Page 45 of A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft

Don’t you dare! Get yourself down to the bar, order a drink and do some celeb-spotting. Seriously, Pops, how often do you get to mingle with the stars? Put your big girl pants on and seek out your favourite vicar. My challenge to you is a selfie with him before I get there. Go! Go! Go!

I shook my head, laughing. What was he like? Cole Crawford would be needed for photographs immediately after the ceremony but perhaps I could do a walk-by selfie with him in the background a little later.

My bedroom was at the back of the hall and I could see a maze with a central fountain and a rose garden to the side of it. It was too early for the roses to be in bloom but it still looked inviting. I’d go downstairs in a bit and tuck myself away somewhere to do some discreet celeb-spotting when the ceremony finished. After that, I’d grab my coat and take a wander round the grounds.

A ping from my phone alerted me to another message from Phil.

From Phil

Let me guess. You’re planning to hide in a dark corner where no one can see you. PUT THAT ORANGE DRESS ON AND SHINE!!!!

To Phil

You know me far too well!

I accompanied my message with a selfie of me in my casual clothes, shrugging.

From Phil

Is that tomato soup on your T-shirt? Orange dress. Do it! Shooting into a meeting but I expect to see a selfie of you in your party dress when I come out. See you later. You can do this x

I looked down at my white T-shirt and tutted at the tomato soup slop. How hadn’t I noticed that earlier? Luckily I’d had my coat on when I’d been talking to Samantha and Josh or they’d have seen me looking a mess. I could put my hoodie on but if I was hoping to blend into the background, jeans and a hoodie weren’t the way forward – I’d stand out more as the only person not dressed up. I was going to have to put the dress on which meant I might as well refresh my make-up and tidy up my hair, not that it would take long. I never applied thick make-up and was blessed with hair that, once styled, tended to stay where it was.

When I was ready, I slipped my feet into the pair of sparkly strappy sandals Fizz had kindly loaned me. Unbeknown to me, Amber had messaged all the bridesmaids to ask if any of them were a size five shoe and could lend me some footwear for the wedding. Fizz had come up trumps with the footwear butSamantha had loaned me a necklace and earrings and Barney’s mum Natasha had loaned me a clutch bag, so my ensemble was complete.

A little later, I walked into the Juniper Lounge which was deserted except for a young female bartender wiping down the bar. She smiled at me and asked what I’d like, so I ordered a Pimm’s and lemonade. It was probably more of a summer’s day drink but I wanted some alcohol to take the edge off being somewhere unfamiliar and it felt a little early to start on the wine.

‘Too late for the wedding?’ she asked as she prepared my drink.

‘Erm, no… too early, actually. I’m here for the evening do.’

Her eyebrows quirked. ‘You do realise it’s only twenty past two?’

‘Yeah, I know. I’ve always been overly punctual. I’m meeting a friend first but he’s running late so I thought I’d grab a drink and catch sight of… erm…’ Would she judge me if I said Cole Crawford? Probably. I was already judging myself.

‘The newlyweds?’ she suggested when I didn’t finish my sentence. I nodded. ‘So which side are you? Bride or groom?’

‘Neither.’

Her eyebrows shot up once more and I couldn’t muster the energy to attempt an explanation, especially when I was still questioning that moment of madness where I’d said yes to coming. Best to end the transaction and get out of there.

‘It’s complicated. I’m a family friend.’ I gave my room number for the bill and grabbed my drink, slipping out into the hotel lobby. Sitting down on a high-backed chair which would give me a great view of the guests exiting the Magnolia Suite, I took a sip of my refreshing drink and commended myself on a good choice.

I sank a little further back into my chair, feeling very conspicuous and cursing myself for being so starstruck but, every time I considered backing out, I thought about Phil’s encouraging messages and pictured my mum’s face. She’d have loved to meet her idol and would have been tickled pink that I’d unexpectedly been presented with that opportunity so I wasn’t just doing this for me – I was doing it for her.

When the door to the Magnolia Suite opened with a burst of music and chatter, butterflies swirled in my stomach. The photographer emerged first, followed a little later by Amber and Barney, huge smiles on their faces. What an attractive couple they made. Amber’s lace wedding gown was stunning – a capped-sleeved sheath design which clung flatteringly to her hourglass figure before opening out into a fishtail with a train. A sheer panel on the back broke up the lace. Her auburn hair was worn up although, from a distance, I couldn’t see whether it was a simple or elaborate style.

They headed towards the Juniper Lounge and the rest of the bridal party followed them. I spotted Samantha, Zara, Phoebe and Fizz. One of the bridesmaids wearing sage green had auburn hair so had to be Amber’s sister Sophie. I recognised their brother, Brad, walking beside his onscreen wife in the soapLondonersand offscreen long-term partner, Tabatha Bellingham. Her character always dressed in dowdy clothes so it was lovely to see her resplendent in blush pink. The bridesmaid dresses were gorgeous, and I loved what the men were wearing too. Rather than morning suits, they looked much more countryside in green tweed waistcoats, chinos and brown shoes. Barney had a cream shirt on with a pink tie and the rest of his groomsmen were wearing sage-green shirts with dark green ties. As they walked away, I noticed that the back of Barney’s waistcoat was also a different colour to the others. I liked that subtle touch.

At the back of the wedding party was a groomsman and a young girl in a green dress with a net skirt who I guessed must be Barney’s best man, Joel, and his daughter, Imogen. Joel held Imogen’s hand while she twirled in a circle, her dress fanning out around her, her blonde ringlets bouncing. Her happy smile was so captivating. Oh, to be that young again when the simple act of twirling in a pretty dress could bring such joy. I glanced up at Joel and my stomach did a loop-the-loop. It was Mr Rugby Physique!

I leaned forward, my heart racing, but it was definitely him and he looked even more attractive than he had when we’d met at the garden centre. This time, it wasn’t just his looks that were drawing me in – it was that he was twirling too. He was dressed up at a celebrity-filled wedding in a posh venue and he was twirling and laughing with his daughter as though he didn’t care who saw him. The phrasedance like nobody’s watchingsprang to mind and I couldn’t take my eyes off the pair of them. I always admired adults who could be as uninhibited as young children, having fun and being completely in the moment. I wished I could be more like that. I sometimes felt that I lived up to theboring accountantstereotype but what was wrong with being straightforward, organised and reliable? I admired those who could throw caution to the wind and who either weren’t bothered by what people thought of them or gave a good impression of being that way. They disappeared out of view, but I was already excited about our paths crossing later, being properly introduced, having a conversation about something other than the tastiest ready meals.

And then came the moment I’d been waiting for – the father of the bride emerged and I held my breath. Cole Crawford in the flesh looking taller and even more handsome in real life than on the screen. He certainly didn’t look sixty-one, but neither did his wife, Jules. I was completely frozen to the spot and couldn’thave moved even if I wanted to, not that I’d have dreamed of interrupting them. I couldn’t even reach for my phone for a discreet selfie. Phil would be disappointed. My eyes burned and my throat was tight as I imagined Mum being here to share this with me. I couldn’t wait to tell Dad. I blinked back tears as it struck me that it would mean nothing to him. Cole Crawford no longer existed in his world. I took a deep breath, determined to hold it together.

The rest of the guests filed out and it was like a photocall forOK!orHellomagazines. I spotted Annabelle Coates who Amber had been telling me about, looking fabulously showbiz in a floral frock coat and wide-brimmed feather-strewn hat. There were so many other celebrities that I felt quite overwhelmed, completely starstruck and very conscious that, even though I was hidden from view, it was somewhat cheeky of me to be here. No way could I take any photos.

It took quite some time for all the guests to file out of the Magnolia Suite and head into the bar for the drinks reception. Despite feeling like a gatecrasher, I was glad I’d come down. I’d imagined Mum sitting beside me giving me a running commentary about who they were dating, any awards they’d won recently and exciting future plans as well as sharing her observations about her favourite dresses, hats, shoes and handbags. One of the many things I’d loved about Mum was how, despite being celebrity-obsessed, she only focused on the positives and never gossiped. If she didn’t like what someone was wearing, she wouldn’t voice it.If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.If only more people were like that.I’d learned so much from Mum about looking on the bright side – from Dad too – and it angered me that they’d been taken away from me, both in such a cruel way. I was determined to do them proud and embrace life with positivity like they’d done.

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