Chapter Forty-One
Ashleigh – The Everdene Hotel, Loganbury
Ashleigh had never been to the Everdene Hotel at Christmas time. She’d visited in the summer holidays occasionally, when she and Beth were teenagers, but in general, they’d met up in Brighton because it definitely offered more in entertainment for adolescents.
The place looked like it had been dropped right out of a Hallmark movie. Ashleigh had no way of knowing if that was always the case or they’d gone all out for Beth’s wedding, but it was absolutely gorgeous. Everywhere Ashleigh looked there were twinkling fairy lights and dark green garlands with deep red berries. And Christmas trees, in every room, a Christmas tree, from the seven foot ones in the lobby and lounge and bar, to the smaller one in the bedroom that Beth’s mum, Rosie, showed her to.
‘Come up for a cup of tea once you’re settled. Beth’s staying with me tonight.’ Rosie pointed out the staff only door at the end of the corridor that led up to their flat. ‘She can’t wait to see the dress.’
Ashleigh glanced at the large navy dress bag she’d just carried carefully up the stairs and laid out on the bed. The smile she turned on poor Rosie was more like a grimace. ‘Great,’ she squeaked. ‘I’ll be up there in five minutes.’
No hanging about then. She supposed it was a good thing to do it before she unpacked – if Beth hated it, Ash could just take her things straight back out to the car and drive herself home. Her stomach twisted.
‘Have you got someone else coming to join you?’
Ashleigh shook her head and concentrated on trying to breathe and converse without puking. ‘Going solo.’
‘And why not?’ Rosie smiled and Ash was thankful to see there was no pity in her eyes. That wasn’t to say there wouldn’t be from other guests, but Ash knew there were enough friendly faces here, thanks to the times they’d gone out and the chats they’d had in their WhatsApp group that she wasn’t going to feel like a Billy-No-Mates. ‘I’m so pleased Beth always kept in touch with you after primary school.’
‘Me too.’ Ash smiled and nodded.
As Rosie closed the door behind her, Ash realised that she and Beth had been having a long-distance relationship for years. Not a romantic relationship perhaps, but a friendship, where they’d been in different places, further away than was convenient to pop over for a cup of tea, with other commitments to distract them, but they’d always come back together because they had the desire to, and a strong bond.
She’d thought about it before when she compared Olivier’s relationship with his mum to her own, but never connected the dots that she herself had actually had a long-distance relationship with someone that worked. And if it worked with Beth, maybe it really could work with Olivier too. There could be months when they didn’t see each other or speak, but when they caught up, it was always just as easy and enjoyable. It was always worth the wait.
Of course, that was before Ash had promised Beth she’d make her wedding dress. This could be the end of a beautiful friendship.
Ashleigh went into the bathroom, to brush her hair and freshen up and when she came out she checked her phone. Two messages. One from Ro, wishing her good luck – he’d seen the dress yesterday before they went shopping and was in ecstasies about how gorgeous it was. Remembering his reaction yesterday calmed Ashleigh’s nerves a little.
But she’d put so much into it. And she’d enjoyed the whole process, even while she was terrified. She didn’t want Beth to just ‘like’ it – she wanted her toloveit.
The other message was from Selina, hoping she had fun at the wedding and telling her that Darren had just been puked on by a small child who had obviously indulged in one too many gingerbread men. Ashleigh laughed out loud and put her phone back away. She’d answer them later and tell them the verdict.
Judgement day was here.
When Rosie let Ash into her flat, Beth was sitting on the big teal sofa wearing a dressing gown, obviously all ready to try the dress on. At the sight of her eagerness all of Ashleigh’s nerves came surging back times a million.
Beth bounced up with a grin and came over to hug her. ‘Hi, Ash. Are you okay?’
‘Honestly. I think I might puke.’
Beth’s face instantly fell. ‘You’re not well? Oh no. We don’t have to do this now. You go have a rest. Is there something we can get you?’
Ashleigh took a breath and forced a laugh. ‘That won’t help. I’m nervous about whether you’re going to like your dress or not.’
‘Oh no please, don’t be.’ Beth’s dark eyes were wide and full of sympathy. ‘Shall we just go straight through and get it over with? Then we can have a glass of bubbly or something to celebrate.’
Ash nodded and started to follow her friend to the door that led to the little hallway where the bedrooms and bathroom were. Rosie was about to follow them, when Beth stopped her. ‘Not you, Mum, I want to see your face when I come in and show you, okay?’
‘Okay, okay.’ Rosie folded her arms and looked around the room like she didn’t know how she was going to contain herself for that long.
Ashleigh’s heart rate was going through the roof as they went into Rosie’s bedroom because it had a full-length mirror. Beth already had a box out on the bed with the flat pair of shoes she’d chosen, slip-ons with white lace and tiny gems. Subtle but pretty and they looked comfortable too. She also had a simple cashmere bolero in light blue to go over the dress in the evening if she got cold.
With shaky hands, Ash undid the bag, Beth hovering over her shoulder.
‘This is amazing, Ash,’ Beth whispered as the white satin gown came into view. ‘It looks even better than I imagined. I can’t believe you made it.’
Ashleigh swallowed. ‘Well, that’s a good start. Let’s see how it fits and what you think of it when it’s on.’
