“You may now kiss the bride,” the registrar said.
As he stepped towards me and put his hands on my hips, Leo and I couldn’t help but giggle. But as he leaned in and his lips met mine, we were soon lost in our first wonderful embrace as a married couple.
More cheers erupted amongst our guests, and bringing our kiss to an end, Leo rested his forehead on mine. “We did it,” he said.
Tears welled in my eyes. “I know.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the registrar said. “I give you Mr and Mrs McDermot.”
Leo took my hand and together, wearing the biggest of smiles, we turned to face our guests.
Epilogue
Second Saturday in September
Following that random Tuesday in August, Leo and I escaped to Northumbria for a few glorious days. Having tried to explain herself before our wedding, only to be interrupted, Mum had left it until we got back to tell us that she hadn’t cancelled Gregbrook Manor. Not only had she been too embarrassed to inform everyone that the ceremony was off, she’d secretly hoped that I’d change my mind and go through with it. Even as she explained, it was evident she continued to consider that a possibility.
Sat around the dinner table at our Cavendish family get-together, my look had gone from Mum and Dad, to Sal, Ryan and India, before finally settling on Leo. Our original wedding had been so much fun, I wasn’t surprised to find each of them staring back at me in eager anticipation.
“Shall we?” Leo had said, clearly excited by the prospect.
“I think our dresses deserve another outing,” Sal said.
“Me too,” India said.
“See it as a big party to celebrate,” Ryan said.
Sitting there in his station master’s uniform, Dad smiled. “And I’d love the chance to walk you down the aisle.”
“Instead of another wedding you could call it a blessing,” Mum said. “Please?”
With each of them making a good point and me still on a newly-wed high, I supposed it no wonder I found myself having a wonderful stay at Gregbrook Manor.
The venue’s champagne breakfast was as good as I’d imagined, although standing there with Dad and India, waiting for our cue, I wished I hadn’t availed myself of quite so many pastries.
“You okay, love?” Dad asked, looking handsome and dashing in his grey morning suit.
I took a deep breath. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s not like I haven’t done this before.”
“I can’t wait to get in there,” India said, her words coming as no surprise.
I smiled at her, wishing I had some of her confidence. While Sal had been happy to sit amongst the guests, no way was India being deprived of her moment, so it wasn’t like she didn’t have any to spare. Watching her take a peek into the orangery, I recalled India’s short-lived days as a fashion model. With her once-butchered fringe now overgrown and clipped to the side, it was as if the incident with the scissors had never happened.
“This is so exciting,” she said.
A member of Gregbrook’s staff stepped forward and with a nod, informed us that it was time to start.
Dad and I steeled ourselves, while India fussed about straightening her dress.
“How do I look?” I asked.
“Like a beautiful princess.” Dad glanced at India. “You both do,” he said, his face full of pride. He raised his eyebrows. “Ready to go?”
While my niece gave him an emphatic yes, I inhaled again. “As I’ll ever be.”
The orangery doors opened, just as the wedding chorus kicked in. Dad smiled as he took my arm, and the three of us stepped forward to walk down the aisle.
As we made our entrance, I didn’t know who gasped the loudest. The huge wedding party that Mum had invited, or me? I was shocked at how many people were willing to attend the wedding of someone they hadn’t seen for years and hardly knew. Try as I might, I struggled to spot proper family and friends amongst everyone. “This is madness,” I said to Dad, through a fixed smile.
