Page 55 of The Runaway Bridesmaid

Charlie and Rosie’s Wedding Tower for Happy Ever Afters

A five-tier work of culinary art made and decorated by Charlie’s own fair hands. Covered in white fondant icing, with a cascade of delicate pink roses spilling from top to bottom, and liberally sprinkled with edible pink glitter. It’s Rosie’s perfect wedding cake.

Everyone knows that planning a wedding is one of the most stressful of life’s events, but baking your own wedding cake can deliver a surge of feel-good emotions and wellbeing. Spending an afternoon together weighing, mixing, stirring and tasting delivers a surge of happiness in not only the process but also the wonderful outcome - a cake to offer to your special guests that you have made yourselves, with a stir of affection, a dollop of delight and a sprinkle of love.

The book was currently propped up on an artist’s easel in pride of place in the reception hall of the Manor for guests to enjoy, and as a physical reminder of her aunt’s and her mother’s continuing presence in her life and in today’s special celebrations – a celebration that Rosie was saddened her aunt had never had the opportunity to enjoy with the love ofherlife.

‘Come on, come on,’ called Emily, the skirt of her bridesmaid’s dress lifted as high as her podgy knees as she trotted towards the front terrace to begin the procession to the wedding gazebo. ‘The minister has arrived and your handsome groom awaits!’

Hannah rushed forward to peck her sister on the cheek.

‘Good luck, Sis. I love you!’

The wedding procession commenced from the French doors of the drawing room to the wide terrace and down the stonesteps onto the red carpet, spread like a ribbon across the smooth emerald velvet of the sweeping lawns, as the assembled guests smiled their welcome.

The melody of the wedding anthem floated from the string quartet on the late April sunshine, with the additional accompaniment of the spring birdsong, and Rosie felt her heart swell with emotion and love. As her father passed her hand to Charlie’s, she met his eyes before they moved in unison to face the minister, her whole body suffused with adoration and pride.

The minister’s faded blue eyes sparkled with what looked to Rosie suspiciously like unshed tears as he nodded a greeting and smiled at them standing in front of him.

‘Ladies and Gentlemen…’ The minister paused as all eyes rested on his serene face. ‘I’m Reverend Gordon Aubrey, and we are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of Roseannah Bernice Hamilton and Charles Richard Campbell-Wright…’

As understanding dawned, Rosie realised that while time favoured no one, love could last forever, and her heart ballooned with joy that she was lucky enough to have found her soulmate, and that they could live the rest of their lives, surrounded by family and friends, together.

The End