Now it’s my turn to frown. I hesitate. ‘The food ones are fine. Your cake looks as amazing in the photos as it did in real life.’ I love taking pictures of oysters at any time. And Poppy’s simple three tier cake, with a silver-leaf bottom layer and delicate lace icing, was a gift to photograph.
‘And can I peep at the rest?’
I stand up and sigh as I give her my chair. ‘Help yourself. Lucky for me, the first dance was very slow.’ As I stare at the close up of Zoe and Aidan on the dance floor, I’ve lost all sense of whether they’re good or bad.
Poppy sighs as she flicks through. ‘Zoe looks gorgeous. You’ve really captured how in love they are. And the house is looking fabulous too.’ Her face lights up. ‘And these are all the bits I missed.’ She flicks through some more. ‘Seeing it all here and filling in the gaps from the day, I mind much less about not being there.’
‘In that case, I’m pleased I took them.’ Poppy looking at them in that light makes it easier for me to write off my awkward day with Jules.
She grasps my hand and squeezes tightly. ‘Truly, I’m all good again today. But thanks for helping last night.’ She’s already sent me about a hundred texts saying the same thing. And telling me not to worry.
But there are times like yesterday when I know all she needs is a hug from her lovely mum. As huggers go she was a world champion. When we were younger I had my fair share from her. Especially as she was the one who stepped in and had me round a lot after Freya died. There was nothing quite like having your cheek pressed up against one of her flowery, icing-sugar covered pinnies in that kitchen that always smelled of warm baking. When she died suddenly from cancer a few years ago, it felt as if the sun had gone out in the village. It’s the saddest thing that she isn’t here to see Poppy’s baby.
‘Any time, Pops. That’s what I’m here for, remember.’ There’s a jingle of bells as the shop door opens. ‘And obviously I don’t mind helping a few groomsmen into their suits either.’
She grins. ‘That’s good to hear, seeing as there are ten of them.’
‘That’ll be five each, then.’
We’re both looking towards the doorway, stifling our guilty giggles, expecting to see a crowd. So when it’s Jules who appears instead, we can be excused for exchanging puzzled glances.
Poppy gets her act together first. ‘Jules, lovely to see you, how can we help?’ You can tell from the way she thinks on her feet she’s a seasoned wedding pro.
Me standing in front of Poppy seems to have nipped the usual air kiss fest in the bud.
‘I said I’d pop round. So here I am.’ As Jules clears his throat, I sense there’s something different about him, but I can’t pinpoint what.
Poppy and I are both grinning like loons. ‘And?’
‘You’re going to show me your wedding album, Holly.’ Another of Jules’s trademark steam- roller statements, where a question would have been way more appropriate.
‘Right.’ I’m croaking because my voice has dematerialised. When he said he’d drop by soon, I assumed he’d give me a couple of days. Not come leaping in next afternoon. ‘They’re not quite ready.’ It’s a massive understatement. Maybe he expected me to stay up all night on Photoshop? Looking at his grey complexion he might well have done that himself. Now I focus more closely, his eyes are so bleary I wouldn’t be out of line offering him some matchsticks to prop them open. What’s more, his sparkle is totally – well, what can I say other than ‘not sparkling’. It’s like today we’ve got Jules, the totally wrecked, matt version.
‘Not ready? And you call yourself a professional?’ His voice is high with disbelief. Even his hair is lank as he tosses it back. Wrestling a laptop from a pregnant person isn’t polite either, but he does it anyway. And if we were craving questions, they weren’t ones like those.
Poppy pulls out her phone and starts texting madly. A second later my own phone pings. It’s a one-word text from her.
Pimples
She points to her cheek and forehead, then swizzles her eyes towards Jules. Sure enough, when I look again, yesterday’s flawless complexion is breaking out. Okay, I know it’s shallow and mean. But when I zoom in on the two giant zits on his forehead I can’t help feeling a teensy bit pleased that he’s not quite so perfect after all. Absolutely bloody delighted, even. In the same way seeing Kate Middleton with a spot makes you feel better knowing she’s human too. There’s another ping.
Your pics are so great you’ve brought him out in a nervous rash lol
Let’s be clear. We wouldn’t text literally behind Jules’s back if he hadn’t forced his way in so rudely. At least smirking at Poppy makes me feel less as if my soul is under the microscope here, with Jules sniffing and snorting and coughing his way through my wedding files. One more ping.
Sorry, he is well out of order. Defo no cupcakes for him
By the time he clears his throat again, I’m almost past caring about the scrutiny. He leans back, shuffles in his parka pocket and pulls out a memory stick. I’m still smiling at the Lilo and Stitch key ring it’s attached to, which seems way too cute for serious old him, when he starts talking.
‘I like to post a best moments mini-album for my wedding couples within twenty four hours. There are a couple of shots here I know they’ll love. If you don’t mind, I’ll take copies.’
It takes me so long to pick my jaw up off the floor, I don’t reply.
‘Hello, anyone home?’ He dangles Lilo in front of my nose. ‘Some of us haven’t got all day, you know. A quick yes or no will do.’
Poppy steps in. ‘Yes – so long as we see what you’ve chosen.’
He’s straight back at her. ‘All in the file I’ve created here.Jules for Zoe and Aidan’s First Album.’ His memory stick is in and out of my computer in a flash. ‘I may edit a teensy bit more. Get the rest to me by Friday. Okay. That’s me done.’
