The Cosy Christmas Teashop: Cakes, castles and wedding bells – the perfect feel good romance. Caroline Roberts
‘Yes, that bit is quite fun.’ She tried to join in the lighter tone of the conversation. But already it had changed for her, she knew. Sex, had moved to something more. Something wonderful that might produce a child. A child with Joe. And that yearning had grown in her.
‘Come on, don’t worry. It’s really early days yet. We’ll have a whole tribe of them soon enough. And then you’ll be desperate for five minutes peace. And hey …’ he looked more serious then, reached up to touch her cheek, ‘whatever happens, we’ll always have us.’
‘I know, I know. I’m just being silly.’
He gave her a little squeeze. ‘No, you’re not. You just really want to be a mum. And you’ll be a great one, I know it. And, I can’t wait to be a dad, too. But maybe we’re just going to have to wait a bit longer, by the looks of it.’
Life was good, Ellie realized that. They should just be enjoying the here and now. She had so much to be thankful for. Being married to Joe was just wonderful. She loved him as much as the day she had fallen for him nearly five years ago, probably even more so. And life in the castle was working out great. The teashop kept her busy, as well as all the wedding coordinating. There were the usual ups and downs, of course. A huge part of her dreams had already come true. But a child, Joe’s child, would make it all the more special.
Ellie leaned into him, let her head rest against his chest. She felt the rhythm of her heart slow to the strength of his, and closed her eyes for a few seconds.
‘Hi Ellie, it’s Lucy.’
Just four words, but there was something in her tone, seemingly flat at first but then that lilt of panic, that made Ellie’s heart freeze. It was the day after Bank Holiday, Ellie was back in the teashop kitchens, preparing salad, ready for the lunch session. She’d just picked up the phone.
‘Lucy, is everything okay?’ This was not how a bride-to-be, just two weeks from her wedding day, should sound.
‘No.’
Oh, no. ‘What’s happened?’
‘It’s Daniel … We-we’re going to have to cancel the wedding.’
But they had seemed so well suited. Ellie had got on really well with both of them during the wedding planning. They had come to feel like friends. Was it just pre-wedding jitters?
‘He’s had an accident, Ellie. Come off his motorbike … he’s in a real mess.’ A sob echoed down the line.
‘Oh, no. Is he going to be all right?’
There was a little hiccuppy noise, ‘I think so … but it’s not good. He’s broken that many bones, his left leg in I don’t know how many places, his ankle, collarbone, wrist and … he’s lost the feeling in his legs.’
‘Oh Lucy, how awful. I’m so sorry.’
‘But the wedding … We’re going to have to let you and the castle down. There’s no way it can happen now. And, there’s the florist, and the band booked, and you’ve probably made the cake already, and all the catering …’
‘Hey, that’s the least of your worries right now. What’s important here is Daniel’s recovery. We can sort out all that other stuff. Just leave it to me to contact the florist and the band.’
Yes, some food might be wasted, Ellie realized. They had hired caterers for the main wedding meal, but she was catering for the arrival drinks and canapes, and breakfast for the overnight guests. Her special-recipe fruit cake was already made, ready to be iced, but that could be used up somehow.
Dear God, wasn’t life precarious. They were such a lovely couple, in their early thirties. They seemed very much in love, what a terrible thing to happen. Ellie felt a little queasy. She so hoped Daniel would be okay. But, if he’d lost the use of his legs, how bloody frightening.
Ellie remembered vividly when they’d first turned up to view the castle as a potential wedding venue, with some friends on a trio of Harley Davidson motorbikes roaring up the driveway. Yes, she should know better than to judge by appearances, but she couldn’t help but imagine some kind of Hell’s Angels types as they’d rolled up in their black-leather biker jackets. Then they’d taken off their helmets, given her broad smiles, shook hands, and had been so warm and friendly. They had clicked and chatted easily as she’d shown them around, and they had just loved the quirkiness and character of the castle as a wedding venue.
‘Honestly, don’t worry about us, Lucy,’ Ellie took up, ‘You just concentrate on getting Daniel better. Then you can make a decision about the wedding at a later date. Let’s think of it in terms of a delay, that’s all. Just let me know in time, and we can rebook. Okay?’
‘Okay … thank you. Can you hang on to the deposit then, and I’ll keep you posted.’
Bless her, she sounded in shock.
‘Of course, if that’s what you’d like. And, I’ll go ahead and advise the other parties involved, as far as postponing the booking here. Don’t worry, I’ll sort all that out.’
‘Thank you so much.’
‘Is there anything else we can do to help at all, Lucy?’
‘Not really, I don’t think so. Dan’s still in the hospital for now. The Royal Victoria in Newcastle.’
‘Okay, well send him our best wishes … Which ward?’
She’d send a card, maybe some of her homemade fudge – he’d loved it when she’d served it with their coffee as they were chatting through their wedding plans. It wasn’t a lot, but it might just help to cheer him up. It was hard to know quite what to do to help, in such circumstances.
‘Ward Seven. I’m popping to see him again this afternoon, I’ll say you’re asking after him …’ There was a long pause. ‘It was a lorry, you know, that did it. Cut across on the wrong side of the road on a bend, just took him right out.’
‘Oh God, how awful … I’m so, so sorry, Lucy.’
‘At least he’s still here. He might be all bashed up, but oh God, to think …’
It was almost too dreadful to go there, to let your mind take that next step.
‘Take care now, both of you. And don’t go worrying about anything here. It’s just one of those things. It’s fine, we can rebook whenever you are ready. Just let us know how things go for you both.’
‘Thank you … for being so understanding.’
‘Hey, it’s no problem. He’ll get through this, Lucy. I’m sure he will, my lovely. After all, he’s got a wedding to get to.’
Ellie was stood in a bit of a daze after putting the receiver of the landline down. Deana had put the call through to her in the teashop kitchen. Joe came in, found her stood stock-still, staring at the work surface where she’d been slicing tomatoes and cucumber.
‘You okay?’
‘Oh … I’ve just had a bit of a shock. You know Daniel and Lucy, the next wedding booking?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Well, that was Lucy … Oh Joe, it’s Dan, he’s had a really nasty accident. Came off his motorbike and is in a right mess by the sounds of it.’
‘Oh, Jeez. Is he going to be okay?’
‘Hopefully, but he’s broken loads of bones, and at the moment he’s lost the feeling in his legs. That’s so worrying.’
‘Ah, shit.’
Life could change in a split second. We were all so bloody fragile. Ellie began to feel a bit wobbly,