‘Yeah, right.’ Immie purses her lips in obvious disbelief.
‘I wish we’d been there with you.’ Poppy leans over to give me a hug. When she eventually lets me go, she’s straight in with her bright voice. ‘You certainlyhavemoved on with your weddings, though. From Jules’s reaction, it sounds like you’ve cracked them. Which is exactly what I was hoping.’ She gives me an eyebrow wiggle.
I screw up my face, glad to change the subject. Although somewhere other than here would have been better. ‘Crackedup,more like. They’resohigh pressure.’ I consider for a moment. ‘I hate to admit it, but if it hadn’t been for Rory, I don’t think I’d have managed to take any pictures at all at the Old Lifeboat Station. You know what he’s like with that mix of charm, enthusiasm and genuine friendliness. He just smoothed everyone into the right places, including me. All I had to do was point the camera and press the button.’ It crosses my mind that now might be a good time to ask. ‘So why did Rory stop going out with women?’
Immie narrows her eyes as she thinks. ‘There was some kind of accident back in Bristol. Way before he came back here and took over Huntley and Handsome. Can you remember what happened to Rory, Pops?’
I’m on the edge of my seat, when Poppy cuts in.
‘Maybe that needs to wait, given Rory and Rafe are coming now.’ Although however enthusiastic her wave is, it might not be enough of a cover-up for Immie’s foghorn voice.
I watch as they pick their way past the happy crowd of kids singing along toRudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. Whereas Rafe’s obviously a hundred per cent the hunky farmer, with his hollow cheeks and his Barbour, Rory’s looking for all the world like he raided Kurt Kobain’s charity shop bag to find something to wear to come out in.
Rafe swoops in to give Poppy a kiss on the cheek, as Rory finds a beer mat for his bottle of Coke, and shrugs under the rags that are passing for a t-shirt. ‘Someone talking about me, then?’
If I’d managed to keep my cool by doing long, slow breaths, I lose it at that, but luckily Poppy jumps in. ‘We were discussing your great crowd-control tactics at the wedding, Rory.’
He takes that on board with a smile. ‘Berry and I definitely smashed it. Best day I’ve had for ages.’ This is Rory all over. He takes the compliment in his stride, then expands it. ‘When’s the next one? I’m definitely up for it if you want me.’
If my sweaty neck wasn’t enough, now my stomach’s imploding. The twins are marrying twins later this week and I know I need help. I just hadn’t thought as far ahead as that help possibly coming from Rory.
Poppy steps in. ‘Travis and Taylor are getting married on Friday at the Manor. Aren’t you invited to that?’
Rory scratches his head. ‘Jeez, you could be right.’
Immie’s straight in. ‘If you’re there as a guest anyway, it makes sense to help Hols while you’re there, then.’
I butt in. ‘If Rory’s a guest, maybe someone else could come along with me?’ It’s a long shot, but anyone else would do.
From the way Rory’s looking at me, it’s like he’s taking pity on me. ‘If the kids are still here, I’d obviously need someone to look after them.’ He turns to Poppy and Immie. ‘How are you two fixed?’
‘Maybe if you ask very nicely.’ Poppy’s grinning at him. ‘Seeing as you’re helping Hols and the team, you’re on.’
‘That’s not definite.’ I’m still fighting them. ‘Jules’s friends might be back from holiday.’ I might be able to get my dad back from Spain. Or persuade one of Rafe’s workers from the farm. Or I could even borrow a dwarf from the Crab and Pilchard.
‘It’ll cost you.’ Immie laughs at Rory. ‘Depends how many cases of Bad Ass Santa you’re offering?’
As he turns, Gracie is approaching, a snowman trailing from each hand. ‘Would you like to make some more snowman cakes, Gracie?’ Rory talking to Gracie directly has to be a first, even if she won’t have a clue what he’s on about.
Gracie looks almost as bemused as he does, but she manages a solemn reply. ‘Actually … I want to go on the slide next.’
All us adults look across the room to where the slide sweeps down and lands in the ball cage, but I’m the first to seize my chance to get away.
I hold out my hand to her. ‘I’ll take you.’ Obviously no one else is listening to mehere.
She thinks for a few seconds then her hand slides into mine. ‘I had snowman cakes at Poppy’s house. We put carrots on for noses. And chocolate buttons.’
Rory cuts in. ‘It’s fine, we can all come over to the slide.’
I have to argue. ‘Really, it doesn’t take five adults to look after one child.’ However ridiculous it sounds, they’re all traipsing after me in a line, Rafe coming up the rear, pushing Teddie.
‘Have you been in a ball cage before, Gracie?’ Poppy sounds concerned as we reach the netting enclosure with literally thousands – if not millions – of brightly coloured balls inside.
Gracie nods back at her. ‘All the time. Mummy lets me.’ She drops her snowmen at the bottom of the slide steps, then begins to scramble up.
Immie’s laughing. ‘At Morgan’s fourth birthday, we had to evacuate the area when some kid from another party did a poo in the ball pit.’
Rory pulls a face. ‘Gross.’
