Baby It's Cold Outside. Kerry Barrett

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СКАЧАТЬ folder all over the table.

      ‘So we’re going to divide the room and have the ceremony in the smaller end and dinner at the other,’ I said. ‘And after dinner everyone can go downstairs to the cafe to give us time to move the tables and chairs to one side for the dancing.’

      ‘We’ve got a DJ,’ Jamie said. ‘But we’re hoping some people might play as well.’

      Claddach was a haven for all sorts of creative types – a bit like St Ives in Cornwall, or Totnes in Devon. There were writers, poets, artists, potters, jewellery makers and lots of musicians. Allan’s gallery served as a hub for them all and he often ran writers’ groups, readings, concerts and classes alongside his exhibitions. Someone was bound to bring a guitar, or a violin, or even a drum kit, to our wedding.

      ‘There’s nothing really left to do,’ I said. ‘Not until that photography exhibition closes and we can get into the gallery to decorate.’

      ‘Wednesday is the last day,’ Allan said. ‘It’s all yours after that.’

      I grinned, excited by the idea of decorating my wedding room.

      ‘What colours have you chosen?’ Suky asked.

      ‘Light blue, silver and white,’ I said. ‘I wanted it to have a frosty feel.’

      Jamie and I had both grown up in Claddach, which was nestled in a valley in the Cairngorms. We loved winter and had deliberately chosen to have our wedding at this time of year to make the most of the snow that was almost guaranteed. We’d not been disappointed. It had started to snow as we got ready to leave Edinburgh, where we lived, and by the time we arrived in Claddach the town was already wrapped in a cosy blanket of the white stuff. I was delighted. It was like I’d ordered the weather specially and even though my mum, aunt and cousin were brilliant witches, that was one thing that was definitely out of their remit.

      ‘And the dresses for Chloe and Harry are this silvery blue?’ Suky found a fabric swatch in among the documents on the table and held it up.

      ‘Yes, and Jamie and Frankie’s ties are the same colour,’ I said. ‘Remember Frankie?’

      Mum and Suky nodded. They had known Jamie’s best friend – gorgeous, funny, unreliable Frankie – since we were at school, though they hadn’t seen him for years.

      ‘The dresses are gorgeous,’ I winked at Harry who hadn’t wanted to be a bridesmaid in the first place. ‘Bias cut, a bit slinky – more like evening gowns really. Chloe wanted to cover her tummy so hers is a bit more draped than Harry’s.’

      Chloe was my best friend from school. She lived just outside Claddach with her husband, Rob, and their three kids. Her smallest child, Euan, had just turned two and she was still a bit self-conscious about what she called her “mum tum”.

      ‘Did you manage to sort out who’s sitting where,’ Mum asked. We’d had many discussions on the phone about how to arrange the tables. ‘I did,’ I said, pleased with myself. ‘Do you have the table plans, Allan?’

      ‘Oh god, not table plans,’ Harry said, rather unfairly in my opinion. I’d been nothing but supportive when she and Louise tied the knot last year. She drained her wine glass and looked at her wife.

      ‘Shall we go for a walk before the snow gets too bad?’ she said. Lou, who loved nothing more than being outside, whatever the weather and whatever the activity on offer, nodded eagerly.

      ‘Erm, before you go,’ Mum said, looking nervous. ‘I’ve got some news.’

      My heart plummeted into my slippers. Just a couple of years ago, Suky – Mum’s twin sister – had been treated for breast cancer. She was doing well now, but that fear – the fear of the cancer returning or someone else I loved suffering – had never gone away.

      Now I looked at Mum in horror, seeing my own fear reflected on Harry’s face.

      ‘Oh it’s nothing bad,’ Mum said shrilly. ‘It’s good in fact. Very good.’

      She gave a funny self-conscious laugh.

      ‘I’ve met someone. A man.’

      There was a pause, then Harry clapped her hands in delight.

      ‘Auntie Tess, you old dog,’ she said. ‘Who is he?’

      Mum visibly relaxed and beamed at Harry.

      ‘He’s called Douglas,’ she said, blushing. I’d never seen my mum blush before. ‘He’s lovely.’

      I couldn’t speak. Mum had split up with my dad before I was born. She’d never, as far as I knew, had a relationship since.

      ‘Douglas?’ I muttered. ‘Who is this Douglas? Can we meet him?’

      Mum glanced at Suky.

      ‘He’s from the village,’ she said. ‘He runs his own business.’

      ‘What kind of business?’ I snapped. Jamie put a warning hand on my arm.

      ‘A family business,’ Suky said soothingly. ‘I’ve met him. He’s very nice. And he’s coming up for a drink now, isn’t he Tess?’

      Mum nodded.

      ‘He’s on his way,’ she said. ‘He just texted me.’

      ‘Oh brilliant,’ I said, knowing I was being very childish. ‘So you just dump this on us, then before we’ve even had time to take it all in, he arrives?’

      Mum looked a bit sheepish.

      ‘I did mean to tell you earlier,’ she said. ‘Sorry.’

      I shrugged.

      ‘Bit late for that,’ I said. Jamie kicked me under the table.

      ‘He sounds great,’ he said in a very pointed fashion. ‘I’m looking forward to meeting him, Tess.’

      I kicked him back. Harder. And then the doorbell rang.

      Mum blushed again and hurried off to answer it. I heard muffled voices and then she appeared back in the kitchen followed by a tall man with olive skin. He was in his sixties I guessed – a similar age to my mum – and was wearing a thick waterproof jacket, jeans, a woolly hat and snow boots. He smiled at us all a bit nervously, and pulled the hat from his head, revealing closely cropped dark hair with a sprinkling of grey.

      ‘Hello,’ he said. ‘I’m Doug.’

      ‘This is my daughter Esme,’ Mum said. I smiled at Douglas though inside I was scowling and nodded “hello”. ‘And her fiancé Jamie.’

      Jamie stood up and shook Douglas’s hand. Harry and Louise did the same as Mum introduced them, too.

      ‘Why don’t we all go into the living room,’ Mum said. ‘We can have a drink and relax.’

      Eva and Allan – who apparently were already well acquainted with Douglas – said their goodbyes, leaving the wedding folder for me to look at, and headed СКАЧАТЬ