‘There you go, loves.’ Candace put two plates of fish and chips in front of us.
When I told Jess that I had some ideas for her wedding, she suggested that we discuss it over dinner.
We’d bumped into Jane in the corridor just as she was about to go on a break, so we’d asked her to join us for a quick catch-up so she could tell us all about her romantic trip to Paris with Jackson. And she’d just left to go back to finish her shift at the library, so I hadn’t had a chance to explain my ideas to Jess yet.
I still couldn’t believe that I got to spend so much time with my bestie. When I lived in the Midlands, we only saw each other twice a year at best, so having breakfast and dinner with her in the same day was such a treat.
We were starving, so we dove straight into the food, and it was only once we were nearly finished that Jess took a gulp of water, then started talking again.
‘So?’ she said, her eyes wide with anticipation. ‘You were going to tell me about your ideas for the wedding.’
‘Patience, child!’ I chuckled.
‘The suspense is killing me!’
‘Okay, okay! So, I was thinking, you could have the wedding at the library! You and Theo love books. It’s where you got engaged, so why not tie the knot there too? There’ll be no expensive venue hire charges, no worrying about whether there’s availability, you could have complete control over the date and the decor, and you’d get to exchange vows at the place that’s so special to you. Then, depending on when you decide to do it, we could have the reception on the beach, just like Adrian did, and depending on how late you want to party, we could have drinks afterwards at the book bar or just keep everything on the beach. I’m sure the residents won’t complain about the noise.’
‘You’re a bloody genius!’ Jess leapt out of her seat, launched herself at me (almost causing our plates to fly off the table), then gave me a massive hug.
Once she’d finished squeezing me so tight I thought I might break, she sat back down with a smile the size of eight planets spread across her face.
‘So you hate the idea!’ I laughed.
‘It’s perfect! I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, thank you! If we did it at the library, I could just wear a simple dress. I wouldn’t have to go for loads of fittings or wait months for it to be made or whatever. Job done! I’m a romantic at heart and love reading about amazing weddings in novels, but I don’t care if I get hitched in a car park wearing a bin bag. I just want to marry the love of my life.’
‘I think a car park’s taking things too far!’
‘Maybe,’ Jess laughed. ‘I suppose a girl’s gotta have some standards!’
‘In all seriousness, though, I get what you’re saying. You want the focus to be on your love for each other and not on the other stuff.’
‘Exactly. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I know loads of people dream of having the big, fancy white weddingand I’d love to get an invite to one of those. But I just know that something low-key would suit me better. I have to speak to Theo, obviously, because it’s his day too, but I’m sure he’ll love it. I’m already excited! Thanks again. You really are the best!’
My heart bloomed. After lots of false starts and insecurities since I’d arrived in Sunshine Bay, today I was firing on all cylinders.
Ever since I’d got back from Spain, I’d been so happy and so motivated. The ideas were flowing like no one’s business.
And just like that, another light bulb went off.
This time for my book.
Jess had said earlier that D.D. recommended using things that happened around me for inspiration, and I’d just had a blinder of an idea.
‘Yes!’ I shouted. ‘That’ll be perfect!’
‘I know!’ Jess enthused. ‘It’ll be an amazing wedding!’
‘Yeah, that too. But I was talking about my book. I just had an idea! Do you mind if I leave?’ I reached into my bag, took out my purse, then dropped a twenty-pound note and a handful of pound coins on the table to cover both our meals and a tip. That was the other thing about Sunshine Bay. Everything was so reasonably priced. ‘I want to write everything down whilst it’s still fresh in my mind.’
‘Go for it! You gonna tell me what your ideas are?’
‘Not yet. But soon. I promise.’
I picked up my stuff, then sprinted out the door to the B&B.
For months I’d struggled to find an idea for my novel.
But with any luck, my writer’s block had gone for good.
