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I reach up to put my arms around Alex’s neck. ‘Now, where were we when Brandon so inconsiderately interrupted us?’
‘Hard to remember,’ he says. ‘Talking about the weather, perhaps? Or your mother.’
I jump. ‘I knew there was something I wanted to ask you!’
‘Annie, I was joking,’ he says, reaching for me again.
I hold him away from me. ‘What were you saying about our parents?’
‘Haven’t you figured that out yet?’ he says. ‘It appears that both sets of parents had far more idea about our feelings for each other than we did. My mother was a bit standoffish with yours for a while after they first moved here because she had the impression that Liz’s horrid daughter had hurt her baby boy. And your mother was convinced that Elaine’s awful son had played fast and loose with her daughter’s affections.
But they got together last year over some cake stall or other, and they got along much better than they expected. That turned into lunches and days out. Before you know it, the pair of them were comparing notes and figuring out the real situation.
They put two and two together and came up with, if not exactly four, then at least some approximation of it. After that, it was child’s play to a pair of schemers like them. But first, our fathers had to be dragged away from the golf course and drafted in as co-conspirators. Mum was the first to come up with the idea of this vow renewal. Dad wasn’t too keen on the idea, but then your mother got involved. In the end, he decided it was easier to give in.’
‘What about my dad?’ I say.
‘He was just relieved not to be the one standing up there in front of everyone. Mind you, from what my mother says, he may not be off the hook yet. According to her, Liz is very keen on this whole vow renewal idea. Your dad may find himself marching up the aisle much sooner than he imagines.’
‘As long as she doesn’t get any ideas about needing a bridesmaid,’ I say.
His lips twitch. ‘Apparently, that was Plan B. If you weren’t completely blown away by my James Bond-like appearance in a tux, and my stellar performance during my wedding speech, they were going to try again. This time with you in a low-cut bridesmaid’s dress designed to catch my attention and finally galvanise me into action.’
‘If they pick a day like today,’ I say, ‘I’ll be wearing jeans and three sweaters and a woolly hat and gloves.’
‘And Cuthbert and I will be watching you, thinking you’re the most beautiful woman we’ve ever laid eyes on,’ he says gently.
I feel the tears sting my eyes. ‘And to think this wonderful plan might all have gone wrong. I almost didn’t come home this year. In fact, I only agreed because Mum is so upset about Jamie emigrating –’ I break off.
‘– to America?’ he says.
I sigh. ‘Don’t tell me that was all made up too?’
‘Don’t be so suspicious!’ he says. ‘It doesn’t become you. Your mother got it almost right. Jamie and his girlfriend are going to Florida for a fortnight next month. Apparently, she wants to visit Disney World.’
‘My mother really is a piece of work,’ I say.
‘Very true,’ he agrees. ‘But mine gives her a run for her money. So, the only thing left to decide is in which house we’ll be eating our Christmas dinner.’
‘What time do your parents eat?’ I ask.
‘We always have our Christmas dinner in the evening.’
‘And we always have ours at lunchtime,’ I say. ‘You know what that means?’
‘I hope you have a good appetite,’ he says. ‘We could try and book somewhere else today if you’d prefer to be alone. I could call The Red Lion and see whether they have any vacancies.’
‘We’d probably end up sharing a table with Brandon and Stephen. Anyway, our parents seem to have gone to rather a lot of trouble for us. The least we can do to thank them is eat two Christmas dinners.’
‘You won’t say that after you’ve tasted Aunt Em’s turkey,’ he warns me. ‘But I agree. They had no business meddling like this, but I’m very glad they did. And we may not have to eat two dinners every year. We may be able to invite them all to ours one day.’
‘Don’t get ahead of yourself,’ I warn him. ‘If you start talking like that, Mum will be decorating nurseries and registering for preschools before the Christmas pudding has been eaten.’
‘I won’t,’ he promises. ‘Anyway, she’ll be quite busy for a while. She has a wedding of her own to plan. Now that our mothers have the bit between their teeth, I don’t think your father will get away with just the one case of Cristal. None of them will have time to notice what you and I are up to.’
‘Don’t you believe it,’ I say, glancing back at the house where the corner of the curtain has been stealthily pulled back again.
I look up at Alex, a wave of happiness washing over me once more. ‘But I don’t care! She’s worked hard enough for her Christmas miracle. We should let her enjoy it.’
‘I agree,’ he says. ‘By the way, if I know anything about your mother, the moment Christmas is over, this will be all around the village.’
He pulls me even closer and smiles down at me. ‘So, why don’t you and I really give her something to gossip about?’
