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Chapter Sixteen
Layla pulled her coat closer around her. After yesterday’s clear and fairly good weather, the chill was back with a vengeance this morning. Shoving her hands in her pockets, she turned and opened the iron gate leading to Diane and Harry’s house. She’d arranged to meet Graham for a walk on the beach before they started work.
Stifling a yawn, she knocked on the door. Her alarm had woken her again this morning, so she’d been helping Elsie and Teresa with the morning’s baking. She knocked again. This time, she could hear muffled voices and movement coming from inside before the door burst open.
‘Morning. Come on in for a moment. I’m just trying to find my phone.’ Graham stepped aside, waiting until she was inside before closing the door behind her and kissing her on the lips. ‘Ooh, you smell good.’
‘Of pasties and bread?’ Layla grinned.
‘I was thinking more of cupcakes and cookies.’ Graham licked his lips as a loud thud sounded from the other room.
‘Is everything okay?’ She glanced towards the closed door.
‘Umm, yes and no, I’d say.’ Graham grimaced.
Layla raised her eyebrows.
‘Harry has misplaced the special silver pen he and Diane were using to write out the table plan.’
‘Oh, right.’
‘Come on through.’ Graham pulled open the door, which opened through to the living room. Sofa cushions were lying in a heap on the floor, a mound of blankets and throws cascaded down the cushion heap amid a sea of bridal magazines and wedding stationery scattered across the floor.
Diane stood up from where she’d been peering beneath the sofa and held out her arms. ‘Welcome to the madhouse, Layla.’
‘Morning.’ Layla looked around. ‘Can I help?’
‘Yes, please. That would be great.’ Harry rose from behind the sofa, his hair ruffled and his cheeks pink. ‘I’ve lost the special pen I was writing the little cards for the tables with. The name card things. Anyway, it’s gone. Just disappeared into thin air.’
‘I’ve told him not to worry and to just use the gold one which came in the pack but...’ Diane shrugged.
‘I just want things to be perfect, that’s all.’ Harry stepped across the mountain of cushions and throws and threw his arms around Diane, kissing her on top of the head.
‘Haha, I know you do, but I really couldn’t care less what colour the names on the place cards are written in.’ Diane laughed as she hugged him back.
‘A mixture of gold and silver might be quite nice anyway.’ Layla suggested.
‘That’s what we’ve both been telling him.’ Graham chuckled.
‘Okay, okay. A mixture it will be. Hey, it’ll feel like Christmas.’ Harry shrugged dramatically.
‘I love Christmas.’ Diane crossed her arms and pouted.
‘What? More than me?’ Harry raised his eyebrows at her, an expression of mock-shock written all across his face.
‘Well...’ Diane grinned and indicated the room. ‘Let’s get this lot cleared up and finish off those place cards.’
‘I’ll help.’ Bending down, Layla began picking up the cushions.
‘No, please don’t. This is our mess. We’ll clear it up. You two go on your walk before work.’ Diane smiled. ‘Thank you for offering, though.’
‘Yep, let’s get our skates on before they change their minds.’ Graham chuckled as he took Layla’s hand and led her out into the hallway.
As she stepped out into the garden, Layla frowned. ‘I feel bad just leaving like that and not helping.’
‘Ah, don’t. They’ve both been up most of the night panicking about wedding plans.’ Graham covered his mouth with the back of his hand in an attempt to disguise his yawn.
‘It looks as though they weren’t the only ones...’ Layla waited until he’d locked the front door behind them before taking his hand in hers.
