by Dani Lovell
“Okay, well what I think I need right now, is to sit out on the balcony in the morning sun, with you and a cup of tea.”
“Done.”
We move from the bedroom into the lounge area of the suite and open the shutters and balcony doors. The view is exactly the same and as breath-taking as ever. The memories come flooding back to me of our first visit here when Daniel and I met.
When we were looking at wedding venues, ‘Shutters on the Beach’ was always going to be a huge contender, and of course, with our memories of this place, it won hands down.
When we came here on that first trip, I was so torn, I had fallen madly in love with Daniel, but felt like a relationship was impossible, so we both felt it was so apt to come back her for our wedding, to remember how wonderful it felt to sit together and fall in love, but this time, to be able to know we can stay together forever.
Everything about the venue was exactly what we wanted. Not too much, a perfect size for the small wedding we wanted but with fantastic facilities for the large and extravagant evening reception. All of that with our own personal attachment to the place was enough to seal the deal. Oh, and it was available of course. Thank God.
Til and I sit together looking out into the early morning mist over the sea. It couldn’t be more perfect. Below us, on the promenade, morning walkers, joggers and roller blade enthusiasts quietly go about their business.
I reach towards the coffee table for my phone and begin to respond to Daniel.
~
Today 8:56
Good morning, darling. I hope you’re having a lovely start to the day with the boys and little Emily. I missed you, too, and I’m soooo looking forward to sharing this bed with you tonight. You’ll be so handsome, later; I’m going to feel so lucky to be walking down the aisle towards you. I can’t wait to be your wife. See you soon, darling. I LOVE YOU xxxxx
Delivered
~
“Do we have a bride anywhere?” My mum’s voice sings out to us from the doorway of the suite.
“We’re out here,” Tilly calls, softly, and within a couple of seconds, she comes into view holding a precious, tiny baby.
“Mummy,” I smile, standing to kiss her.
“Good morning, sweetheart, how are you?”
“I’m great, thank you.”
“I brought you one of your favourite nephews for a little wedding morning cuddle.”
“Aw, thank you.” I sit back down and put my tea on the table so that Mum can pass me the gorgeous bundle. “Remind me which one this is again?” I whisper with a guilty look on my face, and Tilly bursts out laughing.
“Can’t you tell yet?”
“No! Should I be able to? Is that really bad?” I ask, feeling like the worst auntie of all time.
“To be honest, darling, it takes me a while to know who I’m looking at, too. This is our precious little Max, but they’re both so identical – I don’t know how Oliver and Clare do it,” my mum says quietly, amusing me.
“You don’t know either, Emily? You’ve practically lived with them since they were born!”
“I know dear, I hope it’ll become more obvious as they get older! Clare has promised to start putting Max in navy socks for me.”
“He can’t be wearing navy socks for the rest of his life!” Tilly laughs.
“Well, can you tell them apart?” I ask.
“That’s not the point; they’re not my nephews or grandchildren.”
My mum and I laugh together. “They’re as good as your nephews and you know it,” Mums says.
“Alright, alright – they both look like the exact same child to me, too, and okay – yes – the navy socks will help me out, too.”
“Isn’t Alexia here yet?” Mum asks.
“No, she and Seb are going to spend some time with Daniel and the groomsmen this morning so she’ll be joining us here in a couple of hours.”
“Oh splendid. That’ll work perfectly. Daddy said he won’t bother us until everybody is ready, and then he’ll come to share a glass of bubbly with his little girl before we head downstairs.”
“Yes, thanks Mum, he said yesterday.”
“Oh, I know, I’m just all in a faff, I want to make sure everything is perfect for you.”
I take hold of her hand, gratefully. “Mum, everything is perfect. Don’t worry about anything. And thank you, for everything.”
“Oh don’t, you’ll have me all weepy, and look at you, cool as a cucumber! Anyone would think it’s me getting married today!”
We coo over Max as Mum makes herself a cup of tea to settle her nerves, and within a few minutes, Clare joins us with Henry.
“Does it matter that I’m walking around the hotel in a dressing gown?” she asks as she steps into the suite cradling the baby, letting the door close behind them.
“Of course not!” Tilly cries, “Now get out here and give me that child, I’m feeling left out.”
Clare does as she’s told and as she passes her baby to Tilly, kisses the cheek Tilly offers. “Good morning, darling, how are you?” Tilly asks.
“A little tired but I’m okay, how are you both?”
“We’re all the better for having these little squijums in our arms.” I respond, stroking Max’s soft little head.
“Squijums?” Clare laughs.
“Squijums.”
~~~~~~~
Our pre-arranged breakfast arrives as expected around half an hour later, and the babies are swaddled and asleep in a cosy corner on the carpeted floor, cushioned with blankets and pillows as we eat around the table.
Clare worried that having the babies here mightn’t be what I’d want considering Tilly had left Emily with Luke, but of course it’s what we want – she can’t leave her babies when they’re so young and there’s no way she’s not joining me on the morning of my wedding. Her babies, my nephews, are part of the package.
Tilly thought it was better to leave Emily with Luke because she’s that much older; she’s into everything and along with the twins, thought it’d be too much like a crèche for me this morning.
She also wanted to enjoy the morning to get ready with me and helping out with the twins, without having to run around after her one year old, so she left that duty to Daddy and he’s so wonderful with her that I know Tilly won’t be worrying at all. Every time I see that man with his little girl my heart melts, his love for her is as openly obvious as his love for Tilly. He’s a smitten kitten.
“Oh my God,” Clare says as she leans back in her chair, rubbing her stomach. “That was delicious and I ate far too much, I hope I’ll fit into my dress after all of that!”
“Oh don’t be so fucking ridiculous,” Tilly spurts. “Your babies are a month old, your twins Clare, and you look like a frigging super model.”
“I really don’t but thanks, Til.”
“Yes you do – I still have the jelly belly now and it’s a year on!”
“Both of you be quiet, Tilly – jelly belly is something that could never be spoken about in connection to you, and Clare – you really are abnormal and no, breakfast hasn’t suddenly made you put on two stone. I want to hear no more of this talk from you two skinny mums, okay? We’ll be booking you in for surgery the way you two are talking.”
“Ooh, you know – I wouldn’t be so adverse to a little tweak here and there, I mean I’m not saying I want a tummy tuck or anything but I…”
“Oh God, don’t tell me you’re gonna have your labs cut off?” Tilly interrupts, judgmentally.
“What?” Clare cries, “My labs?”
“Yeah, your labia, your flaps, beef curtains…”
“Ew! No!” Clare whines in disapproval. “My… labs are just dandy as they are, thanks very much.”
“Well good, maybe when they’re sweeping the floor you’ll reconsider but until that time…”
“Tilly!” Clare shouts as I wipe tears of laughter from my cheeks and watch my mum’s cheekily amused face. I know the term ‘beef curtains’ will have s
ecretly tickled her.
“Just saying… you did have twins…”
Clare pauses before giggling alongside me and my mother. “I meant I’d consider a boob job should these jubblies deflate, I know it happens after kids sometimes. I was not talking about my vagina, I’m perfectly happy with that, thank you. Should I suddenly need a hammock to keep it from floor tiles; I’ll come to you for a good surgeon…” She winks cheekily at Tilly before finishing her tea, and Tilly simply responds with an amused raise of the eyebrow.
“Okay girls, enough vagina talk,” my mum says, to Tilly’s delight, “let’s start ‘doing’.”
“I’ll just hop in the shower then, if that’s alright with everyone else?” I ask, standing, dropping my napkin onto my seat and stepping away from the table.
“Bea, love – it’s your day. We work around you. Of course it’s alright! Go.” Clare says, lovingly, walking over to her children and looking down at their sleeping faces.
“They’re okay there, too, Clare,” Tilly says, “you go and have your shower while they’re asleep. I’ll stay here and look after them.”
“I’ll be here, too,” Mum says, so Clare appreciatively nods, heading off to her room.
“See you in a little while!”
~~~~~~~
“Just beautiful. Absolutely beautiful!” My mum whimpers into her tissue as Tilly fastens the waistband belted part of my dress at the back.
“You look stunning, Bea,” Clare adds, slipping her arm around my mum’s shoulders.
I walk over to the mirror to look at the dress that I chose all those months ago with Alexia and Tilly, and it’s so much more, today, than it has ever been.
The moment I stepped into this incredible gown today, I felt my life changing. When I step back out of it later with the help of Daniel, I’ll be his wife. His wife! I’ve known for a long time that we would be together forever, but this day signifies it, it tells the world that there isn’t another living soul for me, or Daniel. And this gown? This is where that starts, today.
This moment is one I’ll treasure for eternity – my lovely mum, my stunning bridesmaids and best friends, and the most important dress I’ll ever wear. It has been an entirely memorable and perfect morning, and only this afternoon and evening will top it, when my Daniel completes it.
Stepping into the lounge, the make-up artist, hairstylist and team of planners wait to check the look out before they leave, and even they gasp when they see my perfect gown.
Tilly, Clare and Alexia look outstandingly beautiful in their fitted, strapless dresses. The long, floaty fabric of the skirt accentuates their stunning figures perfectly; even Clare who only had twins a month ago looks as slim as she ever has. Each dress matches in style, but has it’s own, soft and very subtle pastel colour, just like my Cakery.
The bridesmaids have pretty ivory posies and my bridal bouquet is beautiful selection of pastel roses to match the bridesmaids and the day. It’s sitting waiting for me in a huge box in the corner of the living room, along with the posies, Dad’s buttonhole and Mum’s pinned corsage.
We have a little under an hour until we need to move, so we’re all ready with plenty of time to spare. My veil and shoes have been set out on my bed by Clare, ready to slip on when the time comes. Her lovely little boys are sleeping as always, comfortably in their car seat carriers on the bedroom floor, wearing soft powder blue baby-grows. I’m so glad that she didn’t feel any pressure to put such tiny little creatures in fancy clothes. I’d much rather see them cosy and snug in soft cotton.
Oliver is coming up to collect them once everything downstairs is ready and it’s time for me to come down.
“Right! Who’d like a glass of champagne?” The planner asks as the stylists leave for downstairs, where they’ll stay, on call, for the rest of the day.
“I would absolutely love one,” I respond gratefully. “Mum, is Dad ready? He should join us.”
“I’ll pop over and get him. Won’t be two ticks,” she says as she scurries away, disappearing into the suite hallway area, her adrenaline pumping. “Ooh!” I hear her squeal as she opens the door and obviously bumps into someone. It can’t possibly be Oliver, it’s much too early. I instantly still, Tilly jumping in front of me to prevent any of the groom’s party potentially seeing me. “Darling!” Mum yells, “There’s… er… someone here for you.”
“Are they allowed to see me?” I shout out.
“I don’t really see why not… whoever you are, you’re allowed to see the bride, aren’t you?” I hear her ask. “Okay, in you come.”
I smile, wondering what on earth is going on when I see a huge cupcake with legs and arms walk into the lounge and stand before me holding a plate of doughnuts. Within a couple of seconds, music begins to blare from this delightful character and instantly I realise that this is a present from Daniel. Only he would send me a life-size cupcake, dancing to ‘Marry You’ by Bruno Mars.
It wiggles its way over to me, handing Tilly the doughnuts before dancing with each of us individually as we all howl with laughter. Goose bumps cover my skin and tears fill my eyes as I watch and listen to the fun-filled, meaningful words of the song. This cupcake, considering its size and dimensions, can dance!
This was such an unexpected surprise and an amazingly fun thing to experience with my best friends on this most memorable of days. I’m marrying an impossibly perfect man and I couldn’t be happier.
Tilly is crying with laughter, as is Clare, my mum, Alexia – hell we’re all crying with laughter, and with excitement and sentiment and joy.
Half way through the song, ‘Cake’ magically produces two huge handfuls of red and white rose petals, throwing them up into the air so that they float magnificently down to the floor around us all. It takes each of our hands, one at a time and brings them to its cakey mouth to kiss.
Dad walks in amongst the dancing, musical, floral chaos and smiles delightedly at the scene before him. I still notice how handsome he looks in his suit, the emotion of seeing me clear in his eyes. He wells up and turns when he sees me watching, waving his hand to dismiss his sentimentality of seeing me in my gown.
Mum walks straight to him and takes his face hard in her hands, kissing his cheek and brushing his neck with her fingertips. They look one another in the eye and smile wholly, sharing a closeness that only they know. It’s like I’m getting a glimpse at what life and love should be like when you’re older, and I’m watching it, whilst listening to this enchanting, enlivening song, sent to me by the man who’ll make my future.
I’m brought back to the craziness of the rest of the room, dabbing a tissue under my eye to protect my newly applied make-up, when the cupcake takes the tissue from me and grabs both of my hands, holding them together, kissing them again as the song comes to an end.
It then moves quickly to the middle of the room, holds its arms out to bow, and then wiggles its bottom as it runs through the suite and out of the door.
My mum claps and laughs, along with the girls as the room becomes, once again,
a calm bridal suite. “How utterly fantastic!”
“That was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!” Clare shouts. “Did you know about this Lex?”
“Not at all! It was a complete surprise to me! Well done to Daniel!”
“Definitely, I loved that! What a way to suppress nerves… if I had any. That is why I am marrying him. That is why I love him.”
“It’s a good job you weren’t running late, Bea!” Lex says, laughing.
“Ah,” Til joins in, “he’d have known ‘Little Miss Organisational Skills’ would have been on the ball and ready well in advance. I’m starting to think there’s a chance she could be getting even worse than you, Lex!”
“Hey!” Alexia cries, wounded. “I’m not that bad!”
“Hey!” I cry in response. “Neither am I!”
“He thinks of everything, your favourite petals, the song, doughnuts…” Tilly adds with a cheeky wink and I giggle at the naughtiness o
f what they represent, loving that we have both thought of surprising each other with one half of our favourite sexy snack.
“Yes,” Mum adds, “how thoughtful of him to think you might be hungry at this time. What a lovely chap.”
Nobody has the heart to let her in on what the token means, and nor do I want to. So we all nod and agree, keeping quiet, appropriately.
“Well I’m definitely hungry,” Tilly says, swiping a doughnut and munching down on it immediately. “Getting pretty takes it out of you,” she mumbles through the soft sponge.
“Ooh me too, I’m allowed, aren’t I?” Clare asks. “I don’t want to get anything on my dress!”
“So don’t get any on your dress!” Tilly says, handing her the plate.
The girls munch on their sweet treats while Mum and Dad tend to the twins in the bedroom and Alexia fixes her earrings in the mirror. I take a few excited deep breaths and I look at three of the most loyal, dear friends a person could have, and feel a huge, overwhelming wave of contentment wash through me.
Since I met Daniel, a little under two years ago, so much has happened for all of us. Of course, firstly - there was Tilly, my brilliantly hilarious and ridiculously to-the-point firecracker of a best friend.
I adored how we met Daniel and Luke together, and that she enjoyed Luke’s company so much while I was off cavorting with Daniel. She didn’t think it would last, of course, but there was always something different about her when she was around him. There was something different about her altogether from the moment she met him.
They had a particularly electric spark, a magnetic attraction that looked on the outside, to be far too strong to abandon. Little did she know as she pumped his head full of crap about her being a ‘physical-relationship-only’ commitaphobe, that he desperately didn’t want to let her go.
And it seems his little swimmers felt the same way, depositing a runaway right where it needed to be, at the right time.
