Page 114 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
‘It’ll depend on Honey,’ Pearl pointed out. ‘What do you think she’ll say?’
‘A resounding yes,’ I said gloomily, firing off a text to Honey, giving her advance warning in case this Cassy person contacted her before we got back. ‘But then, if she does, perhaps she’ll take centre stage instead of me!’
*
That evening in the pub, over a lasagne like none I’d ever tasted before, Honey told us all about her long phone discussions with Cassy Chance. As I feared, she was all for the televisionprogramme and the brilliant publicity it would give to both her books and the museum.
‘But this episode will be a real last-minute rush, because of the original bride pulling out so late.’
She paused to fork in more lasagne, then added, ‘So Cassy is dashing up here tomorrow to see the place and thrash out all the details.’
‘That is keen!’ said Thom.
‘It had to be tomorrow, because Viv and I are off down to her cottage on Monday to see about packing it up and we won’t be back until Wednesday. One of her husband’s nieces is going to rent the cottage for six months, so it’s turned out well, and we’ll see how we get on, won’t we, Viv?’
Viv made a tiny, affirmative squeak, a bit like a toy that had been trodden on.
‘A breathing space, to decide if she’d like to stay on at Pelican House, or find a place of her own in the area.’
‘That’s great,’ I said, and Viv smiled at me.
‘Anyway, I’ll bring Cassy over to meet you sometime tomorrow, Garland.’
‘Iwon’t have to be in it, will I?’ I asked.
‘Oh, yes, webothwill, and apparently you’ve already found a wedding dress for the foyer and a lovely vintage suit you can wear for the opening. They’ll only have to source something for me to wear.’
‘That scout, Milly, told me not to do anything to the dress and suit, in case they went ahead with the episode, because the programme is all about this Cassy Chance upcycling the outfits.’
‘Yes, she explained that to me, but I told her you were a qualified costumier and I was sure you’d want to add any embellishments.’
‘I certainly would! No one is touching my suit. It’s perfect as it is.’
‘Don’t worry, she said she didn’t mind if you did the work, so long as itlookedas if it was all her input.’
‘OK, then,’ I sighed resignedly. ‘I definitely don’t want anyone else working on the wedding dress either. I’ve got my own ideas.’
‘Great, I’ll tell her,’ said Honey brightly. ‘I insisted everything was filmed up here, including the reveal scene when Cassy shows off the upcycled dress, which is usually done in London. I’ll be too busy then promoting my new book and the museum, and I knew you wouldn’t want to lose a couple of days’ work on the collection.’
‘Absolutely right!’ I said emphatically.
Honey grinned at Thom. ‘I expectyou’llwant to keep a low profile.’
‘Yes, head her off if she shows any signs of wanting to come over to the workshop, though I don’t see why she should,’ he said. ‘I’ll keep out of view till she’s gone.’
‘Viv is going to lay low, too,’ said Honey. ‘But I don’t suppose she’ll be here long tomorrow, just in and out to get the lie of the land and sort out the final details.’
‘I’ll be around,’ I said. ‘I thought I’d set up my own wedding dress in the Rosa-May Room first thing tomorrow. Then when the material comes back from the V&A next week, it can go straight out without being stored. That will be the first room to be finished.’
‘Wonderful,’ said Honey.
‘I hope to put your dress and Amy Weston’s on display in the Bloody Brides room soon, too.’
‘Is it really called that?’ asked Simon.
‘Definitely. I’ve ordered a sign and it’ll be in the glossyguidebook. No one has ever accused me of letting good taste stand in the way of publicity!’
‘There’s another slightly bloodstained dress that could go in there, too,’ I said. ‘The one where the bridegroom rather unfortunately had a massive nosebleed all over it, as he was putting the ring on the bride’s finger.’
