All through dinner, Nell glanced at Tom and every time she did, he was looking back at her. Her spine tingled and she found herself fidgeting with the napkin on her lap. She’d never felt self-conscious around him before, but everything was different now in an exciting and amazing way. Tom shuffled nervously in his seat as the meal went on and Nell knew why.
‘You’ll be fine,’ she said, referring to his best man speech.
‘How am I supposed to do it with Brenda giving me evils all the time?’
‘She won’t. Unless …’ She left the word hanging in the air just to wind him up.
‘What?’
‘You’re not going to tell that story from when the four of us went to Ibiza are you? You know, the one where Kieran decided to sing ‘Live and Let Die’ on the piano in that bar.’
Tom started laughing, his eyes crinkling attractively at the corners. ‘I’d forgotten about that. Shame he can’t actually play the piano. It would have been a decent rendition if he could.’ He took a sip of his drink and Nell rubbed his shoulder.
‘You’ll be great, I promise.’ As he stared into her eyes a choir of angels sang from the Christmas carols playing in the background. It was like one of those moments she’d always imagined. Her longing to tell him tugged at her heart once more but she couldn’t blurt it out in front of the strangers on the table and with his best man’s speech hanging over him. While she didn’t want the moment to be like something from a romcom, she wanted it to be perfect for them.
Cat’s father’s speech was wonderfully emotional and welcoming, and he thanked Nell for turning Cat’s second home into such a wonderful venue. She felt herself puff up with pride. Then Kieran began his speech. He remembered to tell Cat how beautiful she looked, tearing up a little as he did so, which set everyone else off crying, then he thanked Tom. As Kieran spoke, Nell’s skin prickled. He choked up but it was the mention of Tom going through his own things right now that made Nell sit up. Tom flushed to the roots of his hair but from the way his jaw tightened, Nell could tell he was feeling emotional too. Kieran drew his speech to a close, so she didn’t get a chance to ask Tom what he was referring to as it was his turn to speak.
Tom pulled a few cue cards from his pocket as he stood. ‘Thanks Kieran. I’m pleased to see that although you forgot to wear pants that time at university, you’ve remembered to put some on today for your wedding.’ Everyone chuckled and Nell watched him visibly relax. ‘And I’m pleased to see that you remembered to say how beautiful Cat looks, because she does. She looks amazing. You’ve made a good choice of wife there, Kieran. And if I may say so, Cat’s decision to lower her standards has been a blessing for you, because you are seriously punching above your weight.’
There was more laughter and a few ‘hear, hear’s, and Tom really got into the swing of things. He had to check his notes once or twice, obviously unable to read his own writing by the way he had to focus on them, but he was funny, cheeky and charming, delivering a brilliant best man’s speech.
‘See, I told you you’d be brilliant,’ Nell said.
‘I’m so glad that’s over. I feel like I can finally relax and enjoy myself.’
‘I know what you mean. As soon as the DJ’s set up and the first dance is done, I can clock off. Everyone’s been brilliant though. I think I could definitely do more weddings here.’
‘Definitely.’ Tom topped up her glass of wine. ‘Everyone’s really enjoying themselves. I think we should toast to the future of Holly Lodge as Swallowtail Bay’s latest and best wedding venue.’
‘Cheers.’ They clinked glasses and Nell couldn’t wait for the final part of her duties to be over so she could tell this wonderful, caring man exactly how she felt.
Once the DJ had set up, Cat and Kieran took to the floor for the first dance. They were soon swaying and laughing to ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ and they couldn’t have picked a more perfect song for their Christmas wedding. Tom asked Nell to dance and as they moved together, Nell couldn’t believe her luck. All those great big romantic gestures she’d imagined in her head were nothing compared to how she felt right now doing nothing more than dancing with Tom in her small hotel. His hand wrapped around hers like a glove. If she’d had the nerve to do so, her head would have nestled on his shoulder, but she wasn’t brave enough for that yet. As soon as the first dance was over, she’d take Tom into the garden, to the quiet bench in front of the holly hedges and tell him that she loved him.
Finally, the DJ switched to lively disco classics and Nell had her chance. They separated from each other but instead of letting go of his hand, she held it tightly. He looked confused as she led him out of the hubbub and down the stairs of the conservatory into the dark evening light. They went through the garden, lit with sparkling fairy lights that matched the stars above, and little tea lights in jars lined the path until they came to the holly bench. The squeals of delight from the reception faded into the background.
In the quiet of the garden, it was only her and Tom, and she took a deep breath as they sat together on the bench, his hand still in hers.
‘What’s going on?’
‘Tom, there’s something I want to tell you.’
He swallowed nervously. ‘There’s something I need to tell you too.’
‘Really?’ Her