Page 33 of A Wedding at The Cornish Garden Café
‘I’ll grab a coffee when we go back inside and then I’ll phone around and see if we can find an alternative setting,’ he said as they watched the birds.
‘Do you have anywhere in mind?’ she asked. ‘The hotel they’d chosen was so perfect, though.’
They started walking again and soon found themselves up by the bench that overlooked the sea. As if in silent agreement, they sat down. Wyatt inhaled the sea air, relishing its freshness and the sun’s warmth on his skin.
Turning on the seat, so he was facing Edith, he said, ‘I have an idea. It may not work, but… what if they got married here?’
‘Here?’ Edith looked around them and her expression softened.
‘It’s beautiful. Perfect because there’s no need for transport. I’m sure if we have a word with Pearl and Ellie that they can sort the catering. Ellie’s already making the wedding cakes.’
Edith tilted her head, considering his idea, her cheeks pink as roses.
‘It is beautiful,’ she said. ‘To be fair, when Finn and Titus first came to me, they said they’d considered it. But then got caught up in their excitement, and when they found the date free at the hotel, they decided to go for it. But I can see what youmean about holding it here. The scenery is breathtaking, and the location divine. As long as the weather holds, it would be lovely.’
‘We can find a marquee just in case and get in touch with some local companies to create a gorgeous wedding that will make them happy.’
‘I’ll have to check with them. And with Pearl and Ellie.’
‘Of course.’ He nodded. ‘But you like the idea?’
‘I do.’ She reached out and took his hand. ‘Thank you, Wyatt. I thought I would lose it completely earlier and then you swept in like a knight in shining armour and rescued me.’
‘Edith,’ he said, squeezing her hand. ‘I think we both know you are not the kind of woman who needs rescuing. You are the strongest person I know.’
‘Are you sure about helping with this?’ she asked.
He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss there, breathing in the fragrance of her skin and wishing he could kiss her lips, her neck, her shoulder…
‘I am absolutely sure that I want to help. As best man, I think it’s imperative. It’s the least I can do and perhaps… while I know it will never make up for how I hurt you… perhaps it will in some small way show you I am sorry. I still care for you, Edith… I always will.’
Edith blinked rapidly, then broke eye contact. But she kept holding his hand, and for that he was grateful. In the silence that sat between them while they both gazed at the horizon, he liked to think that a new trust was growing, as fine as gossamer, perhaps, but spun from affection, compassion, and friendship.
He promised himself that he would do everything in his power to make this the best wedding Edith had ever planned. He would strive for as long as she would let him to prove that he only ever meant to make her happy. His motivation had been to shield her from trauma. The worst thing about it was that he was the thing that could harm her the most, and he had never been able to tell her why.
One day perhaps he would find a way.
One day…
23
EDITH
For the next three days, Wyatt was a star. He helped Edith explain to Finn and Titus what had happened and then to offer them an alternative. They had already checked with Pearl and Ellie whether holding the wedding there would be acceptable, and both had agreed enthusiastically.
Pearl told them she’d be delighted to help and that she would make sure that it was the best wedding ever. And so Edith had felt some relief, especially when Finn and Titus had seemed happy with the new plan. Titus had even admitted that he’d gone along with the big wedding at a fancy hotel idea because he’d thought it was what Finn wanted, and Finn had said the same. They were both very easy going and happy to adapt, and they loved the idea of getting married at the café where they had spent so many joyful times.
And so Edith and Wyatt had spent the days at the café in a quiet corner, emailing and making phone calls, and soon they had everything in order for the following week. It had been a mad few days, but because Wyatt had helped, Edith had found it far less stressful than it could have been.
This evening they’d been invited to a private barbecue at the café with Finn, Titus, their family and close friends. Edith had gone home to shower and change and then walked back to the café with Finn and Titus. When they got there, they found Thora; her partner, Lucas; her chihuahua, Big Barry and the twins Rosie and Reggie already there.
‘Good evening!’ Thora greeted them all with a hug and a kiss and then Lucas served them drinks from a makeshift bar in the gardens.
It was a beautiful late June evening, and the sun still lingered over the horizon. Laughter drifted around the gardens, mingling with the aromas of roasting chicken and vegetables, along with the faint tang of salt from the sea.
‘Thank you,’ Edith said as she accepted a margarita from Lucas. A handsome man in his early forties, with short blond hair and bright blue eyes, he looked good beside petite Thora, with her brown curly hair and big brown eyes. Whenever Lucas and Thora’s eyes met, Edith was certain she could see sparks flying. They took advantage of any opportunity to touch each other, and it was clear that they were very much in love.
Edith admired the strings of fairy lights wound through the fruit trees of the gardens and around the front of the café. The scent of honeysuckle lingered in the air near the pergola, and there was colour everywhere as summer painted the gardens with her beautiful palette.
