‘Tie the sheets together, escape out the window and do a runner?’
‘We can’t run away from your sister’s wedding.’ He sighed.
‘No, but we can’t let our kids give every guest a sickness bug either. Ashleigh would never forgive me.’ Her sister was, to put it mildly, a little strung-out over the whole affair, and Remy knew that a nasty bout of vomiting into the canapés or over the train of her Amanda Wakeley frock was not going to make matters any easier.
‘I’m more afraid of Elaine,’ her husband confessed.
‘Oh God, me too!’ She pulled a face.
‘I feel a bit better.’ Sophie wiped her mouth and sipped her water. Remy carried Harper to the bed, while Midge disposed of the bin’s contents down the loo.
‘That’s good, darling.’ This was a relief.
‘Can I still be bridesmaid?’ Sophie asked, her voice a little weak.
‘Erm’ – she shared a brief, knowing look with her husband – ‘not sure, little dove. I mean you can’t if you are going to throw up as you walk down the aisle or if there’s a risk you might give it to someone else.’
‘But I really want to wear my dress!’ Sophie beat her fists on the duvet. ‘The material! It’s so beautiful!’
‘I know, my love.’ Remy understood. It was indeed a beautiful, beautiful dress of the palest pink, with acres of tulle under the skirt, a simple fitted silk bodice and sweet matching ballet shoes to grace her tootsies. ‘I know.’
Having cleaned the tub, Remy decided to take advantage of the gloriously opulent bathroom and ran herself a deep bath. It was all very different to their flat-fronted 1970s rented bungalow, which had the advantage of being cheap and near the garage and repair shop that Midge was trying to get off the ground. She lay back in the water and let the fatigue of the day leach from her muscles.
Midge knocked on the door.
She replied with an elaborate knock on the side of the bath and watched as her husband crept in.
‘What wasthat?’ He looked at her quizzically.
‘It was a code knock, me saying, yes, it’s only me! Come in!’
‘It’s only a code knock if you’ve already established the code with the person who might be receiving it, otherwise it’s just a series of random bangs.’
‘You spoil all my fun. How’re the kids doing?’ She leaned up and peered into the bedroom through the door he held wide, staring at Sophie and Harper, both sound asleep in the middle of the vast four-poster bed. ‘Bless them.’
‘Yes. Neither has been sick again, and I figure just let them sleep.’
‘Definitely. Did you see the huge marquee in the field? All decked with festoon lighting. It’s going to look spectacular tomorrow. I really hope the girls are okay. I want them to experience it all!’
‘This is all taking me back, making me think about our wedding.’ Midge sank down on to the floor and ran his hand over her face, letting the tip of his finger trace her scars, as he often did.‘My beautiful girl.’ She pulled him to her and let him hold her tightly in his arms. His shirt, once again, now soggy.
‘Really? What part of this is similar?’ She laughed. ‘There was only you and me there, your mates as witnesses, and the vicar bloke.’ It had been perfect, and simple, just the two of them exchanging vows inside St. George’s, the garrison church at Bulford. Her second wedding, sure, but different in every way; she was in it for the long haul, they both were, no doubts. Her parents had been mildly and briefly offended not to be invited, Ashleigh had only sounded relieved that she wasn’t required to venture outside of the M25, and with minimal fuss and no distractions, Remy had spoken her vows with a clarity and hope that had been sadly missing when she had wed Jamie.
‘I guess, I just remember what I felt like the night before.’
‘How did you feel, Midge?’ She leaned up and kissed the side of his neck.
‘Lucky, so lucky that you were going to be mine. I couldn’t believe it, still can’t sometimes.’ It was his turn to kiss her. ‘I’d been thinking about you since that night we met.’
‘Yeah, thinking about me so much it took you years to drop by!’ She sank back in the water, and he leaned against the tub.
‘I’ve told you, I was unstable, posted all over the place, didn’t know if I was coming or going, and I wanted to wait until I could look you in the eye and say, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.’
‘I’m very glad you did.’ She closed her eyes. Moments like this, without the TV on, a kid needing something or a chore to do, were rare.
‘I was scared too, scared you might not turn up! Scared I might not be able to make you happy.’
‘Are you kidding me?’ She touched his dark hair where it lay on his collar. ‘I turned up early! Keen as mustard, and for the record you do, you make me very happy. You gave me back my confidence, my faith in humanity, you’re everything. Our little family.’
