Page 97 of Forgive Not Forget
“Finally,” Katherine exclaimed. “We find an appropriate use for the local newspaper.”
CHAPTER38
They made their way down the corridor and into the main part of the barn to find it heaving with people. Most of the village had turned out for them. A table along the back wall held Gloria’s extensive buffet of finger food. It was a surprisingly impressive selection of nibbles, perfect for soaking up alcohol. The rows of bulb lights that Katherine had insisted be hung from the beams for such events created a warm, cosy, and inviting atmosphere in the large room.
Anna made a mental note to ask Dan to take some pictures inside. They would do wonders for the wedding brochure she was working on. Many of today’s photographs were likely to make their way into it.
“Champagne, ladies?” Carrie welcomed them, holding out two glasses which she was swiftly availed of.
“Why does it always feel like you’re handing us glasses of champagne, Carrie?” Katherine laughed.
“Hmm, probably because I am, and probably because you always deserve it. Rebecca brought a couple of boxes over from yours; she said you wouldn’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
“Most people have brought their own drinks, but we’ve opened the bar too. Chris brought his staff down and stuck a note on the pub door directing them here.”
Everyone broke into a round of applause as they realised the happy couple had entered the barn. Anna and Katherine raised their glasses at them in return.
Anna’s stomach rumbled as she eyed the buffet. A three-tiered wedding cake with floral decorations sat pride of place in the centre. She clasped her hand to her chest as her face crumpled; the puppy promptly nibbled at her fingers and champagne glass.
“Who made us a cake?”
Laura stepped forward. “That would be me.”
“Of course it was.” Anna winked at her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And who is this gorgeous little one?”
“Woolf.”
Abigail stepped forward. “Can I hold him?”
“And me,” Tom pleaded over his sister’s shoulder.
Anna didn’t want to part with her soft little bundle, but she had all the time in the world for cuddles with him. Katherine needed her attention this evening. She passed Woolf over to Abigail. “There’s a lead on top of his crate in my office. Take him outside regularly tonight. He’s not toilet-trained yet.” The children wandered off to some chairs that had been placed at the side of the barn and drowned him in attention.
“I can’t believe what everyone has done for us.” Anna narrowed her eyes at the DJ, who was setting up in the far corner of the barn. “Is that Chris?”
Laura chuckled. “Yes, Gloria said he used to be a DJ before he took over the pub.”
Anna shook her head. “You learn something new every day.”
Trays of steaming hog roast passed them and were added to the crowded buffet table. Once the table had been stripped of its gems and the cake was cut with a lot of posing for Dan, Anna heard a tapping sound come through the speakers. Her head whipped around to Chris, only to find Katherine holding the microphone.
“What can I say except thank you to each and every one of you for this, especially Carrie and Gloria, and of course Chris. You’ve all welcomed me to Nunswick, Anna back to it, and having found each other, after a rather shaky start” — Katherine winked at Anna, drawing a smile from her — “we begin our life together as a married couple. My beautiful wife, Anna, thank you for bringing me into your family” — Katherine’s eyes searched for Harry and she raised her glass to him — “which is as dear to me as my own once was. The first time you walked into my consulting room, I thought you impertinent.”
The words brought laughter around the room. Anna pursed her lips at Katherine.
“Not to mention rude.” Katherine flicked her eyebrows up as she spoke.
Anna’s mouth opened in faux horror as the laughter continued.
“How wrong could I have been!” Katherine raised her hand, whipping the crowd into a cheer of agreement. “What I failed to see at the time — but quickly realised, I might add — is that you are a strong-willed, determined, supportive, and passionate woman, whose strength has — quite rightly — pushed me to find the very limits of my own strength. We have already achieved so much together, and I look forward to every day in our future when we will achieve more.” Katherine raised her glass. “To Anna.”
“To Anna,” echoed around the room.
Anna’s body tingled with warmth as everyone raised a glass in her direction. She’d never felt so loved. Katherine held out her hand for her to join her on the dance floor as Etta James’s voice came over the speaker and ‘At Last’poured forth. What a choice of song. It had only been a year since she’d first laid eyes on Katherine in her consulting room. The doctor had swiftly got under her skin and made a beeline for her heart. With hindsight, this moment felt like an inevitability, and they had walked the path towards it together. A few hurdles had been placed in their way, some had been stepped over, others had been crashed through and some of the worst they had fallen over, relying on the other to help them back up. With each hurdle they learned something new about each other, learned to trust a little more and love a little harder.
