Page 148 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
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Cold Comfort
All the publicity had meant the museum was very busy for the whole of that first week, but by the following Sunday we’d got over any teething troubles and it was all running very smoothly.
There were now several guided tours booked for the coming weeks – and the offer of yet more wedding dresses, although, as Honey pointed out, we could now pick and choose a little.
But that first Sunday after the opening, we all felt we deserved to take some time off to rest, recover … and also evaluate everything that had happened recently.
Thom and I had been invited to the service at St Gabriel’s church that morning with Pearl and Simon, because we were lunching afterwards with the Rev. Jo-Jo in order to discuss our wedding. Simon and Pearl were invited too, though their wedding would be in early spring next year. They were planning to knock Pearl’s cottage through into Simon’s before that, using Honey’s very efficient workmen.
It seemed we’d all soon be extending our burrows, for Thom’s partner, Bruno, had decided to sell up his part of the business and move to New Zealand permanently, which meant Thom could extend his cottage into the workshop building, makingmuch larger living accommodation, while we could put up any visitors in my little cottage.
Everything was falling so wonderfully into place that I kept thinking it must all be a lovely dream and I’d wake up at any minute!
But itwasreal – and I’d soon have to add a postscript to the story of my bridal misfortune dress in the Rosa-May Garland Room.
Jo-Jo had provided a very simple but delicious lunch of fresh, crisp rolls, with salad and a platter of cold meats and cheese, followed by a cold apple tart and fresh cream.
On our way out of church, she had scooped up a very elderly gentleman who was sitting in the porch staring vaguely into space, and he joined our lunch party, too.
He beamed amiably round the table at us all and discoursed at length on theology. Even if it hadn’t been in Greek or Latin – or maybe both – I expect it would have all gone over my head anyway.
When I was helping Jo-Jo bring in the dessert, she told me he was a former vicar in the nearby village of Little Mumming and prone to wander, but she had phoned and someone would be down to pick him up shortly.
‘And it’s always a joy to see the dear old boy,’ she added, beaming, then led the way out of the kitchen carrying the jug of cream.
When he’d been collected, Simon and Pearl went off together while Thom and I accompanied the vicar back into the church, where we discussed all the details and set a date – Saturday, 1 December!
I would be a winter bride.
*
‘So we just have to organize the reception now, but only a small one, since we’re not inviting a lot of guests,’ I said later that afternoon to Honey and Viv, when the six of us had once more gathered at Pelican House for what we intended to be our final onslaught on the attic clearance.
I’d noticed that since Lyn had outed her pen name, Viv seemed a lot more relaxed around Thom. Maybe one day she’d even speak to him!
‘Why not hold the reception in the museum?’ suggested Honey. ‘Your wedding is at two, so if we closed it for the morning it would give us plenty of time to get everything ready. In fact, I’ll hire caterers in to do it all for us! We’ll throw open the whole ground floor and a buffet can be set up in the staff room.’
‘That’ssokind of you, but of course, we must pay for it all, Honey,’ I said.
‘You’re my only relative, Garland, and I really want to do this for you, so don’t spoil my fun!’ she said, with her twisted grin.
‘Having the reception in the museum would certainly be different,’ Thom said. ‘I think it’s a great idea!’
‘How many people are you thinking of inviting?’ asked Pearl.
‘I’ll have to make a list, but not many. Thom’s inviting Sir Mallory Mortlake and his wife, who are old friends, and of course I want George to be there – and perhaps your agent, Lyn, might like to come too, Honey?’ I suggested.
‘I suspect George and Lyn would be up for another road trip together,’ agreed Honey. ‘I get the impression from Lyn that they’re seeing a lot of each other.’
‘Yes, I gathered that from George’s last email.’
‘Our other guests will just be local friends,’ Thom said.
‘Ithink you should invite that actor friend of yours too,Garland – Will Wolfram!’ said Honey. ‘I’ve been checking him out on the internet. He’s rather dishy and looks just my type.’
‘If you’re serious I could invite him,’ I said, looking at her dubiously.
