‘That’s good …’ she said.
He looked at her intensely, and she could tell he was struggling for words and still probably stinging from the home truths she’d flung his way. She half-wished her words back now but it was too late.
‘I’d better get on with it,’ he said and strode off up the drive, with his hands in his pockets and Trevor at his heels.
Lottie felt paralysed with uncertainty.
She thought of all the things she had to do: organise transport for the guests, the bridal party, make sure suppliers were going to turn up, arrange a warm place for people to gather and change, alongside all the usual checks on the flowers, the guest bedrooms, the bridal suite … Would that ever be used?
Would Keegan’s jelly beans be eaten? Would her firework display light up the sky? They were little things, trivial ‘extras’ and yet they meant a lot to Keegan.
Lottie felt a lurch of sympathy for her. She didn’t want Keegan to be hurt as she had been.
Her phone buzzed and Keegan’s text flashed up.
I’m coming.
‘Thank God for that.’ Her shoulders slumped in relief and she started to text Shayla but the phone buzzed again. It was Connor.
Thanks. I do love her, u know. C
‘You’d better do,’ Lottie murmured.
Another message. Keegan again.
How will I get there?!!!!!
Texting as she walked to Shayla’s office, Lottie typed:
Don’t worry. It’s all sorted.
Another little white lie to Keegan, but Lottie didn’t feel bad about this one. Compared to the mountain she’d had to climb to smooth things over with the bride and groom, getting eighty guests, a registrar and all the suppliers to a snow-bound Firholme should be a doddle.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lottie, Shayla and Jay gathered in the café for a war cabinet. The tractor had already been dispatched to collect some of the staff from the nearby villages and Jay said he’d left his deputy in charge of the Christmas tree centre for any hardy souls who ventured out in the snow.
‘The most important thing is obviously to get the bride, groom and their immediate family here safely,’ Lottie said, holding a clipboard to write down who was transporting whom. Sometimes, the old-fashioned methods were the best. ‘Clearly the vintage Rolls is out of the question and none of the wedding hire company’s vehicles can even make it out of their unit.’
‘What about the registrar?’ Jay asked.
‘She called a few minutes ago. She only lives two miles away so she’s walking here with her husband,’ Shayla said.
‘Wow, that’s going beyond the call of duty. Without her, there’s no wedding.’
Jay picked up a pen and sheet of paper from the desk. ‘How many of the guests will I need to arrange transport for?’
‘Thirty at least, though we’re still working it out. I’m in touch with Connor’s best man,’ Lottie said. ‘He’s an Aussie army officer and he’s marshalling everyone for me, and letting me know who still needs a lift.’ He’d also told Lottie that Connor was panicking and wondering whether to tell his mum what was happening.
‘It’s a changing situation but so far he knows that half a dozen people who live a distance away have cancelled. That’s a shame but in view of the weather, we don’t want anyone making dangerous journeys,’ she continued. ‘There are around twenty people staying in local hotels already so the best man has arranged for as many of those as possible to come in four-wheel drives. He’s sent me their names.’ She tapped the clipboard. ‘We need to tick them off when they get here. We don’t want anyone vanishing into a snowdrift …’
Shayla laughed. ‘I’ll find someone to do that. You’ll be busy enough as it is, Lottie.’
‘Thanks. I also had a message from Connor’s sister, Alicia. She’s organised a rota among her horsey friends who all seem to have Land Rovers so I think we’ve covered most of the guests.’
‘That’s good of her,’ Shayla said.
‘Yes …’ Lottie suspected Alicia was relishing the excuse to spend the morning in scruffy gear with her horsey pals, rather than having rows about false eyelashes and manicures.
Jay made a note. ‘So that just leaves the bridal party?’
Shayla nodded. ‘Yup. I’ll collect Keegan and her mum and dad. She’ll have to make do with my car, in the circumstances. How are the groom’s family getting here?’
Lottie was on this one. ‘His best man has an SUV so he’s bringing Connor and his parents. I’ve warned everyone to allow extra time to get here.’
Jay had been listening carefully. ‘I’ve been sorting out transport in the forestry vehicles for our own staff who live off site. Are the caterers and photographer able to get here?’
‘They’re used to reaching places with difficult access and in all weathers so they’re confident their vehicles can get here,’ Lottie said. ‘I also organised some hot drinks and a place to change for the guests while they wait for everyone to gather.’
Shayla nodded approvingly. ‘Well done, everyone. I suppose no one has thought of how everyone will get home again?’
Jay lifted his phone. ‘I’ve checked the forecast with the national park service. There’s no more snow on its way and a mild front coming in by nightfall so hopefully, we should have a thaw by the end of the party.’
Lottie was relieved to hear it. ‘Great, otherwise we’ll be making up beds in the café.’
‘I hope not.’ Shayla rubbed her hands together. ‘OK. Let’s get this show on the road, folks.’
In Lottie’s experience, wedding day time operated in a different universe to normal time. Half an hour flew by as if it were five minutes, and in a flash, it was noon, with only two hours to go to the ceremony. Due to the logistics, the guests were already beginning to arrive in an eclectic mix of vehicles.
They were dropped off in front of the café so that they didn’t have far to walk. Lottie snapped a few
