Page 54 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
‘I’m sure there would be,’ Honey said regretfully.
‘Now I can understand why you want to open the museum as early as possible, so you can get maximum publicity about this dress and its story, so that’s probably the one I ought to look at first,’ I suggested.
‘Yes, because it will be the central attraction in the Bloody Brides room, displayed in that spot lit central case.’
‘Are youreallygoing to call it the Bloody Brides room?’
‘I certainly am,’ Honey said. Then her dark eyes got that strangely abstracted expression I was becoming familiar with and she pushed her left sleeve up, displaying an arm covered in ballpoint pen, some of it faded like old tattoos, and added ‘The Bloody Bride – or maybe Bridegroom?’ to the rest.
‘That would make such a good book title, though I have afeeling I’ve already noted it down.’ She scanned up and down her arm, then said: ‘Yes, there it is, just a bit faint.’
I reverted back to the mysterious disappearance. ‘I hope Amy left of her own accord and the fresh publicity solves the mystery … though the bloodstains do look a bit ominous.’
‘I’ve got an entirely open mind about it,’ Honey said. ‘I know from my own experience that even a vanished bridegroom and a blood-soaked scenario don’t necessarily mean foul play.’
She didn’t enlarge on this, so I asked cautiously if she meant to reveal the story of her own jilting when her wedding gown was put on display.
‘I think I might, because enough water has passed under the bridge since for it not to matter now if the whole thing comes out,’ she mused. ‘But not in a vindictive kind of way, because being jilted inspired me to start writing the revenge thrillers under my own name and then my career really took off.’
Her gamine grin reappeared. ‘It was the best thing my fiancé ever did. I suspect you’ll grow to feel much the same about the break-up with Marco.’
‘I already do! My broken heart seamlessly mended the moment I grasped that not only had he let Mirrie take my wedding dress without permission, but he’d also been unfaithful with her. The double betrayal was unforgivable.’
It felt as if betrayal had been the story of my life so far. I’d even been unreasonably angry with my parents for getting themselves killed, leaving me to live with a stranger, but then, children aren’t reasonable about these things.
And then there was Thom. Although on the surface we’d made things up, it was still hard to forget the years of loss and hurt he’d put me through.
‘I’m entirely focused on my new job now and looking forwardto living a quiet life here in Great Mumming with Golightly, if he’ll settle down. He wasn’t ever really my cat, he just visited, and he’s never shown any sign of being attached to me.’
‘I look forward to meeting him; he sounds interesting.’
‘That’s one word for it – and he might soon be haunting the mews, scaring the visitors away!’
‘Bruno’s dog, Jester, has free access to the courtyard and, when it’s fine, they leave the workshop door open and put a mat out for him to lie on. Perhaps Golightly will make friends.’
‘Thom said Jester likes cats, but I suspect the feeling isn’t going to be mutual,’ I said dubiously. ‘I’m not sure Golightly’s even met a dog before.’
‘Oh, I expect they’ll get on fine,’ Honey said with unfounded optimism, and then, zipping the Bloody Bride’s dress back into its cover, suggested we adjourn to Pelican House for coffee and to sort out my employment details.
We went back through the Rosa-May Garland Room and Honey opened the fire door on to the short passage that led to the house. There was no window, just the second fire door on to her garden, which she’d had to put in to satisfy safety rules.
We came out in a scullery and I followed her into a large kitchen with low dark beams and a big central table.
It smelled scrumptious, probably because Viv, wrapped in a large black pinny printed with brightly coloured sugar skulls, was taking a tray of muffins out of the oven.
‘What great timing!’ Honey said, sniffing the air appreciatively.
A huge grey wolfhound, who I remembered was called Rory, seemed to agree with her, for he was sitting bolt upright in his large bed in the corner, following Viv’s every move with large, soulful eyes.
‘These are blueberry and the ones already cooling on therack are chocolate chip,’ said Viv, in a pretty, light voice, before catching sight of me behind Honey.
I thought she’d immediately clam up, so I was surprised when, after a moment’s hesitation, she smiled and whispered, ‘Hello, Garland!’
Then she averted her eyes rather shyly and carried on transferring muffins on to the wire cooling rack.
Honey looked faintly amazed, but without comment switched on the coffee machine and got out mugs.
‘Has the dogwalker taken Rory out for a run?’
