“It’s a group activity? Oh, yes. It’s all hands on deck until it’s done, even if that means working ’til midnight.” I downed the last of my drink. “I still don’t know how I’m going to break what I’m doing to Mum. Or Grace. They love those dresses.”
Leo’s mobile rang. He picked it up and checked the screen. “Speaking of whom.”
I scoffed. “Maybe your mum has news too?”
Leo shook his head. “Don’t even joke about it.” Declining the call, he placed his phone down on the side and gave me his full attention. “So, did Patricia have anything else to say?”
“Only that Dad’s off to some golfing tournament.”
Leo smiled. “A golfing tournament, you say?”
“I don’t know what’s so funny. I think it’s great he’s got a new interest. Anyway, enough about my parents. Let’s talk wedding plans. Did you look at those samples the photographer sent through?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“I think they’re great. I’m happy to go with her if you are?”
“Brilliant.” I headed to the table where my to-do list sat. “Can you email her back and book her in?”
“I can.”
Picking up my pen, I put a big blue tick next to the photographer’s name. “Obviously we can’t give her any location details yet.” I looked to Leo again. “We still haven’t discussed whether we’re happy to go with your mum’s religious ceremony or stick with our original plan and take the civil route.” I pictured the church’s interior with its wooden pews and stone arches. I saw rainbows of colour as sunlight entered through its stained-glass windows and heard the bell ring out from its tower. “Maybe we shouldn’t cancel Reverend Joseph and Saint Oswald’s quite yet?”
“I’m okay with that if you are,” Leo replied.
“It’s not like we have an alternative, is it?” I smiled. “Who’d have thought that way back when there was a chance I’d get married in the same church I was learning about.”
“All the more reason not to dismiss it.”
“It would certainly keep your mum happy. The last thing I want is her thinking bad of us. Or more to the point, of me. Especially when we’ve only just met.” I scanned my list again, happy that things were coming together at last. “You know, I can’t thank Marianne enough. It’s because of her kindness that I’ve stopped worrying about dresses and can properly concentrate on all this. I’m determined to make sure that from now on there’ll be no unnecessary complication. Just me and you and no one else. Getting on with it. Once the unstitching’s done, of course.”
“Which reminds me,” Leo said. His mobile rang, but again he declined the call. “You’re not the only one to move forward on something.” He headed out into the hallway, before returning with a sketchpad. “What do you think of this?”
I smiled. “Is this my bouquet?”
Leo nodded.
My heart melted as I took in the arrangement. Full of blue, purple, and yellow flowers, it was made up of daisy-like fleabane, nodding devil’s-bit, delicate eyebright, and snapdragon-esque toadflax. Its foliage was a mix of grass and sedge, with natural twine keeping the whole ensemble in position. I looked from the drawing to my husband-to-be. “It’s beautiful. Perfect.”
Leo looked back at me. His stare intense, he leaned down to kiss me.
Butterflies fluttered in my tummy, and I closed my eyes, anticipating the feel of his lips on mine. His mobile rang again, and my eyes flashed open.
“She’s not going to give up, is she?” Leo said of his mum.
I shook my head.
“Mum,” he said, as he reluctantly took the call. “Lovely to hear from you.” Leo’s eyes narrowed as Grace began to talk. “But…” He frowned my way. “I see.” His mother talked some more. “I guess that makes sense.”
Taking in his seriousness, I willed him to tell me what was going on. But Grace’s continued chatter meant rather than relay back to me, Leo had to listen. And the more he listened, the more disheartened he appeared, while I sat hoping things weren’t as bad as his expression seemed to indicate.
“When?” Leo said. “Okay… Yeah… You too.” At last, the call came to an end.
“What was that about?” I asked.
He took a deep breath as he tucked his phone in his pocket. “You know how you said you were looking forward to us having time to focus on the wedding?”
