Love at the Little Wedding Shop by the Sea - Jane Linfoot Page 0,81
shop, this morning he’s off the phwoar scale.
‘There’s only three of those electric blue cabbies in the country. Then we brought the Aston along in case anyone’s looking for super-smooth, and of course the ever-popular VW camper.’
‘So how many weddings have you done so far, Casper?’
‘Er …’
I’m staring at the pale blue paint on the flat front of the van with the matching flower garlands hanging in the windscreen when it hits me. ‘Casper, you’ve forgotten your ribbons.’
‘My what?’
His blank stare makes me think that people as young as him might have a next-generation name for them. ‘Those strips of satin that drape across the front of the bonnet on every bridal car across the entire world.’
‘There should be ribbons? Really?’
I nod. ‘Wedding cars usually have them.’
He lets out a low groan. ‘Oh shit, that’s me busted!’ The throat cutting sign he makes should be crass, but the way he does it it’s cute. ‘Okay, I hold my hands up, I’m a total wedding virgin who hasn’t ever had a booking – but my cars are amazing, my tux is Armani and I’m desperate to make a go of this. What’s a bit of ribbon between friends?’ Despite those startling blue eyes and that agonised smile, he’s also got the cheek to talk himself out of a tight corner. At every other fair I’ve done he’d have been having this awkward conversation with Phoebe.
I clear my throat and try to sound like I’m not a pushover. ‘As your cars are the first thing couples see, we need to get this right.’ Another thought hits me. ‘If they don’t have ribbons on you’ll definitely miss out on bookings.’
He’s screwing his face up in the bright light. ‘So where would I get these ribbon things from?’
‘They have them at the shop.’ Not that that’s much help, seeing as most people from there are here, and the people back in St Aidan will have back-to-back appointments.
His expression’s a lot like Merwyn’s as he watches you eat the last bite of your biscuit. ‘We brought the cars yesterday, but I’m here on my own today.’
‘Is there anyone you know in St Aidan who could drop by the shop and bring it over. Then I’ll help you put it on.’ My heart’s squishing for him in the same way it would if he were a small boy who’d dropped his ice cream.
He rubs his forehead. ‘Good thinking, I’ll get Nic Trendell onto it.’
Worst idea ever. ‘I’m sure he’ll be busy.’
He digs in his pocket for his phone. ‘The amount of work my dad gives him, he won’t be able to refuse. It’s ringing!’
However much I feel like putting a pillow over his face and not letting go, I manage to smile. ‘If that’s you sorted, I’ll go and see if everyone else is okay.’ In other words, I’ll go and hide inside until Nic’s been and gone. If this is the worst it gets I can just about cope.
I reckon I’ll have at least an hour before Nic arrives so first I give out some fizz, then I do another circuit. Then I have to find a phone charger for someone who’s forgotten theirs and take trays of coffees round to the stall holders. Then I stand in for Jess by the dresses while she goes off to talk to a couple interested in a wedding at the manor.
By the time I realise Casper’s cars are still without ribbons, it’s three in the afternoon and I’m in the courtyard being handed the biggest ice cream cone in the history of the world, piled high with strawberry, lemon, and blackcurrant scoops. I’m wondering where to begin when a voice behind me makes me jump so hard I nearly lose the whole lot down my front.
‘You’ve got time to eat ice creams?!’ It’s Nic, his voice rising in disbelief. ‘If that’s the size of them, I’ll have what you’re having.’
Somehow, I get control of the wobble on my cone and smile too. ‘Nic, what a surprise!’ I’m telling the truth – when he hadn’t arrived by now, I’d assumed he wouldn’t be coming at all.
He’s giving me a hard stare. ‘I heard you needed ribbons.’
I take the bag he’s pushing towards me and hand him my ice cream. ‘Here, you have this, I’m actually not that hungry anymore.’
He laughs. ‘What, have you eaten too many free samples?’ He gives me a nudge. ‘Hey, you’re wearing my favourite dress. If you need help holding it down in these