‘And don’t you forget it,’ I played back, safe for the moment from making that huge leap of faith.
This man sure knew how to charm a woman, especially me. Because little by little, between POV predicaments and parenting, he’d certainly proved what a proper father he was – something sorely missing in our lives – and found his way into my heart. I don’t know if it was quite love yet, but he certainly had my full attention as my body began to tingle like it hadn’t in a long, long time.
*
That afternoon I got a call from Emma.
‘Nina, please say yes.’
‘Yes, whatever you need, Em. What is it?’
‘One of Luke’s friends has already contacted me. I showed her my work and she’s hired me!’
‘Em!’ I gasped, warm waves of pride flowing through me. ‘Congratulations!’
‘Thanks, love. But now I need that help you offered. She has no idea what she wants, and for the first time in this job I’m at the end of my tether. Can I pick your brain?’
‘Of course. What kind of wedding is it?’
‘Very posh and very extravagant.’
‘Budget?’
‘Limitless.’
‘Crikey, who is it, someone from the royal family?’
‘Close. She’s a pop star. But I can’t say who because she’s a freak about her privacy.’
‘Okay. What’s the dress like?’
‘That’s the thing. The wedding per se is rich and lavish, but she’s a simple girl at heart, although still somewhat temperamental. I don’t do simple, so I thought of you.’
‘Gosh, thanks, I don’t know whether to be offended or flattered. Well, how about a simple champagne-coloured dress, maybe in taffeta, with silk wildflowers or something?’
‘That sounds nice. I’ll have a look tomorrow. Would you come into Truro with me in the morning to look at some invites and flowers? I’ve got a gazillion things to do and if I don’t get it right I’m afraid she’ll go for someone else. With this commission I’ll be fine for a whole year.’
‘Sure, why not? It’ll be fun. I haven’t looked at wedding dresses since my own marshmallow disaster thirteen years ago.’
She laughed. ‘Please, no stunts, Nina. If I can pull this off, I’m home free. She’s got three single sisters!’
‘Relax, I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Bye, luv!’ she kiss-kissed me and we rang off. Emma was brilliant at her work. With her brains and sense of style, she’d establish herself in no time at all. Of course, the pop-star wedding would hasten her ascent. If anyone deserved to be up there, it was hardworking Emma.
So the next day I put Luke in charge of the kids and drove to Truro as promised. Emma was waiting at the entrance of Lemon Street Market and her face lit up when she saw me.
‘Hey, you!’ she cried and we hugged as if we hadn’t seen each other in a million years. Which was actually quite accurate. I missed her.
‘So what’s the plan? Flowers or invites first?’
‘Centrepieces,’ she answered, steering me inside the market. We were always adamant in supporting the local economy and steered clear from the flagship stores. ‘I’ve narrowed them down to a few, but I just can’t decide and she’s absolutely useless. We’re looking at an autumn wedding.’
‘This autumn? Can you manage it?’
‘I’ll have to, if I want the account.’
‘Talk about pressure. Okay, then, no worries. We’d better hop to it.’
‘See, that’s why I need you, Nina – you never lose it. What do you think of these for the tables?’
I studied the options. The centrepieces that seemed most appropriate were old-fashioned glass jars containing pine cones and white fairy lights. Simple and appropriate for a Cornish autumn wedding.
‘These ones are pretty,’ I suggested, holding one up. ‘Or these,’ I opted, pointing to the tallish glass vase filled with dried wildflowers in the shades of gold and cream and about a dozen mini pumpkins and other gourds in each one.
‘Jack could provide the gourds,’ I suggested. ‘He should almost be done harvesting by now.’
She huffed.
‘Will someone tell me what it is with you two?’
She lifted the centrepiece with the pine cones and fairy lights, turning it this way and that. ‘Let’s just say that lately I’m beginning to be fed up with Judge Jack.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You know what I mean. He can be really judgemental sometimes.’
‘I’ve never heard him speak an ill word of anyone,’ I said.
‘Oh, not that he would,’ she countered. ‘But when he doesn’t approve of something you do, you can just see it on his face, can’t you? And when he ignores you, you know you’re not on his Christmas card list anymore.’
And suddenly it all made sense. That was why he had distanced himself from me. He didn’t approve of Luke being in the house with us. But it wasn’t like I was cheating on anyone. All I wanted was to rebuild a life.
Granted, Luke wasn’t the safest choice – larger than life, and definitely not your average Joe who had a nine-to-five job (at least he had one, as opposed to The Phil-anderer) plus there was potential for a new beginning. Even if he wasn’t one of us, hailing as he did all the way from California and a life diametrically opposed to ours. Maybe, even like this, there was potential for hope. Hope for us and our little Cornish farmhouse and household to flourish.
Because I had a right to get a life of my own. I’d earned it. So just how justified was Jack in his attitude after all?
‘Then why don’t you talk to him? Clear the air?’ I suggested, picking up a pretty bouquet of calla lilies, thinking that I should follow my own advice. ‘This would look stunning against the champagne-coloured taffeta dress.’
Emma examined the bouquet. ‘I was right – you are so the person to help in cases like this. If you ever get sick of slogging over a computer, would you go partners with me?’
I laughed.
‘You’d be perfect, Nina.’
‘I aim to please.’
‘By the way, how’s it going with Luke?’
I sighed.
‘Was that a huff or a happy sigh?’
‘A confused
