Lottie darted around, making sure everyone was happy, and that the registrar had everything she needed for the ceremony.
‘Oh my! What a magnificent tree!’ Fiona said, walking into the ballroom. ‘And that smell is divine.’
‘Our estate manager and his team did all of that,’ Lottie said.
‘Keegan will be delighted, although I expect she’s already seen all of this,’ Fiona said in wonder. ‘Now I know what all the whispering and phones pinging were all about. I did wonder if this “family lunch” was some kind of celebration but I’d no idea it was a wedding. How Derrick kept it to himself I have no idea. You know what he’s like for letting the cat out of the bag.’
Lottie laughed. ‘I certainly do.’
Fiona was swept off to chat to a relative. Lottie was filled with relief, at least about the wedding itself. A few hours ago, she was facing disaster but now felt that no matter what she thought of Connor, at least his mother would get to see him married at Firholme. She’d managed to make that happen – anything after the couple left the premises was their own affair. She hoped for everyone’s sake that they’d be happy together.
A sharp pang of regret struck her.
All around her, people were laughing, kissing each other, there was a buzz of excitement and anticipation in the air. She was used to the trappings of weddings – flowers, balloons, fireworks – they was part of her job. At the end of the day, though, Connor and Keegan were making a lifelong commitment … promising to love and care for each other, hopefully forever. Their future would, with luck, be long and happy and even include a family one day …
Never before had Lottie had such a desolate moment at a wedding: the feeling of being on the outside, her face pressed to the window watching other people rejoicing. Never had happiness – the deep and lasting kind that comes from being with someone you love and who loves you deeply – seemed so impossibly remote.
She’d glimpsed a chance that Jay could be the one, but after last night she felt she was further away from him than ever.
Her phone rang and she escaped onto the terrace to take a call from Shayla. ‘Hi there. We’re all ready for you,’ she said.
‘Great but we’re not ready for you!’ Shayla’s voice was taut with anxiety. Lottie could hear raised voices in the background. ‘We’re a mile away but we’re not going anywhere. The road’s blocked by a delivery van that slid into a wall. I can’t turn around either. There are cars behind me. We’re completely stuck. I’m outside the car so Keegan and co can’t hear me but they’re freaking out.’
Lottie groaned. Could anything else possibly go wrong? She spotted Jay at the bottom of the steps and waved to him. He trotted up to her.
‘Hang on, we’ll come up with something,’ she said a few seconds later. ‘Jay’s here. I’ll put him on speaker.’
Shayla explained the problem, with Jay listening intently.
‘What are our options?’ she said to Jay. ‘We can’t ask Keegan and her parents to walk through the snow in their wedding gear.’
‘Can you collect them in the tractor?’ Lottie asked.
Jay scratched his chin. ‘Maybe. Where exactly are you?’
‘Almost opposite Fellside Farm!’
Lottie had a brainwave. ‘Isn’t there a farm gate around there?’
‘Should be,’ Jay said, exchanging a glance with her, as if he’d had the same idea.
‘Hang on.’ Shayla broke off for a few moments and they heard her breathing heavily. ‘Yes, there is. About ten yards back.’
‘OK. Stay put. I’ll bring the tractor over our land and through the field to you. The farmer won’t mind.’
Shayla’s voice was laced with panic. ‘OK but can you be quick? The wedding’s in less than an hour.’
‘I think you should warn people that the bride might be a bit late,’ Jay said to Lottie.
‘I agree, especially Connor …’
Jay raised his eyebrows. ‘You could let him stew?’ he said, with satisfaction.
‘It’s tempting, but for Fiona’s sake, I’d better warn them.’
‘What state is the cab in?’ Lottie said.
‘As you’d expect for a vehicle that’s been hauling logs through the mud for days. I’ll sort that out so don’t worry but it will take a bit of time.’
Jay hurried away so Lottie picked up the phone again. When Shayla answered, Lottie could hear Keegan screeching. ‘This is an omen! It’s someone’s way of saying I shouldn’t go through with this.’
A stern Aussie voice, which Lottie recognised as Keegan’s mother, spoke up. ‘Don’t be silly, it’s just a bit of snow and don’t cry – you’ll ruin your bloody make-up.’
The next few words were muffled before Shayla came on the line. ‘Hello, Lottie, it’s all under control, then … we have absolutely no need to panic …’ Shayla said slowly, leaving Lottie in no doubt of the atmosphere in the ‘wedding’ car.
‘It is. Jay’s on his way but there might be a short delay. I’ll warn the guests if you can reassure Keegan,’ Lottie said to Shayla. ‘But maybe don’t mention the tractor just yet.’
Lottie spoke to Connor, reassuring him Keegan would only be delayed a little longer. Even so, Connor was twitchy. ‘Where exactly is she?’
‘Jay says it’s all in hand. It takes time to prepare the tractor and cab. It’s a working vehicle.’
‘Tractor!’ Connor snorted in horror. ‘I can’t believe Keegan’s going to arrive in a tractor.’
‘You’re lucky she’s coming at all.’
‘Yeah … Yes. Sorry. I’m a bit stressed.’ He nodded. ‘Thanks for talking to her. I don’t know what you said but it worked. You got me off the hook.’
‘Why don’t you go back inside and talk to your mum,’ Lottie said, keen to steer clear of any friction. She managed a reassuring smile for him. ‘This was meant
