Eleven
Thatevening,Igotto see inside End Cottage.
We’d all received an invitation in the afternoon, from Marcus and Adele, to drinks and a buffet to celebrate them having set a date for their wedding.
It had all been slightly surreal, because, apparently, as Marcus informed us all in his text, Adele didn’t know about the little huddle at Far Cottage that morning. And Marcus said he’d prefer it if she didn’t. Not yet. So we all had to pretend that the text invite was the first we’d heard of it.
Which also meant we had to pretend we didn’t know about the awful incident Adele had endured the previous afternoon. He said he was sure she would tell us herself and he didn’t want her to feel awkward or embarrassed.
He’d even requested that we all delete his texts. The former solicitor in him rearing its head once again.
I was learning a lot about True Love. It seemed it was not only hard work, but also entirely acceptable to deceive your beloved if it was for a good reason.
Hmm.
Anyway. Once Adele and Marcus had told us about the wedding day, we were then all supposed to offer to help plan the wedding.
‘What will he do if Adele says she doesn’t want our help?’ I asked Lucy over the phone as I was getting dressed for the evening. ‘Won’t that make all the secret agent stuff this morning a complete waste of time?’
‘She’ll want our help,’ Lucy said. ‘But I do think not telling her about this morning might be the wrong choice. I know he means well and he’s got her best interests at heart, but what if someone blurts something out?’
‘I’m sticking to water, just in case. Let’s hope Adele tells us all about it the minute we walk inside.’
Which, luckily for Marcus, and for us all really, is precisely what Adele did, shortly after we’d all raised our champagne glasses to wish them happiness for their upcoming wedding day.
Two things surprised me.
One – that listening to the entire event again, only in Adele’s own words, made me even more furious with that evil woman who had clearly ripped Adele’s heart out and then stomped on it. Several times.
Seeing tears in Adele’s eyes and her whole body shake so badly that she had to sit down to finish telling us about it, made everyone cross, but also tearful. Even the men.
It’s heartbreaking to watch someone having to relive such an awful experience. But I already knew that from dealing with the victims of crimes. Hateful speech and bullying, which is what this was, could do as much damage to a person as an actual, physical wound.
Two – that Marcus had told us word for word that morning, what Adele was telling us now. He was clearly a very good listener.
When Adele had stopped speaking, we all crowded around her, hugged her, and offered reassurance, support, and comfort.
And then, just as Marcus had known she would, and so had Lucy, Adele asked if any of us might be willing, or have even a few minutes, to help them plan their wedding.
The fact that she asked as if she didn’t deserve any help, and as if she was asking the earth of us, made it even more heart-rending. She really did have a very low opinion of herself. How could she feel like that when it was clear to everyone else in the room that Marcus adored her, and that we all liked her exactly as she was?
She seemed genuinely surprised and deeply moved by our immediate offers to do anything and everything we all could to ensure their wedding was the happiest day of their lives.
And then she burst into tears. Although this time, they were happy tears, and Marcus hugged her tight until she regained her composure.
A few minutes later, he took me to one side. ‘I’ve sorted the dates for Far Cottage. It’s yours for the duration. I’ve rebooked the couple into a place a friend of mine owns. They’re happy, so everything’s fine. And, as a little thank you, we won’t be charging you for the extra weeks.’
‘What?’ I shook my head. ‘No, Marcus. That’s too much. This is a business transaction. I’m renting a holiday cottage and I’m happy to pay.’
‘You’re also doing us a huge favour.’
‘Not that huge. We’re all helping out.’
He coughed. ‘Yes. About that. Noelle, Alec, Lucy, Sam, Adele, and I, will all be working flat out in our various jobs and businesses. We’ll all do what we can, of course, and Adele will want to be involved as much as possible. It is her wedding day after all. But the thing is, you’ll have more free time than the rest of us. Because you’re here on holiday. Now I know it’s a lot to ask, and feel free to say no, but how would you feel about, effectively, being our wedding planner? I would happily hire one, but they’re all booked solid. This is June, after all, and this is all very short notice.’
‘Me? A wedding planner? Erm. I’m not sure I’d know where to start.’
‘Well. I’ll arrange the wedding insurance, the rings, our vows, and the honeymoon. So that leaves, in no particular order. Finding a venue for the reception, a church, or the Register Office for the service, making a guest list, ordering the invitations and sending them out, getting replies. Ordering flowers, a cake, a band, the dresses, a photographer, transportation, décor and lighting, a caterer, table plans, seating, hair and make-up. Oh, and wedding favours. Do people still give those out to guests?’
