That should do it, thought Poppy when the letters were both in position.
Just then Honey arrived to pick her up for a dress fitting at Saffron’s Sewing Shop. Mum seemed to be in a very good mood when the two friends set off, Poppy thought.
“Have fun, girls!” her mum called.
“Bye, Mum!” replied Poppy.
Poppy and Honey were both very excited about being measured for the dresses. They were still surprised and thrilled that they had been asked to be flower girls at all. It would be so much fun doing it with their friends.
“Right!” said Saffron as everyone assembled in her little shop. “Stand in a line alphabetically. We’ll start with Abi at the front, then we’ll have Helena, Honey, Lola, Mimosa, Poppy and Sweetpea. Now, I’ve made a chart for each of you. I need your height, and then your waist, chest, arm and shoulder–to-waist measurements. And look, the fabric has arrived! Isn’t it divine?”
Saffron held up a swatch of the soft flowery cotton.
“Wow! It looks like a summer garden,” said Lola. “I love it.”
“Me too!” said Poppy.
It made a nice change from shiny and sparkly materials – and it would be much more comfortable to wear on a warm summer’s day as well.
Just as Saffron finished taking and noting down all the measurements, Lily Ann from the Beehive Beauty Salon arrived. It was time to talk about the girls’ hairstyles for the wedding. They flicked through the glossy magazines Lily Ann had brought with her and chatted excitedly about the styles they liked.
“Sally wants you all to have a hairstyle that suits you so I’m not going to try to make you all look the same. If we decide on the styles today, we can have a practice run nearer the time,” explained Lily Ann.
After that Holly Mallow arrived to discuss the charm bracelets that Sally had promised her flower girls. She explained that each bracelet must reflect the personality or interests of the person who was wearing it.
“For example, if you like ponies, I can make a horseshoe charm for your bracelet.”
As they were all chatting about the bracelets, how they wanted to wear their hair and whether or not they might grow it a bit before the wedding, Sally arrived at the little shop for a wedding dress fitting.
“Does that mean we get to see the dress?” asked Poppy.
“Well, I might let you have a peek,” said Sally. “As long as you promise not to tell Sol anything about it!”
“Pinkie promise!” chorused the girls.
Ten minutes later Sally came out of the fitting room. The girls gasped. Sally hardly ever wore dresses because she was always working with plants and soil and water. This dress wasn’t super fancy but it was just right and she looked amazing. It was creamy white with puff sleeves and a full skirt, complete with an overskirt.
“Sally, you look just like a princess!” exclaimed Poppy.
As the girls left the shop, Poppy’s thoughts turned back to her family. She couldn’t wait for Mum and Dad to find the secret notes; she was sure that after the special surprise dinner everything would be perfect again. Poppy decided that instead of going straight home, she would walk down to Bumble Bee’s with Honey to check that Granny Bumble had everything ready for Mum and Dad’s meal – and to see if anyone had dropped by with wedding day memorabilia.
Meanwhile at Honeysuckle Cottage, Mum had almost finished a big tidy up of her study. Since Grandpa was looking after the twins for the afternoon, she had decided to do a few things that she never managed to get done when they were around.
“There, that feels better,” she said to herself as she opened the window to let in some fresh air. It was nice to smell the summer flowers through the open window, and the gentle breeze spread the perfume throughout the house.
When she had finished in her study, Mum decided that she would have a lie down and read her book for a bit. But when she got to the bedroom she thought she might have a quick tidy up there before she settled down with her book. She always felt so much more relaxed when everything was in order.
As she put away clean clothes and dusted the surfaces, she noticed that the drawer of James’s bedside table was slightly open. She pushed it shut, and as she did so a small piece of paper fell out onto the floor. She picked it up to see what it was – and could hardly believe her eyes. It seemed to be a love letter to her husband!
What she didn’t realize was that a similar letter for her had been gathered up with some old papers on her desk and thrown into the bin.
Chapter Nine
“DO YOU THINK your mum and dad will definitely find the love letters?” asked Honey as they walked to Bumble Bee’s Teashop.
“Yeah, of course they will. It will be a perfect evening. And once they remember what it’s like to go on dates, they can do fun stuff all the time. Come on, Honey, let’s run. I’m dying to see if anything has been handed in for the memory box!”
“You seem very happy, Poppy!” said Granny Bumble as she set down a delicious strawberry cream tart for both the girls.
“We’ve just seen the fabric for our dresses and it’s lovely. Plus everything is all ready for Mum and Dad’s anniversary surprise!” replied Poppy.
“Jolly good,” smiled Granny Bumble. “I’ve got the meal under control, so tomorrow night, when the table is set and the fairy lights are on, just give me a shout and I’ll deliver the food. Oh, and just wait till you see all the pretty things that have been delivered for your wedding box!”
She opened a boutique bag and revealed the wedding day menu, supplied by the chef at the Hedgerows Hotel; the order of service, handed in by the vicar; the invitation, supplied by Aunt Marigold; plus one of Mum and Dad’s thank-you notes. There was also a brilliant photograph of their going-away car, which had been beautifully decorated by their friends from college.
“Wow! These things are great!” exclaimed Poppy. “Thank you for looking after everything for me.”
When she had finished her snack and double checked with Granny Bumble that everything was set for the following night, Poppy walked back to Honeysuckle Cottage with the bag of memory box goodies. She went round the back and sneaked into her bedroom via the French windows so that she could stash the bag away without anyone seeing her. Then she went back out into the garden and re-entered the house by the kitchen door.
Poppy found Mum sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea in her hand. She seemed to be in a very strange mood – she looked like she had been crying.
“Hi, Mum. Are you OK?” asked Poppy.
“I’m fine, thanks, love. Just a bit tired. Why don’t you go and play in your room?”
“OK, see you later,” replied Poppy. She was a bit worried about her mum but she was also pleased to have an opportunity to sort out the memory box without anyone disturbing her.
Poppy spent ages arranging the wedding things beautifully; when the wedding box was finished she hid it in her toy cupboard. She was so happy with the way everything was working out. She was convinced that the surprise date was going to be a huge success.
Half an hour later Poppy heard Grandpa and the twins come back so she raced into the kitchen to say hello. Grandpa stayed for a quick cup of tea and then went home to watch his favourite nature programme on the telly. Mum took charge of Angel and Archie and set about making supper. She was very quiet and Poppy thought she still looked miserable. Poppy couldn’t think what might be wrong and Mum didn’t seem to want to tell her – maybe she was just tired, like she had said.
While Mum was feeding the twins, Poppy heard Dad’s car pull into the drive. A minute or two later he came in through the back door.
“Hi, everyone, I’m home!” he called. “The house looks great. You have been busy today, darling.”
“Not as busy as you have obviously been lately!” stormed Mum.
Dad looked completely baffled.
“Poppy, can you keep an eye on the twins, darling?” asked Mum. “I need to talk to your father in the other room.”
“OK,” replied Poppy, wondering what was going on.
She knew that an argument was brewing, but what she didn’t know was why. As she tried to entertain her baby brother and sister, Poppy could hear her parents talking in the next room.
“Lavender, what are you talking about?”
“Don’t act so innocent, James!”
“Tell me what’s going on, please,” said Dad miserably.
“Explain this letter!” said Mum, thrusting the secret love note into his hands.
Poppy gasped – Mum had found the letter that was meant for Dad! It was all her fault that they were fighting. Things weren’t going to plan at all. She had to do something.
Dad read the letter quickly. “I don’t know anything about it. It must be a prank!”
“No one would play a joke like this,” said Mum. “Have you been seeing someone behind my back? How could you, James?”
“Lavender, you have to trust me. I have no idea who wrote that letter. None whatsoever,” Dad told her. “I would never let you down!”
Just then Poppy edged her way into the room. “Mum, I think I might be able to explain . . .” she began.
“Poppy, go back to the kitchen and play with the twins, sweetie. Don’t worry about anything,” said Mum as soothingly as she could manage. “Supper will be ready soon.”
“But—” Poppy tried again.
“No buts, darling,” said Mum. “This is between me and your dad.”
She wanted to believe her husband but she had nagging doubts in her mind. “Let’s just have supper and try to get through this,” she said.
Poppy was distraught. It looked like her carefully thought out surprise would have to be cancelled. What a disaster – and it was all her fault.
After a miserable and silent supper Poppy ran over to Honeypot Cottage to see Honey and Granny Bumble.
Chapter Ten
POPPY BURST INTO the cosy cottage and found her friend and Granny Bumble in the kitchen clearing up supper.
“Hello, love!” said Granny Bumble. “What brings you over here again?”
Poppy explained what had happened and that Mum and Dad’s surprise dinner would have to be cancelled. Then she then started sobbing.
“Oh dear!” Granny Bumble gave her a hug. “You are in a pickle. You know, the best thing to do is tell your parents what you’ve done. They might be cross to start off with but they won’t be for long, I promise you.”
“I’ve tried,” said Poppy in between sobs, “but they won’t listen to me!”
“Well, keep trying, dear. Everything will work out in the end. You mark my words,” Granny Bumble told her.
That night, when Mum came in to kiss Poppy goodnight and tuck her in, she was looking very tired and sad and Poppy knew that if she tried to explain things, Mum would just tell her to stop. When Mum had gone Poppy tossed her favourite fairytale book into the back of her toy cupboard. After everything that had happened she was beginning to think that fairytales were silly.
Poppy couldn’t stop worrying that her mum and dad didn’t love each other any more – and that she had made things worse with her stupid date idea. Still, there was a wedding to look forward to, she told herself. Poppy loved what she was wearing and thought that Sally and Sol’s plans sounded wonderful, but she could not summon up her usual enthusiasm. Worst of all, Mum and Dad were so busy that despite all her efforts Poppy still hadn’t managed to explain the mix-up with the love letter. Things between her parents were very frosty indeed.
One night not long before the wedding, when Mum was tucking Poppy in, she noticed that the fairytale book was missing.
“What happened to the fairy stories Grandpa gave to you?” she asked.
“I don’t believe in fairy tales any more,” said Poppy sadly.
“Oh, Poppy!” said Mum. “Don’t be so silly. Fairy tales are wonderful – you’re much too young to stop believing in them. I still believe! Night, night, darling! Sleep tight.”
Now that Poppy had got into this sad mood, she was always noticing how happy other people’s parents were – so much happier than her own – and it made her worry even more. It seemed to her that no one else’s parents squabbled. She paid special attention when she was at Peppermint Pond with Grandpa and the twins. Abi’s mum and dad were laughing and holding hands as they walked their new Dalmatian puppy. On the way back she saw Saffron and David through the window of the Hedgerows Hotel. They were chatting and laughing and holding hands over a meal. As she walked along the river bank she saw Sweetpea’s mum and dad out cycling. They were having a race and were giggling and calling out to one another.
Back at Honeysuckle Cottage Poppy heard Mum and Grandpa chatting over a cup of tea while she played with the twins in the sitting room.
“She’s not herself, Lavender,” said Grandpa. “I don’t know what’s up, but there’s definitely something bothering her. She hardly spoke at all while we were out – and that’s very unlike the Princess Poppy I know!”
“Everything’s fine,” said Mum. “I’ve just taken on too much work for the wedding, that’s all, Dad, and I think Poppy’s feeling a bit left out. Although the other night she did say she didn’t believe in fairy stories any more. I never thought I’d see the day . . . But I’m sure it’s just a phase.”
“Well, you know best, but we don’t want our princess to stop believing in fairy tales for ever, do we?” said Grandpa.
Poppy thought about what Grandpa had said. She remembered that there were always lots of problems in all her fairy stories, but that true love conquered all in the end. Maybe things would work out OK after all – she just needed a new plan.
That night Poppy got the fairytale book out of her cupboard and read through it for ideas.
Hmmm. Snow White . . . Sleeping Beauty . . . Cinderella – it’s always the prince who rescues the princess. Really it’s up to Dad to be the hero, thought Poppy. But maybe he needs a little help. I know what! I’ll order some flowers to be delivered. Mum’s favourites – white lilies!
The next day Poppy tipped her pennies out of her piggy bank into her purse and went to ask Sally to make a special delivery to Honeysuckle Cottage.
“No problem, Poppy. What shall I put on the card?” asked Sally.
“Just write To my Sweet Lavender!” replied Poppy.
Sally smiled. “Right-o!”
Back at the cottage Poppy waited impatiently for the delivery. She was sure that this would fix everything. Finally the flowers arrived and Mum was thrilled.
“Oh, my favourites!” she exclaimed. “Maybe James is trying to say sorry!”
When Dad came through the front door after work Mum ran to meet him.
“Thank you for the flowers, darling!” she said.
“What flowers?” asked Dad.
“Very funny, James! The white lilies, of course!”
Dad’s face was a picture of confusion. “Let me see the card, Lavender!”
Dad took the card and quickly read it. “Who else calls you Sweet Lavender?” he asked. “You must have an admirer! I certainly didn’t send these . . .”
Now Dad was jealous!
“First of all I discover a love letter you know nothing about and now I get flowers you know nothing about! What is going on?” said Mum.
Chapter Eleven
POPPY REALIZED THAT yet again she had done more harm than good. She simply didn’t know what to do to make things better.
She went to the dress fittings and the church rehearsal the day before the wedding, but she could no longer feel her princess sparkle inside. Honey could see that her friend was not her usual self and tried to reassure her that everything was going to be fine. Plus she wanted to have fun with Poppy on the wedding day.
Poppy smiled. Thank goodness she had Honey to comfort her.
When she got home Mum was in a really good mood because the last hat had been picked up. It was for Mrs Meadowsweet and she was delighted with it.
“How was the rehearsal, darling?” as
ked Mum.
“Oh, it was OK,” replied Poppy quietly. “I’m really tired though. I’m going to have a bath and go to bed early.”
“Very sensible, sweetheart. Tomorrow’s a big day. We’ll come and tuck you in when you’re ready.”
Poppy had a lovely bubble bath, then put on her rosebud pyjamas. As she was drying her hair, Mum and Dad said goodnight to the twins, and sat down to plan the wedding day for the Cotton family.
“I’m really worried about Poppy,” said Mum, putting aside their problems.
“Me too!” agreed Dad. “She’s awfully quiet considering there’s a wedding tomorrow and fancy frocks to enjoy.”
“Let’s go and tuck her in and have a chat,” said Mum.
Mum and Dad tiptoed into Poppy’s room. She was sitting at her dressing table, sorting through a beautiful satin box.
“What’s that, darling?” asked Mum.
“Nothing,” said Poppy, putting the lid on the box.
“Come on, darling. No secrets!”
“Um, well, the thing is . . . actually, I have kept a few secrets lately,” confessed Poppy as she got under her bedclothes.
“Come on, you know you can tell us anything,” said Dad. “And perhaps you’ll even show us what’s in that pretty box!”
Happy Ever After Page 3
