‘Get on with you then. And no, I don’t need anything else, thank you, boy.’
Grandad had always called him boy which was quite funny really considering he was now a grown man of 35. Tom gave Nigel’s shoulder another squeeze, bid Enid good night and made for the door. On his way, Tracey, the manager of the care home caught his attention with a wave.
‘Hi Tom.’ Tracey’s permed curls bobbed about as she cheerfully manoeuvred her plump frame nearer to him. ‘Are you still okay to help put up the Christmas decorations next week?’
‘Yes, that’s fine.’ He was quite looking forward to it. The residents of the home would enjoy it and it would be nice to spend a whole Sunday with Grandad.
‘We haven’t got much so it shouldn’t take long. And there’s no budget to buy new ones for this year but we’ll just have to manage. The residents do love a bit of festive fun.’
Tom glanced around at the plain cream walls of the care home. The boring magnolia paintwork was broken here and there with some drab, unspectacular paintings, but apart from that there really wasn’t much life to the decor. Some Christmas decorations and greenery would really brighten the place up. ‘We’ll make the place look great; don’t you worry. See you next week.’
As soon as Tom began the walk down the entrance ramp, he made an involuntary grab for the handrail. Once again, his eyes needed time to adjust to the light. His body wanted to move normally but the message sent from his eyes to his brain was that he wasn’t quite ready to keep going. By the time he got to the van and had the headlights on, he’d reassured himself he was okay to drive, but maybe he’d walk to the Langdon Mansion Hotel anyway. He was probably just overtired and had strained his eyes at work. Yes, that’s definitely what it was. It couldn’t be anything else.
Chapter 4
‘Those pants are literally the ugliest pair of undercrackers I have ever seen.’ Nell stretched out the pair of bright white sculpting knickers in wonder. She could feel the tension in her biceps as she pulled the sides apart to the width of a human body. How anyone could fit themselves into these elasticated torture devices was beyond her, and her arms were on the verge of giving way with the effort. ‘Proper Bridget Jones style. They look so painful, and considering you’re shoving your giant hooves into three-inch diamante-encrusted heels, that’s saying something.’
Cat giggled and sipped a gin and tonic, examining her feet which were undeniably wide for such a petite frame. ‘Mum said I have to wear shapewear knickers on the day. They squeeze all the fat from my bra-line down into my ankles. Between those and the boned corset I’m going to need an external lung. Do you think anyone would notice if I hid an oxygen cylinder under my wedding dress?’
It was entirely possible Cat would strap the one she carried in her gigantic midwifery kit to her thigh. She did that sort of thing. Or at least, used to when they were at university together. But back then it had been more moving temporary traffic lights and stealing cones than adhering things to her person.
Nell looked over the top of the thick waistband. ‘Seriously though, they don’t look very romantic or remotely comfortable. How do you even get them on and off? You’ll be sweating like a pig from the effort.’
Cat sighed and watched the ice cubes bob in her drink. ‘I’m not allowed to be comfortable, apparently. It’s my wedding day. I have to look nice. Comfort doesn’t come into it.’
‘Is that what you want?’ Nell asked gently. Cat shrugged in response.
When she didn’t answer, Nell was dragged into her imagination, running through a scene where she dressed on the morning of her own wedding. In front of an antique full-length mirror that she didn’t currently have, in a giant house she didn’t yet own, she slipped an enormous but beautiful and comfortable wedding dress over flattering silky underwear. Once dressed, she held out her hand like a princess in a Disney movie and admired the ring on her finger. Nothing flash, nothing fancy. Just a small, shining diamond set on a simple gold band. Perfect.
She longed to fall as madly in love as Cat. She didn’t entirely mind being single, but it would be nice to meet that person destined for her sooner rather than later. All her previous relationships had been fairly short-term because once the mad, initial romance wore off, they’d fizzled out, unable to live up to her expectations. One day though, ‘The One’ would walk into her life.
A waving hand in her peripheral vision brought Nell out of her dream. Thankfully, she’d had a last-minute booking and had one lovely old couple staying in the hotel. ‘Evening, Mrs Limstock,’ Nell called. ‘Is there anything I can get you?’
‘No, we’re fine, thank you, Nell. Having a lovely time.’
‘I’m so pleased to hear it. But do let me know if you’d like anything at all. I can make you another drink or find you some nibbles if you’re hungry.’
‘No, no. Honestly dear, we’re fine.’
Relaxing back into her chair, Nell picked up a cup of tea and took a sip. She was meeting Tom at the Langdon Mansion Hotel as soon as this planning meeting was done and would have a drink there. The lovely Zoe was covering reception for the night. ‘What does Kieran say?’ Though he was incredibly happy at the prospect of gorgeous, outrageous Cat becoming his wife, surely even he couldn’t stand idle while Cat’s mum railroaded her into having the wedding of her dreams, rather than Cat’s.
Cat ran a hand through her long, pink
