‘What dinner idea?’ asked Cat.
‘We’ve been talking about opening up the dining room of an evening as a restaurant. I’m just trying to work out what food I’d offer and how much to charge.’ She looked over to the large dining room adjacent to the lounge.
The rooms were separated by bi-fold doors that she could push back so everything became open plan. The dining room was big enough to seat around fifty people on the different dark wood tables, but there were still lots of sums to do before she could say for certain it was a workable solution. She felt it was, but as a businesswoman she had to do the maths too. As much as she loved a daydream, she couldn’t do that when it came to running the hotel. What she really needed right now were more room bookings. Swallowtail Bay always slowed down in the winter season and normally, what she made in the summer would carry her through this quieter time, but with bookings being down all year, she needed to come up with something else to bring people in.
‘We really should go and see what the Langdon Mansion offer though,’ said Tom, brushing a hand through his hair. He often did it without thinking. There were a few gentle lines appearing on his forehead and around his mouth where he smiled so much. ‘I’ve been saying for ages you need to go and actually have a look around. We can get one of their wedding brochures too.’
‘I’ve already got one of those. Brenda got me one as soon as I mentioned the idea. She thought it would give me some standards to work towards.’
‘That’s my mum,’ Cat said with a sad shake of her head. ‘Ever supportive.’
Though Cat was joking, Nell sensed something more from her tone of voice and a weight behind her words. She mustn’t forget to ask her about the wedding dress before the night was out.
‘You should definitely go,’ said Kieran. ‘It’ll be good for you to see the space and what they offer. Pictures are fine, but there’s no substitute for being there.’
‘We could all go,’ said Nell.
‘Nah, you and Tom go. We’ve got wedding plans to discuss most nights.’
‘That’s true,’ Cat agreed. ‘We’re going to get busier and busier as things count down. I cannot wait to become Mrs Kieran Gleeson – or you can take my surname.’
‘I don’t mind that.’ Kieran’s chest puffed out. ‘I think Kieran Wilson sounds quite nice.’
Kieran and Cat shared another sweet kiss and Nell turned to Tom. He raised his eyebrows in a ‘they’re-at-it-again’ expression.
‘But,’ said Cat, ‘it is about time you went to the Langdon Mansion, Nell. You can’t keep pretending it’s all going to be all right in the end if you just cross your fingers and believe. You’ve taken some tentative steps, but you really need to get moving. You’re like one of my newly pregnant ladies who’re nervous of doing anything because of their babies.’
Cat was a midwife and an amazing one at that. Nothing seemed to faze her, and she knew just what to say to chivvy you along without sounding cross. At least she did most of the time. Tonight, she sounded a little stern with Nell. Was that what she’d been doing so far? If so, Cat was right, and it was definitely time to plough ahead with the dinner idea and check out her competition. ‘Okay, then.’
‘Great,’ said Tom. ‘I’ll book us a table.’
The evening went on nicely with chatter and laughter and a few reminiscences of old times, and Nell enjoyed it, but she still hadn’t had a chance to speak to Cat about the dress. At ten o’clock, when they were about to leave, it seemed desperate measures were called for and she grabbed Cat’s arm, pulling her away from Kieran and Tom who were still chatting, having only made it to the front door. ‘So, which dress is it? I’ve had to wait all evening to find out because you’ve been glued to Kieran’s face.’
‘Jealous much?’ Cat teased.
‘Completely but that’s not the point. I need to know what dress you’ve chosen.’
Cat looked away, and dread pressed down on Nell. ‘I thought I’d go for the ruffled one.’
‘The princess gown that feels like a back brace?’ Gripped by surprise and worry that Cat was letting her mum guide her too strongly over the wedding, Nell said, ‘Are you sure that’s what you want?’
‘I thought about it and I think Mum’s right that this is the most important day of my life and I should wear something that looks amazing. She said the tea dress looked like something I could wear to a party. And they are paying for it.’
‘But that’s no reason to—’
‘It’s fine, Nell. Honestly. I’ve made up my mind, okay? I don’t need you pushing me about it.’
‘Okay,’ Nell replied, shrinking back. She didn’t want to row with Cat over this or anything else for that matter. She wanted her wedding planning to be as fun as the big day. To Nell, that was even more important for brides-to-be because they often spent more time on the planning than they had on the day itself. Every aspect of the run-up should be fun. And it was Cat’s choice at the end of the day. No matter what Nell thought about it, Cat had always made her own decisions and Nell would support her. Yet, it wasn’t sitting well, and she didn’t really know what to make of it.
With the conversation finished, she said goodbye to them all and with no guests in the hotel and none expected to arrive, locked the front door and made her way to her basement flat to watch Bridget Jones’s Diary – or should it be 27 Dresses? She hadn’t had the chance to watch that last night and right now she just wanted to disappear into a world where it was certain that everything would work out in
