The Chocolate Lovers’ Wedding

by Carole Matthews

Clive and Tristan seem to have got their mojo back since they moved to France and we’ll go over to see them as soon as we can. We could even honeymoon there.

  My parents are still looking loved up and it’s been weeks since they got back together. Though they’re still bickering as if they’ve never been apart. Perhaps this time they’ll make it last. I really hope so, for their sake. As I watch them, I vow that Crush and I will do better than them.

  I don’t want a love like theirs which seems to rely on mutual irritation and drama. I want Crush and I to be the best of friends and, when the passion has faded – as inevitably it will – that we will still adore each other. That our love will deepen into care and respect. That our two lives will grow into one. That being apart will be inconceivable.

  Nadia and James are with Anita and her boys and it reminds me that this isn’t just my wedding, but also her farewell party. That brings a lump to my throat. My emotions are all over the place today. It’s going to be so hard to say goodbye. Our lovely little Chocolate Lovers’ Club will, for the first time since we met, be one founder member down.

  We eat, drink and are very merry. Then Crush and I cut the cake. Someone turns the music up and we have our first dance to Dionne Warwick singing ‘What the World Needs Now’. Love, sweet love. Dionne’s right: it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.

  ‘This has been the most perfect wedding ever,’ I murmur to my husband as he holds me close and we sway together. ‘I couldn’t have planned it better myself.’

  ‘I’m glad you approve.’

  ‘I think I’ll let you plan all our important anniversaries from now on.’

  ‘Sounds good to me.’ He gives me a wink.

  After the first dance, we push all the tables right back and have a good old boogie. My mum and dad are smooching to whatever song is playing. Autumn’s daughter starts off shuffling uncomfortably at the edge of the floor, but a few songs in she’s throwing shapes like the rest of us. Even Autumn’s parents are joining in and I’ve never seen Autumn look so happy.

  Then I realise there’s something that I have to do. I grab my bouquet. ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ I shout. Slightly drunkenly. ‘I have a very important traditional task to perform. The tossing of the bouquet.’

  Someone makes a rude comment.

  ‘But I’m going to give it my own personal twist.’ I raise a hand. ‘Autumn Fielding be upstanding!’

  Autumn shuffles to the front of the group, embarrassed.

  ‘There is only one person here who deserves this bouquet. And it’s you. So here you go. Catch!’

  I launch my bouquet into the air and Autumn reaches up to grab it.

  ‘You’re next,’ I slur, happily.

  ‘Actually, Lucy,’ she looks round and smiles coyly, ‘I’ve already proposed to Miles and he said yes.’

  ‘Hurrah! Another wedding!’ Blimey! Weddings are like buses. First there are none and then they all come along at once!

  Then, all too soon, it’s time to wind the party up. We’ve all but drunk the fizz – a pile of empty bottles gives testimony to that. And we’ve eaten all the cake.

  ‘I haven’t booked us anywhere,’ Crush says. He looks slightly more dishevelled than he did earlier. ‘I just thought we’d go back home.’

  ‘Sounds like bliss. All I want to do is have a cup of tea and take off my shoes.’ I grin at him. ‘And snuggle all night with my husband.’

  ‘I think I can arrange that.’

  Nadia comes over and hugs me. ‘It’s been a wonderful day, Lucy. I’m so going to miss you all.’

  I hold her tightly. ‘We’ll come and visit you as soon as we can.’ Perhaps, as well as France, we can have another honeymoon in the Lake District. Maybe we can have a whole year of honeymoons.

  She lets out a shuddering breath. ‘This is hard.’

  ‘Take good care of her, James, otherwise you’ll have the Chocolate Lovers’ Club to answer to.’

  ‘You have my word,’ he promises.

  ‘This is it, then.’ Chantal and Autumn gather round too and we have a group hug.

  ‘It’s not goodbye,’ I say. ‘I’m not going to entertain that word. It’s hello. Hello to new beginnings.’

  Our lives are changing. A chance meeting, a change of circumstances, a diagnosis of cancer – all of these things can swing us off from what we think is our ordered life plan. Two of us are newly married and there are two more weddings on the cards. Maybe there’ll even be some more Chocolate Lovers’ babies to come. Who knows?

  I find one last bottle of Prosecco and pour us all out a glass. ‘To the Chocolate Lovers’ Club,’ I propose. ‘To love, life and chocolate.’

  We all raise our glasses and drink.

  Whatever happens, this won’t be the end of the Chocolate Lovers’ Club. We might be heading off in different directions but there are strong ties that bind us. We are true friends, and true friendships endure for a lifetime.

  Acknowledgements

  To all the ladies who shared their breast cancer stories with me, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. You are all fabulous survivors. The thing I found most shocking was that everyone’s story was so individual – everyone has their own particular experience and treatment. No wonder this is such an awful disease to crack. I wish you all many, many years of health and happiness.

  Also to Jennifer Earle of Chocolate Ecstasy Tours who has helped me so much with chocolate research over the years that she truly deserves to be an honorary member of the Chocolate Lovers’ Club. If you haven’t tried one of her tours, they’re fab. Put it on your bucket list.

  And to Yvette Hughes who inspired me with our tour of Hampstead Heath and the gorgeous Golders Hill Park. You are a lovely friend.

  www.chocolateecstasytours.com