‘And you?’ she asked in anticipation.
‘It’s not just me… I come with a Dachshund and that, unfortunately, is non-negotiable.’
‘Absolutely. Pickle is non-negotiable. What time?’ she asked.
‘Would 2pm suit you?’
‘It would,’ she replied, patting Pickle on her head before walking away. A little further on, she dared to glance back over her shoulder. Guy looked back too, with a lopsided grin. Libby gave a tiny wave and immediately felt embarrassed. ‘What are you doing? Stay cool,’ she admonished herself, but there was no budging the huge smile on her face.
With a new spring in her step, and Guy still very much on her mind, she crunched snow under her boots as she made her way through the town towards the fabric shop.
Guy was right. Despite the weather, Glensheil was already busy. Libby navigated her way through the pedestrians on the slushy pavements past all the fancy boutiques. She took in the aroma of the coffeehouse and admired the freshly baked pastries in the window of the bakery. Following the tree-lined pavement that looked all wintry with the frost shimmering on the branches, she saw the fabric shop just up ahead. It was small and was called The Fabric Vault. As she stepped inside, the old-fashioned bell above the door alerted the sales assistant to her arrival.
‘Good morning,’ she chirped. ‘Come on in out of the cold.’
‘Good morning and thank you,’ replied Libby, taking off her gloves and scarf. ‘It’s a bit chilly out there, isn’t it?’
‘It certainly is. Is there anything in particular I can help you with today?’
Libby explained the type of fabric she was looking for and exactly what it was for. The sales assistant pointed her through an archway that led to a room housing some of the most exquisite fabric Libby had seen. She began to browse through rolls and rolls of material, knowing exactly what she was looking for: a crisp, smooth, sheer ivory cloth.
Within seconds, she stumbled across two perfect textiles, one for the main bodice of the jumpsuit and the second for the 3D flowers. ‘Perfect,’ she said out loud, running the fabrics through her fingers. The second she set eyes on the ivory material Libby felt a tad emotional. This was exactly what she was looking for and she knew that Julia would look breathtaking wearing the finished wedding suit.
Happy with her finds she quickly worked out how many metres she would need of each and within five minutes she was walking back down the high street swinging a carrier bag full of fabric. Libby couldn’t wait to surprise Julia with the finished garment. After working with hundreds of models over the last few years Libby had the ability to estimate measurements extremely well, and while Julia was with her last night, she’d looked over her body shape and made notes on her phone after she’d left.
Heading back over the bridge she heard a horn beep and a car slowed down as it approached her, Isla waving madly from the driver’s seat. Pulling into a lay-by, Isla wound down the window. ‘There she is! Drew said he’d picked you up from the train station. Where are you heading?’
Libby had liked Isla from the second they’d met. She was always full of fun and someone you just instantly warmed to. ‘Actually, I’m heading your way. I’m off to check out The Heart of the Village and introduce myself to Florrie at Buttercup Barn.’
‘Jump in! I’m heading home.’
Libby didn’t need telling twice and was thankful for the heated passenger seat as they set off towards Foxglove Farm.
‘How are you? You’re back for Christmas and then off to New York, I hear. How exciting is that?’
‘I have to keep pinching myself,’ admitted Libby. ‘It’s so surreal. A little scary but exciting too.’
‘I bet and, in the meantime, you’re here organising the wedding of the competition winners after Jenny resigned, I believe?’
‘Yes, Flynn said it was a little out of the blue and took him by surprise but he’s hoping the publicity from this wedding will secure future bookings, possibly even celebrity weddings.’
‘That would be good business! Starcross Manor will host the weddings and you will design the dresses for the stars…’
‘Except I’ll be in New York.’
‘But wouldn’t that be the perfect partnership?’ Isla suggested, driving through the gate of Foxglove Farm.
Libby cast her mind back to this time of year a decade ago, when things were difficult and she had been going through the biggest change in her life. Even though her family had held her together through such a painful period, she had still been fiercely independent and so when Flynn had offered her a job at one of his other hotels, she’d refused. She knew it wasn’t a pity offer, that he genuinely thought she would be perfect for the role, but Libby wanted to succeed in her career by standing on her own two feet.
‘It would be the perfect partnership. Never say never,’ she said with a shrug. Who knew what the future held? There was always a possibility that if she had continued success as a fashion designer she would get the chance to help Flynn out if he had a celebrity client who needed a wedding dress designed.
‘And can you keep a secret?’ she added.
Isla glanced in her direction. ‘Of course I can.’
Libby crumpled the carrier bag on her knee. ‘I’m making Julia’s future wedding outfit as a surprise and this is the material.’
‘Oh my gosh, have Flynn and Julia set a date?’
