Nova laughed. “Thanks for the offer, but we’ll be okay. He’s just stressed about everything too. Once Saturday is out of the way, I’m sure everything will calm down.”
“If you’re sure?” Lauren said, and Nova nodded.
“I am. Now let’s drink this wine and you can help me write my wedding speech.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Nova
On Friday morning, Nova ate breakfast with Craig and his mum. The mood in the house had been tense last night, with Pamela barely able to look at Nova over dinner. Nova had made an effort to talk enthusiastically about the wedding, and had even managed to feign interest in a discussion about the groomsmen’s boutonnieres, all the while reminding herself that soon she and Craig would move out to their own place and she wouldn’t have to eat every meal with her mother-in-law.
“We’re all set for the rehearsal later,” Pamela said, as she served seconds of bacon onto Craig’s plate. “I’m going to be setting up the flowers in the church from three, so you both just need to get there by six.”
“Dad and I have to finish up some urgent jobs at the garage, but we should be there around five-thirty,” Craig said. “Nova, remember you’ve got to collect your mum from Bristol airport at one o’clock.”
“As if she’d forget her own mum!” Pamela said.
“I dunno, I wouldn’t put it past Ditsy—”
“Don’t call me that,” Nova interrupted. “I’ll get my mum.”
“Before you do, I’ve got some important jobs for you,” Pamela said. “Please can you finish making up the favors for me? It’s ten sugared almonds per bag—five pink and five ivory—and then the orders of service need folding. I’ll pop back at lunchtime to collect them.”
“Consider it done.”
“Well, in that case I’d better be off. See you kids at the church later.” Pamela headed out of the kitchen, leaving Nova and Craig alone.
“I should get going too,” Craig said, eating the last bit of bacon on his plate and standing up. “Will you be all right on your own this morning?”
“Of course. I’ve got plenty to be getting on with. Those sugared almonds won’t sort themselves.”
Craig smiled. “Just as long as you keep out of trouble. I could do without another trip to the police station today, so no more Nancy Drew nonsense, okay?”
“I promise, my troublemaking days are over.”
Craig leaned down to kiss her, pinching the last piece of toast from her plate as he left.
An hour later, Nova was sitting on the floor in the living room, surrounded by sugared almonds and two hundred small silk bags, each monogrammed with her and Craig’s initials. Her mum was going to have an absolute field day when she saw these, Nova thought with a smile. Maddy should be in Barcelona by now, waiting to catch her flight to Bristol. The thought made Nova’s stomach flip with excitement.
From outside, she heard the sound of footsteps on gravel. Surely that wasn’t Pamela back to collect the favors already? Nova sped up her work, then heard a ring on the doorbell. She got up and walked to the hall, pulling the door open.
Phyllis, Arthur and Ash were standing on the doorstep, while behind them Craddock was trying to eat Pamela’s rhododendrons.
“What are you all doing here?”
“We wanted to check you’re okay,” Arthur said.
Nova was taken aback. “Thank you, that’s very sweet. But how did you get my address?”
“I have my sources,” Phyllis said, tapping her nose. “Are you going to invite us in? We have a complex case to discuss.”
Nova was about to say yes when she remembered her words to Craig just an hour ago. “I’m afraid it’s not a good time, I’ve got loads to do and—”
She got no further as Phyllis barged past her into the hallway.
“Okay, you can come in for a few minutes, but can you leave Craddock outside, as Craig’s mum doesn’t like—”
“I can’t leave him, he’s still recovering from being poisoned,” Phyllis said.
