could walk from one end of the High Street to the other, make my fingers raw with surfing online, but I’d never find anything to better this.
‘I’d say that your search was over,’ Nadia agrees. ‘That was easy.’
‘Not quite.’ I torture myself by posing this way and that. I pout and preen. ‘I can’t buy this one. As fantabulous as it is. It’s waaaaay too much money.’
‘Are you sure?’ Autumn says.
‘Sadly, yes. We’d have to have a packet of crisps each instead of the wedding breakfast and, tempting though it is, I can’t do that.’ Jacob would kill me just after Crush did; his plans are well underway too. ‘The caterers have been booked, the champagne selected.’ It’s so pretty and it breaks my heart to put it back on the silk-covered hanger and step away. ‘Perhaps I could get a second-hand dress on eBay.’
Chantal drains her champagne flute. ‘Excellent plan – eBay it is.’
My spirits plummet. ‘You think so?’
‘You’ve said so yourself, Lucy. This is
wildly
extravagant.’
I know that. In my head I know that. I give one last twirl and smile sadly. This is all so perfect but I know I’m right to walk away from it.
‘Now go and get changed,’ Chantal says, briskly. ‘We all need coffee and chocolate.’

I head back to the changing room, heavy of heart. The Executive Bridal Consultant whips the dress off me – rather quickly, if you ask me. And the adorable hat. And the Cinderella shoes. She disappears. As does her commission.

When I come out, back in my jeans and shirt, feeling like a leaden lump, they’re all standing there grinning like loons. ‘What?’

Now it’s my turn to gasp. ‘You can’t. I haven’t got any way of paying for it.’
‘Let me worry about that.’ She links her arm in mine. ‘It’s my wedding present to you.’
‘No, no, no. It’s too much.’
‘It’s better than a Hoover or a dishwasher.’
‘And ten times the price!’ I protest. ‘You could buy me a Hoover, a dishwasher
and
a small family car.’
‘We’ve bought the hat, too,’ Nadia says, brushing a tear from her eye. ‘Between me and Autumn. All you have to do is pay for the shoes.’
‘Oh, girls.’ I have a little tear too and give them all a hug. ‘How can I ever thank you?’
‘You can buy the coffee,’ Chantal says. ‘And I’ll have a great big piece of cake.’
‘What did I ever do to deserve friends like you? You’re
too
kind.’
‘I can’t wait to see you in it on your wedding day,’ Chantal says. ‘So that gives me an extra incentive to still be here.’
‘You
will
be here,’ I say fiercely. ‘And you’ll be fine.’
Then we have another group hug and this one is tighter than ever.
‘Come on,’ I say. ‘We’re not going to be sad today. Big cake is definitely required.’
I only hope that they’ve ordered my dress in a . . . ahem . . . generous size.

‘I’d better get back to Chocolate Heaven soon – I’ve left it in the tender loving care of Ms France and I’d like a business left when I return. She and I have avoided each other like the plague since the unfortunate shagging-over-the-desk incident.’

Their heads all swivel in my direction and, in unison, they say, ‘The what?’
Ah. Hadn’t told them about that.
‘I had to pop back to Chocolate Heaven late the other night and saw Marcus having it off with Ms France over the desk in the back room.’ I shudder at the thought. How am I ever going to use that computer again without having a flashback? ‘I saw more of Marcus’s bum than I wanted to. It was probably worse than listening to my parents have sex on my sofa and that, quite frankly, has scarred me for life.’
They all laugh.
‘It wasn’t funny, it was
totally
traumatic.’ I seek solace in my chocolate cake. ‘I’m seriously considering my future at Chocolate Heaven. If she stays, then I go.’
‘You need the money,’ Chantal reminds me.
‘Oh, yeah.’ So much for the grand gesture. ‘Maybe after the wedding I’ll look for another job.’
‘You won’t, Lucy,’ Nadia says. ‘You’re destined to be at Chocolate Heaven whatever happens.’
It certainly looks that way.
‘How can I get rid of Ms France then? We need one of my cunning plans.’
They all groan.
‘That’s the
last
thing we need,’ Chantal says. ‘You get into enough trouble as it is.’
So. No new career. No cunning plan. No getting rid of pesky French assistant. Gah. I must hold on to the thought that I have my lovely, lovely wedding coming up. ‘What else has been going on then?’ I ask. ‘That’s all my news.’
‘Willow is coming to stay for the weekend,’ Autumn says. ‘Well, overnight. I can’t wait.’
‘That’s great. I’m so pleased it’s working out for you.’
‘We’re speaking or texting every day,’ she adds. ‘I’m so happy. The only fly in the ointment is that I’ve had a big bust up with my parents. I went to tell them about Willow and they were their usual uninterested selves.’ She blushes and fiddles with her hair. ‘I was very cruel. I said things that I shouldn’t have said.’
‘You’ve been bottling it all up for a long time.’
‘That doesn’t excuse it, though,’ Autumn says. ‘I’ve phoned my mother to apologise but she hasn’t returned my calls.’
‘You have us,’ Nadia says. ‘And we can’t wait to meet Willow.’
‘I saw Ted and Stacey,’ Chantal says when we turn to her for an update. ‘It was a bit awkward at first, but Ted is trying his best. Stacey stayed out of the way and we didn’t have much to say to each other, but it was OK. Ted has agreed to finalise the divorce quickly. While he’s here, we’re going to sign the papers this week. All being well. Then I’ll be a free woman.’ We all toast that with our coffee.
‘And you’re feeling OK?’ I ask, anxiously.
‘Yeah. Good but not great.’ She rubs at her shoulder. ‘My chest is still aching where the lump was removed and my arm is still weak, but I’m on the mend. I’ve got an appointment with Livia later this week and I’m hoping she’ll give me the all-clear.’
‘Amen to that,’ I say.
‘I’m keeping my fingers crossed.’ Chantal holds up crossed fingers on both hands.
‘You know you only have to ask if you want any help,’ I say.
‘I do.’ Chantal smiles at us all. ‘You lot do more than enough for me. We’ll all go out and down enough cocktails to sink a ship when this is over. My treat.’
Last but not least, we turn to Nadia. She’s only just come back from her holiday and we haven’t even had time for a proper download yet. ‘Right, Madam. We want to hear all about your week in the wilds of Cumbria. How was it?’
She looks very coy. ‘It was fantastic.’
‘In what sense of the word?’ I want to know. ‘Rampant sex every night? More cake than you could shake a stick at?’
‘Quite a lot of passion.’ Even more bashful. ‘Some excellent cake. Though there isn’t a decent chocolate shop as far as I can tell.’
We shake our heads in sorrow at that terrible news.
‘Though you can buy everything your heart desires – as long as it’s made of fleece.’
‘He’ll make a country bumpkin out of you yet.’
Nadia laughs. ‘He had a good go! Even in a week. We did a lot of walking on the fells which, weirdly, I really enjoyed. I learned to love my walking boots. And I now know more about sheep than I ever thought I would.’
‘And that’s it?’
‘Not quite.’ Nadia shrugs shyly. ‘James asked me to marry him.’
‘Nooooo,’ I cry. ‘Why didn’t you say? We could have tried wedding dresses on together.’
She holds up a hand. ‘I haven’t said yes, yet.’
‘
Yet
.’ I jump on the word.
‘It’s a big step.’ She pulls an anxious face. ‘He’s great and I love him, but I hardly know him.’
‘You don’t have to marry him tomorrow,’ I remind her. ‘Take it slowly.’
‘He wants me to move up to Cumbria. There’s no way that he can leave his farm and, I have to admit, the lifestyle really appeals to me. I didn’t think I was cut out to be a country girl, but I loved being out on the hills. The scenery is stunning. It beats dirty old north London any day. And Lewis adored it. He gets on really well with Seth and Lily. He cried when we had to come home. Me too.’
‘So the downside is?’
‘I’d have to leave all I know behind. My family, you girls. The thought really scares me. I’d be up there all on my own, starting out again. I wouldn’t have a job or any friends. I’d be reliant on James for everything.’
‘There’s always a catch,’ Chantal says.
‘It’s a
fantastic
opportunity.’ Autumn is vehement. ‘You could have a new life, a great one, with someone you love.’
‘I’m a firm believer in grabbing happiness while it’s on offer,’ I say. ‘But we don’t want you to go either.’
‘And that’s the problem,’ Nadia says. ‘I feel absolutely torn.’
I blow out a breath. ‘Tough call.’
Nadia spreads her hands. ‘So what do I do?’
And, even though we consider it thoroughly while we have another slice of cake and more coffee, none of us seem to be able to give her the definitive answer to that one.