‘Thanks, you look very handsome too.’ She was suddenly blushing. ‘Very presentable.’
‘Good,’ he laughed and fiddled with the knot of his tie. ‘The place looks great, doesn’t it? You’ve done brilliantly.’
‘We all have.’ Nell decided she had to act normally, just as she had before she’d known. If she didn’t, they were going to be stuck in this awful bubble that only she seemed to be feeling. ‘So, are you going to tell me why you’ve been avoiding me all week?’
A pained look flew across his face. ‘I’ll tell you later, okay?’
‘Okay,’ she replied hesitantly. At least he was going to tell her soon. She’d always known that if she waited, he’d tell her when he was ready. Now she came to think of it, it was funny how her brain hadn’t gone into overdrive creating scenarios about this secret. Tom clearly had a good effect on her. ‘Should I be worried?’
‘Nah,’ he replied, but she wasn’t sure she believed him. ‘Come on, people are arriving. Let’s seat them and get this show on the road.’
‘I’ve saved us two seats at the front, we’re both on Cat’s side, but it doesn’t really matter, does it?’ The photographer Cat had hired was circling, snapping pictures and Nell couldn’t wait to see how they came out. Everyone was enjoying themselves and perfectly relaxed as they took their seats. Cat had already said she was welcome to steal some for the wedding business.
When she received the nod from the celebrant, Nell went down to collect Cat. With a quick knock on the door to the flat, a flutter of excitement bubbled in her tummy. The week had been manic with all the wedding changes Cat had wanted, and though Nell had been more than happy to do it, she was glad the moment was finally here. She couldn’t wait to see her two friends make this commitment to each other.
‘Come in,’ Cat said.
As Nell opened the door, Brenda left; mother and daughter seemed to have put the last few weeks behind them. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Yep. Let’s get up those stairs. My man is waiting.’ Grabbing her bouquet, Cat paused as she drew level with Nell. ‘Thanks for sticking with me.’
‘What are friends for?’ Nell replied, taking her in a hug. ‘Come on, your public awaits!’ Nell grabbed her own small bouquet of white roses with silver pine cones and quickly followed Cat out of the flat.
Giggling with excitement they made their way through the kitchen to the sweet looks of the staff and Niall. At the door to the ground floor, Nell paused, looking through the glass to make sure everyone was seated. They exited to where Cat’s dad was waiting. Nell stuck her head around the door to the dining room and gave Tom a quick thumbs-up. He turned on the music and as Cat wanted, Nell walked down the aisle first to a choir singing ‘Silent Night’ in Latin.
The choral voices filled the air with a magical Christmas enchantment and Nell smiled at everyone she passed, especially Mr Scrooge who was still asleep on the hearth in his bow tie. As she looked ahead, her eyes fell on Tom and suddenly it seemed it should be her wedding day, walking down the aisle to him, but not in a fairy-tale romance conjured in her mind. This time, it was something solid and real. The flood of emotion reinforced to Nell that he was the only one for her, and she’d been blind to it for so long. She’d wished for a love that was deep and rich, formed from strong bonds, and that was what she had with Tom.
Cat was right, romantic gestures were all well and good but real love was looking after someone through thick and thin, knowing their needs and wants and always being there for them. How had she not looked at him in that way before? If she had, she definitely would have fallen for him sooner. He was the best man in the world as far as she was concerned. Handsome, funny, clever, and when he smiled his kindness spilled out through his gorgeous eyes.
At the end of the aisle, next to Tom and Kieran, she turned, and they all watched as Cat arrived. When Cat appeared on her dad’s arm, tears of joy took Kieran. It was wonderful to see that Cat was finally completely comfortable in herself, happy and ready to commit to the man she loved. When she reached the front, Cat was so full of joy she didn’t just hand over her bouquet, she wrapped Nell in a giant hug, then held Kieran’s hand.
Nell and Tom sat down as the celebrant made an introduction, welcoming everyone. In front of the assembled crowd, Cat and Kieran giggled, shyly glancing at each other like it was the first time they’d met. The log fire crackled and burned in the grate, and the Christmas tree twinkled beside them. Nell glanced at Tom and resisted the urge to take his hand. When his leg rested against hers, she felt a fire burn through her veins. Then Cat and Kieran exchanged vows and the celebrant called the witnesses to come and sign the register. Nell and Tom also had that honour. Whatever had happened with him recently, the look Tom gave reassured her he still felt the same and a world of possibility lay before them. But as she had to switch back into hostess mode as soon as the ceremony was over, she was going to have to wait just a little bit longer before she could tell him.
With the register signed and more Christmas carols ringing out, the guests threw white snowflake confetti over Cat and Kieran as they exited into the dining room. The waiting staff, including Tallulah, were lined up ready to serve glasses of champagne to the guests and Nell took one for her and Tom.
