Being Emerald (Skimmerdale Book 2)

by Sharon Booth

  'More than songwriting?'

  'I love writing songs, but I want —' Jed tutted in frustration. 'To be honest, I don't know what I want, but I know I don't want what I had before. I wanna do something that means something, you know? I feel real lucky. I've been so blessed. I wanna give something back. Do something that matters to someone.'

  'Hmm, careful. You're beginning to sound like Rex bleeding Scotman,' Cain warned. 'Well, we need to start making some plans, 'cos there's no reason to hang around Skimmerdale any longer, is there? And I might have the thing to interest you, Jed, now that you come to mention it. I've got a few things to sort out first, but then I'll let you in on it. I think — I hope — I may have a job for you, after all. And you, Beth.'

  Beth looked up, startled. 'Me?'

  'Dad, Beth's not looking for a job,' Jed said.

  'Who says I'm not?' Beth sounded quite eager. 'I've spent the last few years of my life feeling bored witless. If you've got something to challenge me, Cain, I'd love it.'

  'What about the baby?' Jed reminded her.

  Beth put her hand over his and smiled reassuringly. 'The baby will always be our first priority, won't it? But it doesn't mean we can't do other things. Does it?'

  He hesitated for a moment, then seemed to relax as he nodded. 'Of course it doesn't. I'm curious, though, Dad. What job could you possibly have that would suit me and Beth?'

  Cain stuffed half a teacake in his mouth. 'Wait and see,' he said mysteriously.

  'So, I guess we need to start thinking about where we're heading,' Jed said. 'Is it okay for me and Beth to go back to Upper Bourbury with you for now?'

  'I insist upon it,' Cain said. 'I suppose we may as well start packing. You an' all, kid,' he added, tapping Emerald on the arm.

  She looked at him, clearly surprised. 'Me? You want me to go back to your house with you?'

  'Well, where else are you gunna go?' he demanded. 'Back to the batty Cassandra in her latest hovel? I don't think so. No kid of mine's gunna shit in a bucket ever again.'

  'I didn't think you'd want me,' Emerald murmured.

  'Well, you know what thought did,' Cain said comfortably. He looked gloomy suddenly. 'Ain't nuffink to keep us here, is there?'

  Beth sipped her tea thoughtfully. 'What about Deborah? Is it over between you?'

  Cain felt thoroughly fed up. 'Looks that way. Can't believe she checked out of here without even telling me. Or at least telling you, Beth! Where would she go? And why didn't she wait for me? I thought we had sumfink, but clearly, I was wrong. She ain't even answered the phone or picked up me texts.'

  'Maybe she needed to think things through,' Beth suggested. 'She's been with David for such a long time, it must be very strange for her to cut loose from him.'

  'If she has cut loose,' Cain remarked. 'For all we know, she's gone back to him.'

  'What? I can't believe that!' Beth shook her head, denying all possibility of such a monstrous event.

  Cain admired her optimism, but he wasn't so sure. He knew Debs was struggling with leaving James in such a bad way. Whatever he'd done, he was still her kid, after all, and she felt she'd failed him. He knew she was desperate for him to break away from his father and grow into the man she'd always hoped he would be. Maybe she'd decided that going back to him was the only way to help him?

  He sighed inwardly. Maybe the truth was less palatable. Fact was, Debs had grown used to being the wife of a multi-millionaire. Maybe in the cold light of day she'd realised that she'd be stupid to throw away that sort of lifestyle. Cain could probably have kept her in as much luxury, but then, he hadn't made any offers towards her. Maybe she'd expected him to. Maybe she'd hoped she could swap one rich husband for another? But Cain was too scared to jump into another marriage. He couldn't offer Debs that kind of security. Maybe she'd sussed him out and decided to stick with the devil she knew. He supposed he couldn't blame her really.

  It's for the best, mate, he told himself. You can't get saddled with another potential gold digger. Let her go and move on.

  He blinked, pushing all thoughts of the lovely Deborah from his mind. 'So, I guess that's us done. It didn't exactly turn out as we planned, but hey ho. At least we've got a new family member,' he said, nodding graciously at Beth, 'and a new grandkid on the way. Time for us to go home and start looking to the future.'

  Emerald pushed her plate away. 'I can't go,' she announced.

  Cain blinked. 'Eh? What do you mean you can't go?' He narrowed his eyes, suddenly suspicious. 'Please tell me you ain't still hoping you and Eliot are gunna get it together. Trust me, it ain't gunna happen.'

  'Of course not,' she snapped. 'I'm not stupid!' She looked around at them all, her face expressing a mixture of hope, sadness and desperation. 'I can't leave it at that, though, can I?'

  'What you on about, Emerald?' Cain rolled his eyes. He might have known it would be too good to be true. She had to make things difficult, right to the end.

  'I'm talking about Eliot and Eden,' she said. She looked pleadingly at Beth. 'You know what I mean, surely? All this time, they've waited for their dream wedding day. Now they're going to run off and get married on the quiet. Does that seem fair?'

  'But they don't want a dream wedding day,' Cain reminded her. 'They rejected everything you had planned!'

  'Because that wasn't their dream wedding,' she said. 'It was more your dream wedding — or the wedding you thought they ought to have. Eliot and Eden aren't those people, and I should never have organised such a formal event for them.' She folded her arms. 'I was an idiot. A selfish idiot. I can't let this happen.'

  Beth's eyes were shining. 'What do you plan to do?'

  Emerald pursed her lips, thinking. 'Give them the wedding they wanted all along!' she burst out suddenly.

  Cain let out a snort of laughter. 'You do know the wedding's in five days! How the hell would you organise that?'

  Emerald looked hopefully at Beth. 'No one around here really knows me,' she said, 'but you must know lots of people. Would they help? Would they be up for it?'

  Beth clapped her hands. 'Everyone loves Eliot, and Eden's part of the village now. I'm sure people would do all they could to help.'

  'And you?'

  Beth nodded. 'Of course, Emerald. I'd be happy to.'

  Emerald looked at Jed and Cain. Jed raised his eyebrows and shrugged. 'I'm in,' he said.

  Cain gave a big sigh. 'Gawd almighty, talk about last minute. This is gunna cost me more money, ain't it?'

  'If you help me out,' Emerald promised, 'I won't ask you ever again for any money for the retreat.'

  Cain's eyes widened. 'You'd give up your retreat for this wedding?'

  'It's the least I can do,' she mumbled. 'I have to try to put this right somehow, don't I? You understand, don't you?'

  Cain thought his kids never ceased to amaze him. For the first time in his life, he felt a real sense of pride in his middle daughter. She had a sense of responsibility, a streak of compassion and a kind heart under that brittle exterior, just like her old dad. Maybe she was more his kid than Cassandra's after all.

  'Right,' he said, pushing his own plate away at last. 'Guess we'd better not check out of here yet. Seems like we're gunna be very busy.'

  Chapter Forty

  Eden gazed up at Eliot as she placed the ring on his finger. His eyes met hers and they smiled at each other. They'd done it!

  'I now pronounce you man and wife. That which God has joined together, let no man put asunder.' Mr Edwards beamed at them, as the tiny congregation clapped and cheered.

  'Well,' the vicar added, nodding at Eliot, 'aren't you going to kiss the bride?'

  Eliot shuffled uncomfortably, sneaking a quick glance at the people sitting in the pews behind them. They all smiled back at him.

  After a short pause, Mickey rolled his eyes and said, 'Bloody 'ell, lad, get on wi' it or I'll step in an' do it meself.'

  Eliot could hardly consign Eden to that fate so, pushing aside his embarrassment, he drew his new wi
fe to him and kissed her gently and lovingly, much to the delight of their wedding guests. It was hardly a chore. She had never looked more beautiful, and that was saying something. There was something quite radiant about her, he thought, realising he'd never felt happier, and the joy bubbled up inside him like Fleetsthorpe Beck after summer rain.

  Eden laughed and cupped his face. 'Well done,' she told him. She knew how awkward he felt, demonstrating affection in front of people, but she never minded. He kissed her hand, proud to be the husband of such a wonderful woman.

  'Steady on, Eliot,' called Adey. 'Tha'll be telling us you're gunna carry her over't threshold next!'

  'Happen that's what I plan to do,' Eliot informed him, laughing.

  'Well, before you do that, shall we sign the register?' Mr Edwards pushed his spectacles further up his nose and beamed at them both. 'We don't want you rushing off before we make this legal, do we?'

  No, they bloody didn't, Eliot thought. This was going to be official, all right. No one was ever going to break him and Eden up and that was a fact. He glanced around at the almost empty church, wondering if she really minded that it had turned into such a small wedding, after all. At least her parents had turned up, which was more than Jemima's had.

  'It was perfect,' Eden whispered to him. 'Stop worrying.'

  How did she always know? He squeezed her arm. 'You look grand,' he told her. 'Never seen owt so beautiful in all me life.'

  'Why, thank you, you smooth-talker,' she said. Her eyes softened, and she murmured in his ear, 'And I've never seen you look more handsome. I love you, Mr Harland.'

  'And I love you, Mrs Harland,' he murmured back. 'Come on, let's go and get this thing made official, then we can go home.'

  As they finally left the church, blinking in the sunlight, they were startled as a car blasted its horn.

  Eliot scowled. 'What the heck were that about?'

  'Cain! Good grief, I don't believe it!'

  Everyone turned at Eden's cry, and Eliot realised that the sound of the horn had come from a vintage Rolls Royce. Standing beside it, almost unrecognisable, was Cain, smartly attired in a dark suit, white shirt and navy-blue tie, topped off with a chauffeur's hat.

  'Thought you were gunna sneak off and get married without any fuss?' He shook his head. 'Oh no. I'm your chauffeur for the day, and you're to get in me Roller right now.'

  Eliot and Eden exchanged nervous glances. 'What about the Land Rover?' Eliot pointed out. 'Can't leave it here.'

  Adey stepped forward. 'I'm driving it back,' he said, 'and I'll take the kids with me, so don't worry.'

  'You knew about this?' Eden gasped as Mickey, Adey, and even her parents nodded and smiled. 'You all knew?'

  Mrs Edwards patted her on the shoulder. 'I'd go with it, if I were you, my dear. I'll see you at the reception.'

  'Reception?' Eliot frowned. 'What bloody reception?'

  'In the car,' Cain ordered. 'No arguments.'

  'Go on,' Ophelia urged. 'We're starving.'

  Eliot and Eden reluctantly clambered into the Rolls Royce. Cain gave a cheery wave to the wedding guests, then jumped in the front seat. Slowly, the beautiful car pulled away.

  'I think we've bin had,' Eliot whispered. 'They all bloody knew about this. Who do you think told Cain?'

  'I'm not so much worried about that,' Eden admitted, 'as what's in store for us next. A wedding reception, Cain said. Oh, Eliot, you don't think Emerald didn't cancel everything, do you?'

  Eliot closed his eyes for a moment, remembering her mood board, her bulging Filofax, and the fancy menus she'd shown them. It would have taken a while and cost a lot to cancel the wedding. Maybe she and Cain had decided not to bother. He opened his eyes again and his gaze fell upon Eden, sitting beside him, looking so beautiful she made his heart ache. Her fair hair was adorned with flowers, and she was wearing a simple white gown that made her look like an angel. He felt a lump in his throat, and suddenly none of it mattered. 'Let them do what they want,' he told her softly. 'Who cares? We're wed now, Eden. Me and you are man and wife. Nowt can spoil this day. Nothing. It's the happiest day of my life, and that's a fact.'

  Her face brightened. 'Really?'

  'Really.' He pulled her to him, and his mouth covered hers. With no congregation to worry about, he could really show her how much he loved her.

  'Oy, do you mind? I'm too young for that kind of thing,' Cain piped up from the front.

  'Don't bloody look then,' Eliot grumbled.

  'By hell, you don't get any more charming. Marriage ain't softened you, has it?'

  Eden laughed. 'Sorry, Cain, but we're a bit taken aback,' she said. 'How did you find out about the wedding, anyway? We were so careful.'

  'Not careful enough,' he said, 'but no matter. You deserve a decent wedding and you're gunna get it, whether you like it or not.'

  ****

  Eden gazed out of the window, then nudged him gently. 'We're not heading towards Kirkby Skimmer,' she said, relieved. 'We can't be going to The Paradise Hotel, after all.'

  Eliot looked hopeful. 'Mebbe they've booked The King's Head, like we said,' he murmured.

  Eden couldn't imagine it. It was very short notice, and it was high summer, after all. Maybe they'd got lucky ...

  As the car left Beckthwaite behind, though, they could only look at each other in bewilderment.

  'Maybe he's picking someone else up? Or perhaps they've forgotten something?' Eden leaned forward and tapped Cain on the shoulder. 'Where are we going?'

  Cain grinned. 'That's for me to know and you to find out. Why don't you relax and get back to your snogging? Leave the driving to me.'

  Eliot raised an eyebrow. 'Fine by me,' he said, amazing Eden as he pulled her to him, seeming to no longer care that he had an audience.

  'Wow,' she breathed, as he finally released her, 'is this what married life's going to be like?'

  'It's going to get better and better,' he promised her, his eyes shining. Eden smiled to herself. She had a feeling he was quite right.

  As the car headed down the track towards Fleetsthorpe, Eliot shrugged. 'No idea,' he said to her unspoken question. Glancing out of the back window he added, 'looks like Adey and your mam and dad are right behind us, though, so mebbe we've reached our final destination.'

  'Could we be that lucky?' Eden queried.

  Eliot nudged her, his eyes wide. 'Look!'

  She followed his gaze, her mouth opening in surprise as she saw the strings of bunting draped across the front of the largest bunk barn. Balloons were tied to the drainpipes, and there was a large 'Congratulations' banner over the door.

  Cain swept his Rolls Royce over the packhorse bridge, then turned — not into the farmyard — but into the new road that ran between the beck and the barns, following it round to the rear of the farmyard, where Eden realised that the field behind the small, new car park had been transformed. The picnic tables had all been moved there, as had several of the dining room tables and chairs. Bunting was draped around the fencing and the tables wore crisp white cloths.

  The happy couple exchanged incredulous glances as the Rolls Royce drew to a halt, and what seemed like half the village — plus several of the overnight guests from the bunk barn — tumbled out of the barn, through the French doors, to greet them with much laughter, countless hugs, and constant shouts of congratulations.

  Within a few minutes, the children, along with Adey, Mickey, and Eden's parents had joined them, having evidently parked up in the farmyard.

  'What on earth?' Eden could only gasp, and she saw Eliot looking as amazed as she was.

  Beth and Jed rushed over to them, laughing. 'Congratulations!' they called, and Beth kissed them both, while Jed hugged Eden and shook Eliot's hand, then clapped him heartily on the back.

  Eden shook her head. 'What — I mean, how did you —?'

  'Doesn't matter how we found out,' Jed said firmly. 'What matters is that none of us — the whole village, too — thought you should be allowed to sneak off without incl
uding us. We wanted you to have the wedding of your dreams. We hope this is it.'

  'It's — it's—' Eden looked around, noticing for the first time the mismatched vintage bowls, cups, jugs and teapots adorning every table, each filled with pretty sweet peas in whites, pinks, lilacs and purples. Looking down at her own bouquet of pink and lilac sweet peas, mixed in with white roses, dahlias, chamomile, clematis and stocks in various pastel shades, she realised that they matched perfectly.

  Laughing, she and Eliot pointed to two pairs of green wellies, standing at either side of the French doors, each filled to the brim with larkspur in shades of blue, violet, pink and white.

  Eliot steered her round and they followed the crowds, who were now swarming into the field. She saw that everyone was heading towards a long trestle table, draped in a white cloth and shaded by a stripy sun canopy. As she drew near, she noticed it bore plate after plate of sandwiches, quiches, cakes, and scones, bowls of clotted cream and jam, pots of tea, and large jugs full of pink lemonade. Taking pride of place was a beautiful wedding cake, exquisite in its simplicity — a single round creation with white icing, adorned with pink and white roses. Eden gulped down the tears as she turned to look at Eliot and saw the delight she felt reflected in his eyes.

  'It's grand,' he said, shaking his head.

  'You said you wanted a tea party,' Beth said, smiling. 'So that's what you've got. A proper, vintage tea party, bunting, china and all.'

  'Thank you so much, Beth,' Eden breathed. 'I don't know what to say.'

  Beth held up her hands. 'Don't thank me,' she insisted. 'I helped a bit, but so many people contributed.' She nodded over at a group of women who were standing, smiling at them. 'Mrs Long, Mrs Malory and Mrs Harvey made the sandwiches,' she said. 'Jill and Dave from The King's Head donated the tablecloths and the trestle table. Mr and Mrs Tucker from the shop gave us the lemonade. Mrs Edwards,' she said, smiling over at the vicar's wife, 'made the cake.'