Early morning in the attic bedroom.
Empty seats and spare tyres.
‘Merwyn! What the heck are you doing here?’
When I open my eyes on the morning of the wedding it should be because my phone is beeping to tell me it’s 7am. I admit it’s a bit earlier than needed. But maybe, just maybe, I was planning to make the most of Nic accepting my offer to drop by to use the bathroom. To accidentally (on purpose) bump into him wearing nothing but a towel as he dashes across the landing to grab his tux from the living room.
Okay, I know I’m totally lame and sad, but it hit me yesterday – it could be my last chance, in the world, ever to see the Trendell torso unwrapped. It would be crazy not to take advantage one final time.
But getting woken by a wet brown nose pushing in my ear, followed by an entire floor mop of a dog landing on me and pinning down the duvet, I’m struggling to make sense of what’s going on when Merwyn should be a mile away fast asleep on his bed at the castle.
As I hear a knock on the bedroom door and Nic’s voice softly saying ‘Milla?’ I’m kicking myself again. I wanted to have my hair properly tonged by the time he saw me, not be doing an impersonation of a haystack. As it is, with Merwyn on my chest licking my face I can’t even get my hands free to rake my fingers through my hair. So all I can do is brace myself for the fabulous view of tanned chest.
‘I hope it’s not too early for breakfast?’ As he pushes through the door, a full tray comes first, so at least the huge pile of almond croissants and the pot of coffee make up for the disappointment that he’s fully dressed.
I take in a T-shirt and jeans, the strands of damp hair hanging over his forehead, and do my best to enjoy the consolation prize of his lovely forearms and bare ankles. ‘You showered already?’
He nods. ‘I tried not to wake you. I know I’m earlier than we agreed, but there’s been some last-minute changes to our schedule.’
‘Really?’ We talked about this yesterday – how everything would be fine so long as we stuck to the plan like superglue. So I’m slightly anxious that he’s already veering off course. Then, as I run Merwyn’s silky ears between my fingers, I take in the wiggly tension lines crossing Nic’s forehead and my stomach drops. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘Nothing to worry about, it’s all in hand.’ He puts the tray down on the end of the bed. ‘But Abby fell out of an apple tree at her mum’s and she was asking for Bill and Ivy, so they rushed off to London early this morning.’
‘Oh no, poor Abby.’
He shrugs. ‘In the meantime, we’ve got Merwyn, and we’re covering for them at the castle.’
I let out a whistle. ‘Phew, if that’s all, you’re right, we’ll manage.’
‘Actually, it’s not.’
It’s hard for your whole body to go tense when there’s a dog wriggling on your belly, but mine does. ‘There’s more?’
‘I had another call late last night – from Casper’s dad.’ Nic blows out his cheeks. ‘Sorry to be the one to break this to you, but someone smashed the headlights on the wedding camper.’
I can’t believe this is happening. ‘I only saw him on Tuesday to give him the ribbons. Go on, you’re allowed to say,I told you so.’
Nic shrugs. ‘You couldn’t have known this would happen.’ He’s being very generous. ‘Casper’s been posting pictures of his sex partners online and someone’s brother paid him a visit with a hammer.’ His grin is slightly shamefaced. ‘I did my best to warn you off him. I’d have hated to see your kitten knickers going viral.’
I shudder and move this on. ‘We’ll use the Brides Go Wild van. Keef has insurance, he told me that night at the distillery when he offered to run the van back. We can ask him to do the bride’s side pick-ups.’ I’m mentally checking through. ‘So what else? Please don’t tell me the groomsmen’s boat has sunk?’
‘The groomsmen will still be arriving via the beach.’
‘So it’s all sorted before breakfast!’
There are crinkles at the corners of his eyes when he smiles. ‘Before your breakfast. I had mine after I took Merwyn for his walk, then we called in at the bakery on the way up. So if you’ll let me have the keys, I’ll go and give the van a quick wash and you can bring me the ribbons down when you’re ready.’
‘All the more for me and Merwyn then.’ There’s no reason to feel disappointed. I have breakfast on my own every day – what’s not to like?
‘And by the way …’ He’s already halfway to the door. ‘I spoke to Nigel yesterday. He and Cally are having a baby.’
I take a moment to make my face surprised. ‘Wow, that’ssofab.’
Nic’s eyes narrow. ‘But perhaps notentirelyunexpected? I also heard about your valiant efforts to cover for Cally. Off your face and you still managed to keep her secret, that’s what I call a true professional.’
I groan. ‘It all went so wrong. But at least now you know I won’t be drinking all the drinks today.’
He laughs. ‘All the same, nice job. Nige was very appreciative.’
