‘All right.’
Ben headed back down the hill towards the tipi. She stayed a while longer, feeling a chill on her skin, watching the light begin to fade, letting her tears fall and then dry. After a while, she thought she’d better get back to the party herself – she was the maid of honour, after all. She’d walk down, put on her best smile, and pretend it was Happy Ever After.
47
‘And now can we have the bride and groom on the dance floor for their first dance.’ Jim, Kirkton’s taxi driver and amateur DJ, was on his microphone making himself heard across the tipi.
Tom and Rachel were ushered to the centre of the makeshift dance floor, both looking a little shy at being the centre of attention once more. Tom was whispering in Rachel’s ear, and whatever it was made her grin. Their chosen track started up, and the chords of ‘From the Ground Up’, a gorgeously romantic country song by Dan and Shay, rang out. The lyrical music calmed the gathering, voices hushed, soft fairy lights were glowing above the couple. The music and the magic took over and they swayed gently together, sharing a tender smile. Lost to the moment and to each other.
Towards the end of the track, Maisy and Amelia ran onto the floor, giggling and sprinkling the couple with yet more rose-petal confetti and silver strands. The little girls were soon joining hands with Tom and Rachel and dancing along with them. Rachel then beckoned for others to join in too, as the song changed to ‘You Had Me from Hello’ by Kenny Chesney, another of her all-time favourites. Charlotte and Sam, and several other couples made their way onto the dance floor. Granny Ruth was guided across by one of Tom’s groomsmen, who looked very dashing in his waistcoat, white shirt and Northumbrian tartan kilt – and the room began to sway in time with them. Granny had a huge smile on her face.
‘Thank you, young man,’ she beamed. ‘And I must say, there’s something very fetching about a sporran!’, which caused the young man to blush furiously. Rachel overheard and burst out laughing – Granny must have had one too many proseccos and gin fizzes today!
Daniel and Jill appeared and began to do a slow waltz together. Rachel spotted them, felt a moment of pain that it wasn’t Dad dancing with Mum any more. But it was lovely to see Jill so happy; she deserved that and more. And love didn’t have to end, just like grief didn’t have to last for ever, either. She saw that their growing relationship was a real positive in her mum’s life. Today had had its moments of sorrow amongst the joy too; they’d never ever forget Dad, but with so much love and support around them, the Swinton ladies knew they could be happy again.
Rachel leaned into Tom and gave him a gentle kiss. He smiled so proudly, honestly, lovingly; her heart felt full to the brim.
Looking over his shoulder a few seconds later, Rachel spotted Eve standing on her own at the side of the dance floor. Rachel scanned the tipi to see Ben at the bar with a cool, hurt look on his face. Oh …
She caught Eve’s eye, and mouthed, ‘Have you told him?’
Eve looked so sad and lonely, as she nodded a ‘yes’.
‘You Had Me from Hello’ was still playing. Rachel was just about to whisper discreetly to warn Tom and make her way across to her friend, when she saw Ben look up, stare at Eve for a few heart-stopping moments, and then … he walked across to her. He took his wife’s hand, who gazed up at him with such relief, yet the pain and shame was still clear for Rachel to see. He nodded a silent, ‘Shall we dance?’ They stepped onto the floor, and began their slow, tentative sway. Both fearful, confused, hurting, lost in limbo … yet still together. Rachel could see Eve’s tears wetting her husband’s shoulder, making his shirt damp. Spotting her mummy and daddy, Amelia came running up to them. Eve swiftly wiped her cheeks, and the three of them were soon dancing, holding hands in a circle; Eve’s precious family.
Rachel sent out a silent prayer that everything would work out for them.
It was warm in the tipi an hour later, with so many people dancing. Rachel took a moment to step outside, where strands of lights were twinkling and storm lanterns were glinting on the outside ‘barrel’ tables, where couples and friends sat chatting. She walked a few steps away from the tent, feeling the cool night air on her bare arms, and looked up at the emerging stars. If Dad was out there somewhere, somehow, he’d be so glad she’d had the day she’d wished for.
She wandered a little further into the field, away from the hustle and bustle of the party. ‘Love you, Dad,’ she whispered into the night air. And she knew his spirit and his guidance would stay with her for life. Love didn’t die.
‘Hey …’ Tom was there beside her, his arm coming around her, warm and tender. ‘What an incredible day it’s been.’
‘The best,’ answered Rachel.
Suddenly there was a burst of giggles, and sparks and light began flaming gently as hands lifted in a circle around them.
‘Congratulations!’ Eve called out, with Ben standing beside her.
‘Happy Wedding Day, Mummy.’ Maisy was grinning.
Oh yes, sparklers – she’d promised Maisy and Amelia the special fireworks they’d had at their Bonfire Night party last year.
‘Wheeeeee,’ shouted Amelia.
‘Happy Tom and Rachel Day!’ beamed Charlotte.
‘Best wishes to you both,’ called Frank.
‘All the very best,’ said Granny Ruth with a wink, still going strong.
‘Lots and lots of love and happiness,’ said Jill and Daniel.
And the stars and the dancing sparklers, bursting with light, seemed like hope and love and everything they could wish for, all rolled into one.
Happy Ever Afters!
Recipes to celebrate with …
Ruth’s Raspberry Meringue Bites
Ingredients
2 free-range egg whites
125g (4½oz) caster sugar
237ml (½ pint) double cream
Few drops vanilla essence
Additional caster sugar
Fresh raspberries
1 large piping bag
Large baking tray
Makes approx. 25 mini meringue nests
Method
Meringues are best made with slightly older eggs; if they are too fresh they don’t volumise very well, and they must always be at room temperature, never straight from the fridge.
Place the egg whites in a large bowl and whisk with an electric whisk on half-speed until the whites are volumised and foamy (there should be no clear white liquid left in the bottom of the bowl), then whisk at full speed until they are white and cloud-like.
Start adding the sugar a tablespoon at a time, while still whisking on full speed. Allow each spoon to be fully incorporated before adding the next, and continue like this until you have added three-quarters of the sugar. Reduce the whisk down to half-speed and add the remaining sugar a tablespoon at a time. The mixture should look very thick and glossy.
Place in a large piping bag with a small star nozzle and pipe onto a tray lined with baking paper. Pipe out a small circle 4cm (1½in.) in diameter, then continue to pipe around the edge leaving a small hole in the centre. Repeat until mixture used.
Bake in a cool oven, 120°C/Fan 100°C/Gas mark 1/2 for 1½–2 hours until they are fully dried and lift off the paper easily. Leave to cool.
Add a few drops of vanilla essence and a teaspoon or so of caster sugar to the cream and whip to soft peaks, then when ready to serve, fill the centre of the meringue with a teaspoon of cream and top with a fresh raspberry.
Delightful bite-sized treats. Enjoy!
Lemon Gin Fizz
Ingredients
Ice, cubed or crushed
30ml (1 fl. oz) measure of dry gin
30ml (1 fl. oz) freshly squeezed lemon juice
60ml (2 fl. oz) soda water
Lemon slices to serve
A sprig of mint or rosemary for the garnish
Makes 1 glass
Method
Fill a glass to two-thirds with ice; pour over the gin, lemon juice and soda. Add a slice or two of l
emon, and stir gently. Garnish with a sprig of mint or rosemary. Sip and enjoy.
Perfect for summer evenings.
Cheers!
A LETTER FROM CAROLINE
Thank you so much for choosing to read Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry. I hope you’ve enjoyed spending time with the fabulous Swinton family at Primrose Farm. Hopefully you’ve been curled up with this novel with some scrumptious pudding to hand!
If you have enjoyed this book, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or leave a review. I always love hearing my readers’ reactions, and a comment or review also makes a real difference in helping new readers to discover my books for the first time. You’d make an author very happy.
You are welcome to pop along to my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. Please share your news, views, recipe tips, and drop by to read all about my favourite bakes and the inspirations behind my writing. It’s lovely to make new friends, so keep in touch.
Thanks again, take care, and see you soon!
Caroline x
Facebook: /CarolineRobertsAuthor
Instagram: @carolinerobertsauthor
Twitter: @_caroroberts
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
So many people help to support an author and their writing. Here are my heartfelt thanks:
Family. I want to remember a very special lady, my mother-in-law Tessa, who sadly died over twenty years ago. I can picture her making fairy cakes with my daughter, who was then a toddler perched on a stool beside her granny, licking the leftover mixture from a spoon. Memories that make me think of Jill and Maisy in the book. Tessa would have loved to have been able to see her grandchildren grow up into the wonderful young adults they have become. She was a wonderful, kind woman who made me feel very welcome in her family.
My children, Amie and Harry, and their partners, Toby and Rowan. My little grandson Alfie and my husband Richard – thank you for everything. And a big hello and thank you to my sister, brothers, Mum and Dad, and to all the wider family too.
Friends. Thank you to my writing community friends: the fabulous book bloggers, and the wonderful Romantic Novelists’ Association who are celebrating their 60th Anniversary this year. I also consider my talented editor, Charlotte Brabbin, and all the team at HarperCollins and One More Chapter as friends, having worked closely with them over the past five years. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to become a published author – a dream I had long cherished and worked towards. Hannah Ferguson, my lovely agent and the team at Hardman & Swainson – a big thank you.
Farming friends, Helen and Johnny Renner and Jane and Duncan Ord, who helped advise on farming life in Northumberland, kindly answering my many questions to inform the Pudding Pantry books – your support is much appreciated. Thanks also to Susan Green, the inspiration behind the Pudding Pantry idea, with her fabulous local business, ‘The Proof of the Pudding’.
Jo Hume – a real-life baking queen, thank you so much for the recipe for the raspberry meringues, and also for the wonderful samples left on my doorstep.
Jenna Brigham – a big thank you for sharing your wedding cake recipe which you made for your own wedding.
And I can’t forget all my other friends – glass of prosecco and a chat anyone? Cheers folks.
Food. Food, family and friends, the perfect combination. My enjoyment of food and cooking hopefully shines through in my books. That’s why I love to share recipes. Enjoy and happy baking!
This strange new world in 2020. The past few weeks have been very difficult with the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The world has become an uncertain and challenging place. I hope you manage to find a little solace between these pages. Books can be a magical place to escape, to find new adventures and to learn new things. Thank you to all of the above people whose work and support has helped make this book happen, especially at such a difficult time. And warm thanks to you, my readers. A book really is nothing until it is shared and read.
Take care all!
Keep Reading …
Looking for more love, laughter and pudding at Primrose Farm?
Don’t miss the other unforgettable novels in the Pudding Pantry series
Click here to buy now 9780008327668
Click here to buy now 9780008327682
Both available to buy now!
Discover more cosy, uplifting romances from Caroline Roberts
Can Ellie bake her way to a happy ever after? A deliciously heartwarming novel for fans of Lucy Diamond and Milly Johnson.
When Ellie Hall lands her dream job running the little teashop in the beautiful but crumbling Claverham Castle, it’s the perfect escape from her humdrum job in the city. Life is definitely on the rise as Ellie replaces spreadsheets for scones, and continues her Nanna’s brilliant baking legacy.
When Lord Henry, the stick-in-the-mud owner, threatens to burst her baking bubble with his old-fashioned ways, Ellie wonders if she might have bitten off more than she can chew. But cupcake by cupcake she wins the locals over, including teashop stalwart, Doris, and Ellie’s showstopping bakes look set to go down in castle history!
Now all that’s missing in Ellie’s life is a slice of romance – can Joe, the brooding estate manager, be the one to put the cherry on the top of Ellie’s dream?
Click here to buy now 9780008125394
Ellie’s baking adventures continue in this second, deliciously festive Cosy Teashop novel. Don’t miss this Christmas showstopper!
From sleigh bells to wedding bells …
After a rocky start, Ellie Hall baked her way into everyone’s hearts at Claverham Castle – even the miserly Lord Henry was won over – and the run-down teashop regained its old sparkle.
Now Ellie has upgraded cupcakes for fairytale masterpieces as the proud caterer for an ever-growing list of weddings at the castle. The teashop team love baking to the tune of happy ever afters, but can they pull together when a certain bridezilla pushes them all to boiling point?
Christmas is just around the corner, and a last minute booking threatens to snow the team under. Ellie and her hunky hubby Joe have their own Christmas dreams to chase, but they’re determined to pull through and give this special couple the winter wonderland wedding they deserve.
Click here to buy now 9780008212674
‘I loved this book. Pure escapism at its best’ Sun
Claire is ready for a bright new chapter. Winding her way to the coast for a cosy cottage retreat, she prays that three weeks of blissful peace and summer sunshine will wash away the pain of the last year.
Claire’s a survivor – she’s growing proud of the scars that prove it – and she’s determined to make the most of each and every day, to seize those little magic moments that give life its sparkle.
Her plan for peaceful solitude goes awry when handsome, brooding Ed turns up in the cottage next door. Will a little summer romance prove the worst distraction? Or might it be the perfect remedy?
Click here to buy now 9780008236267
The snow is falling, the hot chocolate’s warming, and hearts are melting …
Emma is the proud owner of The Chocolate Shop by the Sea, nestled in the heart of the cosy seaside village that’s become her home. With Christmas right around the corner, she and her assistant Holly are busy cooking up the locals’ festive favourites.
From cinnamon hot chocolates to reindeer lollipops, Christmas wouldn’t taste the same without a little cocoa magic. And for Emma it’s the perfect distraction from her romantic pains of the past. So when the shop’s miserly landlord threatens to hike up the rent, Emma’s Christmas and New Year suddenly look a lot less cheerful.
With the whole village rallying behind her – and loyal spaniel Alfie by her side – Emma’s determined to hold onto her chocolate-box dream.
The chocolate calendar countdown is on. Can Emma rescue her business and her broken heart?
Click here to buy now 9780008236298
When Emma opened her gorgeous little chocolate shop in the harbour village of Warkton-by-th
e-Sea, she realised a lifelong dream. Love is also blossoming with her hunky beau, Max, who’s slowly healing her fragile heart.
Summer is here and life has never felt so sweet. Until the rainclouds start to gather …
A rival sweet shop and killjoy landlord give Emma a headache, and when a face from the past turns up unannounced, Emma finds herself spiralling down memory lane. With Max’s crazy work schedule driving him to distraction, Emma’s in danger of making some choices she might regret …
With close friends, spaniel Alfie, and the whole village behind her, can Emma get the chocolate shop and her love life back on track?
Click here to buy now 9780008295554
Brimming with emotion and tension, The Desperate Wife is an unforgettable novel about love, loss, and the impossible choices that life deals us.
His secret tore her world apart …
Kate believed she had it all. A loving husband, two beautiful little girls, and a million happy memories still to collect. Everything was how it should be – a family, together.
But Kate discovers she has been living a lie.
Her husband, Michael, has betrayed her in the most unimaginable way, tearing all love and trust to pieces.
Feeling lost and alone, Kate doesn’t know what to believe anymore. With Michael’s secrets exposed and her marriage hanging by a thread, she fears that life may never be the same again.
Only Kate holds the power to forgive. But what will it take to forget?
*Previously published as The Torn Up Marriage*
Click here to buy now 9780008125387
Summer at Rachel's Pudding Pantry Page 27
