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‘What?’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll pay them anyway. But I can’t do this. I was awake all night worrying. I can’t live with the fear, that Alec’s going to leave me like Charlie did. I can’t go through that again.’
‘Have you spoken to him?’
‘No.’ Phoebe looked shamefaced. ‘I want you to do it. Because that’s how much of a coward I am. He’ll find somebody else. He’ll be fine.’
‘Phoebe.’ Nikki led her over to the window and sat her down in a chair. ‘Alec adores you. And he’s far, far too honourable to ask you to marry him unless he knew he was completely committed. The problem with your previous marriage wasn’t you. It was Charlie. There is absolutely no reason for history to repeat itself. It wasn’t you. It was him.’
‘Do you think so?’
‘Yes. And it’s quite normal to be nervous on the day. Especially if you didn’t sleep. Everything seems a bit daunting. But look.’ She got out her phone and showed her the photos Tamsin had forwarded her, of the meadow, and Mercury standing in his stable. ‘All that is waiting for you.’
Phoebe wiped the tears from her eyes as she looked at the pictures.
‘Now listen. Let’s do some manifesting. Breathe in and say to yourself “Today I’m going to marry the man of my dreams and we’re going to have a perfect day”.’
Phoebe shut her eyes. She was shaking. Her voice was wobbly as she repeated Nikki’s words.
‘Today I’m going to marry the man of my dreams and we’re going to have a perfect day.’
‘Good. Now say it again.’
Nikki made her say it three more times, and the third time Phoebe seemed to have some conviction. Out of her emergency bridal bag she found eye drops and Rescue Remedy.
‘Take these. Go and have a shower. I am going to get you to the altar on time if it kills me.’
She looked at her watch. Just under an hour. She was going to need help. Hair and make-up was out of her skill set. But she knew just who to call. How many times had the M and Ms pleaded with Juno to make them over? She’d watched in awe as her niece transformed her cousins into shining stars, almost unrecognisable. Nikki didn’t always feel comfortable with their transformations, but she knew Juno could work wonders with her box of tricks.
She dialled her number, praying she’d be able to help, and that she wasn’t out with a pack of dogs somewhere. ‘Can you get to the Fairmount? I’ve got an emergency bride scenario. Get a cab. I’ll pay you back.’
Twenty minutes later, Phoebe was out of the shower and Juno had arrived, carrying her extensive make-up kit and state-of-the-art hairdryer. They had thirty minutes to make Phoebe altar-ready and get her to the registry office.
‘This is Juno. She’s my niece and she’ll make you look beautiful,’ said Nikki.
Phoebe sat in the chair Juno had put ready for her. ‘I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot. I completely panicked.’ She had a bit more colour in her cheeks.
Nikki patted her shoulder. ‘It’s OK. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed.’
Phoebe took hold of her wrist. ‘Will you be my witness?’
‘Me?’
‘Yes. I don’t think I can go through with it unless you’re there.’
Nikki hesitated. There wouldn’t be time to get back to the meadow and double-check everything. The guests were due to start arriving at one, an hour after the ceremony, in time for Phoebe’s grand entrance on Mercury.
But if she didn’t get Phoebe to the registry office, there would be no point to any of it.
‘OK. I’ll just have to make a few calls.’
She left Juno putting primer onto Phoebe’s face with a big brush, and headed out into the car park to ring Tamsin. And she’d better call Alec. Make sure he hadn’t had a change of heart. She didn’t want to find out he’d done a bunk overnight.
He was there. In a three-piece-suit with a window-pane check and blue suede shoes as Nikki walked Phoebe in on her arm on the dot of midday.
‘You look beautiful,’ she whispered to Phoebe, and she did. Juno had pulled out the stops in record time, even managing to dry her hair and do an elaborate loose plait with some crystal beads woven through.
‘I can’t thank you enough,’ Phoebe whispered back. ‘I was just about to get in the car and drive home when you arrived.’
