‘Yes. Then we move the tables to the side for the entertainment in the evening.’
Hattie nodded. ‘That sounds ideal. I presume there will be chairs placed in rows for the guests to sit here?’
‘Yes, we have covers for the chairs and tables – the theme is white and gold. There will be two rows of chairs and a table, covered and decorated, where the registrar will conduct the ceremony. I’ll walk in then, under an arch decorated with flowers, and follow the red carpet to the front of the room where Reece will be standing. Mum will be giving me away.’ She smiled. ‘Mandy’s made our wedding cake, it’s a hobby of hers, and we’re using a local florist.’ Her face lit up as she explained the ceremony to Hattie.
She looked so happy and in love, Hattie thought, imagining Reece standing at the front and Ellie walking up the aisle towards him, their guests watching. The room was so light and airy, she would be able to take some beautiful photos. ‘Perfect. And what about outside photos?’
‘We’ve got a pergola at the bottom of the garden, and the beach is right below. That’s where the usual photographer takes most of the photos. Come outside and I’ll show you.’
Hattie followed her outside to a surprisingly big garden with immaculate lawns and colourful flower beds. At the bottom of the garden was a wooden domed pergola, the sparkling ocean a spectacular backdrop behind it. The perfect setting for some stunning photos. ‘How gorgeous!’ she said. ‘It’s the perfect setting for a wedding.’
‘Thank you, we think so too.’ Ellie smiled. ‘Now, if you’re happy to take the job, let’s go inside and discuss terms over a cool drink.’
‘I’d be delighted to accept the job,’ Hattie told her.
Half an hour later, an agreement had been signed, with a very lucrative fee, to Hattie’s delight.
‘Mum said that you’ve just moved down to Port Medden,’ Ellie said after she had shown Hattie the Silver Room on the second floor where she and the bridesmaids would be getting ready, telling her that she would like some photos of the pre-wedding preparations too. They were now both sitting in the private quarters sipping an iced tea.
‘Yes, my uncle – someone I haven’t seen for years – died and left his cottage between me and my father, so I came down to spruce it up ready to sell. My father and stepmother run a B&B in France and he can’t get away yet.’ Ellie was a good listener and Hattie found herself confiding in her about the split with Adam, losing her flat, and then her job. ‘It seemed a good opportunity to reassess my life.’
‘It seems a wise choice to me. And your photos are lovely, I’m sure you’ll have no problem getting work down here. We’re hoping to hold weddings regularly at the hotel, so would be happy to recommend you to other couples who want to get married here.’
‘You haven’t seen your wedding photos yet,’ Hattie quipped.
‘They’ll be gorgeous, I know they will,’ Ellie told her.
Ellie’s kindness and confidence in her made Hattie determined not to let her down.
Reece and Sue came in to join them, and after a little more chit-chat about the specific photos they wanted Hattie said goodbye and walked home feeling a lot more confident than when she’d set out. Ellie had been full of ideas about how Hattie could promote and extend her photography business, and both she and Reece had taken one of Hattie’s flyers and promised to recommend her to people.
It’s so kind of them. I’d better not stuff up their wedding photographs, Hattie thought as she walked down the hill to Fisherman’s Rest.
She unlocked the door and walked in, expecting to be greeted by Buddy’s familiar cursing, but to her surprise the parrot didn’t make a sound. Hattie made her way over to the cage and peered inside. Buddy was hunched listlessly on the perch, and a couple of feathers were lying on the bottom of the cage. She looked at them worriedly. Was he moulting because he was hot? Was it something to be concerned about? He still wasn’t eating any pellets and she was sure the level in the water bottle hadn’t gone down either.
‘Are you okay, Buddy? Are you missing Uncle Albert?’
The parrot stared at her miserably but still didn’t utter a sound.
‘You don’t have to worry, I’ll look after you,’ she said, wanting to reassure the bird even though she doubted if he could understand anything she was saying.
Buddy looked away and started pecking at a feather on his wing.
Was that normal? Hattie wondered. She was worried about Buddy, and wished that she hadn’t been so stubborn and had accepted Marcus’s offer to look after him. The poor bird must wonder what the hell was happening, he’d had so many changes in his life. He probably would have been better off with Marcus, who he seemed to have a bond with, she thought, remembering how Buddy had nibbled the banana in Marcus’s hand. Then she remembered the big black cat, and how Marcus had said Buddy was nervous of it.
You can do this, you just have to earn Buddy’s trust, she told herself.
She’d spend some time talking to Buddy when she got back from the beach, she decided. He probably just needed some company. Meanwhile, she’d leave the radio on; her mum used to do that when she had to go out all day and leave Timmy, their cat, alone. It might take a little while, but Buddy would soon get used to her. She didn’t need Marcus to rescue her. She could handle a parrot.
Chapter Nine
Hattie was on her way back from the beach when a sleek white convertible raced past her, a glamorous woman with short blond hair and wearing designer shades was driving and Marcus, looking very smart in what seemed to be
