AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty Six
Standing up from thesofa, Evie smoothed down the soft, dusky pink material of her bridesmaid dress.
‘Here she comes.’ Daisy held open the living room door as Elsie walked in.
‘You look beautiful.’ Evie grinned and carefully picked up the bridal bouquet, passing it to Elsie.
‘Thank you, love. You look beautiful, too. That pink really suits you.’ Taking the flowers, Elsie hugged Evie’s shoulders.
A loud beep sounded from outside the bakery.
‘That’ll be your wedding car.’ Daisy held her arm out, ready to link with Elsie’s. ‘Shall we?’
‘Yes, we shall.’ Looking around at the living room, Elsie brushed away a tear. ‘The next time I see this place, I’ll be married.’
‘That’s if we get there on time.’ Daisy laughed.
‘Right, yes, of course. I suppose we’d better get a wriggle on.’ Elsie smiled at Evie before linking arms with Daisy.
‘Elsie, I’m afraid we’re under strict instructions from Diane to cover your eyes as you walk through the bakery. She wants it to be a surprise when you walk in for the reception.’
‘Oh, only Diane.’ Elsie chuckled as she passed Evie her bouquet, covered her eyes with one hand and took Daisy’s in her other.
‘Are you ready? No peeking?’
‘No peeking.’
Evie followed Daisy and Elsie through the bakery and pulled open the bakery door, holding it open for them.
‘Can I open my eyes yet?’
‘One moment.’ Evie closed the door behind them. ‘Yep, you can open them now.’
Opening her eyes. Elsie blinked. ‘Is that my wedding car?’ She pointed to a pale blue classic MG.
‘It certainly is, ma’am. My name is Phillip and I’ll be your driver for the day.’ Phillip stepped forward and opened the door.
‘I’m sure I recognise this car.’ Walking across to the MG, Elsie ran her hand over the bonnet and looked at the driver. ‘Did this beauty happen to have a tiny chip on the bonnet, just about here?’
Phillip removed his flat cap and frowned. ‘Well, yes, it did. Several years ago, though.’
Elsie grinned. ‘I knew it. I knew I recognised her. I can’t believe Ian managed to find and book the exact same car.’
‘How do you know it had a chip?’ Daisy peered at the bonnet and ran her hand over the smooth, perfect metal.
‘Now that would be telling.’ Elsie chuckled. ‘No, I’m only teasing. Ian and I took Ollie and his sister, Helen, to a vintage car show when they were teenagers and your husband...’ Elsie looked at Daisy and raised her eyebrows. ‘Only started playing football with a stone, didn’t he? Well, this beauty became the victim of a bad aim.’
Phillip chuckled. ‘My dad owned her then. I remember that day. He came home and told us the story of a stone chipping the bonnet. He said he’d been offered a lifetime’s supply of pasties and cakes in addition to the repair being paid for.’
‘That’s right. I’d forgotten I’d given him free food.’ Elsie chuckled as she climbed into the car, patting the seat next to her as Daisy and Evie climbed in too. ‘I could get used to luxury like this, being driven around in a gorgeous MG like this.’ She ran her index finger gently over a peony petal in her bouquet. ‘How on earth did Ian manage to hire that exact same car?’
‘I have no idea.’ Daisy laughed. ‘You’ve given me some good ammunition for teasing Ollie, though.’
