Page 49 of A Wedding at The Cornish Garden Café
It was the wedding of two dear friends, and she felt deeply lucky to be there, sharing in their love alongside everyone who cared for them.
Even alongside Wyatt…
35
WYATT
‘Here we are, then,’ Titus said when they reached the café garden gate.
‘Here we are.’ Wyatt nodded. ‘Are you ready?’
Titus licked his lips. ‘I think so.’
‘Sure? It’s not too late to make a run for it…’ Wyatt teased and, to his relief, Titus laughed.
‘Not a chance. This is my destiny.’
‘That’s the spirit.’ Wyatt held out his hand, and Titus shook it. ‘Shall we?’ He gestured at the gate.
They went through, and Wyatt looked around, admiring what Edith had accomplished. The gardens were resplendent with beauty, from the ribbons and bunting to the table centrepieces. Wind chimes made of reclaimed driftwood clacked softly together, creating a gentle, woody melody as the breeze toyed with them. Aromas of flowers mingled with those of baking from the café, and he could hear people talking and children laughing from further along in the gardens.
By now, he knew Edith would have told the guests to go to the highest point of the gardens where they had set up the aisle and archway. A few waiting staff milled around, collecting glasses and placing cutlery and favours on the tables, but apart from them, it was just him and Titus.
They walked through the gardens, following the sound and the ribbons and flowers, and ascended the slight incline. When they reached the end of the aisle, the guests clapped and cheered, and Titus laughed and blushed.
‘No need for the applause, folks,’ he said. ‘I’m doing this because I’m in love.’
That generated more applause, so he shrugged and marched down the aisle to the archway in front of the bench. Wyatt went with him, eyes scanning the guests for Edith, but she was nowhere in sight.
He stood beside Titus and took in the view: the beach stretching away from the gardens, the sea sparkling in the sunlight as if dusted with glittering gems. It struck him then just how beautiful Porthpenny was. You could have all the money in the world, but nothing could buy natural beauty like this. The horizon, wide and free; the vast, clear sea; the powdery golden sand of the beach, hugged by cliffs — it was all crafted by nature. He’d choose this view any day over skyscrapers and concrete.
For a moment, he wobbled on the spot. He’d believed he was a city dweller all his life, that he was New York born and bred and that he’d always stay that way, but perhaps it was no longer about those things for him. He loved New York, but there were memories there that he’d long hoped to escape. Travelling had helped a bit with that, but he couldn’t deny that he’d been unable to outrun his memories and his demons. They would always bethere, waiting for him, whether or not he was in New York. But in Cornwall, possibly because Edith was here, he felt a sense of peace. If he could rise each day and look at that view, he thought he could escape from the ghosts of his past. Being near Edith calmed him, and the idea of losing that if he left now troubled him deeply.
Lots to think about. Lots to work through.
If he wanted to consider staying here, he would need to come clean, to bare his soul to Edith, and he wasn’t sure if he was brave enough. Right now, she probably thought he was a bit of a player, that he had used her, and that his feelings for her were superficial. But it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Here, this wonderful community embraced love in all its forms. There was no bitterness, no judgement, no hatred. He enjoyed walking through the cobbled streets and seeing the same faces. In New York, he rarely saw a familiar face on the streets, but here, everyone knew each other, a situation he could adapt to. What better place to settle down and raise a family?
Wait… What? A family?
Throughout his adult life, he had rarely allowed himself to consider the fact that he could have a family. It didn’t seem like something he could let himself do because of his past, because he couldn’t be trusted. He had done the worst thing ever and ruined lives because of his negligence. Did he even deserve to be a parent? To be a husband? To be a partner who found happiness and contentment in the arms of his love?
A ripple of excitement ran through the guests, and he shook himself inwardly. Patting Titus on the back, he said, ‘Seems like they’ve arrived.’
Titus grinned and then punched the air. ‘Hurrah!’
The harpist played an instrumental version of Elton John’s ‘Your Song’ and goosebumps rose on Wyatt’s skin. He saw Titus’ bottom lip wobble as he stood waiting for the first sight of his groom, and his heart fluttered because of the emotion of the moment. A wedding wasn’t just about a fancy day with guests, music, food, and drink; it was about love and companionship, about trust and commitment, about making a promise to be there for another person for the rest of your life, no matter what.
No matter what…
There were gasps of awe and wonder from the guests as Thora appeared with Big Barry. In her wedding outfit of a cream dress with lace sleeves and a matching fascinator, she looked stunning. Big Barry was wearing a matching bow around his neck, and he strutted along as if he thought everyone was there to see him in his finery.
When they reached the archway, Thora hugged Titus, and then he gave Big Barry’s head a stroke. Thora took Barry to sit at the front, and then all eyes turned to the end of the aisle.
Wyatt’s vision blurred. He’d known the plans for the ceremony, but seeing it all now was better than he could have imagined. Next to him, Titus clasped his hands to his chest, and then the tears rolled down his cheeks.
Wyatt blinked against the sunlight. For a moment, everything felt suspended — timeless, golden, and impossibly perfect. He felt a quiet swell in his chest, a mix of awe and gratitude, and knew he would carry this memory with him long after the wedding celebrations were over.
