As they strolled through the village, side by side, villagers greeted them and wished Titus good luck. He looked very dapper in his suit, and Wyatt was proud to be his best man. It was an honour, and he meant what he said; he really wanted to get it all right today. He hated letting people down, and Titus deserved a friend who would show up for him and make this day extra special.
Although he knew he’d failed when it mattered most all those years ago, Wyatt vowed to do his utmost to be there for Titus today.
34
EDITH
The guests had begun arriving at the café in their wedding finery — summer dresses and light suits in soft pastel colours to keep them cool in the day’s warmth. Some wore hats; others carried parasols to shield themselves from the July sun. Pearl and Ellie moved among them, offering glasses of Pimm’s and champagne. Across the gardens, local harpist Cariad Jones played a gentle medley of love songs, her music drifting through the air like sunlight on water.
Edith wandered around, checking that everything was in place for the ceremony and greeting people warmly. It seemed like most of the villagers were present.
‘Hello, Leanne,’ she said with a smile.
‘Hi there.’ Leanne raised her glass of Pimm’s, a glint in her hazel eyes. ‘They’ve got a beautiful day for it.’
‘Indeed, they have.’ Edith nodded.
Leanne was the local dog sanctuary manager. A close friend of Pearl’s, she often visited the café with some of the dogs in needof homes, and she had a skill for matching dogs to families. Today she looked lovely in a cream trouser suit with a fascinator in her short grey hair. Edith spotted two tiny decorative dogs on the band wearing diamanté collars.
‘I love your fascinator,’ Edith said.
‘Thank you.’ Leanne smiled. ‘I found it at a dog show. The stall holder had a whole range of them.’
‘What a brilliant idea.’
‘I know. I’d wear it every day if I could.’ Leanne laughed.
‘Why not?’ Edith replied with a smile. ‘See you later.’
She walked away, collecting a few empty glasses from tables and setting them onto a tray that she took into the café and placed on the counter.
‘It’s lovely out there now, isn’t it?’ Pearl said.
‘I’m so pleased,’ Edith said. ‘The drinks are going down well, by the look of it.’
‘Can’t beat a drop of Pimm’s or bubbly on a warm day.’ Pearl winked. ‘No sign of the grooms yet?’
‘Not yet, but…’ Edith pulled her phone out of the pocket on her dress and checked the time. ‘They should be here within the next ten minutes, I would hope.’
‘Titus first?’
‘Yes, Finn is coming with Thora and the twins.’
‘It’s so exciting!’ Pearl grinned. ‘I love a wedding.’
‘Me too.’ As Edith said the words, warmth spread through her limbs and goosebumps rose on her skin. Here she was with the best job in the world, and she’d been feeling sad about what she’d lost out on with Wyatt. It was ridiculous, really, how pining for her lost love had affected her happiness. Well, no more of that! She had an awesome job, and she loved what she did. Bringing happiness to others through creating the wedding they’d always dreamt of was a wonderful thing to do, and she would start appreciating it again. ‘Right, I’d best get on. Not long to go!’
Around the garden, locals mingled. Lena Teller conversed with Thomas Dryden, Marnie, and Bligh Kellow. Bligh, a large man with lots of tattoos, was holding their young baby against his chest while their seven-year-old twins, Wendy and Winnie, ran around the gardens playing. Jasper Holmes was there with his young children, Mabel, and Alfie, and Ellie was speaking to them while tidying up Mabel’s ponytail. Rosa Lake from the bookshop was sitting at one table with her partner Henry Clay, a local primary school teacher. With them were their good friends Sita, and Niels Vandermeer. Sita and Niels’ three boys were in the middle of debating who looked best in their shirts and shorts. Vinnie Russo, who worked at the bookshop with Rosa, guided elderly Christopher Robin through the garden towards the café. Christopher was in his nineties and a friendly gentleman who had become close friends with Rosa and Henry because of his love of reading. Christopher’s small Jack Russell was with him, plodding along at his side, a white ribbon tied to his lead to mark the occasion.
Edith spotted other people she knew too, and the sensation of joy she’d felt in the café talking to Pearl swelled in her chest. Weddings brought people together to celebrate love, and that was what today was about.
She paused at the gate that led out onto the path and breathed in the sweetness of flowers and the brine of the sea. Behind her, the laughter of children and the soft clinking of glasses created a joyful backdrop. The breeze ruffled the ribbons and bunting and spread the scent of cut grass and flowers.
Turning back to gaze at the café and the gardens, she took in the soft glow of the sunlight on the scene, the easy camaraderie of old friends and neighbours along with new friends and loves. This wedding had brought them all together, and what could be better than that?
She thought of the small details she’d fussed over leading up to today — the napkins, the bunting, the ribbons, the blooms. The colours, the flowers, the drinks, and the centrepieces had all amounted to this: a garden bubbling with anticipation and celebration. She allowed herself a moment to revel in the joy of seeing her efforts come together in the tangible things but also in the atmosphere of contentment.
Checking her phone again, a ripple of excitement ran up her spine. The grooms would arrive soon, and the magic of the day was about to unfold. Emotion tightened her chest as the realisation washed over her that this wasn’t just another job or another wedding.
