“If it’s good enough for royalty.”
Desperate for his assistance, I again turned to Leo. However, he appeared as enthralled with the images as my mother was. “Mum, you do know that not just anybody can get married there, don’t you?” I said.
“Why not?” Mum asked, suddenly serious.
Mortified by the question, I found myself lost for words.
At last, her face broke into another smile. “Don’t worry. I’m only teasing. It’s merely an example of what to look for in a venue.”
“You think we should hire a castle for our wedding?” Her explanation did nothing to ease my concerns. “Mum, we don’t have that kind of budget.” I indicated her creation. “And even if we did, I’m sorry, but this isn’t what we want.” A part of me felt bad for dismissing her efforts, while another part realised Sal had been right in her warning. Needing to take control of the situation, I knew I had to stay firm. “We’re aiming for a quieter, more relaxed affair. Something small.” I trained my eyes on Leo. “Aren’t we?”
“Define small,” he and Mum said.
As I looked at them both, aghast, it was clear I was on my own. “Anyway, we haven’t even pinned down a date yet,” I carried on.
Leo turned to me, puzzled. “But I thought…”
I glowered his way and the man fell silent. “So, all this Winter Wonderland stuff…” I continued, again waving a hand in the board’s direction. “…may not be appropriate.”
“I thought you might say that,” Mum said.
“You did?” I replied.
“But don’t worry, I’m one step ahead of you.”
Watching her reach down for her art folder, unlike Leo who sat to attention, I whimpered when Mum proudly pulled out three more boards.
“I’ve done one for every season.” She looked back at me, proudly. “See?”
I swallowed hard. Struggling to conjure the right words, I stared from one collage to the next and the next and the next. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, they were all there. Each offering as detailed and as extravagant as the other.
Chapter 6
With Mum gone, and Leo and I having broken the news of our engagement to Grace and Bill, I’d pinged a message to my friends Abbey and Chloe suggesting a group call so I could tell them too.
The three of us had been close since our first day at university and while we each went on to live miles apart, Abbey in Scotland, Chloe in Cornwall, and me in the Yorkshire Dales, even years later we kept in regular contact. It came as no surprise to find my phone lighting up almost immediately thanks to an incoming video call and as I settled myself on the sofa, I smiled when their eager faces popped up on my screen.
I took in Abbey’s bright red hair. “Look at you.” Abbey was forever playing around with her appearance, which was always as colourful as her personality. I shook my head. Last time we chatted she’d been blonde.
“Very cool,” Chloe said, acknowledging the change too. She let out a sigh. “I can’t remember the last time I got to a salon.”
Chloe was more like me when it came to personal styling. Whereas I lacked interest, her approach to fashion was borne out of necessity. As the mother of a three-year-old, Chloe didn’t have the time nor inclination to think beyond the practical.
“What I’d do for a bit of pampering right now.”
“Ruby keeping you busy?” I asked.
Chloe let out a laugh. “And then some.”
“So, come on,” Abbey said. “What’s the big announcement?” It was just like her to get straight to the point.
I smiled as I raised my left hand and wriggled my fingers in front of the camera.
Abbey and Chloe squealed and bounced up and down at the sight of my engagement ring.
“When did this happen?” Chloe asked.
“Have you set a date yet?” Abbey asked.
