“I’ve been trying to avoid more tennis names, to change up the habit at my stables. But here we are with the Murray brothers joining the ranks.”
“It suits them,” Tess said. “Come on, let’s get up there and help them settle in.”
Chapter 24
Today was the day. The big day. Maybe the biggest of all the days so far.
Susannah couldn’t help wishing Tess was already at her side, but she would be seeing her soon enough. That was what mattered. Now it was just down to the last few details.
Nails? Immaculately manicured. Hair? Styled and set. Dress? Sitting perfectly, thanks to that wonderful tailor in Glasgow. The speech? On index cards, if the nerves really grabbed hold. Otherwise it was all filed away in Susannah’s memory, along with a hundred other details that she could let go of once the day was over and done with. Wouldn’t that be a relief?
“Tess just arrived,” Finn said, popping their head around the door. Stylish to a fault, they had really pushed the boat out with a crimson waistcoat that matched the floral arrangements that dotted the hall and seating area. “Do you want me to sneak her back here for a quick morale boost or just show her to her seat?”
“Let her go and sit down,” Susannah said, although a hit of Tess’s calming presence was tempting. “The music is cued?”
“Just hit the button on your phone and wait ten seconds before walking in,” Finn said. “You’ll knock ’em dead out there, Boss. This has been a long time coming, eh?”
“Couldn’t have done it without you. Tell that hunky partner of yours we’ll all be wanting a dance with him later.”
“If I tell him now, he’ll go into hiding,” Finn replied. “But I’ll make sure he sticks around to show off his two left feet. See you out there!”
Then Susannah was alone again in the small room leading into Midsummer’s de facto ballroom. It was supposed to be a dining room, really, but Susannah rarely had a chance to fill it. The last event before today had been when the councillors had told her they were following Robin’s advice not to back Susannah and her plans.
But thanks to Tess being her charming and delightful self, those same councillors had voted yes anyway. Now Susannah was well on her way to transforming Midsummer into the place she had always wanted it to be. It certainly hadn’t seemed possible even a few months ago.
Susannah cued up the music on her phone and waited the requisite ten seconds. Then the door was open, and she was striding across the floor to the designated spot. Every head in the room turned to stare at her. There was only one face she was looking for, though.
And there she was, right in front. Tess led the round of applause as if she were watching a triple-bill of Beyoncé, Madonna, and Lady Gaga, but the enthusiasm in the room quickly matched hers. Most importantly, she looked stunning in her navy-blue suit and pale pink shirt, with her hair down to mark the special occasion.
Susannah reached the glass podium and raised her hands to quiet the crowd. She would never quite get used to this part of it. “Thank you all for being here today. If you could take your seats, I just have a few words I wanted to share with you.”
Just over a hundred people did exactly that, and the room hushed in anticipation.
Susannah swallowed to combat her dry throat. “A lot of people didn’t think this day would come,” she began, and she felt Robin’s eyes on her from the back of the room. She looked up, and their eyes met. A nod came from Robin, confirming that their truce held, that all was well. “There have been a lot of days where I was one of those doubters. But after years of planning and months of hard, hard work, we’re finally here.”
Another ripple of applause broke out.
“And while there’s much still to be done, we can declare Phase One complete. So welcome, all of you, to a new age here at Midsummer. The Midsummer Animal Sanctuary is now officially open!”
Tess was on her feet. Robin clapped as loudly as anyone. This time the applause around the room was loud and confident, helped by all the new staff who looked pleased to be there. Next week the pub would reopen too, which might be the biggest highlight of all for the people of Hayleith.
Babs and Joan were sitting together. That was still nothing short of a miracle, and one Susannah was grateful for.
“So, please, help yourself to drinks, and have some food from our fabulous chef. I expect to see you all on the dance floor before the night is out!”
Relieved to be done with the speaking part, Susannah accepted the ridiculous giant scissors from Finn and cut the purple velvet ribbon that hung across the doorframe behind her. She acknowledged yet more clapping, but the moment it was done, she strode across to reunite with Tess.
“Hey, you,” Susannah said, melting into one of their easy embraces. “I wasn’t sure you were going to make it.”
“It was touch and go, but she finally delivered about two hours ago.”
People came by offering handshakes and congratulations before Susannah and Tess could keep talking. Susannah accepted them graciously. The one-on-one parts were slightly easier, though not by much. It was a little less awful with Tess by her side. “Usually when you’re gone all night because someone’s giving birth, you come home and tell me about a calf called Daffodil,” Susannah said. “Tell me Margo and Adam haven’t been as adventurous with the baby names?”
“Sticking with Baby Boy Elliot for now. There’s been some heated debate, though,” Tess replied, accepting two glasses of bubbly from a passing server and giving one to Susannah. “I believe Margo said that if Adam wanted to name their son after him, he’d have to… Well, it was
