‘Congratulations!’ chorused the welcoming party, and an explosion of confetti and party poppers filled the air as the new Mr and Mrs Henson entered the morning room.
‘Thank you, guys,’ gushed Esmé, overcome with gratitude. ‘You shouldn’t have.’
‘Yeah, seriously, you shouldn’t have,’ added Asa sarcastically to the small gathered group, as he carried his new bride over the Montague Road threshold and gently placed her feet on the tiled floor of the morning room.
‘Tell us all about it!’ demanded Marianne, slapping a glass of champagne into Esmé’s hand. Penny squeezed in close to hear the details.
‘It was simply beautiful, just the two of us, with a couple of hired witnesses… just what we wanted.’
‘No party, no cake, no flowers?’ asked Carys, leaving Dam’s side for an instant to re-bond with the females.
‘Of course, I had flowers, what girl gets married without flowers, but yeah… ten pounds each we paid the witnesses, total strangers but so thrilled to be part of our day,’ explained Esmé, her left hand being lifted and lowered by her friends as she spoke. ‘It was lovely.’
‘And private,’ added Asa, above the simultaneous ‘ohs’ and ‘ahhs’ of the women at the sight of Esmé’s gold band. ‘Any of you fellas want to see my wedding band?’
A tsunami of head shakes occurred, as Asa grabbed a champagne flute from Russ.
Esmé spent an age reliving every detail of the ceremony, from the Scottish piper that walked them down the aisle, her dream dress which, courtesy of Andrew and her mother’s planning, was perfect for their elopement, and the hand tied lily-of-the-valley bouquet quickly arranged by the local florist.
‘No horse and carriage?’ asked Carys.
‘No bridesmaids?’ asked Penny.
‘No guests?’ asked Marianne.
Esmé shook her head, a profuse apology sat upon her lips.
‘No, and yet… everything was perfect, just as we’d dreamed,’ sighed Esmé.
Esmé felt strange asking if anyone had heard from Andrew, but it felt necessary to ask. Carys quietly told her that he’d taken it badly, had spent several days at home on the sick but was beginning to piece his routine together again. She reinforced that in time he’d be fine. Carys had dropped in on her parents while Esmé had been away too, just to make sure they’d survived the shock departure of their daughter alongside a tattooed stranger.
‘Any news on Grace?’ Esmé asked, eager to catch up on the details.
‘She’s recovering nicely, her son David phoned only yesterday to say Grace wants to arrange for you to go and visit her, very soon,’ explained Dam. ‘I think she’s hoping for a slice of wedding cake.’
‘Hmmm, and to gloat about her choice of man,’ said Esmé, giving Asa a cheeky grin.
‘We’ve got news too,’ announced Russ, his arm draped about Rita’s shoulder. ‘Rita and Toby are joining me here, so the house sharing has increased.’
‘Fabulous news, and Kane, you get to spend more time with Toby living under the same roof,’ added Esmé.
‘True, very true. Now, I can be a full time dad. Did you bring us any presents?’ interrupted Kane, slouched upon the couch, having not bothered to stand to greet the happy couple.
‘Same old Kane, putting your needs first,’ mocked Asa. ‘Esmé has brought presents actually, we stopped off to buy them in the city centre prior to driving home.’
‘Great! A souvenir from Brum city centre,’ moaned Kane, shaking his head and downing his beer.
Esmé dashed to retrieve a series of bulging plastic bags from the hallway, Asa stood proudly awaiting her return.
‘It isn’t much but we wanted to show our gratitude to our friends with a small gesture so… I’m sorry they aren’t wrapped but here goes,’ said Esmé, bringing out a slim box from the first bag. ‘Kane… here’s your very own Single Guy’s Calendar… please complete each day and do every task.’
Asa handed the boxed treat to his new brother-in-law. His gratitude was a mumbled ‘thanks’.
‘Russ, here is your New Step-dad’s Calendar… I hope it contains lots of fun activities to share with little Toby… and Rita,’ said Esmé.
One by one the guests each received their calendar: The Modern Man’s Calendar for Jonah and Dam, a Fabulous at Forty for both Penny and Marianne, a Thrilling at Thirty for both Rita and Carys. Everyone began searching for their daily task behind day one’s door, except for Marianne.
‘Marianne?’
‘Is there any chance of a return and refund?’ said Marianne, holding her calendar aloft. ‘I actually need The New Mum-to-be Calendar!’
The morning room erupted into more celebratory cheers.
‘I don’t need to be married to know my Jimmy loves me, that shopping list of life only works for some girls, the rest of us find our own way.’
‘Too right!’ said Esmé, as she flung her arms around Marianne in a warm embrace.
After a few nibbles, the ceremonial cutting of a small shop bought cake and a few more drinks, Esmé was happy to be amongst friends. She scanned the morning room as everyone mingled and chatted happily.
How could life change so much in such a short time? How had a heartbreaking situation led her to such a beautiful relationship? Esmé viewed her husband from across the crowded room. His mouth wide open, belly laughing at his friend Dam’s re-enactment of a family gathering to introduce Carys to their fold, one side of his face fresh and pink, the other inked in blue and emerald but neither side as beautiful as the heart within.
‘I can’t believe you’ve done it,’ said Russ, slapping Asa on the back. ‘Seriously man, I never thought you would.’
‘We had to wait the twenty-nine days after booking so all the legit stuff could go through but yep, she’s made an honest man of me,’ laughed Asa.
‘I can’t believe that back in March I was planning on a June wedding and actually it ended up being a May wedding… far sooner than I’d anticipated,’ said Esmé.
‘Yeah, and to a different bloke!’ shouted Kane.
‘Well, if it goes tits up for us, Esmé, and you change your mind about being married to me…’ said Asa, above the noise of the rabble, ‘Don’t you worry, I found Roberto’s mobile number while cleaning out your room so you can always give him a ring.’
Esmé swiped him for being cheeky. Poor Roberto, she’d never phoned him or given him a second thought, but hey, what will be, will be. Here was her chance to live a little… dream.
The End
We hope you enjoyed this book.
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