Page 23 of The Wedding Cake Wish
Luckily, they’re all really understanding. I pause beforedialling Mum. ‘Do you think at some level I actuallymadethis happen –so that I didn’t have to go to my own pre-wedding celebration?’
Molly laughs. ‘You mean your subconscious took action andcaused you to get tearful just as we were rounding that bend?’
I shrug. ‘It’s possible.’
‘Fen, it just happened and the van’s out of action, so youdon’t have to feel guilty about not making it to the restaurant.’
‘I suppose. So why do I feel really bad about it?’
‘Just phone your mum and explain. She’ll totallyunderstand.’
So with a heavy heart, I do – and as I’m waiting for her topick up, it occurs to me that the reason I feel bad is because I don’t want todisappoint Mum.
I suppose I’ve felt like that all my life...alwaysthe shy one, disliking social occasions with people I’ve never met and hatingto be the centre of attention...and being slightly in awe ofMum, who’s everything I’d like to be myself – poised and self-assured, firm butfair, and never, ever cowed by situations like I so often am.
When Mum answers and I tell her what’s happened, she soundshorrified.
‘In aditch? Goodness gracious. You’re not injured,are you, Fen? No? Well, that’s a relief. And is dear Molly okay?’
I manage to reassure her that we’re fine. ‘I guess you’llhave to cancel the meal. I’m so sorry, Mum. I was...reallylooking forward to it.’
‘You’ve got nothing to feel sorry about, my love. I’m justglad you’re okay. Both of you. Thank goodness little Eva wasn’t with you at thetime. That would have been very frightening for her. Tell Molly I look forwardto seeing her soon.’
‘Everything okay?’ asks Molly when I end the call.
I nod. ‘Mum sends her love. Ooh, my throat is parched.There’s some drinks in the van. I’ll just nip along and get them.’
‘Good idea.’ Molly settles herself on the grass, leaningback against a rock, and smiles up at me. ‘We might be here for a while. Ishould phonemymum, too. Ask her if she’ll have Eva overnight.’
It’s such a beautiful evening, and with the sun a ball offire against a pinky sky it’s no hardship at all, just sitting there by theriver as it flows by, swigging cola from the bottle and listening to the birdsin the trees, and chatting about our lives.
‘Hang on. Did you hear that?’ says Molly after a while,sitting up straight.
I nod. ‘Voices. Maybe George has brought a mate with him. Hewas really quick.’ I stand up and start heading along the river path to theroad.
But I haven’t even got halfway when a female voice Irecognise floats across on the balmy evening air, and then there they all are,walking towards me, chatting and laughing.
‘Oh, my goodness.’ I gasp in amazement. ‘I couldn’t get to you,so you’ve come tome?’
Madison holds up two carrier bags with a grin. ‘And we’rebearing food. The restaurant packed us a fabulous picnic when they heard whathad happened. Primrose has dessert. I told Marjery it wasn’t a good idea to lether take charge of the sweet stuff, what with her food cravings going mad rightnow, but...well...’
‘It’s not iced ginger cake, so we’re okay,’ retorts a smilingheavily pregnant Primrose, puffing to catch up with her. She’s linking Mum’sarm, the pair of them bringing up the rear, and Mum reaches over and gentlytakes the carrier bag from her.
‘I’m fine.’ Primrose smiles at her.
‘Yes, but you need to save your energy for that baby ofyours,’ murmurs Mum, giving her arm a little squeeze, and my heart expands withlove, imagining her as a grandmother.
Dad will be the playful one, kicking a ball around with thekids and telling bad jokes to make them giggle. And Mum...Ihave a sneaky suspicion she’ll soften up a bit with the advent of grandkids inher life. She’ll be firm but fair, and she’ll take them on interesting tripsout, to places like Sea Life and foraging in the hedgerows on walks in thecountry. She’ll teach them all about nature and the world around them...likeshe did with Richard and me...
‘Right, I don’t know about you lot, but I’m going in for aswim before we eat!’ announces Madison, and as we stand there, watching inamazement, she strips off down to her undies. Then she tiptoes gingerly acrossthe grass and splashes straight into the river.
Her shrieks can probably be heard for miles around.
We all stand there watching for a moment. Then Ellie laughs.‘I don’t see whysheshould have all the fun!’ And next moment, she’s unzippingher jeans, hopping about and hanging onto me as she discards them, then runningdown the bank and splashing into the river to join Madison.
Jaz grins at Molly and me. ‘What do you think, girls?’
Molly chuckles. ‘Let’s do it!’
