from being outside so much more. She perched a flower garland around her hair (this was for Adity’s ‘rustic’ theme; all the guests were to wear them either around their neck – men – or on their hair – women).
Adity and Ed would have a ‘proper’ wedding later in the year – Ed had hinted at it being on the beach – once they were both at university. Adity’s family wanted them to have a Hindu blessing too, and they’d paid for their flights already – more for the sake of Adity’s grandparents in Bali, than anything else. Adity’s mother was Australian and her father was Indonesian. They weren’t really particularly religious, but because Adity’s grandparents were religious, they were insisting on a blessing so they wouldn’t ‘lose face’ in the community as she was marrying a Christian – and because Adity’s grandmother, Granny G, was ill. They’d been told she’d never make the flight to the UK for the formal wedding.
Maddie was wearing her hair down and she’d worked hard at her make-up this time, rather than her usual ‘scrubbed clean’ look. She flicked her hair off her shoulders and put some tiny rosebud earrings in her ears; Ed had given them to her when he was ten – she was sure they were from a Christmas cracker, but she didn’t care. They were one of the few personal things she had left after selling up so much to the debt collectors.
She looked in the mirror and saw a woman with hope in her eyes: would he come tonight?
54
By 8.30 p.m. a shadowy dusk had settled on the garden and the breeze from the sea was chilly but Maddie didn’t feel cold at all. Carole and Rachel were deep in conversation and Alan was laughing after Lauren said something to him; Ed was turning the haloumi on the BBQ, filling the air with smoky tomato marinade; Sue was topping up glasses. The cow was tethered in a far part of the garden, offering the occasional ‘moo’.
Taffie was barking excitedly at it and Maddie had to shoo him away a few times.
‘You look stunning, my love!’ Rachel smiled as Maddie wandered up to her. ‘Your hair’s fabulous like that and the sea air seems to agree with you. No more steamy dinner halls!’
‘I am enjoying it here.’ Maddie glanced at the shimmering sea over the wall. ‘But I will need to sell up soon…’ Maddie started to explain, but then, for some reason, found she didn’t really want to dwell on it and changed the subject. ‘Having a good time?’
Rachel and Carole both murmured their delight and held their glasses out as Sue came past them with a refill.
Maddie took a gulp of her wine. Adity was holding Ed’s hand and they were chatting to a group of choir members. They looked so natural, like they’d been together all their lives. Adity was wearing a beaded dress, the colour of hot red chillies, with a gold trim. With her beautiful toffee-coloured skin and dark hair, she looked radiant. She watched as Ed pointed to the cow, and Adity threw her head back and laughed.
Rachel followed her gaze and nodded over to the couple. ‘They look beautiful together.’
Maddie nodded.
‘Isn’t it lovely, to have their engagement party at Maris Cottage.’ Rachel touched Maddie’s forearm. ‘Olive would have loved this.’
Maddie nodded. ‘She would! She’d be up with Lauren right now, having a sing-along! But you know, a part of her is very much alive in this cottage. Her soul’s still here, giving me inspiration.’
‘I’m sure it is.’ Rachel leant over and straightened Maddie’s flower garland.
Maddie rubbed her hands together. It was now getting a bit chilly after all. She glanced at her watch. Nine o’clock; her heart sank a little.
Back in the kitchen, Maddie was rummaging in a drawer for a bottle opener when she heard the familiar click of boots in the hallway. Her stomach did an involuntary somersault as she froze.
‘Maddie.’ He stood motionless in the doorway and cocked his head to one side as she turned around to face him. For a moment time stood still and it was all she could do not to run up and put her arms around him. She squeezed both hands into tight fists instead.
‘Hi.’ It came out shrill, and wrong and awkward. She folded her arms across her chest as the space in the room between them filled with silence.
He was wearing a pale blue linen shirt and a navy jumper over dark