‘What’s this about a onesie?’ Poppy asks.
I shake my head. ‘Believe me, you don’t want to know.’ Every time I think things can’t get any worse, another bombshell drops. Pocahontas onesies being the icing on my own personal drip cake of doom.
Immie chuckles. ‘Whatever happens with Luc, it can’t be any more embarrassing than getting thrown out of a ball pit by a six-foot-four dwarf.’
And then the first bars of Wham! singingLastChristmasplay out across the bar and I plunge again. Sometime soon I have to reach my proverbial rock bottom.
Chapter 21
Wednesday 13th December
At Brides by the Sea: Harsh words and bulging boxes
There are certain people I meet who I can’t help but pre-judge, and Marilyn is one of them. I have to be honest here. Last time we met, Marilyn had barely stormed as far as the White Room and I already wanted to hide. By the time she left the shop after that visit, she’d made it into my ‘best avoided forever’ box. Which obviously got rapidly revised when I found out I’m taking pictures for an entire day at her son’s wedding. But when I saw in the appointments book that she was coming in with her future daughter-in-law, Katie, for a final dress fitting early this morning, I decided the best plan was to stay safely tucked up in bed. But when Poppy rang at seven to tell me Katie wanted me to be there too, to say ‘hello’ and take a couple of pictures, the only way to combat the bad news was with a stonking breakfast.
Sadly, despite our food science degrees, we can’t all whip up the kind of early morning feasts Poppy makes. Which is why it’s really lucky there’s a bakery a few doors down that sells warm flaky almond croissants and pain au chocolates, from six a.m. onwards. It’s amazing how much less intimidated you feel when you’ve worked your way through a carrier full, eaten the French way. And if my nose stays scarlet until the New Year, after half an hour of serious dipping and slurping over bowlfuls of steaming coffee, I’m just going to have to live with that. The good bit is, that by the time Marilyn gallops into the shop at eight thirty, dragging Katie behind her, I’m feeling well up for the job. Luckily Poppy’s there too, with her usual lovely welcome.
‘Hello Marilyn … and Katie …’ As Marilyn powers straight across to the mother of the bride chair, the hug Poppy gives Katie is so big there has to be some mutual bolstering going on.
After yesterday’s promises for motivational training from Rory, I can’t help wondering how I’ll be handling stuff like this in ten days’ time. For now, I’m scuttling behind the desk, thankful I have my camera to hide behind.
Poppy turns her beam in my direction. ‘And this is Holly, whoyou’vemet already, Marilyn. And who will be stepping in to take the wedding pictures.’
‘Hi,’ I say. I can’t help slapping my hand to my hair as I have a sudden flashback to the way Marilyn wrenched out a handful along with the tiara last time she was here. Somehow I manage to move my head rub on into a little wave at Katie and still hold onto the camera. And if Marilyn’s looking disbelieving, I completely know the feeling.
She recovers enough to give a little cough. ‘Jules already has a list of my stipulations, which no doubt he’ll forward to you.’ Her words are stiff with disapproval.
Katie’s clasping her hands into fists. ‘And he also has our list too, which is pretty much the definitive version, if you get my meaning.’ Katie’s version top trumps Marilyn’s in other words.
More fool me for expecting pre-amble. We’re obviously going straight into the fighting. ‘Lovely, I’ll look at them both, and do my best.’
Poppy does one of the most spectacular eyebrow wiggles I’ve yet seen, so I know there’s something mega coming as she turns to Katie. ‘Holly’s the one who’s responsible for all the Best Moments pictures from Nancy and Scott’s wedding, which Jules sent to you.’
‘Great, so you’ve seen the mini album.’ I’m so surprised I let out a gasp.
Marion shoots upright in her chair. ‘You haven’t got asthma have you? Or chicken pox? You aren’t going to pull out too, are you?’ Her eyes narrow as her glare intensifies. ‘It’s just your nose is very red …’
Katie and I both clamp our hands over our faces simultaneously, but Katie is first to recover.
‘I’m so pleased to meet someone else whose nose suffers in the cold.’ When she takes her hand away, her upturned nose is definitely rosy, but on her it looks incredibly cute. ‘It’s a total nightmare when we ski. It’s the one reason I wish we were getting married in summer. And Ilovedyour album, by the way.’
When I finally let go of my nose, I’m laughing and picking up my jaw off the floor at the same time. ‘Thanks for saying that. Don’t worry, any pictures you aren’t happy with, we can have a gentle play to reduce the Rudolf effect.’
‘Really?’ Her eyes are wide with gratitude. ‘That’s such a weight off my mind. It seemed too girlie to mention to Jules.’
It seems a good time to offer. ‘Shall I take a few of you now? I can send them over later to show you how well the re-tint works on noses.’
‘Brilliant.’ She pulls off her bobble hat and ruffles up her curls.
I zoom in for two close ups. ‘Yes, those are fab.’ If I didn’t know already, I can tell she’s going to look amazing in the pictures. Despite the red nose and bitchy mum-in-law. ‘Would you like a picture of the two of you while you’re here?’
There’s a yelp from Marilyn. ‘Absolutely not. Have you seen my roots? I’m on my way to have my colours done now.’ Someone else clamping their hands over their head here.
‘That’s fine, we’ll concentrate on Katie, then.’ I breathe a sigh of relief, then move on to take a few more pictures of Katie’s delighted expression when Poppy comes through carrying her dress. And then they head into the fitting room and Poppy whips the grey and white striped curtain closed behind her.
It’s not long before the curtain whisks back and I pick up my camera again. ‘That was quick … and the dress isamazing.’ Even though I’ve been hanging around the shop for the best part of ten days, I still haven’t got used to the transformations. Or how beautiful and individual each bride looks in her dress.
Katie smiles down at the soft gathers of the tulle skirt. ‘It’s a Sera easy-to-wear and easy-to-get-in-and-out-of special. Very important for a bride like me, who wants to have fun rather than be formal. Anything more complicated and Seth would never manage to take it off.’ She laughs as she holds the fabric up to the light. ‘There are so many layers, but the top one is studded with tiny gems and miniature snowflakes. And I adore it more every time I see it.’
