‘What?’ I must have lost track somewhere, because surely Hugh wasn’t asking me to cater his wedding. ‘I have to fly home on Friday at the latest, so I can be ready to reopen on Sunday. Otherwise I get a fine and could lose the lease. Same if I miss any more days in the next twelve months.’
‘What are you doing on Thursday?’ Hugh asked Iris.
‘I was planning on helping your ma with the new gelding, but I guess I’m getting married instead.’
‘Um. What?’ This must be a joke.
‘Can you get everything ready for then?’ Hugh asked me, before suggesting a price that seemed more than reasonable as I quickly calculated the cost of eighty pasties and added a generous discount.
‘I… I suppose so. But canyou?’
Iris shrugged. ‘We’ve got outfits and rings already. The bridesmaids are sorted. The wine and other drinks are stacked in the back barn. Someone can arrange a few flowers and I’m sure Richard’s band will be free. What else do we need?’
‘How about the means to actually get married?’ Rosemary, who due to sitting a short distance away hadn’t joined in until she came to fetch Gabe another pasty. ‘You know, a legal ceremony, signing the register, trivialities like that.’
‘Arnie, are you around on Thursday?’ Iris called over to where the man who looked the spitting image of Barnie was chatting with Richard.
‘They’re twins?’ I whispered to Pip, while Arnie brushed the pastry crumbs off his shorts and ambled over. ‘Arnie and Barnie?’
Pip grinned. ‘Barnaby and Arnold. His ma and da didn’t twig until they got old enough for nicknames.’
‘I’ve got a couple of meetings in the morning. Why?’
‘Will you marry me?’
Arnie laughed. ‘I’m not sure what my wife would say about that.’
‘I’m serious. On Thursday. At the church.’
‘Did you notify the registrar within the past year?’
‘November.’
‘Are you still planning on Hugh being the groom?’
‘She’d better be,’ Hugh chipped in.
‘Then it would be my pleasure. Talk to Linda about the music and whatever else.’
‘Thanks, Arnie. You’re the best minister on the whole island.’
‘No bother.’ He squeezed past them, took the very last pasty and gave me a wink as he went back to his seat. ‘I’m the only minister on the island.’
‘Oh, is two o’clock okay?’ Iris called after him.
‘Perfect. Gives Linda time to vacuum up after the toddler group and put some chairs out.’
‘You all got that, right?’ Iris shouted, standing up so everyone on the beach could hear. ‘The wedding’s back on – 2p.m. ceremony, then food and dancing in the Old Barn.’
She leant down to take Hugh’s hand. ‘Come on, phone reception is rubbish here, and we’ve got a load more people to invite. I’d probably better make a list or something too.’
The beach reverberated with the news as Iris and Hugh gathered their things and left. I was still slightly in shock.
‘They’re seriously going to organise a wedding in four days?’ I asked Pip.
‘Looks like it. Although, like they said, most of it’s already done.’
‘I take longer than that to work up to a big food shop.’
