Love at the Little Wedding Shop by the Sea - Jane Linfoot Page 0,71
to plan that make the days especially memorable.’
I’m giving Bill a nudge. ‘You wouldn’t have to stop at one wedding either. You could do six a year, like they do at the manor.’
Poppy’s straight in to back me up. ‘That way they’re really exclusive, we stay familiar with the venue, and we all do well out of them.’
Jess has joined us now and is chipping in. ‘It’s such a spectacular setting that you wouldn’t even need to advertise. Brides by the Sea could handle all the bookings for you – our rates are very reasonable.’ You have to admire the way Jess seizes every opportunity.
I have to close the deal. ‘I’ll take that as a yes then?’
Bill puts his hand up. ‘Hang on, don’t let’s get too carried away.’
Immie lets out a triumphant shriek. ‘Too late mate. This is St Aidan. We all pitch in and make things happen, that’s how it works here.’
Jess is shouting over Poppy’s head. ‘Better still, Bart and I have been prevaricating too long. Getting married at Cockle Shell Castle would be way more practical for us than Klosters or St Kitts. We’ll take the second of your six slots, Bill.’
Bill’s opening and closing his mouth. ‘B—b—but I haven’t agreed.’
I reach forward and pat Bill on the arm. ‘It’s obviously such a great idea, I think they’ve decided for you. I’ll be in touch to finalise the details in the morning, Bill.’ I’m not one for speeches or proclamations, but as I look around the circle of smiling faces I realise I’m going to have to do more here.
Jess waves a champagne bottle. ‘Let’s all drink to that! Give us a toast, Milla.’
Casper’s blond head pops up next to her. ‘Don’t forget, Here Comes the (B)Ride! will give you the coolest wedding cars in town.’
I’ve drunk so much lemonade, I’m going to be peeing for England tonight. I scuttle back to my favourite urn for a re-fill. I have zero idea how to do this properly, but I grab a chair and leap up onto it anyway. Now’s my chance to set this in stone in front of as many people as possible, so I raise my glass. ‘Here’s to St Aidan’s newest, most exclusive wedding venue! To Brides and Grooms at Cockle Shell Castle!’ It feels like the more I throw in, the harder it will be for Bill to duck out of this later. ‘And yay to Captain Kirk and his up-coming wedding day!’ No idea why I called Nic that in front of everyone, but I throw back my head again, down my entire half pint, narrowly miss choking on a raspberry, but from the roar around the group it seems to have worked because everyone joins in.
As the shouting dies down, I’m still on the chair, and it’s suddenly a lot more wobbly than before.
Nic’s staring up at me. ‘I thought you weren’t drinking, Milla?’
‘I’m not. Well, not apart from my specials.’
He stares up at the roof. ‘And how many of those have you had?’
I screw my eyes closed and let the garnishes float past the insides of my eyelids just like I do with sheep jumping over a fence when I’m trying to drop off. ‘Thirteen maybe.’ Give or take a couple.
Nic’s face crumples. ‘I wish you’d told me you were still finding weddings difficult, rather than hitting the gin.’
‘I’m drinking CORDIAL! From the thingy with the—’ it’s not helpful that I hiccough ‘—wafty leaves on the picture.’
Nic turns and comes back with my urn. ‘This one?’
This time my hic comes out with my nod. ‘Yu-p.’
‘Jeez, Milla!’ Nic’s shaking his head. ‘Sure, it’s got ferns, but this is exactly what it says on the tin, extra strength gin infused with herbs.’
‘But it can’t be. It was on the leaf green fruit juice table.’
‘No, Milla, those were the forest green speciality extra-strong spirits. I was using the alcohol-free table.’
‘But what about your cocktails?’
He’s shaking his head. ‘Those can wait for another time. One of us needed to stay sober to get you home.’
As the words sink in, I let out a moan. ‘Oh crap. On the upside it tasted totally fant … fant … fant … fant … abulous.’ I’m not sure that’s even a word. As for standing on a see-through chair, I can’t recommend it. It’s like those glass floors you get in tall, expensive buildings that no one can walk on because they give you vertigo – only worse. When I look down past the toes of my