“I want to show Tom and Carole my bridesmaid bouquet,” Evie announced to the assembled guests in the room before releasing Carole’s hand and hurrying towards an array of floral bouquets laid out in containers on a tabletop.
All eyes swung in their direction. Carole felt embarrassed for bursting into the private room, albeit unwittingly. Tom stepped into the room behind her.
“Sorry, we didn’t mean to crash in here like this,” he said.
An older woman in a pale lemon skirt suit approached them, all smiles.
“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “Evie is beside herself with excitement about her flower bouquet. You’re not the first person she’s dragged in here today.”
“Good to see you, Kathleen,” Tom said, embracing the woman before turning to Carole. “Carole, this is Lucy’s mother, Kathleen. Kathleen, this is Carole, my wedding date.”
“So lovely to meet you,” Kathleen said, shaking her hand warmly.
“You too. You must be very excited about being the mother of the bride today.”
“I’m beyond excited,” Kathleen replied, her eyes bright. “If we could just find a way to calm this one down,”—she gestured to Evie, who was lifting a bouquet of flowers from the selection on the table—“before she literally explodes, then I’d feel a lot better.”
Tom and Carole laughed as Evie rushed back to them bearing a sweet arrangement of pink roses and white daisies in a perfectly designed bouquet.
“Look! Isn’t it pretty?”
Evie waved the bouquet around like a magic wand.
“It’s gorgeous,” Carole agreed. “I love the daisies.”
“Me too,” Evie grinned. “Daisies are my favourite.”
A man detached from the small crowd of guests talking amongst themselves and joined them by the door.
“Tom, great to see you,” he said, extending a hand.
“Martin, how are you feeling, mate?” Tom replied, grinning as he shook the man’s hand.
“Excited. Nervous. And like I might pass out,” Martin laughed.
“You’ll be fine,” Tom reassured him, then made introductions again. “Carole, this is Martin, the very lucky groom. Tom, this is my date, Carole.”
There was more handshaking and exchanging of pleasantries.
“So, are you ready to get married?” Tom asked, clapping a hand on the man’s shoulder.
“I can’t wait. I mean, I’m scared witless, obviously, but I can’t wait to see Lucy walking down that aisle.”
Carole couldn’t miss the bright excitement in the man’s eyes. She also couldn’t help but notice the genuine warmth the two men seemed to have for one another. Listening as Tom chatted with Martin and Kathleen, it struck her as remarkable that, despite no longer being in a relationship with his ex, he continued to be a welcome part of her family.
That said something about the man.
Once Evie was persuaded to return her bridesmaid bouquet to the table along with the other floral arrangements, Tom said they’d leave them all in peace to get on with their final arrangements before the ceremony began at one o’clock. Kathleen hugged Carole like an old friend before hurrying off, saying she needed to return to her daughter in the bridal suite upstairs as she’d only come down to the prep room to collect a few things. Martin said he needed to go and check in with the wedding celebrant, who’d just arrived.
Back out in the corridor, Martin gave Tom directions to the function room where the wedding ceremony would take place. While the two men spoke, Carole watched in amusement as Evie grabbed a hand of each man in hers and swung their arms to and fro. The excitement of the day was clearly getting the better of her.
Watching Tom indulge the little girl’s mad arm-swinging antics alongside Martin made Carole’s heart squeeze.
It was a sweet scene, and she couldn’t help pulling out her camera and snapping a quick shot of the two handsome men holding hands with the gorgeous little flower girl who stood between them, swinging their arms back and forth and grinning with delight.
Caught in the busy, happy moment, none of them noticed her taking the photo. Carole would share it later with Tom and she knew it would make him smile.
At last, they all went their separate ways. Evie skipped off with Martin, waving madly. Tom steered Carole back towards the lobby and the suite where Martin said the wedding ceremony would take place.
