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Otherwise, she and Adam trod lightly on each other’s lives. They did their own thing, coming together to walk Gatsby or go for a swim or share a meal. And while they inevitably ended up in bed, Nikki often found herself retreating to her own for the night. She needed her sleep to function. Waking up in his arms was a treat she would reserve for a day off, when they could lie there gazing at each other, unable to wipe their smiles away.
‘You’re a terrible distraction,’ Adam told her, teasingly. ‘I’ve hardly done any work. How are you so disciplined?’
‘I can’t let people down,’ said Nikki. ‘I’ve got their dreams in my hands.’
The next weekend was Phoebe and Alec’s wedding. Nikki was at Windcutter Farm just after dawn. There was barely a cloud in the sky, just the odd powder puff bobbing along like an errant bridesmaid, and the sun wore rose gold, confident in its role as the most important guest.
Tamsin was on site already. She’d been instrumental in making sure everything went without a hitch, co-ordinating all the deliveries, supervising the marquee, getting the adjoining field mowed for parking, grooming Mercury until he shone ready for the bridal entrance. He was in his stable now, waiting patiently for his moment of glory.
‘I’ve even organised the sun for you, Nik,’ she said, unscrewing the lid from a flask of tea and pouring them each a cup. ‘Oh, and come and look at the pièce de resistance.’
She led Nikki into the adjoining field, to a shepherd’s hut parked in front of a glade of trees. Inside, the walls had been painted a cobalt-blue that was so rich and deep it almost glowed, sprinkled with golden stars. There was a bed piled high with goose-down and velvet coverlets, and over it was written ‘Alec and Phoebe’ and their wedding date.
‘The honeymoon suite,’ said Tamsin proudly. ‘There’s a telescope outside, for stargazing. And a fridge filled with champagne and strawberries and cream, because that’s all you need on your wedding night.’
‘Who knew you were such a romantic?’
‘Aren’t we all, deep down?’ said Tamsin with a sigh.
Nikki put her arm around her friend as they walked back to the main site. The caterers and the florist had arrived to set up and the tech team were doing a soundcheck. This was the nerve-wracking bit, when potential disasters suddenly revealed themselves. But if Nikki had learned anything it was to have a back-up plan. She hadn’t encountered a problem she couldn’t solve yet. By ten o’clock, everything was set fair and the air was filled with expectation and excitement. Everyone on her team was passionate about delivering the dream wedding, right down to the parking attendant. She made sure of it.
‘It’s going to be perfect,’ she said to Tamsin, and as if on cue her phone rang and Phoebe’s name flashed up.
Her heart sank as she heard Phoebe sobbing.
‘I don’t think I can do this.’
‘What?’
‘What if the same thing happens? What if Alec runs out on me after we’re married?’
‘Phoebe. He’s not going to do that. He can’t wait to marry you!’
‘That’s what Charlie said! On the morning of our wedding, he said I was his dream come true. Six months later he was gone.’ Phoebe was hysterical, gulping on her words.
Nikki looked at her watch. Phoebe and Alec were due at the registry office at midday. Only two hours away.
‘Are you at your hotel?’ She’d checked them into different ones, so they could be apart the night before the wedding and get ready separately.
‘Yes.’
‘Wait there. I’ll be as quick as I can. Go and lie down on the bed. Breathe. It’s all going to be fine. I’m on my way.’ She hung up. ‘Shit,’ she said to Tamsin. ‘Cold feet. Do you know, I’ve never actually had this. Nerves, perhaps, but not total panic.’
‘Oh God.’ Tamsin held out her phone. ‘Shall I send her a photo of Mercury?’
‘It might make her panic even more. Forward it to me. And can you hold the fort here? Text me if anything crops up.’
‘Of course.’
‘Wish me luck.’
She ran back to the van, praying that nothing would go wrong on site while she was away, then drove hell for leather back into Speedwell. Luckily the Saturday traffic hadn’t built up yet, so she screeched into the car park of Phoebe’s hotel and ran to her room.
Phoebe opened the door in her dressing gown, looking as if she hadn’t had a wink of sleep.
‘Where’s hair and make-up?’ asked Nikki. ‘They should be here by now.’
‘I sent them away.’
