‘No – he’s so much better than one of those!’ said Leonie, warming Hattie’s heart. ‘If there’s ever a ring it will be very small, he’s a teacher, but I won’t care. There’s more to life than money.’
As Hattie had tried to tell her sister this many times over the years to no avail, now she could only give her sister a hug. ‘Well, I think he’s super and I hope the parents do too. Where’s Mum?’
‘Getting ready upstairs.’
‘Already? She’ll peak too soon at this rate. I’ll pop up and see how she’s doing.’
Her mother was sitting at her dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror. ‘My hair’s a disaster!’ she said, not bothering to say hello.
‘I think it looks lovely. What’s wrong with it?’
‘It’s far too – floppy. Untidy, even.’
‘I think it just looks softer, which is very flattering.’ She paused. Her mother’s anguished expressed hadn’t changed. ‘But if you like, I could use the curling tongs on it which would define the curls a bit.’
‘Could you, darling?’ said her mother. ‘That would be clever. Have you got any curling tongs?’
‘You haven’t?’
‘Certainly not!’
Hattie quickly fetched her bag with the ‘helpful essentials’.
‘Why did you bring all that?’ asked her mother, watching Hattie find the tongs.
‘It’s for emergencies, Mum,’ she said.
Her mother sighed. ‘I do hope there aren’t going to be any.’
‘There won’t be. I’ve already spoken to the caterers who are really on it.’
‘I just wish Leonie could have done all that for me.’
Hattie tested the temperature of the tongs, ever so slightly tempted to let them be too hot. ‘It’s not easy for her being out of the country.’
‘I blame that young man she insisted on inviting. Who is he? We don’t know anything about him.’
‘I do. He’s a teacher at Xander’s college. Very nice, very well qualified and destined for great things.’ Hattie made up the last part because she knew it would please her mother.
Her mother seemed mollified and was happier with her hair when Hattie had finished. Though she didn’t say any of that out loud, of course.
Although Hattie had arrived at her parents’ house soon after eight, as instructed, the time seemed to melt away. Her mother wanted Leonie and Tom to travel to the venue with them, so Hattie was going ahead on her own. By the time she was ready to leave (an hour before the others) she had not only tonged her mother’s hair,but had zipped her into her dress and jacket, done up the pearl necklace (three strings) that her father had given her on the birth of her first child. She had also taken the clothes brush to her father’s suit and removed a small mark from the jacket. She’d had no time to think about her own outfit and was relying on being able to steam the creases out of her dress at the venue.
Her parents, aided by Leonie, had chosen a really beautiful hotel for the Golden Wedding and Hattie had visited it to make sure it was as good in real life as it was on the website. Now, the sun shone on the cream-coloured stone and glinted off the Virginia creeper. It was very traditional, possibly Jacobean, with tall gables and diamond-paned windows. There were arches and small parapets and its history oozed from its walls. The sisters had been delighted with it. Now, Hattie parked and went up to the house with her many bags.
‘Hello!’ she said at reception. ‘I’m Hattie – for the Golden Wedding?’
‘Nice to see you. And what a lovely day you’ve got for it. Follow me,’ said the friendly young woman at the desk.
‘Is there anywhere I can steam my dress?’ asked Hattie.
‘We have a ground-floor bedroom set aside for your party. You’ll be fine in there. Would like some coffee? Biscuits? Pastries?’
‘I’d love some tea! I was up really early this morning but didn’t seem to find time for breakfast.’
‘I’ll send some along to you. And when you’re ready, we can organise the table plans and place cards.’
Hattie began to relax, confident that nothing would go wrong. She even managed a quick shower before she put on her freshly steamed gown. The steam hadmade her hair curl more than ever and her skin glowed, but her dress, although crease-free and clinging to her shape in a very flattering way, was still completely unsuitable.
