She checked her earrings were in tightly enough, paranoid about losing one. ‘Honestly? No, not anymore. I’m glad he came, but I’m glad he left it so long I’d already begun to find my own way, if that makes sense.’
‘And what about this plan of yours?’ She hadn’t mentioned it since Dario’s appearance in the Cove.
‘My life plan? It’s still on, and even more so now. I think if I had any doubts left in my mind then Dario’s appearance has cemented it for me. I could’ve fallen into his arms and started a family tomorrow, done it the easier way, but I know I don’t want that.’
Jade linked an arm through her sister’s again as both of them beamed into the mirror one more time. ‘Come on, we’ve got a wedding to get to.’
*
A light melody came from the barn as they approached, going in the little gate at the front of Barney’s cottage, following the path that turned and ran along past the front window and through the arch of juniper trees into the courtyard with a view of the barn. The barn doors, flung open to welcome everyone, were held back on their hooks and already people had gathered around chatting excitedly, glasses in hand, awaiting the nuptials and the ball. Lois’s four grandchildren who’d arrived from Ireland a few days earlier were playing outside, burning off their energy by racing one another alongside the barn and back again. Jade overheard one of their parents say they were hoping they’d exhaust themselves enough that they were quiet as Lois and Barney said their vows. Then they could let loose again once the music started up and the ball began.
Jade and Celeste, who’d both worn trainers to walk here, changed into their heels and put their trainers with all the other pairs of more sensible shoes piled inside the back door out of the way. The sun was a long way off setting on what was a glorious day and when the girls went inside the barn it was a sight to behold. A long table on the far wall showcased the wedding cake as well as the extra cupcakes, all with the same pale-lemon icing and intricate flower-and-leaf detail. There was plenty of room alongside for the rest of the food, which for now was safely tucked away in the kitchen after Etna and Tracy had delivered it ready to be brought out later.
Fairy lights looped around wooden posts and ran along beams, white linen material billowed from the rafters like clouds and the stage had chairs for the musicians who were yet to arrive. A charity collection box stood on the old upturned beer barrel by the door along with the guestbook and a vase of white hydrangeas, and Jade pushed money into the box before signing in with a kind message for the happy couple. She left a pile of business cards beside the book too, as per Barney’s suggestion to drum up a little extra custom.
She gave Barney a hug and a kiss, he looked so nervous. ‘Is Lois getting ready for her grand entrance?’
With one hand he smoothed down grey hair that had been cut yesterday – she’d heard him chatting with Celeste in the bakery, telling her how much he was looking forward to today. ‘She certainly is, and Etna is upstairs in the cottage plying her with champagne, apparently.’ He held up his phone. ‘She’s been texting me.’
‘Only forty-five minutes to go before people arrive,’ Jade beamed, excited and doing her best not to make it obvious she was looking around for Linc. The butterflies that had once zipped around whenever Dario was near now lay dormant unless she thought about the Cove’s newest arrival.
‘Thanks for coming early and agreeing to be on the door.’
‘We’re not bouncers,’ Celeste grinned after she’d signed in to the guestbook and slotted money into the charity collection.
‘Definitely not in those dresses.’ He’d been in another world but took in their outfits now. ‘It must be my nerves, I apologise. You both look beautiful, exquisite. Remind me again how it can be possible that you are both single?’
‘Don’t you worry about us on your special day,’ said Jade, ‘and we’re happy to help out, keep everyone in order.’ Some years they had people show up to the ball without the best of intentions, namely out-of-towners, but it was easy to tell the real attendees apart from those who were only after free booze and a feed.
Jade spotted Valerie, who’d made an entrance with her husband. Thomas was in his baby carrier held against his dad’s chest and Valerie had already gone over to inspect the flower arrangements. She was clearly itching to be back at work and even adjusted one or two of the stems in a tall vase at the corner of the stage before moving on to another.
The florist had well and truly delivered on the flower front, with vases dotted on every surface possible – the other barrels, tables along the far wall ready for the food, the table with the cake and cupcakes. The arrangements came in all different sizes, comprising sprays of lemon yellow, violet, shiny foliage to offset the beauty of the flowers, and the scent carried around the barn with the air of summer filtering in through the barn doors.
Barney looked relieved when the string quartet turned up in a van and parked in the gravel courtyard. He rushed to greet them and was soon busy chatting and organising, helping them set up on the stage, while the girls took their positions by the doors.
The sun high up above gave the barn a golden glow, magical and romantic at the same time. Guests who knew Barney well and people who didn’t but came to support the charity event soon filled the inside although this year’s tickets had made it clear the wedding would take place first, the Wedding Dress Ball an hour after that. But, it seemed, Barney’s popularity had drawn most people here for the earlier time, regardless of how well they knew him. It was standing room only in front of the stage and the small space carved out for the nuptials, with a few chairs dotted around for anyone who needed a seat.
Celeste handled arrivals like a pro having been joined by Barney’s best man, Harvey, and while they were manning the doors Jade slipped upstairs to check on the bride-to-be, who was getting ready in the spare room.
‘Knock, knock.’ She softly tapped on the closed bedroom door and Etna opened it up and told her to come in. Jade found Lois on tenterhooks just like the groom. She clasped her hands together, fingertips beneath her chin. ‘You look beautiful, Lois. Barney might very well pass out when he sees you.’
In a three-quarter-sleeved champagne silk-and-lace dress, its sequins on the bodice making Lois’s eyes twinkle as much as her smile as she adjusted one of the pointed sleeves to sit on her forearm, layers of material falling in pleats on the skirt section that hung from her slender waist and finished a few inches above her ankles, she asked, ‘Will I do?’
‘You look perfect,’ Jade told her as Etna took herself off downstairs to use the bathroom before the ceremony.
When there was another knock on the door and Lois’s son leaned in to see whether his mum was ready, Lois made the introductions and readied herself to walk down to the barn, towards her husband-to-be.
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ Jade smiled and carefully made her own way downstairs again.
She paused in the hallway and sat on the carver chair for a moment. It was five o’clock. Dario would be in the air by now; he was on his way home. She’d felt terrible turning him down but she knew that in a few weeks or months he’d realise he had to let go too and she hoped he’d find someone who made him truly happy.
Etna emerged from the downstairs bathroom and checked the bouncy waves of her grey hair and her lipstick application once more in the mirror in the hallway. ‘Why are you sitting out here? You should be over in the barn.’
‘Just gathering myself, it’s been a busy couple of days.’
Etna paused beside the carver chair. ‘The Italian?’
‘Dario,’ Jade smiled. It was funny how people called him “The Italian” as though it was the only way to describe him. ‘He’ll be on his way back to Italy now.’
