‘Please.’
She lets me do up her zip, then she slides her feet into the pearl mule stilettos and pulls on a veil. She walks out into the room, puts her hands on her waist, then stops in front of the long gilt mirror and gazes. ‘It’s different from the first. But the plain silk is so simple and classy, it’s a lot more me than the other. In the end, I like it better.’
As Tia and I stand back and watch her walk the length of the room, we’re both giving silent cheers in our heads. And thinking back to Lando carrying me the length of the car park wearing it, it hits me.
That was the moment I fell in love with him.
I wonder why I’m being so absurd, then I stop and think again.
That sensation of warmth seeping through every atom of my being. My body feeling like it was merging into his and never wanting it to end. Wanting to stay in his arms forever, that it couldn’t be any other way.
With the awareness percolating through my brain, it feels like the whole world is shifting underneath me, but it’s not thrilling; it’s dangerous.
How did I not know this before?
Because I was too busy resisting to recognise the truth. Too busy worrying how love felt to understand that it was sweeping me away. It’s as if with every good thing Lando has done all summer, he’s broken down my barriers. But if they’re so close to gone, that makes me vulnerable.
The day after seeing the seals, I didn’t ride home, I floated.
And I’ve relived that every night since. More to the point, now it’s hit me that I love him, what the hell am I going to do with this knowledge, and where am I going to put this love, because there are still so many reasons I can’t give it to Lando.
Then I come to my senses, think this can’t actually be me, and start getting wedding dresses ready to take back to the store.
On her way back to the fitting room Athena drops a hand on my arm. ‘Don’t hold it against Lando for being a rich boy once upon a time. Judge him for who he is, not where he comes from. And please give him a chance, because he really cares about you. I know I’m biased, but he’s truly one of the good ones.’
I give a sniff. ‘I’ll bear that in mind.’
It’s not just about the love. It’s as if the whole world is trying to persuade me I might be able to give Lando a chance after all.
I follow her into the fitting room, undo her zip and get the dress onto a hanger. ‘Shall I get this one ready to take away?’
She nods, slips on her T-shirt dress, and pulls me into a hug. ‘Thank you for sorting me out, Maeve. I’ll owe you for this forever. I’ll drop your dresses at Lando’s place later.’
I’m still mumbling into her shoulder. ‘Then it’s fast-forward all the way to Saturday!’
And when I think of how Saturday’s going to pan out for me, in my newly aware state, my stomach goes into free fall.
43
Smugglers End, The Harbourside, St Aidan, Cornwall
Loose ends and other women’s dresses
Thursday
When a wedding is rushing towards you at a million miles an hour, there’s no time to mess around. After school on Thursday the kids decide that because they love them so much they’ll wear the outfits from the summer extravaganza. When I get a call from Lando later on to say Fi’s dresses have arrived at his place, I leave Mum folding laundry, whistle for Angel, and head straight down to the harbourside.
Lando opens his door on the second knock, leads me straight up the stairs, and pauses on the landing to tickle Angel’s ears.
‘I hear you saved the day earlier.’
‘I can’t take the credit, but it’s what we’re there for.’ I stare out of the tiny dormer window, past the cluster of masts in the harbour. I see the sea beyond is jade green and flecked with white horses, and come up with a way to take the spotlight off me. ‘I hear Fi is growing her own wedding bouquet. Who’d have thought?’
Lando chuckles. ‘None of us laze around. We’re all very driven. Esme is an art historian who restores paintings and breeds alpacas, and Piers trains racehorses. Even Rupert and Elliot work like trojans keeping the castle going.’
His list blows apart every preconception I’ve ever had about the Nancarrows. It took Athena coming into the shop to show me there was another, more human side to them.
I take a deep breath. ‘It seems I read you wrong too. I’m sorry for that.’
