Wedding Tiers

by Trisha Ashley

  He laughed. ‘You needn’t look guilty—why shouldn’t you eat your own fruit?’

  ‘No reason, I suppose. It’s just that I came out to pick them for the Graces and Dorrie, as a little treat. They haven’t got any at Blessings yet and the only edible thing the Graces have in their garden is rhubarb.’

  ‘There looks to be plenty for everyone. I’ll help you pick them,’ he offered, though I noticed he put more in his own mouth than in the basket, so he obviously loves them as much as I do.

  When we’d finished I thought he would go back in the studio, but instead he said, Any chance of a cup of coffee?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  I washed the raspberry juice off my hands and put the kettle on, then got out the cake tin as well as the biscuits. For a slender man, Noah can certainly put away a bit of food. So can I, come to that, now my appetite is back to being as hearty as it used to be. Just as well I am so busy that I must burn thousands of calories off every day!

  ‘I’ve got something I wanted to discuss with you,’ Noah said, sounding quite serious, and my first thought was that perhaps he’d decided he had enough wedding pictures and was leaving Neatslake or…well, I didn’t know, but he’d got me worried.

  ‘That sounds ominous!’ I said, sitting down opposite him.

  ‘Not really, it’s just that Harry’s been showing me the latest photos of the annexe his daughter’s had built onto her house, in the hope of persuading him to go and live with them in New Zealand.’ He paused. ‘He talks about it a lot.’

  ‘Does he?’ I said, surprised. ‘He’s hardly mentioned it to me for ages.’

  ‘He showed me some photographs he took when he went out there for three months too. He seemed to really like it.’

  ‘Yes, he did, but he said he was glad to come back and that he doesn’t want to leave his friends or his home, and spend his last years so far away.’

  ‘Doesn’t he?’ Noah looked steadily at me, one dark eyebrow raised.

  ‘What?’ I demanded. ‘He doesn’t! He told me so!’

  ‘But perhaps he was just saying that because he was worried about leaving you alone.’

  ‘No, because I asked him that myself, and I said that if he changed his mind, he mustn’t think about how I would manage without him, because I would be fine.’

  ‘You may have told him that, but I don’t really think he believed you. And although at first he resisted the idea of making such an enormous change to his life, he’s been slowly coming round to the idea. But once Ben deserted you, he didn’t feel that he could too.’

  ‘But it wouldn’t be deserting me—and I don’t see why he told you and not me,’ I said indignantly. ‘Admittedly, I might have been a bit clingy after throwing Ben out, because it felt like Harry was the only person I had left who really loved me—but not now.’

  ‘Well, that’s OK then, because I’ve told him I’ll keep an eye on you if he goes, so he needn’t worry.’

  ‘You!’ I stared at him, and he looked very seriously back at me.

  ‘Yes, me! I’ve fallen in love with Neatslake and I’m going to buy a cottage here—Harry’s cottage, in fact.’

  I think my mouth was hanging open with surprise, and I was feeling a bit cross too! How dare Harry arrange all this behind my back?

  ‘You mean, you will be my next-door neighbour?’

  ‘Lock, stock and hen coop,’ he agreed.

  ‘Neatslake isn’t really holiday cottage territory,’ I pointed out.

  ‘That’s all right, I’m not looking for one of those. Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but lately I’ve been packing all my London commissions into segments of a few days every couple of weeks, so I can spend more time here. But I won’t buy Harry’s cottage if you actually hate the idea of me living next door, Josie.’

  I looked away. ‘I—well, no, I don’t suppose I will hate it…’ I conceded.

  ‘Good. And you know, once I’ve moved in, Libby and Tim could let Pia have the gatehouse for a bit of independence. She and Libby are getting on much better now Pia’s helping out with the receptions, but there’s still a bit of friction. I suppose it’s inevitable, really.’

  ‘I can see you’ve got everything all worked out,’ I said slightly sourly, feeling outmanoeuvred and ruffled, but then I had a thought. ‘What about Mac?’

  ‘Harry’s daughter’s even offered to pay for him to go out there too, which helped Harry make his mind up.’

  ‘They are very attached, though I would have had Mac with me, if Harry had wanted to leave him.’ I sat back and looked at Noah, who was unconcernedly eating cake as if he hadn’t just reorganised my life into a whole new pattern: out with the last of the old, and in with the disturbingly new.

  But I think I must be finally growing out of my fear of change, because I didn’t feel half as upset about it as I thought I would. There was none of that feeling that I was standing on quicksand at all. OK, so the grass under my feet was a different kind from the usual Neatslake turf, but at least it wasn’t quivering.

  As soon as Noah had left, I went next door to talk it over with Harry.

  ‘You should have told me when you changed your mind, Harry,’ I said. ‘I really don’t mind—though of course I’ll miss you dreadfully.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have gone and left you alone, lass. But now Noah’s going to take care of you, you’ll be fine.’

  ‘He is not going to take care of me. I can take care of myself,’ I protested, and he grinned.

  He has old-fashioned ideas sometimes and obviously felt I needed a man to keep an eye on me.

  And come to think of it, Noah tended to butt in and take over when he found me doing anything strenuous in the garden, as if I were some fragile little flower, so perhaps he did too.

  It was the exact opposite of how Ben treated me. He liked to be warm, comfortable and well fed, but he was so wrapped up in his painting that he didn’t seem to notice what hard work it was for me to keep things the way he liked them.

  Noah was different. He was serious about his photography, goodness knows, but not to the extent where people come second.

  ‘What really made you change your mind about going to New Zealand, Harry?’ I asked.

  He looked guilelessly at me, from under his hat brim. ‘One day I thought: I wouldn’t want to get to ninety and find myself wishing I’d gone out to New Zealand when I was only eighty-two, and young enough to make a new life for myself’.

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Family Matters

  Forrest Gump might have thought life was like a box of chocolates, but mine is more like a compost heap, with ever newer and stranger layers being added…

  ‘Cakes and Ale’

  Luckily there was no wedding reception at Blessings that day, because I was dying to discuss Noah’s bombshell with Libby. But as it happened, I met her halfway down the drive heading towards my house on the same mission…Well, same mission, but different news.

  ‘Josie—thank goodness! I’ve got something I want to tell you,’ she exclaimed, grabbing my arm. ‘Let’s go to the gazebo—Dorrie’s in the rose garden.’

  ‘I’ve got something to tell you too,’ I said, then with foreboding noticed the strangest of expressions on her face. ‘You first,’ I added hollowly when we got there.

  ‘Oh, Josie, I’m pregnant!’ she said, her face glowing. ‘I’ve only told Tim so far—and he’s delighted, of course, even if we didn’t intend it to happen so soon.’

  I stared at her aghast, which was not quite the reaction she was expecting.

  ‘What’s the matter, aren’t you pleased for me?’ she demanded.

  I recovered and gave her a hug. ‘Of course, I was just stunned, that’s all! It’s—great, absolutely great.’

  She hugged me back. ‘I know how you’re feeling: pleased for me, but wishing you could have a baby too. But you can share mine! In fact, I intend unloading my offspring on you at every possible opportunity once the novelty has worn off’.

 
‘If I can get it away from Gina. She’s going to be ecstatic,’ I said, summoning up a suitable smile—or I hoped it was suitable. ‘Of course I’m pleased about it, if you are—but right in the middle of your first wedding season, Libby! How are you going to manage?’

  ‘I don’t suppose it will make any difference,’ she said optimistically. ‘I’m only just pregnant and even by the end of the season it will probably barely show. I don’t see why it should slow me down, either. You know, I probably couldn’t have timed it better if I’d tried, because I’ll have had it well before the start of the next wedding season, especially since we’re opening in May next year.’

  ‘I hadn’t thought of that. You’re right,’ I agreed, only half-aware of what I was saying.

  ‘And if I do get morning sickness, or something—which heaven forbid!—then I have you to help me and Pia…’ She paused, looking worried. ‘I’ll have to tell her about the baby soon, though I don’t know how she’s going to take the news.’

  ‘I should think she’ll be fine about it,’ I said, getting a grip on my wandering (and slightly appalled) thoughts. ‘She’s so madly in love with Jasper, she’ll probably barely notice! But I do think you ought to try to take life a bit easier now, for the first three months at least.’

  ‘That’s what Tim said, but I’m fit and healthy and I don’t see why I shouldn’t stay that way, so I’m not about to wrap myself up in cotton wool for the duration. And I’m not going to have any tests done either, other than the usual scans, because I want this baby, no matter what.’

  ‘It’ll be fine, you’ll see,’ I reassured her—or maybe that should be myself—and when she asked me for my news, I managed to chat away about Harry, New Zealand, and Noah moving in next door, as if it was the only thing on my mind.

  ‘I feel the pair of them have been conspiring together behind my back!’ I said indignantly. ‘You’d think Harry would have told me, rather than a comparative stranger, that he’d changed his mind.’

  ‘He probably didn’t know how you would take it, Josie,’ she said, then added enthusiastically, ‘and that’s a great idea of Noah’s about letting Pia have the gatehouse.’

  ‘Yes, he’s full of brilliant ideas.’

  ‘Cheer up, Josie. It’ll turn out fine, you’ll see. Neatslake may not be the most obvious place for a second home, but Noah’s been mentally moving in for months, and he’s certainly got his feet under your table. No wonder Ben started getting second thoughts about whether you two had a thing going.’

  ‘I don’t think he did get second thoughts, really—and even if he did, he wouldn’t find any evidence of it when he snooped around the cottage because we haven’t got a thing going,’ I said. ‘Noah only fancies me when he’s had a couple of drinks too many, and that’s only because I’m the nearest female, or he’s feeling sorry for me.’

  ‘I think you must be suffering from low self-esteem,’ she said, looking at me critically.

  Libby went off to spread the glad tidings of great joy, and I went straight home and phoned Libby’s sister, Daisy, though since her line was engaged I had to drum my fingers for ten minutes before I could speak to her.

  ‘Daisy, Libby’s pregnant!’ I blurted out without any preamble.

  ‘Yes, I know. She just phoned me,’ she replied, sounding slightly surprised.

  ‘I don’t know how you can sound so calm, then. I really think we’ll have to tell her about Gloria and Tim’s father now. We can’t keep it secret any longer.’

  There was a pause. ‘Well, I don’t really see why, but you obviously feel strongly about it, Josie, and you’re her oldest friend…So OK, I’ll call Libby and say I’m coming up for a couple of days and then we’ll tell her together. I’ll book Mum into the Pines for a little drying-out session. I’m not trusting her here on her own.’

  ‘Perhaps you should tell Libby by yourself?’ I suggested. ‘It is a family thing, after all.’

  ‘Oh, no, if you’re not there, I don’t think I can do it,’ she insisted. ‘I mean, I don’t really know Tim at all yet and I don’t know how he’ll take it, so I need backup. Anyway, it’s your idea!’

  So in the end I had to agree, however reluctantly.

  After the call I stood gazing into space for a few minutes, wishing this was all some nightmare, but then a slight movement drew my attention and I saw that Noah was standing in the doorway, his blue and white striped mug in one hand.

  ‘I’ve run out of milk,’ he said mildly. ‘I thought I could cadge some. And no good fairy tripped down to the studio with something good to eat today, either.’

  ‘Sorry,’ I said, ‘I—I forgot.’

  ‘Yes, well, obviously you’ve got something else on your mind,’ he agreed. ‘I couldn’t help overhearing some of what you were saying. I take it Libby’s expecting?’

  ‘Yes. I’m sure she would have told you herself later.’

  ‘And that was her sister, Daisy, you were talking to?’

  I nodded.

  ‘And far from being delighted about Libby’s news, you’re so worried about it that Daisy has to drive all the way up here tomorrow in order to tell her sister—what, exactly? Is there some big secret you’re going to hit Libby with?’

  All at once I felt my defences crumbling. It would be such a huge relief to share my worries with someone else—someone other than the horribly sanguine Daisy!

  Oh, Noah, when Gloria got drunk at Libby’s reception, something she said made me think she’d had an affair with Tim’s father! He was a bit of a womaniser, according to local gossip.’

  He knitted his dark brows. ‘Well, that’s not a crime, is it? Unless…Oh, do please tell me I’m wrong, and you aren’t harbouring the mad idea that Tim and Libby share the same father?’ he demanded, staring at me incredulously.

  ‘I thought it was a mad idea at first too,’ I said defensively, ‘but then I rang Gloria and asked her, and although she didn’t come right out and say so, she inferred it. And even then I couldn’t bring myself to believe it, so I asked Daisy too, and she said she knew all about it, but didn’t think Libby needed to know! She just doesn’t seem to feel the way she should about it—but then, neither does Gloria.’

  He frowned. ‘I don’t think anyone could think a thing like that wasn’t important. There’s something wrong here, Josie.’

  ‘You don’t really know Gloria—and Daisy is obviously more of a chip off the old block than I realised! I wonder if there’s insanity in the family?’

  ‘The only insanity seems to be yours,’ he said, though I couldn’t blame him for not believing me, because I’d been in denial myself for months.

  ‘I still think you’ve got it wrong, Josie.’

  ‘No, unfortunately I haven’t. Daisy’s driving up in the morning—there’s no reception tomorrow, thank goodness—so we can tell Libby and Tim then, together. Weren’t you going back to London tonight, for—’

  ‘I’m not going anywhere,’ he stated. ‘Not until this has been cleared up!’

  I didn’t see how it could be—it wasn’t something you could simply sweep under the carpet—but there was nothing else to do until Daisy arrived the following day, and summoned me to Blessings.

  I hardly slept all night and was on tenterhooks until she called.

  ‘Can you come up now, Josie?’ she said, sounding strained, which was not surprising given what she was about to do. ‘I’ve told Tim and Libby there’s something we need to tell them, so we’re just waiting for you. We’re in the Great Chamber. Libby says to come straight round.’

  When I got there, Libby and Tim were looking slightly puzzled, and Noah, sardonic.

  ‘I don’t know what you’re doing here,’ I said to him, but he just smiled sardonically and didn’t show any sign of taking the hint and going away.

  ‘Have a ringside seat,’ Libby said gaily, not looking a bit concerned. ‘Daisy’s about to reveal some serious news, but she didn’t want to do it without my oldest friend present—probably because she’s going
to announce she’s about to get married again and foist Mum back onto me, and knows I’ll kill her if she does.’

  ‘Actually, it’s nothing like that, Libby. This is something really serious,’ I told her, and she looked enquiringly from me to Daisy.

  ‘I can’t imagine what’s the matter with you two. You look like a pair of conspirators! So come on, out with it!’

  ‘This is all Josie’s idea. I’d have carried on keeping it a secret otherwise,’ Daisy said, giving me an unloving glance and shifting uncomfortably.

  ‘But you can’t keep it secret any more, you must see that? They need to know,’ I said. ‘In fact, they should have known before the wedding.’

  Daisy sighed. ‘Oh, well, here goes: Libby, Mum had an affair with Tim’s father years ago—well, more a bit of a fling really, you know what she was like. Tim, your father put it about a bit too.’

  Tim nodded. ‘I’m afraid so.’

  ‘Well, thanks for sharing that unsavoury little family link, Daisy,’ Libby said drily, ‘but I think I could have lived without the knowledge.’

  ‘There’s more,’ Daisy confessed. ‘Mum got pregnant by him—and I’m the result.’

  ‘Oh my God!’ gasped Libby.

  Tim wrinkled his forehead. ‘You mean, you’re my sister?’

  ‘Half-sister.’

  I gulped, hard, then said incredulously, ‘But you told me he was Libby’s father!’

  Daisy stared at me as if I’d run mad. ‘I never did. Her dad was a commercial traveller Mum met down at the Griffin. She told me so—and she hadn’t been seeing anyone else at the time. After she fell pregnant with me, Tim’s dad did help support her financially, but they didn’t…you know…carry on any more.’

  ‘Told you so,’ Noah said to me smugly. ‘I knew there must be a rational explanation.’

  Libby looked quite gobsmacked. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ she said to Daisy, and then she turned on me. ‘And why didn’t you tell me what you suspected? I could have sorted it out months ago.’