by Katie Fforde
Sarah found the kitchen and went in. A middle-aged woman with the kind of facial lines that indicated bad temper and discontent was putting cutlet collars on a rack of lamb. 'Who are you?' she demanded, sounding none too friendly.
‘I'm Sarah – Lily's sister.' She smiled bravely. Her role was not so clear-cut here. While Lily expected her to organise everything, she was there as Lily's sister, not as a wedding planner. It meant that she had to do everything she usually did, but very discreetly. It made everything a lot harder work.
‘Oh, hello.' The woman gave her a cursory glance. 'You're nothing like her, I must say.’
Sarah didn't know if this was a good thing or not in this woman's eyes.
‘Is Lily here?' she asked.
The woman shook her head. `No, she's at the flat, claiming she's tired. She'll know what being tired is allabout when she's had the baby! Poor Dirk!'
‘I think Dirk is very lucky,' said Sarah firmly, infuriated by this woman already. 'Lily is a lovely person and she's going to make a brilliant mother. She's also going to make Dirk very happy. He's to be congratulated on his good taste.’
Sensing slightly too late that she'd been rather rude the woman managed a smile. 'Of course.'
‘And I'm a wedding planner, and I'm here to help you all I can, Mrs…' Sarah's professional memory deserted her. If this woman'd been a client Sarah would have had her name on a file. Because she was Lily's future mother-in-law, she hadn't and so couldn't remember it.
‘Boscastle,' said the woman, 'I'm Dirk's mother. Yes, I remember now, you've been organising that film star's wedding. What's her name again?'
‘Carrie Condy.'
‘Oh yes, that's right. And where is she getting married?’
‘At a lovely old house in Herefordshire,' said Sarah. It was unlikely Mrs Boscastle was intending to inform the small number of publications to whom this would be hot news, but she didn't want to be too precise. 'So how is everything going here?’
Mrs Boscastle inclined her head. 'It's a shame it's too late to do anything about the food.'
‘There's a problem with the food?' This was a bit heart-sinking. Those ladies should have been perfect! They were fairly near, they were doing it for cost, and they had the sort of friendly personalities that made them ideal for the job.
Mrs Boscastle nodded. 'It's a buffet – hopeless! It'll be all little nibbly things. No one will get enough to eat, Lily's- Some people will get drunk and the people who should be together won't be. A sit-down meal would have been far better. I could have arranged place settings.'
‘You still could if you wanted to, Mrs Boscastle, if you think you've got time. You could seat people and then we can ask them to come up and get their food table by table.’
Sarah actually assumed something like this had already been done. It wasn't a last-minute job. To do it properly you had to take your time or you had people's exes sitting next to each other and fistfights threatening to break out before the first waltz – or at least before the last one.
‘Well, I thought Lily and Dirk would see to it.' Mrs Boscastle frowned, indicating she knew perfectly well Lily and Dirk couldn't be expected to know the ins and outs of all their relations. 'I'm cooking this for a few chosen friends tonight. There's one thing I can control.’
Sarah became aware that she might be arranging fish and chips for the unchosen many and wondered exactly how many of them there were. 'Would you like me to help you do a table plan?’
Mrs Boscastle regarded her sideways. 'Could you do that?’
Sarah nodded. 'As I said, I'm a wedding planner,' she told her again. 'That sort of thing is part of my job. Although it is usually the family that does it, I do assist.' She remembered Ashlyn's wedding and her anxieties about seating the missing bridesmaid's parents.
‘It's a good offer-’
But just after these words had left her mouth Sarah realised that Lily had first call on her time. 'I could give you an hour or so, but what about your dinner guests?'
‘Oh, we couldn't do it tonight, we'll have to do it in the morning.’
Sarah was very firm. 'I'm going to be very busy with Lily in the morning.' Just how busy, she had yet to find out. Lily had said she'd arranged a hairdresser, the dress was lovely and they were using family cars to transport everyone. In theory, it should all 'be fine. Theoretical weddings always went swimmingly. It was the real kind that were unpredictable.
‘Perhaps you could come when my guests have gone? About ten? Is that too late for you?’
Considering Sarah already felt she could sleep for weeks without even turning over it was definitely too late for her, but she smiled. 'I'll pop back about ten then. If you have a list of all the people who've been invited it won't take us long.' She fervently hoped she'd said this firmly enough to make Mrs Boscastle dig out the list.
Just as escape was in sight, Sarah remembered something else. 'The marquee came all right?'
‘Oh yes. It's taking up the entire garden, but I must confess my herbaceous borders look very much better as part of the floral arrangements. Some friends of mine are coming in to do table displays tomorrow.' She smiled. 'It's very useful having friends with skills.'
‘I couldn't agree with you more, Mrs Boscastle.’
*
Lily was sitting on her bed with her scrapbook – the one she'd started in childhood – spread out in front of her. Her dress was hanging in a bag on the back of the door. There was an open case sharing the bed with the scrapbook.
Lily got off the bed and came to Sarah, flinging her arms round her neck. 'Sares! It's so lovely to see you. I've felt so lonely without you.'
‘Shouldn't you save all that stuff for Dirk?' Sarah returned the hug with equal affection. 'What have you done with him?'
‘He's staying with Freddie, his best man. He's fine.' Lily sighed. 'I'm not making a horrible mistake, am I, Sares?’
‘Of course you're not!' said Sarah, hiding the panic she felt with another hug. 'You've known Dirk for ages, he's lovely, you've lived together happily. It will all be fine.' She didn't mention the fact that Lily was carrying his child -that would sound like emotional blackmail. 'Scary mother-in-law, though!’
This made Lily giggle a little. 'Isn't she terrifying? She must be to scare you.' She sighed. 'I couldn't have managed without you, you know.'
‘Oh, you could-'
‘I mean, in my life. You've always been there for me; since Mum died, you took over her role. You've been brilliant, Saresy.’
Sarah felt her throat constrict and tears come to her eyes. She held Lily close to her. 'Oh, love! I haven't been brilliant at all, I've been critical and bossy and all those things.’
Lily put her sister away from her gently and smiled. 'That's what I mean – that's what mums do.'
‘Silly!' said Sarah. `So how have you been, really?’
‘OK, it's just..
‘What?'
‘In some ways I feel sort of numb.'
‘Numb?’
Lily nodded. 'The other day I was testing my feelings for Dirk, to make sure I wasn't making another dreadful mistake and..
‘What?' Sarah held Lily's hands to encourage her to say what she was worried about.
‘And I imagined that I heard something awful had happened to Dirk.' Sarah made to speak but Lily stopped her. 'I couldn't feel anything! That's what I mean about being numb.’
Sarah relaxed a little. 'Perfectly normal. Many's the bride who's told me much the same thing. Don't worry about it.
It's just the panic of the big day approaching.' She paused. 'I went round to Dirk's mother's. She wants me to pop back and do a seating plan with her. Has she any idea how long a seating plan takes to organise? Why the hell didn't she think of it before?'
‘Because we told her we didn't want a seating plan!' Lily got up off the bed, revealing to Sarah that her pregnancy was at last beginning to show a little. 'What is the bloody woman up to now? She's hijacked this wedding from the very beginning.'
Lily nodded. 'I think so. My bridesmaids are turning up tomorrow. They've all got their dresses. They're having their hair done but they're not allowed up-dos. My hairdresser said she could only do one, and that's mine.' Lily looked at her sister. 'It was so good having that chat with Bron about it all. I'm going to do my own make-up. I've practised, and after all, I know best how I like to look.'
‘Oh, I'm so proud of you – you've really grown up in the last few months, Lily!'
‘I know.' Lily sighed. 'I don't like the idea but I think maybe it's time I grew up a bit. I'm going to be a married woman and a mother.’
Sarah chuckled. 'Have you got your music all sorted out? For the reception? I know you had to have all the hymns that Dirk's family wanted for the church, but you've picked out your favourites?'
‘Oh yes. Dirk did that a while ago. And we tested the sound system in the marquee.’
Sarah sat on the bed. 'Can I look at your scrapbook? I know you did the dress one but this one holds all your hopes and dreams, doesn't it? Does it relate to what you're actually having on your wedding day?'
‘Not really, but I was a bit Barbie-obsessed in those days. Loving my dress though!' she added, brightening up. 'Did you pay Elsa for all the work she did? I know I didn't.’
Sarah shook her head. 'We had a bit of a row about it but she wouldn't take any money. She said me getting her Carrie's dress was enough. Poor girl! Carrie didn't decide until the last minute about what dress she wanted, or what she wanted the bridesmaids to wear. They're going to look sweet as anything, but what a rush for Elsa.’
Sarah allowed herself a couple of seconds to think about Ashlyn's little bridesmaid and the photograph Hugo had taken of them both. Then she shoved the vision aside and concentrated on her sister. Now was not the time. She must focus solely on Lily. 'Anything else you need me to sort for you?’
Lily nodded. 'The receiving line. Mona is insisting on having one.'
‘Well, they are usual.'
‘I really don't want people who know me, my friends and relations, noticing that I'm pregnant.'
‘The dress will disguise it quite well, and you're not exactly huge.'
‘If Aunt Margaret sees the slightest bulge, she'll say, "Up the duff, are we, ducky? That's nicer Sarah giggled, knowing she shouldn't. 'I'm sorry, but you sounded exactly like her when you said it.’
Lily giggled a little too. 'But you do see I can't risk her saying that in a line-up. Mona will hear and she might say something.’
Sarah considered. 'Tell you what, have two line-ups. You and Dirk, and then, a long way away, the parents, bridesmaids, best man, whoever.'
‘She'd never wear it! She's been so difficult about it all. She's such a snob.'
‘I'll talk her into it. Make out it's what the posh folk do.' Lily giggled again. 'My big sister Sarah, fighting my battles.'
‘That's what big sisters are for. Now, what are you going to do tonight? Early night? A DVD in bed? Hot bath?’
‘I don't know.' Suddenly Lily began to cry. Not scorching, temperamental tears, but large, hot, silent ones, pouring down her cheeks.
‘Oh, lovey, what is it?' Sarah cuddled her. 'What's the matter?'
‘I don't know! Nothing really. Everything.'
‘Have you eaten?’
Lily shook her head.
‘That's probably why you're feeling weepy. I'll go out for something,' said Sarah, ever practical. 'Fish and chips?’
‘Ooh yes, my favourite! But no vinegar, I've gone off it.’
‘We'll watch some Sex and the City or something while we eat it, then I'll go round and explain to Dirk's mother you don't want a seating plan and tell her about the line-up arrangement.’
Lily looked up at Sarah. 'You won't be able to change her mind. She'll make you – us – have one.'
‘Would it break your heart if she did tell people where to sit?'
‘No!' wailed Lily. 'Not that much. But the line-up thing is really worrying me.' She sniffed. 'She'll die if she hears people referring to my bump and I don't want my wedding day ruined by scenes.’
You and every other bride, thought Sarah, but most of you are doomed to disappointment.
Lily was right about Mrs Boscastle being determined to have things her way. Her dinner guests had been swept out of the way and the kitchen table cleared for action.
‘Lily did tell me that she and Dirk had decided they just wanted people to sit where they wanted,' Sarah said firmly. 'With whom they wanted.'
‘They're young things,' said Mrs Boscastle equally firmly. 'They don't know how important these things are. We'll do it together. I'll get my husband to make labels on his computer tomorrow morning. Then we'll just stick them on to folded cards.'
‘That's going to be quite time-consuming,' said Sarah. 'Are you sure there won't be other things he'll want to be doing? Checking the wine is chilled? Manly things like that?' Mr Boscastle had yet to appear. If he was anything like his wife, he might have ideas of his own.
‘No. Those WI women, or whoever they are, will arrange the wine. At least I hope they will. They don't seem very well organised and quite inexperienced.’
Sarah bit down hard on her lecture about those women working for nothing, only charging for the food and being very obliging in every way. Mrs Boscastle wasn't supposed to know about all the economies Lily and Dirk had had to make. She did hope it was just Mrs Boscastle being difficult though, and that there wasn't really anything wrong with them.
‘They'll be fine. And I'll help you put the place cards out if your husband makes them. Now there's just the receiving line to sort out.’
Mrs Boscastle shook her head. 'Lily and Dirk said they don't want them but I had to over-rule them. They're essential.'
‘They are quite out-dated,' said Sarah, mentally crossing her fingers against the lie. 'But what many of my… er… upmarket clients do nowadays is have two. It makes it move faster.'
‘Two? And how can that possibly make it go faster?’
As Sarah had no idea how, she had to busk it. 'Family members do chat to the parents a bit more, which means people are kept waiting. If they go to the bride and groom first, and then move right away to the family, they pick up momentum.' Sarah was very glad that no one, particularly Hugo, could hear all this drivel – he'd be bound to laugh. Although, if he'd been here, she realised, she'd have felt so much better about the whole thing.
‘Oh, well, if that's what people are doing these days…?' Mrs Boscastle looked at Sarah questioningly.
‘I helped at a very smart wedding the other day and they were very pleased with the way everything worked.' This wasn't actually a lie, it was a fact – it just didn't relate to the receiving line.
‘Very well then. Now, let's get on with the seating plan. My husband was as upset as I was at the thought of a free-for-all. You seem moderately efficient. We should have it done in a jiffy.’
Mrs Boscastle was efficient too – almost as efficient as she was snobbish – and they made good progress. But the snobbishness did begin to rankle. Something disparaging was said about almost everyone. Lily's relations' names were all scrutinised as if Mrs Boscastle were trying to detect something about them to indicate class.
Mrs Boscastle had obviously forgotten that Sarah was Lily's sister, and all the relations she was being so snooty about were hers too. Hugo, never far from her mind, came into it again, this time in a really useful way.
Sarah started dropping names in the casual way Hugo had made Rupert do it when they were trying to persuade Carrie to have her wedding at Somerby. Without actually saying so, she managed to imply that these names were relations of hers and Lily. Mrs Boscastle became a lot more friendly after that. Sarah's piece de resistance was actu
ally true – Aunt Margaret, who was so wonderfully tactless, bound to reveal Lily's secret to the world, really was a Lady. Mrs Boscastle loved it.
Sarah drove back to Lily's very late. She let herself in and saw her sister fast asleep on the sofa, the television flickering to itself. Although she felt a bit guilty about it, Sarah decided not to move the bride-to-be. Having made sure Lily wouldn't get cold in the night, she sloped off to bed. Lily and Dirk would have a lovely double bed to sleep in the next night, after all.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Everyone was up early at Somerby. Bron tiptoed into the kitchen to make a cup of tea before she carried on with her icing, only to find Fenella and Elsa already there. Fenella was anxious.
‘I'm sure it's fine, but Sarah did tell me that the florists would be here by seven at the latest – there's loads to do. The chapel, the drawing room, the dining room, they're all having big displays.'
‘What about the bridal flowers?' asked Bron.
‘Thank God Carrie's bringing those with her. Can't remember why, but they're being done separately. Mandy said she'd make sure they got done and everything.’
‘It's only half past seven now,' said Elsa, checking the big kitchen clock. 'They've probably got lost.'
‘Have you much to do on your dresses, Elsa?' asked Bron, pouring water on to a tea bag.
‘No, they're mostly done. I just hope Carrie's not too late though. I still need to do a final fitting and there are some crystals I can't sew on until I've finished the main sewing. Can you remember what time she's supposed to get here?’
‘I think Sarah said about four,' replied Fenella. 'She can't make it before.'
‘Oh God, that doesn't give me much time for her hair and make-up,' said Bron. 'You'll probably need half an hour with her, won't you, Elsa? At least the cake will be finished and I can focus utterly on the bride.'
‘Most brides do need more than two hours to get ready,' Elsa agreed, beginning to get edgy herself, although she calmed down a little when Fenella said she was sorry, she'd misread Sarah's instructions and Carrie was due to arrive at around three.
