50
Windflowers, St Aidan, Cornwall
Chasing the moon
Friday (a month later)
Amonth later we’re all at the beach hut, wrapped up against the wind, doing the last jobs for Tia and Thom’s wedding in the morning. Poppy’s in Tia’s tiny attic kitchen, putting the finishing touches to the wedding cake of their dreams, which has jam and buttercream between the rainbow layers, and a buttercream outside rolled in brightly coloured hundreds and thousands, and Lily’s gathering late asters and zinnias from the walled garden at Bart’s house for the posies.
Tia tried on every dress in the shop and ended up choosing the one I was wearing the day I fell off the stepping stones, because she loves the way the skirt flutters in the wind and we’re sure there will be plenty of that. That dress technically belongs to Lando, but he’s happy to let her have it. To make it her own and keep out the autumn chill she’s adding in a pastel striped cashmere cardigan, which goes so well with the girl’s flowery dresses they decide those can have another outing too. As a surprise she gets them each a denim jacket, with their name on the back in faux diamonds, and Mum and I buy them glittery Doc Martens because they’ve grown out of their Converse.
We’ve just finished stringing the pastel bunting across the inside of the beach hut when we hear the chimes of the ice cream van.
Lando raises an eyebrow. ‘Ninety-nines all round? Come and choose your toppings!’
As he and Thom set off across the sand, with the kids running beside them, I turn to Tia. ‘He’s started stocking doggy ice cream now too.’
It shows how many they have, because when they hear the words, Angel and Martha look up from where they’re lying on the deck.
And yes, it’s not just Lando who spends most of his time with us at Climbing Rose Cottage; Martha is also there too. It’s a tribute to Mum’s love of a full house that additions as large as Lando and Martha have been absorbed into the cottage with very little fuss.
As I watch them coming back towards us with their hands full of cones, and I look at Lando and remember yet again that he’s all mine, I get my usual tummy flip. As he hands me my ninety-nine and flops down beside me on the top step, another rush of happiness surges through me.
I give a little shiver, and he looks down at me. ‘Everything okay there, Maevey Waves?’
I smile. ‘I’m just feeling very lucky to be here with you all, and hoping you aren’t going to push my nose in my ice cream.’
He laughs. ‘As if I would.’
When he slips in for a kiss, Nemmie nudges Zara then grins at us.
Thom smiles too. ‘Tia and I feel very lucky to be your last wedding of the season.’
Tia laughs. ‘It would have been a long wait until spring.’
Lando takes a bite of his flake then looks up. ‘Salvador is taking down the Silver Meadows tipis this weekend too.’
I sit up straighter. ‘So how many weddings has he done?’
There’s a smile playing around Lando’s lips. ‘It’s hard to believe, because he had a head start… but after Tia and Thom, you’ve both done exactly the same number of ceremonies.’
‘Damn!’ I clench my fists. ‘That’s so frustrating!’
Tia gives a snort. ‘We’ll have to wait a whole year for the chance to beat him again.’
Lando narrows his eyes. ‘The beach hut’s still here. If we had one more wedding we’d win.’
Thom frowns. ‘Whose side are you on?’
Lando laughs. ‘This one, without a doubt!’
Tia winks at me. ‘He always has been.’
I give a sigh. ‘Who would want to get married in a beach hut in December?’
Lando looks thoughtful. ‘I’d like to… if you’re asking me.’
My mouth falls open. ‘You’re willing to get married, just to beat Sav?’
