Appleby Farm

by Cathy Bramley

  ‘That’s a big sigh.’ Mum’s eyes searched mine, full of concern.

  Since we’d got closer, I’d told her about Charlie and how I’d thought at one time that he could be The One. However, I hadn’t mentioned my feelings for Harry because she had a habit of going all girlie when he was around and I suspected she wouldn’t be above a bit of well-intended match-making if she thought that would help. But now, in the quiet of the kitchen, just the two of us awake in the world, I had a sudden urge to tell all.

  ‘I miss being half of a couple, Mum.’

  She put her arms around me and pulled me to her side. ‘Oh, Freya, you’ll find the right man one day, I’m sure.’

  ‘The thing is, I’ve got a major crush on Harry. But it’s unrequited.’ I shrugged helplessly. ‘We’re friends, which is lovely, but I want us to be more than that.’

  ‘Oh, darling, I don’t think it’s unrequited.’ Mum chuckled softly. ‘I’ve watched him when you enter the room. He’s like a brighter version of himself when you’re around.’

  I frowned. ‘Really? Then why doesn’t he say something or do something? I’ve given him loads of chances …’ I giggled. ‘That sounds like I’ve been virtually throwing myself at him at every opportunity.’

  ‘You two have grown up together. Perhaps he’s being cautious because there’s so much at stake. You know, shared history.’

  ‘But whatever happens we’d still have that.’

  ‘Yes, but would you still have your friendship?’

  I opened my mouth but my answer was cut short by the sound of a truck pulling into the yard. The caterers had arrived.

  ‘Goodness,’ said Mum, ‘they’re early!’

  ‘Aidan suggested that as so many of us are staying here, they might as well arrive early and cook us all bacon sandwiches.’

  Four people still cocooned in sleeping bags sat up immediately.

  Phil, Aidan’s best man, yawned and scratched his chin. ‘Did someone mention bacon?’

  At noon the church bells were chiming joyfully and a low sun was making the frosty churchyard sparkle. Everything had gone to plan – even the snow showers had held off this morning – and I was brimming with relief and excitement. I opened the church doors, breathless from all the running around, and looked for Lizzie. A hush had already descended on the surprisingly large congregation as I slipped into my seat at the back of the little church beside her and Ross.

  ‘Tilly’s arrived,’ I whispered to her. ‘You’ve done amazing things to her hair. She looks like a 1940s starlet.’

  Lizzie flicked her hair over her shoulder and beamed. ‘Thanks. Doesn’t the church look pretty?’

  I nodded.

  The end of every pew was adorned with bunches of holly, mistletoe and ivy, tied with hessian ribbon. A plump Christmas tree festooned with children’s hand-made decorations stood to one side of the altar and a beautiful wooden nativity scene to the other. Aidan, in the centre, looking handsome in a pale-grey suit, glanced over his shoulder every few seconds to catch a glimpse of his bride.

  ‘And packed!’ I exclaimed. ‘I think the whole of Lovedale has turned up!’

  Somewhere above us a pianist started to play a beautiful, magical piece of music. A few bars in, the double doors were opened by invisible hands and Tilly appeared on the arm of her mum. The sight of that alone had me blinking back the tears. Her dad had died years ago, I’d been told.

  ‘Oh, bless,’ breathed Lizzie.

  ‘I know,’ I whispered back hoarsely, sending up a silent prayer of thanks for having such a healthy dad of my own.

  I’d assumed that as I was here in some sort of official capacity I would be too busy to get all emotional. Stupid, stupid me. I pressed a finger under each eye and hoped my mascara wasn’t making them completely panda-like.

  The congregation turned and smiled as one as Tilly, swathed in a bias-cut cream satin dress and faux-fur shrug, glided majestically past with her mum. I spotted Charlie for the first time, pressed up close to Anna halfway up the church on the opposite side. They caught my eye and waved in unison. Charlie had had a late shift yesterday and so they’d driven up this morning with Gemma’s husband, Mike, and I couldn’t wait to catch up with them. I’d been a bit apprehensive about what it would be like to actually see them together for the first time. But now I realized as I waved back that I was OK. Everyone deserved to be happy, everyone deserved a special someone.

  ‘What is this music?’ I whispered, gruffly to Lizzie. ‘It’s breaking my heart!’

  She tapped the order of service and I followed her finger.

  ‘“A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” from Cinderella,’ I read. Blimey, how lovely was that!

  Gemma appeared next, looking stunning in cappuccino lace. ‘OMG! Fairytale dot com!’ she squeaked as she smiled and waved her way up the aisle.

  ‘I want to get married here,’ I heard Lizzie whisper to Ross.

  I sniggered softly to myself. So much for the subtle hints.

  The vicar, a middle-aged lady with short grey hair, chunky black glasses and pillar-box-red lipstick, welcomed everyone to the Lake District and launched into the service. Before long we’d reached the important bit.

  ‘And now, Tilly and Aidan, I invite you to make your solemn vows to each other,’ announced the vicar.

  She took a step backwards towards the altar and Aidan and Tilly turned to face each other, both grinning wildly.

  The silence was deafening as Aidan took Tilly’s hands in his and spoke straight from the heart.

  ‘I, Aidan, am honoured to take you, Tilly, to be my wife. From the moment I first saw you, you captured my heart. Your beauty, your soul and your loving heart fill me with joy and inspire me to be the best that I can be. This day, before our friends and family, I give you all that I am, all that I have. I promise to love you and cherish you for the rest of our lives. And that is my solemn vow.’

  Even from the back of the church I could see the tears sparkling in Tilly’s eyes. She took a few deep breaths and then gazed at him adoringly.

  ‘I, Tilly, take you, my darling Aidan, to be my husband. Because of you I love, I laugh, I dream again. You are my silver lining, the sunshine in my day, and the bright stars in my sky. In this new journey of marriage, I promise to be beside you every step of the way. Your dreams are mine and I will love you for eternity. And that is my solemn vow.’

  Not a single dry eye in the house.

  ‘Tissue?’ asked Lizzie, handing me the packet.

  ‘Thanks,’ I gulped.

  Tilly and Aidan were declared husband and wife and, to rapturous applause, he not only kissed her but swung her round in the air. Impossible not to cry, absolutely impossible.

  The service seemed to be over in a flash. Suddenly the church bells were ringing again and Aidan and Tilly, arms around each other’s waists, were waving and blowing kisses as they skipped back down the aisle.

  My next job was to get back to the farm and get the mulled wine and hot fruit punch ready for when the bridal party arrived.

  As soon as I could, I zigzagged my way through the crowd and out of the church. It was snowing lightly and the cold air made me shiver as it touched my skin. My stomach flipped with happiness; this had to be the most romantic setting for a wedding ever. I ran down the path to where I knew the horse and carriage would be waiting with the driver.

  And there he was. Harry. My poor heart skipped a beat. Dressed appropriately for the occasion in a tweed jacket, collarless shirt, braces and moleskin trousers, he looked amazing. His eyes widened when he saw me and he jumped down from the carriage and dropped a kiss on my cheek.

  I’d persuaded him to let us repaint his sister’s old carriage white and my mum had recovered the seat in red velvet. It was on permanent loan to us for all future weddings. I’d also twisted his arm into being chauffeur for the day.

  ‘Hey,’ I said, unable to keep the pleasure at seeing him out of my voice. ‘Don’t you look the part!’

  ‘What of
– village idiot?’ He rolled his eyes. ‘You didn’t tell me that I’d have to dress up.’

  ‘Sorry, did I forget to mention that?’ I said, feigning innocence.

  ‘I’m only joking.’ He grinned. ‘Mind you, I’m glad I put my dad’s old thermal underwear on.’

  ‘Don’t blame you,’ I said, trying to bat away the mental image of Harry in his undies. I wrapped my arms round myself. ‘I could do with some extra warmth myself.’

  ‘You look beautiful, Freya, almost as radiant as the bride.’

  ‘Me? Get away.’ I pressed a hand surreptitiously to my face in case by ‘radiant’ he actually meant red.

  I’d opted for a long-sleeved vintage tea dress printed with tiny green flowers and teamed it with an emerald green wool coat and tan leather boots – dressy but practical enough for me to run around organizing things in.

  ‘I’m delighted with the carriage. Thanks so much, Harry.’

  Lizzie and I had spent a good part of yesterday decorating it. We’d used miles of white satin ribbon, millions of ivy fronds, hundreds of sprigs of mistletoe plundered from the orchard and piled some thick woollen blankets into the carriage for the happy couple to snuggle under on the journey to the farm. Even if I said so myself, it looked stunning.

  ‘Glad to help,’ he said softly.

  His eyes locked on to mine so intensely that my heart suddenly felt too big for my chest and then for some inexplicable reason we edged closer to each other.

  Harry swallowed and rubbed at his sexily chiselled jaw. ‘Freya …’ he began tentatively.

  ‘Yes,’ I answered breathily. Oh my God, this was it. This. Was. It.

  He reached out and brushed the snowflakes from my cheek and my stomach quivered at his touch. ‘Do you think—’

  ‘Freya,’ called Tilly, from the church steps, ‘come on, we want you in some photos, too!’

  Now? Seriously? I could have sobbed with frustration.

  ‘Coming,’ I called, waving to her. I turned back to Harry. ‘You were saying?’ I said, trying to keep the urgency out of my voice. ‘Harry?’

  ‘It can wait.’

  ‘No, it can’t,’ I said petulantly, barely resisting the temptation to stamp my feet.

  He threw back his head and laughed. ‘Go,’ he said, twisting my shoulders and giving me a gentle nudge. ‘We’ve got all the time in the world to talk.’

  I stumbled backwards towards the church path. ‘Have we?’

  He lifted one shoulder lazily. ‘Of course.’

  My legs were trembling as I raced to take my place in the wedding photo line-up. Harry caught my eye and winked. What was all that about? Lizzie was right about him, he was so tiramisu.

  Chapter 40

  The wedding guests had arrived back at Appleby Farm and were sipping mulled wine by the time Harry guided Storm and Skye and the fairytale carriage into the yard. Tilly and Aidan, wrapped around each other, blankets heaped over them, looked deliriously happy, if a little red-nosed. The snow had stopped and a light dusting remained – the fields, trees, rooftops and even the farmyard looked as if they had been sprinkled with confetti by Mother Nature for the occasion.

  ‘Freya!’ Tilly waved as Aidan helped her down from the carriage.

  I skipped forwards and gave them both a hug. ‘Congratulations, Mr and Mrs Whitby.’

  Harry climbed down and shot me a cheeky grin before being instantly besieged by Aidan’s niece and nephew who wanted to sit in the carriage. I watched out of the corner of my eye as he let them hold the reins and stroke the horses. He was so patient with them that my heart melted.

  ‘Remember how we met?’ Tilly grinned. ‘In the café last winter and you came to my Ivy Lane Great Cake Competition?’

  I laughed. ‘My baking has improved since then, you’ll be glad to know.’

  Aidan meandered off to have a word with his best man, who was cackling with laughter at something Gemma was saying. Tilly looped her arm through mine.

  ‘Look how far we’ve come in one year,’ she exclaimed, planting a kiss on my cheek. ‘Who’d have guessed then that this would be where we’d be now! Me getting married and you organizing the wedding!’

  ‘I’m chuffed to bits for you, Tilly. Aidan will make the perfect husband. Now, you’d better go: I think you’re wanted,’ I said, releasing her arm.

  Uncle Arthur had appeared, accompanied by the gentle clanging of cowbells as he led Gloria, the Jersey cow and her calf, Kim, dressed up in white ribbons and new bells around their necks (that had been a job and a half before breakfast, believe me!), into the yard. Everyone, including our official photographer Natalie, Bill’s daughter, lifted their cameras in readiness for some vintage farm photographs.

  Harry touched my arm lightly. ‘I’ll leave the carriage here, I think, for the kids to play in. What do you think?’

  ‘Good idea.’ I smiled up at him and let out a deep breath. ‘Is it going OK, do you think? I’m so nervous something is going to go wrong any second.’

  He grinned. ‘You’re a born organizer, Freya. Always were. The rest of The Almanacs will arrive about seven, the caterers are already doing a fantastic job if the smell of roast beef is anything to go by and Natalie is taking pictures like they’re going out of fashion. Nothing will go wrong.’

  He pressed a swift kiss into my hair and I blushed at the tenderness of his gesture.

  ‘Thanks, Harry.’ I sighed, feeling my shoulders relax. ‘Um. What was it you wanted to say earlier?’

  ‘Er …’ His voice faded away as Charlie and Anna joined us, arms entwined.

  ‘You’ve done a great job, you two,’ said Charlie, shaking Harry’s hand and kissing my cheek chastely. ‘The tea rooms, the wedding business … the place is unrecognizable.’

  ‘Nothing to do with me,’ said Harry matter-of-factly. ‘I’m just the carriage driver.’

  Anna and I leaped into each other’s arms and hugged wildly while the two men traded man-stuff.

  ‘I miss you so much,’ groaned Anna. ‘You look so different, so … I don’t know, together, settled, I suppose.’

  ‘I am different.’ I shrugged happily. ‘I know where I’m going and I know what I want out of life.’

  I couldn’t resist sneaking a look at Harry as I said that and caught him staring at me. Whoops, now I was blushing and he had a big daft grin on his face.

  ‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’ she whispered. ‘About me and Charlie? Now that you’ve seen us. In the flesh, as it were.’

  ‘Nooo,’ I protested, meaning it, even though I was feeling the most single person on the planet right now. With the exception of Harry, who was also single as far as I knew, but whose fault was that?

  Anna was still talking. ‘I think I might be in love with Charlie.’

  ‘Oh, Anna, that’s brill. And I’m happy for you, really.’

  ‘Do you miss Kingsfield even a little bit?’

  ‘Of course I do!’ I exclaimed. ‘I miss you and my friends but Lovedale is home.’

  ‘No more flitting round the country, then?’ Anna raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

  I pulled away from her side and flung an arm out in a grand gesture. ‘Look at that view! Who needs the rest of the world when you have paradise on your doorstep?’

  Harry covered his mouth with his hand and coughed, but it sounded suspiciously like a laugh to me. ‘I’m going to get these horses back to the stables before they get cold,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you later.’

  ‘OK.’ I smiled tightly. Were we ever going to have a moment to ourselves?

  A loud gong sounded and the catering manager announced that dinner was served.

  ‘Oh gosh,’ I yelped, ‘I’m supposed to be doing things!’

  I scampered off to find my clipboard, my heart squeezing for them as Charlie pulled Anna towards him for a kiss as soon as my back was turned.

  Four hours later, Lizzie, Ross and I shifted the tables to the edge of the room to make way for a dance floor while Harry, Tom and Steve did their
final sound checks on our makeshift stage at one end of the tea rooms. My back was beginning to ache and my legs were shaky from not having eaten more than a mouthful of the delicious beef, but I felt absolutely elated. Tilly and Aidan’s day had been a massive success and I’d even taken another booking for a spring wedding next year.

  ‘Thanks for all your hard work, guys,’ I said, hugging them both as we moved the last table. ‘I don’t think our first wedding could have been more perfect if we tried.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ said Lizzie primly, ‘I’ve made one or two notes for our wedding.’

  Ross coughed.

  ‘I mean our next wedding,’ she corrected herself.

  Ross and I looked at each other and shook our heads, and then we all scattered to different corners of the room as Harry dimmed the lights and jumped on stage. Tom, The Almanacs lead singer, grabbed the microphone.

  ‘Good evening, everyone.’ Tom grinned. ‘Can we have a huge round of applause please as Mr and Mrs Whitby take to the floor for their first dance?’

  We all clapped and whistled as my beaming friend and her new husband appeared on the dance floor and wrapped their arms around each other. As the band began to play the introduction to ‘Show Me Heaven’ by Maria McKee, I caught Harry’s eye and we exchanged a secret smile about blokes playing girlie stuff. Girlie or not, Tom was an amazing singer and The Almanacs did a great version of it. I’d never seen Harry play the drums before and now I couldn’t take my eyes off him; he was so absorbed in his music and my heart quickened at being able to watch him unobserved from the edge of the room.

  The music filled the old barn and goose bumps pricked at my skin. I leaned up against the wall under the as yet unfinished mezzanine, tucked out of view and watched Aidan twirl Tilly slowly around the dance floor, cupping her face as she laced her fingers behind his neck. The two of them were so wrapped up in each other that it was almost as if they were the only two people in the room and I felt tears spring to my eyes with happiness for them.

  As they moved in time with the music, both of them closed their eyes and Tilly rested her forehead against Aidan’s cheek. It was such an intimate moment that I felt bit like a voyeur but, even so, I was so moved that I couldn’t turn away. The song finished and Aidan and Tilly’s parents ran on to the floor and began hugging the happy couple. We all clapped again and my eyes welled up with tears for them.