A few days later, Amy and Dan tie the knot. Rach and I are Amy’s bridesmaids and I struggle to hold it together as they say their vows. It blows my mind to think that they’ve known each other since high school and that one summer fling at the age of twenty-two led to them declaring their undying love.
They’ve chosen to marry in St Agnes Parish Church, and for the most part, I’m able to set aside my memories of my parents’ funeral six years ago. At least the reception is not being held in the same place. Chas has closed Seaglass’s doors to the public tonight so he can host his nephew’s wedding reception, which is a huge deal considering it’s a Saturday in August. He returned from his round-the-world trip a few days ago and was straight back behind the bar.
‘Christ, I’ve missed this old girl,’ he said, standing there with his hands propped on the bar top. His face was full of love and wonder as he looked around before staring across the room at the sea with a wistful expression.
I thought he’d feel less nostalgic once he re-experienced the carnage of Friday-night cocktails, but he seemed to enjoy the adrenaline rush last night.
I hope he takes it easy, but I do feel better knowing that I can administer CPR now. I went round to Rach’s house in thedays after Tom opened up to me and asked her to teach me. She also explained how to use the community defibrillator.
I shed a lot of tears on my friend’s sofa that day.
Tom is sitting with Ellie in the church – we were at the quiz night a couple of weeks ago when Dan and Amy invited him. Dan had just pulled me to one side and given me a quick hug, whispering in my ear: ‘It’s good to see you happy.’
I’d had a surreal moment shortly before that when I’d noticed Amy and Rach throwing each other wary looks as I was laughingly relaying an anecdote. Tom and I had been to the beach earlier that day and he’d been drawing small pictures of animals on the sand between us. I’d just told him about Brendan and his coffee-foam creatures, so he was jokily trying to compete. When he came to drawing an elephant, he made the trunk so long that I fell about in hysterics.
For some reason, Rach and Amy weren’t finding my story as funny as I’d thought they would – and then I realised: ‘The Boys of Summer’, the rockier, grittier version by the Ataris, was playing over the sound system. It’s very similar to the version Mixamatosis played on their last night with Finn as their frontman. My friends had been waiting for me to notice.
‘I’m going to be fine with whatever songs you pick for your wedding playlist,’ I reassured Amy with a smile, squeezing her hand.
‘I’ll avoid Brit Easton,’ she promised.
‘Well, that Iwouldappreciate.’
We spill out of the church to clear blue skies. The church bells are ringing and can be heard all over St Agnes. Passers-by pause to watch as we shower the beautiful bride andhandsome groom with rose petals. Amy is wearing a simple white gown with an elegant cowl neck and Dan looks gorgeous in a dark grey suit.
Rach is also in a grey suit, although in a lighter shade than Dan’s, the same colour worn by the groomsmen, Tarek and Chris. She was so grateful to Amy for not requesting that she wear a dress.
I’m in a long, flowing emerald-green number with very high-heeled gold sandals, and Tom is rocking a navy suit. I went with him to buy it and almost feel embarrassed about how hot he looks right now. He’s toweringly tall and the slim-fit cut of his jacket makes his shoulders look ridiculously broad.
I wasn’t thinking of the steep hills when I chose these heels, but Tom keeps me steady as we set off towards Trevaunance Cove, my grip firmly in his.
He’s been so calm since he told me about his suspected heart condition. He really doesn’t seem to give his health much thought, but I have found myself resting my head on his chest when we’re in bed together, listening to his heart thumping in the silence. He’s so strong in so many ways, both physically and mentally. It’s reassuring. I hope that I’ll worry about him less as the days and weeks, and hopefully months and years, go by.
We have to walk single file once we reach Stippy Stappy and I smile when I see Michael sitting on the garden bench outside his cottage.
‘Hello!’ he shouts, waving happily at us.
‘See you later?’ I call, waving back.
‘Yep! I’ll be there!’ he replies cheerfully.
He’s coming to the post-reception party. Amy and Dan are putting on a seafood buffet for their closest friends and family. Once the dinner service is over, the tables downstairs will be cleared to make room for other friends to come and help them celebrate.
With all the people coming in, I have no idea how Chas plans to keep the general public out, but I doubt Dan and Amy would even notice if there were interlopers. I have a feeling they’ve invited everyone they’ve ever met.
It’s a breathtaking sight as we walk the last stretch to Seaglass. Amy and Dan are leading the way and her long light-blonde hair is flowing out behind her in the breeze, the glittering turquoise waters of the Celtic Sea stretched out before them.
The staff come outside to welcome them, and more rose-petal confetti rains down as Amy and Dan walk up the stairs.
Later, once the meal and speeches are out of the way, my friends and I head to the balcony so the tables can be cleared for the after-party. The golden-yellow sun is dipping towards the horizon and the festoon lights we’ve strung up along the outside of the building are starting to come into their own.
Tom is leaning against the railing and I move naturally into the space between his legs. This prompts him to bring his arms around me from behind and gently pull me against him so that my back is flush to his chest. My heart is so full of love for him.
Chas comes over with a pint of beer and throws a wiry arm around his nephew’s neck. He’s been helping a local indie band set up their equipment on the small stage inside.
‘If only you had Kieran here!’ Chas exclaims. ‘I’d be kicking those guys off and getting you boys up there.’
Kieran, Mixamatosis’s former frontman, moved to Canada last year with his girlfriend, soon-to-be wife.
