Pendruggan, 2018
‘Mum, I’ve got some news,’ Ella said down the phone. Sennen, in bed, sat up, the thrill of hearing her daughter call her Mum always filling her with joy. ‘Is it good?’
‘Definitely. Very exciting. What are you doing two weeks today?’
‘Tell me.’
‘Kit and I have set the date for our wedding.’ The end of the sentence went up at least an octave and with added volume.
Sennen held her receiver from her ear until the shrieking finished, then said, ‘Darling, that is so wonderful! Where?’
‘You remember the church next to our cottage? Holy Trinity? There.’
‘And this is in two weeks?’
‘Yes. At midday. I’m going to ask Henry to walk me down the aisle and Kit’s cousin, Adam, he’s a doctor, is going to be the best man.’
Sennen bit her lip. ‘How does Henry feel about me being there?’
‘Mum, you will be there, Henry will be there – and it will be the happiest day of my life. Okay?’
Sennen loved Ella’s optimism. ‘I might need some help with an outfit. What do mothers of the bride wear? Do you want me to wear a hat?’
‘Yes, hats, confetti, silly little kitten heels – and everything, please.’
‘I can’t promise kitten heels.’
‘Mum, you will look gorgeous no matter what. I’m going to ring Henry now and let him know he’s walking me down the aisle. Bye.’
Ella ticked Sennen’s name off the top of her ‘who to phone list’ and dialled the next name down.
‘Henry, it’s me.’
‘Hello, you.’
‘What are you doing two weeks today?’ And she poured out the good news before he’d taken a breath.
‘And Mum is coming too.’
Henry said nothing.
‘Henry? Are you still there?’
‘Why do you want her there?’
‘You know why.’
‘I can’t help how I feel, Ells.’
‘She’s your mum.’
‘Well, we all have a cross to bear.’
‘Henry, I’m not going to beg. Will you give me away and behave like a brother should? Or are you really prepared to break your sister’s heart?’
‘Resorting to emotional blackmail won’t help.’
‘How about wheedling?’ She coughed and pitched her voice girly high. ‘Pleeeeeese, Henry. You’re my brother and I love you. And you love me, don’t you?’
‘You know I do.’
‘So you’ll do it? It should be Poppa, I know, but it would make him so proud of you if you took his place. Please don’t let me down.’
Henry softened. ‘I would never let you down, Ells.’ He took a moment to absorb how much it meant to her. ‘Of course I’ll do it. I’d be honoured to.’
‘Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are the best.’ She blew a kiss down the phone. ‘When are you coming home by the way? Are you still holed up with some poor misled female?’
Henry looked over at Deborah who was looking gorgeous, wrapped in her sheets and licking Marmite off her fingers. ‘At a mate’s. Actually, Ella, I think we should invite Deborah Palmer – you know, the solicitor? She can keep Mum in order.’
‘Good idea,’ said Sennen, writing Deborah’s name on the list. ‘I’m posting invitations today so that people get them on Monday. Have a good weekend and see you soon? I’m cooking leg of lamb for Sunday lunch if you are about.’
‘I’m not sure if I’ll be back in time for that, but I will come over later. Need to find my suit and get it to the cleaners.’
Sennen, still sitting in her bed at White Water, was chasing all sorts of thoughts around in her head. The wedding was going to be tricky but she would do everything in her power to make her children happy and to make good memories of it. The one person she wanted to be there, standing next to her, though, was Kafir. She couldn’t bear to allow her mind to go near the thought that her marriage may be ended. No, she must hope that he would love her enough to get over this painful bridge and put it behind them. She had texted him twice over the last couple of days, telling him her news as she got it, but he hadn’t replied. She picked her phone up. Should she text again or take the plunge and ring him?
Several times she put the phone down, only to pick it up again, but finally she picked it up and, with determined, shaking fingers, dialled his number.
It went to voicemail.
‘Kafir, it’s me. I know this sounds mad, but the other day, I had a vision of my mother. A sort of visitation I suppose. Anyway, she was saying she was with me and all is well. Kept saying it over and over. And since then a lot has happened. Ella is getting married, two weeks today in Pendruggan church at Midday. Henry is giving her away, and I need you by my side. Please come. Bring Aali and Sabu … We’ll be doing it together. You and I. I want Henry and Ella to meet you and know how good you are. Why I love you. It’s so hard here without you. I know it’s all my own fault, but I feel as if Mum is with us and all will be well, as she told me. Mad. Mad, but please come. It’s the only way we can find out what the future holds for all of us. I will fight hard for you. The pain of losing you is actually physical. It’s real. It hurts. I miss you. Please, please come. I love you, Kafir. And I am so very sorry for my lies. I am not lying now. I need you. Please, please … call me.’
Kit was on the phone to Adam, talking about best man duties, while Ella finished writing the invitations. Addressing the last envelope and gathering them all together into a neat pile, she signalled to Kit that she was nipping up to Queenie’s to get them posted and, pulling on her waterproof, headed off through the rain that had been falling all day to the village store.
Queenie was ensconced again in her chair in front of an electric fire. ‘That rain’s brought some cold,’ she said.
Ella closed the shop door against the downpour. ‘I hope the weather will be all right for the wedding. My dress isn’t exactly thermal or waterproof.’
‘Never rains on the bride,’ wheezed Queenie, hoisting herself up. ‘You’ll be okay. What do you want? Stamps?’
‘Yes. Thank you.’
Queenie got out her antique stamp book with its well-thumbed tabs. ‘First or second?’
‘Twenty first-class.’
‘Righty ho.’ Queenie pushed her enormous glasses up her nose and began searching. ‘So, where’s the hen do?’ she asked.
‘I hadn’t thought of having one,’ said Ella.
‘You have to have an ’en do. Tradition. Your last chance of a proper knees-up as a single girl.’
‘I don’t know.’ Ella looked doubtful. ‘I shouldn’t think Kit will have a stag party.’
‘Well, he should.’
‘Should he?’
‘Oh dear, yes. Bad luck for you both not to be given a proper send off.’
‘I’ll talk to Kit. How much do I owe you for the stamps?’
Queenie was not to be fobbed off. ‘A nice Chinese meal is what you want. The Chinese are experts at bringing good luck.’
‘Are they?’
‘You don’t want to risk bad luck do you. That’ll be £13, please.’
Sennen handed over the money. ‘I suppose a meal is better than getting drunk in a nightclub with an L plate tied round my head.’
‘I wouldn’t be able to come if it was a nightclub do.’ Queenie shook her head. ‘It’s me legs.’
‘Would you want to come for a Chinese supper?’
‘Oh, that is kind of you. Yes please. When are you having it?’
Ella laughed at how easily the wily old lady had manipulated her. ‘What day suits you?’
‘The wedding is on a Saturday so you don’t want to go out on the Friday night – how about the Thursday before?’
‘Okay, Thursday week it is. Do you have a favourite restaurant?’
‘The Fighting Duck, the back of Fore Street in Trevay. They do a lovely sweet-and-sour pork there.’
‘I’ll book it. And I’ll organise a taxi to pick us both up. Say seven o’clock?’
Queenie made her way back to her chair. ‘That’d be fine dear. I don’t want to be home too late, neither.’
‘A stag night?’ Kit scratched his chin, ‘I hadn’t thought about it. Who would I invite?’
‘Adam, Simon, Piran and Henry to start with. It’s part of Adam’s duties as best man to organise it, isn’t it?’
‘Good point. So, who’s going to your hen party? Apart from Queenie?’
‘Mum, Penny, Helen. I think Mum would like her friend Rosemary too.’
‘Nice.’
‘It’s all so unreal, isn’t it. Can you believe this is happening?’
‘It definitely is happening.’ He rattled his car keys. ‘Shall I tell you how I know?’
‘Tell me.’
‘I am going to drive the woman I love to the jeweller’s and buy her the best engagement ring I can afford.’
Ella caught her breath. ‘OMG! I’d almost forgotten!’
‘And wedding rings.’
‘Oh yes! Oh gosh.’ She put her arms around him and smooched. ‘I am so lucky to have you. I can’t wait to be Mrs Beauchamp. Could things get any better?’