‘No,’ Grace said, rolling her eyes. ‘As in, you have to show up if you want love. Put yourself out there. Be seen. You don’t think Sam happened upon you in the wood by accident that evening, do you? Has it never occurred to you that he knew you liked that spot, had seen you there countless times before and took months to work up the courage to speak to you?’
It genuinely hadn’t, even now. Amy felt her mouth fall open.
‘And it wasn’t an accident that you went back there on the night of the festival, either,’ Grace went on. ‘You were waiting for him, hoping he’d come so you could finally be honest with him. Amy, keep being honest. Keep showing up for one another, even when it feels scary or hard, and you’ll never go far wrong.’
‘That’s good advice,’ Amy said, sniffing. Knowing Grace was right.
‘Now come on, no crying– you’ll ruin that makeup Nisha’s spent an hour putting on you. And we’re almost there.’
The car pulled up outside the church and the driver helped them out– both women smoothing their dresses down gently, easing out the creases.
‘Hey you,’ said a voice in Amy’s ear. ‘You look wonderful.’ Sam put his arms around her waist, and even through the deep red silk of her bridesmaid’s dress she felt the warmth of his touch. He’d been waiting for her.
‘Ken’s a nervous wreck,’ he whispered to Amy. ‘The sooner you get in there, the better.’
To Grace, he said: ‘You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. Well, so far.’ He winked at Amy. ‘I’ll see you both inside.’
‘Are you ready, Gran?’ Amy asked.
‘I am,’ her grandmother said, standing proud in her simple, cream silk shift dress and jacket. ‘Thank you, Amy, for giving me away.’
‘It’s my privilege,’ Amy said, taking Grace’s arm and readying herself to walk her up the aisle. Her grandmother was finally fully mobile again, able to move as freely as she ever had before her accident and operation.
Inside the church, friends and neighbours were gathered to celebrate. Kit and Julius– who’d rapidly earned his status as one of Amy’s favourite people– had come up from Brighton. Even Bertie had been smuggled in and lay curled, quietly munching a bone, on Barbara’s lap. If the vicar had noticed the presence of a black and tan miniature sausage dog among the congregation, he’d wisely chosen not to mention it.
As Grace and Ken said their wedding vows, Amy felt herself glowing with happiness– a joy that only intensified when she glanced behind her to see Sam watching her with pure adoration.
She smiled at him and knew she could make these same promises, offer this same commitment to him– knew that she wanted to.
And she suddenly knew too, that tonight– in a fit of uncharacteristic, crazily romantic hopefulness– she would ask him.
