Page 141 of Where Do We Go From Here?
T: Really?
W: Cross my heart, I’m thrilled to bits for you. And I love you. Because no matter what you do or what choices you make, I’m your mother. So that’s non-negotiable, too.
FIFTEEN
THE WEDDING
The wedding takes place in St Michael’s church in the bucolic village of Pirbright in Surrey, a couple of miles from Amanda’s family home. St Michael’s is a classic village church set in well-tended lawns dotted with ancient, often lopsided gravestones.
Forewarned by Todd that Amanda’s parents are ‘pushing the boat out’, Wendy insisted that the whole family buy new clothes. Her first few months back home have been clunky, to say the least. She and Harry have organised as many team-building events as possible in an attempt at re-gluing the family together. They’ve done big family meals at home, day trips out and treats in posh restaurants – but the results have been mixed and unpredictable, sometimes lovely, others unexpectedly awful.
But the clothes shopping trip had been a success. They’d had fun together trying on different – sometimes silly – outfits, and as they step from the car and walk towards the church in the sunshine, Wendy feels proud, because as a family they have never looked better.
They pause at the gate while Wendy fixes Harry’s new paisley tie and repositionsher hat.
‘Mine OK?’ Todd asks, raising one hand to the knot of his own grey polka-dot tie.
‘Yours is still perfect,’ Wendy says, then to Fiona as she pushes her hair behind her ears (hair that Fiona immediately shakes back into place), ‘And you look amazing, too, Fifi.’
‘Can’t believe you made me wear a dress,’ Fiona, who’s never been a fan of flowery dresses, says.
‘Think yourself lucky I didn’t insist on the floppy hat,’ Wendy laughs.
‘Hey, we can swap if you want,’ Todd teases his sister. ‘There’s still time. Though that might give your game away.’
‘You’d probably looklessgay in a dress,’ Fiona says, punching him in the arm.
‘Stop it, you two,’ Harry tells them. ‘Be nice. Just for one day. Todd’s getting married. You’re not five anymore.’
‘And when you’re not punching each other, you both look absolutely stunning,’ Wendy tells them.
Inside the cool church, they say hello to Amanda’s parents, Prudence and Mike. Prue is wearing a Margaret Thatcher blue two-piece suit, and Mike, a severe black suit and tie that would be more suited to a funeral. He’s in a wheelchair, which is unexpected and rather sad. His Parkinson’s must have advanced faster than everyone had hoped.
‘Such a beautiful day for it!’ Prudence says.
‘It is! We’re so lucky,’ Wendy replies.
They take their seats next to Sue and Neil then turn in their pews to acknowledge Todd’s sporty friends – lads Wendy has never seen wear anything other than trackies. They have scrubbed up remarkably well.
She scans the church. Someone has installed three of the biggest flower displays she has ever seen, containing hundreds and hundreds of flower heads, the ensembles reaching six feet high. She can see peonies, roses and lisianthuses, scented stocksand irises plus a few exotics she can’t name. ‘The flowers are amazing,’ she whispers in Todd’s ear.
‘Yeah, her mum’s best friend’s a florist,’ Todd explains. ‘Not my thing, though. They make me sneeze.’
‘I hope you’ve taken?—’
‘… double dose of Zirtek,’ he says. ‘Hopefully I’ll be OK.’
‘You don’t seem too stressed, anyway,’ Wendy says. ‘That’s good.’
‘Stressed…’ Todd repeats flatly. ‘Why would I be stressed?’
Wendy sits back in her seat, glances at Harry and pulls a face.
‘I almost pooed myself before ours,’ he says quietly.
‘Well, that’s because I’m so scary.’
‘Not you,’ Harry says. ‘Your dad.’
