I nod. ‘Yes, Lucas, he’s six.’
She rubs her temples. ‘We have five kids and sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode. Last night the two boys had a stomach bug, so Jon and I were up half the night. This morning, our eldest daughter informs us over breakfast she wants to go on the contraceptive pill; our other daughter has been caught skipping school; and our little girl fell over the dog and hit her head. Then Jon proposes. I am exhausted and the last thing I want to do is get soppy. We can’t afford a big wedding because I haven’t worked for months due to my illness, and we stupidly cancelled our insurance policy three months before I got diagnosed. So, things are tight.’
She sighs and picks at a piece of fluff on her top. ‘I just wanted to get married somewhere nice and special. I suggested we wait for a bit.’ Her face has lost its scowl, and I can see the hint of a smile on her thin lips. ‘Sorry for downloading all that. I feel better now.’
‘I totally understand,’ I say. ‘Blimey, you have had your hands full.’
Donna laughs. ‘Poor Jon probably hates me now.’
‘How long have you and Jon been together?’
Fiddling with a gold heart on her necklace, Donna looks wistfully out of the window. ‘When we were kids. He used to pull my pigtails at school. I tried dating others, but Jon’s face never left my mind.’
‘I’m sure you both need time to cool off.’
Donna sits up straighter. ‘The kids have been on at us for years to get married. When I got sick, it was all they spoke about. We’ve never had much money though for a big wedding, so we are going to go to the registry office and then for a quiet meal in a restaurant on Friday. That’s all we can afford. Receptions are expensive. I just wanted something a bit more memorable where I can wear a nice dress and maybe feel a bit special.’
My eyes wander over the mini flower wall behind Donna’s head. It is then my next idea pings into my brain. It’s mad and both Noah and Frankie will say no, but we are in desperate times. Donna and Jon have a story to tell about love. ‘Have your reception here.’
Donna flicks her head towards me. ‘We couldn’t afford to hire this place. Jon and I don’t have much to spend on our day.’
‘You will be our first wedding reception and if you let us use your story on social media, I will let you hire it for free.’
Donna puts her hands to her mouth.
‘It will just be posh cupcakes and coffee or tea though. Is that okay?’
‘Oh my God, Alice, we would love to have our wedding reception here. We could take pictures of us against the flower walls or outside on the beach.’
Jon appears looking sad. Donna jumps up and hugs him. ‘Yes, I will marry you next Friday.’
‘What?’ Jon stares at Donna. ‘I came back in here for another row.’
Donna turns to me. ‘Alice has offered for us to do the reception here, with no hire fee.’
‘Really?’ He looks at me and I nod.
‘What about a dress?’ He turns back to Donna.
It’s then I remember the wedding dress which is hanging up at the back of my wardrobe. Remarkably it survived my drunken night on the camp bed. ‘What size are you, Donna?’
‘Twelve to fourteen – why?’
I take a deep breath. ‘I have a wedding dress which might fit you. It’s a long, A-line, ivory gold number.’
Donna’s eyes water. ‘Really?’
Feeling inspired I put my arm around Donna. ‘Yes. Let’s get you both married.’
After swapping contact details and agreeing timings plus a night for Donna to come to Dad’s to try on my dress, they leave holding hands.
Walking through to the café, I feel high as a kite. Noah’s mouth falls open after I tell him about what I have just organised.
‘For free?’ He looks like someone has given him a fright. ‘You do realise this is a business and we are supposed to make money?’
‘Noah, they will still pay for drinks and cakes. Look, I have a good feeling about this. If we can get their story on social media and how we have stepped into help them I think it will help turn public opinion. The challenge for us is that it’s next Friday.’
His blue eyes widen. ‘We are having a wedding reception here next Friday?’
