She sighed. However much Melissa had hurt her when she’d accused her of risking the business, she didn’t feel any better knowing what her ex-best-friend was going through. Still, at least their shared contacts and suppliers might just start working with her again.
‘Have you read it?’ Kathy searched her daughter’s face.
‘Yes.’ Ellie nodded and turned to her mum before pulling her into a hug. ‘Thank you for believing in me, Mum.’
As Ellie stepped back again and passed Kathy her mobile, Kathy nodded. ‘Of course.’
‘I…’ Ellie’s words were drowned out as the door to the kitchen opened and excited voices surrounded them.
‘Aunty Laura, Aunty Laura, look at us! Don’t we look pretty?’ Tammy ran ahead of her brother and cousins into the sitting room.
Following them through, Ellie let her mum go first as she hung back by the sitting room door and watched the scene unfold in front of her. Tammy and Jasper were twirling in the middle of the room, whilst Toby stood seriously next to his mum, as she redid his tie and little Lucas and Ava crouched on the floor and resumed their game, seemingly oblivious to the importance of the day.
‘Oh, you all look so wonderful!’ Laura exclaimed as she wiped happy tears from her cheeks.
‘You, Eleanor, are a star.’ Walking towards her, Murray wrapped his arm around her middle and pulled her close before kissing the top of her head.
Smiling, Ellie leaned her head against his shoulder. She felt as though things had come full circle, she and Murray had found each other again, her mum had demonstrated she actually believed in her and now the truth had come out about Melissa, she had a feeling the path of success for Forever Thyme had just got a whole lot easier.
EPILOGUE
‘You may now kiss the bride!’ As the celebrant’s cheerful voice filled the garden and Jackson leaned into Laura beneath the wedding arch Murray had built for them and Ellie had covered in flowers, a round of applause and whoops of delight rang out from those gathered to witness Laura and Jackson’s wedding.
‘You did this. You made all of this possible.’ Standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her middle, Murray lowered his head, so his words were tickling her ear.
Gripping Murray’s hands in hers, Ellie grinned, and she leaned back against him. This was her favourite part of her job. When all the chaos of the planning, preparations and setting up had been done and she could watch her couples say their vows and promises to each other. Yes, she still needed to be on alert in case any tweaks were needed during the reception, but all being well, everything should be fine. And she was particularly confident it would be today.
The brightly coloured bunting and small wicker hearts hanging from the railing surrounding the newly refurbished decking looked perfect and glints of the sun’s rays against the glass lanterns hung in the trees ready to be lit as the sun set cast dancing rainbows across the grass. Yes, she was proud of this one. Particularly proud.
‘Ours next,’ Murray whispered in her ear again.
‘What?’ Twisting in his arms, she cupped his cheeks with her hands and searched his eyes. Was he saying what she thought he was? ‘What did you just say?’
Murray grinned that lopsided smile of his. ‘I said, ours next. If you’ll have me, of course.’
Narrowing her eyes, Ellie frowned. ‘Are you asking me to marry you?’
‘Take this as a pre-question to the real question.’ Murray chuckled. ‘I’ll ask you properly, but…’ He shrugged, a pink hue cascading across his skin.
Biting down on her bottom lip, it was all Ellie could do not to laugh. ‘You just want to know if I’d say yes?’
Murray chuckled. ‘Exactly that.’
‘Of course I’d say yes. I’d marry you tomorrow if I could.’ Leaning forward, she kissed him.
‘Eleanor, love. Sorry to intrude, but your dad and I were just wondering where to put this.’ Kathy waved a pale pink envelope in their direction.
Dropping her hands to her sides, Ellie looked at her parents, who had appeared next to them. Laura had kindly invited them to the wedding after Kathy had not-so-subtly asked for an invite whilst she’d been staying at the inn so they could support their daughter during her first solo wedding. ‘Oh, Mum, the presents are all on the reception desk.’
‘Okay, lovely. I’ll go and pop it there then.’
‘Don’t worry, Mum, I’ll take it. I need to go and check if the DJ has arrived for the reception yet, anyway.’ Turning, she took the card before watching her parents walk back to join the throng of people throwing confetti over the newly married couple.
‘One moment, I don’t think we were finished yet.’ Taking her hand, Murray pulled her back into his arms. ‘Just so I’m clear, that was a definite yes?’
Throwing her head back, Ellie laughed. ‘It was a yes. If you ask me to marry you, then I’ll say yes.’
Murray grinned. ‘Perfect. And just one more question…’
