“Looks like the two of you worked well together though,” I said, indicating the laughter in the photo. “You seem to be having fun.”
“We had a great relationship. Come on.” Marianne gestured to the table. “I can tell you a couple of stories, if you’d like?”
A picture of Sal popped into my head. “Yes, please.” Eagerly heading for a seat, I pictured my sister’s face when I next caught up with her. Sal was going to be so shocked when I told her who I’d been chatting to.
Chapter 21
Ibreezed into the kitchen, ready to embrace the new day. “Good morning,” I said. Heading straight for Leo, I kissed his cheek. “Anything I can do to help?”
“You seem chirpy,” Leo said, handing me a rack of toast.
“Do I?” I took a seat at the table and wearing a knowing expression, reached for a knife to butter myself a slice.
Leo eyed me, suspicious, as he joined me with a plate of sausages. “A bit too chirpy.”
“I didn’t know there was such a thing.” Picking up my fork, I helped myself to a couple of juicy pork and apples.
“There is when we’ve yet to find a suitable wedding location.”
That hadn’t been for the want of trying. Having previously telephoned our second and third choices of venue, only to be told they were already booked out, Leo and I had spent most of the previous evening trawling the internet for yet more viable options. We’d discussed a couple of places, but with one giving off too many corporate vibes and the other stretching our budget a little too much, the search was ongoing.
Despite refusing to let our lack of progress ruin my good humour, Wendy, the wedding planner, popped into my head. She reminded me that without a venue we couldn’t submit our notice of intention to marry.No notification, no wedding, she’d said. However, I ignored her condescending tone and smug expression. “We’ll find somewhere,” I replied, choosing to remain positive.
“And you still haven’t sorted out your dress,” Leo said, as he tucked into his food.
I gave him a coy smile. “Who says I haven’t?”
Leo looked at me, intrigued. “Meaning?”
I’d been hoping to surprise Leo with my ingenuity and creative thinking, but taking in his curiosity, I knew I couldn’t keep things to myself any longer. I opened my mouth to speak, but a knock at the front door sounded. I froze in excitement. It seemed an explanation was no longer necessary. Instead of telling Leo what I was up to, I could show him.
I squealed as I jumped out of my seat and leaving Leo eating his breakfast, I raced out into the hall to answer. I giggled at the sight of the man standing there with the response to my prayers. “You don’t know how happy I am to see you,” I said.
“Something special, is it?” he asked, placing a big brown box on the ground next to my feet.
“You could say that.” I clapped my hands together in delight.
The chap pulled out his mobile and took a photo of my delivery to prove that it had landed safe and sound. Picking up the box again, he handed it over. “There you go, love,” he said. “Enjoy your day.”
“You too.” I kicked the door shut with my foot and continuing to smile, made my way back to the kitchen.
“Anyone would think it’s Christmas morning,” Leo said, taking in my enthusiasm. “What’ve you got there?”
“You’ll see.” I set the box down on the table and ready to reveal the solution to my wedding dress dilemma, cleared away our breakfast things to make room. I grabbed a pair of scissors from a drawer, before using them to carefully slice through the packing tape. I took a deep breath and slowly folded back the cardboard flaps. “You ready?”
Leo watched on, bemused, as I produced a pack of white cotton reels, followed by a pair of fabric shears.
“Now for the pièce de résistance,” I said. Relishing the moment, I carefully lifted out the object of my glee. Another grin spread across my face. “What do you think?”
“That you’ve bought yourself a sewing machine?” Leo said.
“Oh, it’s a lot more than that, Leo.” I ran my hand over the top of it. “Thanks to this little beauty, I’ll be walking down the aisle in the dress of my dreams. Not the monstrosity that Mum calls a wedding gown.”
Leo furrowed his brow. “Surely, you’re not thinking of…”
“Yes, Leo. That’s exactly what I’m thinking.” I removed every trace of protective polystyrene to admire the machine it in all its glory. “Do you know how many hours I spent on the internet yesterday poring over dresses and, as it turned out, for nothing?” I looked at Leo direct. “That’s when it hit me. If I can’t buy what I want, why not make it?”
“And you have the required sewing experience needed for that?” he asked, my confidence clearly doing nothing to ease his mind.
