Summer Wedding at the Cornish Manor, page 12
Ivy’s hand instinctively goes to her tummy. ‘I talk to them all the time,’ she muses.
At around sixteen weeks pregnant, Ivy still looks trim, just a little more rounded in the middle. But she’s glowing and today, I can see that she’s back in control.
‘It’s a wonderful feeling being pregnant, isn’t it? It is a miracle. And don’t worry, no one is going to let you struggle. As for your forever home… well, something will turn up when the time is right.’
‘Just like the bakery did, to entice us here,’ she reflects. ‘Even so, we didn’t intend on starting a family just yet. Maybe in a year’s time, maybe two. If I had found a new location in Stroud, having committed to that level of financial pressure, I’d be frantic right now.’
I grimace. ‘It doesn’t bear thinking about.’
‘With The Farmhouse Bakery, in the early months, I know that as long as I can pop in and out for an hour here and an hour there, everything will be just fine. I want to spend as much time as I can with the babies in those early years, as you did with Lola. I saw how quickly she changed and how time seemed to fly.’
‘Even when you move, you’ll all still spend a lot of time here at the farm. Imagine what it will be like in the school holidays. We’ll be able to take it in turns keeping the kids occupied. Even Cappy could lend a hand and he’d certainly keep them out of mischief. He’d enjoy taking them for walks, teaching them all about nature and telling them stories about the sea.’
We both let out a contented sigh at the same time, turning to face each other and hug. ‘We can get through anything, can’t we? We’ve proven that already,’ I quip.
‘And some. But solving my problem leaves you with another. Riley mentioned something to Adam about the schedule at the manor running behind and being over budget already.’
I don’t want Ivy to feel guilty because my financial pressures are of my own making. ‘I never banked on receiving a lump sum as that was never a part of the original plan. There’s enough to draw down to get the majority of phase one completed… Well, there will be by the time we reach the start of April, which is only what… four weeks away. As for any overspend, that’s what my savings are for.’
Ivy shakes her head at me. ‘Does Cappy know that you’re going to be putting in some of your own money?’
‘No, and I don’t intend making a big deal out of it. Michael is going to treat it as a loan to the trust, so I can’t see the harm in not making it common knowledge.’
Her frown tells me she doesn’t agree. ‘Cappy would be horrified if he knew what you were doing.’
‘I’ll get it back at some point in the not-too-distant future. The money is doing nothing sitting in the bank and making use of it means Renweneth Manor will come to life quicker. Come on, it’s time to head back, or tongues will start wagging when people realise we sloped off together for a private chat.’
My attempt at changing the subject fails. ‘But,’ she questions, labouring the word. ‘Is it really worth the risk and the worry? Why not simply delay the wedding?’
‘Because every day that Riley and I aren’t living together as a family is a day we won’t get back, Ivy. The wedding is the turning point.’
‘Which will bring everything to a head?’
‘Yes.’ I scuff the toe of my boot against a pad of stubbly grass that has taken root on the stone pathway.
‘That’s either very brave, or foolhardy… I can’t fathom which.’
I tilt my head back and let out an anguished sigh. ‘Ahh! Nothing will change unless Riley and I make it happen. This time next year, I have no doubt at all that Fiona would still be messing Riley around, if it weren’t for the fact that he’ll be moving into the manor in August. Whether he sells his cottage, or rents it out, is his choice entirely but the message is loud and clear. For him, there is no turning back. If she stops Ollie seeing his father, she’ll risk alienating her son. A loving mother couldn’t bring herself to do that, no matter how big a grudge she has against her ex.’ Tears of frustration are beginning to well up inside of me and we walk on in silence until the rear of Renweneth Farm is in sight.
‘You’re fighting for the man you love and a young boy who has a right to get to know his dad. I was wrong. That’s brave, Jess, not foolhardy, and in your position, I’d probably do the exact same thing.’
‘Really? There are times I feel as if I’m going to run out of steam and if that happens, I fear everything will suddenly implode,’ I admit.
Ivy draws to a halt, reaching out to place her hand on my arm. ‘Riley is worth fighting for because the two of you are perfect together. He’s a good man, and if Fiona really loved him, she would have seen through all the drama that caused him to walk away from his family. She gained everyone’s sympathy by painting him as a bad husband, but now it’s backfiring on her. That’s her problem, not Riley’s, or yours.’
Just to hear someone else echo exactly how I feel about what’s happening means more than Ivy could possibly know. I think it’s obvious to Riley that he’s being manipulated; he just doesn’t know how to handle it. If you spend long enough telling someone they’ve failed you, it eventually becomes so ingrained, they no longer stop to question it. Riley has never let me down once since the day we first met.
Even at the beginning when he was doing odd jobs for me, he arrived early and worked late, and he was always respectful and kind to Lola. It was the way that he made time to listen to her chattering away that impressed me. Her curiosity knows no bounds, but he always answered her honestly and never brushed her off when he was busy. That told me he has a good heart.
‘I can’t imagine my future without Riley in it,’ I admit. ‘Even if it means putting in every penny of my share of the equity in the house Ben and I sold; to me, it’s simply a means to an end. You can’t put a price on happiness, can you?’
April
Jess
12
Flowers, Frocks and Feeling Totally Overwhelmed
Easter weekend at Renweneth Farm is a three-day event filled with a whole range of activities. The morning of Saturday the eighth of April brings with it a dusky, pale-blue sky and Riley, Cappy and Keith decide to erect the gazebos ready for some of the outdoor hands-on sessions as a sunshade, and not to shelter people from the rain. It feels like a bit of a miracle because this time last week, we had a downpour that lasted three straight days without stopping.
‘Nice bit of sun today,’ Len calls out. He’s directing cars into vacant spaces but from what I can see, it won’t be long before he’ll be shutting off the car park and sending traffic to the overflow field opposite.
‘I ordered it especially,’ I reply, giving him a wave and a good-natured smile.
As I make my way past the Saturday stalls in the old hay barn on the way to the campsite, I spot Keith handing out leaflets to new arrivals. With the wedding fayre a short walk away, and a full programme here for the weekend, the place is buzzing.
Cappy is head down, hammering in a wooden stake to anchor one of the new cherry trees that they planted last week over by the new facilities block.
‘This should do the trick,’ he says, standing back to admire his handiwork.
‘The new borders are looking tidy and will be wonderful once the shrubs get their spring growth. No one would know the turf has only been down a little over a month.’
‘That rain last week did us a big favour. Fingers crossed, with a couple of days of sunshine, this lot will soon give us a blast of colour.’ He gives me a wink.
‘How’s the new exit working? I was shocked to see Len on his own working the entrance. It used to take three of us to keep it under control.’
‘It works sweet as a nut now that we have one way in and one way out, Jess. I don’t suppose you’ve had time to check out the job they did lowering the pavement?’
‘No. Give me the tour.’
Together with the work going on at the campsite, it was a big job and at one point, Cappy was stressing over whether the landscaping would be finished in time, but he got there. As we walk together over to the new car park exit in the far corner, it’s a bit of a thrill to see children chasing around and having fun, and groups of adults sitting in between their camper vans and caravans, chatting. And I can even hear the buzz from the market stalls in the background.
‘You did an excellent job as usual, Cappy. I know it wasn’t the easiest of projects to manage, but I do hope that you can relax now and enjoy yourself for a bit.’
‘And I brought it in under budget,’ he reminds me with a great deal of satisfaction. ‘I don’t intend sitting around twiddling my thumbs, though. I hope to get in a bit of fishing with the guys. We’re planning a trip around the bay at some point.’
‘We?’
‘Me, Charlie and Clem. Ivan’s considering selling The Silver Wave and the two of them are thinking about chipping in to buy it.’
‘Is it seaworthy?’ I question, as every time it’s been mentioned in the past, the words rust bucket usually follow.
He chuckles. ‘He bought it on a whim, but it’s been on a trailer in that hangar of a shed of his since the day it was brought here from Southampton. His wife’s putting her foot down and it has to go. We think the boat itself won’t be too bad, assuming Ivan manages to pull her out of there before the shed topples over.’
It’s good news, as now that his work here is finished, this is something he’ll want to be around for. An old boat that’ll need some TLC is right up his street and I can’t see him leaving his two best friends to get on with it without offering to roll up his sleeves too.
‘We thought we’d invite Adam and Riley out for the test run to check the old girl out. What do you think?’
‘I think they’d get a buzz from it.’
‘Hmm… and they might appreciate getting a glimpse of the farm and the coastline from the water. It’s as spectacular looking back at the land as it is looking out to sea. Anyway, with the hedge greening up from the brutal cut to accommodate the new gate, it’s not looking too bad here, is it?’
We do a quick inspection and it’s not as ugly as I’d feared. When the mini digger started ripping out this section, I had to keep well away. But now that the pavement has been lowered and the tarmac laid, another couple of weeks and everything will blend in quite nicely.
‘I know it wasn’t an expense you’d factored in, Jess, but it’s one hit and what a difference it makes to market day. No more chaos, and long lines of cars queuing out on the road, or people getting impatient and parking up on the grass verges. It generates a nice, steady little income and it only really needs two people now to control it. Are you off to this wedding fayre thing?’
‘Yes, shortly. I just wanted to check whether you needed me to do anything.’
‘No. It’s all good. I’m just pottering and keeping an eye out, as we’ve another four caravans due around lunchtime. Lola mentioned you’re off to a fashion show a bit later.’
I roll my eyes. ‘Yes, I was going to give it a miss and just walk around the various stands, but Mum insisted.’
When he smiles, there’s a glint in his eye. ‘I know your main focus is getting the manor ready to move into, but it’s your wedding day we’re all looking forward to, Jess. It changes everything.’ He pauses, scanning around to check that no one is within earshot. ‘It’s not easy getting through life without having someone there by your side to share the highs and lows with. Life can become rather mechanical.’
Mechanical? My heart misses a beat. Is that how Cappy feels every morning when he wakes up? Simply get through the day as best he can and repeat it all over again tomorrow? Grandma would be as horrified as I am to hear him talking like that.
‘That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with family and friends, Cappy,’ I remind him gently. I cast around for the right words to lighten what could become quite a dark conversation. ‘Having you here is a great comfort when things go wrong because you are the voice of experience. But as I said, now things are ticking over nicely, you get to relax, have some fun, watch Lola change with each passing day and be Riley’s mentor.’
Cappy gives a dismissive laugh. ‘He’s a capable young man and I’d hate him to feel I’m looking over his shoulder.’
‘Cappy, Riley isn’t like that!’ I blurt out. ‘He’s just a little outside of his comfort zone and still trying to work out his future role. Most couples when they marry buy a house together, but in our case, it’s different. I’ve explained about the trust, and he was fine with that. However, because he’s not putting any money in, I don’t want that to change his perception of the fact that it will be our home.’
He lets out a ‘Hmm,’ as his eyes scan my face.
‘And there’s no nice way of saying this, Cappy, but Fiona seems to take pleasure in reminding Riley about his failures in the past. It takes two to make a marriage fail and yet she continually blames him for it falling apart. It’s eroded his confidence. I didn’t realise quite how much until recently. As hard as I try to keep impressing upon him what a difference he’s made to the farm and where it’s going, he thinks I’m saying it simply out of love.’ I can see that Cappy is deep in thought and I sigh, gently.
‘It’s not a mentor he needs, Jess, but a friend,’ he replies, firmly.
‘Exactly! But someone who can gently steer him if needed… someone he respects.’
‘Mum! Mum!’ Lola calls to me, insistently, as she runs towards us. ‘We’re going to be late. Grandma Celia is waiting in the courtyard. Hey, Cappy. We’re going to look at wedding dresses.’
Cappy bends so that their faces are level. ‘And bridesmaids dresses, too, no doubt.’
Lola’s face lights up as she grins back at him. ‘I hope so! I’ve never had a posh frock before, not a floaty one.’
As she slips her hand in mine to encourage me to hurry, I turn to give Cappy a parting glance.
‘Point taken, Jess. You can count on me to do whatever I can, discreetly, of course.’
The seed has been well and truly sown, and a warm feeling fills my heart.
*
Every seat in the cavernous village hall is taken. Luckily, as Vyvyan is one of the organisers, she managed to reserve us second-row seats and Lola is enthralled.
‘Mum,’ she whispers, leaning into me. ‘It’s a real fashion show, with real models.’
I try hard not to laugh and simply nod my head. Mum, who is sitting the other side of Lola, breaks out into a broad smile, as a hush falls over the audience.
‘Introducing this summer’s newest collection. To achieve that hourglass figure, here we have a glorious fit-and-flare dress. Hugging the body from the delicate lace bodice down to mid-thigh level, the flare comes just above the knee for ease of movement. Can we have a twirl, please?’ The compere’s silky voice has the model turning on her heels as effortlessly as if she were a ballerina.
Lola nudges my leg. ‘It’s so pretty, Mum,’ she whispers.
And so white… and bridal. It’s not what I see myself wearing, at all. I wonder what picture Riley has in his head for the moment he turns to see me walking towards him. I surreptitiously retrieve the phone from my handbag and begin texting. Everyone’s eyes are on the stage, glued front and centre as the second model steps out onto the runway.
Help… the dresses are all so fussy. What do you see me wearing? x
Making sure the volume is turned off, I eagerly await his response. Lola nudges me again. ‘Ooh… that’s so romantic, Mum.’
The compere waits until the model stands perfectly posed in front of us. Her skin is flawless, her hair swept up on one side and fastened with a bejewelled clasp, a riot of curls softening the overall look.
‘Here we have Monique,’ he begins. ‘She’s modelling an off-the-shoulder, fitted gown with an illusion neckline and long sleeves. The sheer lace organza panel is embellished with delicate floral embroidery and a hint of sparkle.’ As if on cue, she turns slowly on the spot. ‘The illusion plunging V-back panel is highlighted only by a line of fabric-covered buttons, which creates a tall and sophisticated silhouette.’
The screen on my phone lights up.
You’re in trouble if you’re asking me for advice on wedding dresses. ������
My fingers start texting. I take a quick snap of the next model as she negotiates the narrow runway in what must surely be the widest ball gown ever. The bodice is obviously corseted, because no one’s waist is that small and from there, it’s like an explosion of tulle.
Don’t complain if I end up with something like this, then. Lola’s jaw just dropped and she’s starry-eyed! ������
I’d like to say the dresses get better but the more I see, the more downhearted I feel. They’re all beautiful but whereas the first time around, it’s probably true to say that I did turn into a bit of an obsessive bride, this time, I want a totally different vibe. How to achieve that, I have no idea, but I’m not going to be a vision in white dominating the whole thing.
‘Mum… it’s pink!’
I place a finger against my lips to remind Lola to keep her voice down and Mum turns her head to catch my eye. Oh no… she likes this one, too.
‘And I’m sure you will agree that this is the very height of elegance,’ our compere begins with great enthusiasm. ‘In white lace over a blush-coloured taffeta, the illusion tulle on the back is encrusted with a row of pearly buttons. Gentle silver sparkles around the waist shine through the corset like a cascade of twinkling stars. The A-line silhouette is finished off with a modest train, creating the ultimate romantic, fairy-tale look.’
People around us start clapping and Lola joins in. Mum leans forward, putting one finger up as if to say is that the one before starting to laugh. I shake my head at her emphatically.
