Page 141 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
‘It’s more of a new start than an ending,’ said Thom, and gave me the smile that did things to my heart.
*
At the pub that night, over a wonderful spaghetti carbonara, we told Honey and Viv all about Marco’s visit – and I do meanallof it because there didn’t seem any point in holding anything back at this stage.
Baz and Derek, who were sitting at the same table, looked baffled but interested.
‘Garland’s already told me a bit about your stepbrother and how he died, Thom,’ Honey said, ‘and I can see why you never liked Marco. But I can’t understand why you decided not to tell Garland your stepbrother got the drugs that killed him from Marco and, instead, simply vanished from her life!’
‘She’s right,’ I said. ‘I might not havewantedto believe you, but the phone evidence would have convinced me and I’d have known Marco hadn’t really changed, at all.’
‘I can see it was a wrong decision now, but I wasn’t exactly thinking straight at the time,’ Thom said.
‘Water under the bridge now, anyway,’ said Honey. ‘And with the threat of that phone evidence hanging over his head, Marco isn’t likely to bother any of us again.’
Then she eyed Thom and me thoughtfully and added, ‘Not that his visit seems to have bothered you two that much, anyway!’
Baz and Derek turned and stared at us and I felt myself blushing: was it that obvious?
It was Simon who came to our rescue, through pure greed. Waving the menu, he said, ‘Look, there’s Italian tutti-frutti ice cream as tonight’s special dessert!’
‘You’re such a boy about ice cream,’ Pearl said, though fondly.
None of us could resist it and, while we ate, Honey told me that her agent, Lyn Kirk, had offered to drive George up with her on Sunday and then give him a lift home on Tuesday.
‘That’s really kind of her.’
‘She said she’d be glad of the company. They’ll arrive late afternoon and by then we should have everything in the museum ready for the opening on Monday.’
She’d already roped in Thom, Simon and Pearl to help with all the last-minute preparations, and Derek was bringing Baz, who was a dab hand at lettering and had volunteered to add a little more to the message on The Wedding House donations box, to encourage people to contribute.
‘Ella and Kay will be there too, of course – they’re so efficient and organized,’ Honey said. ‘I just feel it’s all going to go with a swing on Monday and be ahugesuccess!’
*
When I woke early on Monday morning, I had a fluttery feeling of anticipation in my stomach that was fairly equally caused by the thought of seeing Thom later and the opening ceremony at the museum.
I also felt really tired, because by the time we’d finished getting everything ready the previous afternoon, George had arrived and wanted me to show him around and explain what I had – or hadn’t – done to the costumes in the collection.
Honey had finally come to my rescue, dragging him off to join Viv and her agent, Lyn, for dinner, but by then I was dead on my feet and glad to retire to my cottage and cat … and a pizza delivery from Thom, though he wouldn’t stay, because he saw how tired I was.
‘And tomorrow, as Scarlett O’Hara said, is another day!’
‘You’ve readGone with the Wind?’
‘No, but I saw the film. That Ashley was a wimp,’ he said, and then left me with a kiss.
Golightly had watched this with what looked like benign approval, although maybe that was because the large tin of gourmet cat food he’d just put away had softened him up a bit.
There was no time to lie there and think about Thom, so I sprang out of bed, showered and then tried to eat some breakfast, my stomach tying itself into knots of nervousness by then.
Golightly left with a rattle of the cat flap. I hoped all the visitors arriving wouldn’t upset him, but if they did, he’d probably just come home again.
I went back upstairs to put on myUpcycled Brideoutfit – and Honey is quite right about tights, theyarea pain.
Still, when I was in my subtly shimmering gold dress and jacket, the hairband adding a hint of sparkle, makeup on and, the final touch, had added a Bakelite necklace in moss green and honey yellow, I gazed at my reflection in the mirror and thought I looked like a completely different person!
Or maybe it really was me, but on a good day?
