a basket of Molton Brown goodies sat beside the twin sinks; Nessie had tested a few before buying them for the
rooms and had fallen in love with the Gingerlily body wash.
Cleverly tucked away behind the tiled wall was a walk-through rainfall shower. The guest room next door had a similar layout with a teal blue colour scheme, no bath and a sleigh bed instead of a
four-poster. Sam had insisted they spared no expense and Nessie had to agree the overall effect was worth it. The question was, would JoJo agree? Apart from the fact that it was her bridal suite, a
good write-up from her would be worth its weight in gold.
Nessie had been up since five-thirty, unable to sleep, fretting about the day ahead. A couple’s wedding day was arguably the most important of their entire lives: what if she or Sam had
forgotten something? A tiny detail that made everything else unravel?
That fear had mingled with her worries about Owen, another thing to haunt her dreams. She’d taken a cup of tea outside, cradling it as she watched the sunrise over the eastern side of the
village. Maybe it was time to take a step away from Owen. She knew Sam and Kathryn wouldn’t agree, nor Ruby for that matter – she was all about seizing the day and making every moment
count. The thought made Nessie feel a little bereft, as though she’d uprooted a rose before it had ever truly begun to bloom, but it felt good to be making a decision instead of clinging on
to a withering hope. She’d reclaimed a bit of herself, just like Ruby had told her to. And as the sun’s rays turned the amber walls of the Star and Sixpence to gold, Nessie came to
another decision. She’d get a divorce from Patrick. Ruby was right; until she did she’d be in limbo.
So on the day when she’d be helping one couple to start out their married life, Nessie had downloaded a divorce petition, filled it in and printed it off, ready to be sent to the nearest
court. Patrick would have to agree, of course, but she couldn’t see why he wouldn’t – their separation had been amicable, the result of drifting apart. And even though he’d
sent her flowers on Valentine’s Day, she didn’t imagine he saw any kind of reconciliation in their future.
She’d spent a quiet half hour contemplating the end of her marriage and then she’d put on some make-up and prepared herself for what lay ahead. Now it was ten-thirty and there was no
time left for anything; JoJo and her bridesmaids were due any minute.
‘Nessie?’ Joss’s voice floated up the stairs from the floor below. ‘They’re here.’
With a final glance around to reassure herself everything was where it should be, Nessie went down to welcome the bride.
‘How lovely to see you, JoJo,’ Nessie said, enveloping the petite blonde-haired woman in a warm hug. ‘You look radiant.’
JoJo laughed and patted her cheeks. ‘That’s what a chemical peel and Botox does for you. Having friends who are beauty editors really pays off sometimes.’
Nessie grinned – she’d never seen JoJo looking anything other than perfect. But today she had an extra glow, the kind only brides seemed to have. If someone could bottle that,
they’d be an instant billionaire, Nessie thought.
JoJo looped her arm through her sister’s. ‘You already know Kate, of course, and these are my best friends, Brid and Amanda.’
‘Hi,’ Nessie said, smiling at the others. ‘Welcome to the Star and Sixpence.’
‘I’m so excited about staying here,’ JoJo went on. ‘When my parents told us you were opening the rooms upstairs to guests, I knew exactly where Jamie and I would spend
our wedding night.’
Nessie spread out her hands. ‘In that case, let me give you the tour. I can’t wait to hear what you think.’
Upstairs in the bridal suite, JoJo stood open-mouthed in admiration. ‘Wow,’ she said, gazing around in delight. ‘This is amazing. Really gorgeous, Nessie, well done!’
‘I’ve had more than one sleepless night
rooms and had fallen in love with the Gingerlily body wash.
Cleverly tucked away behind the tiled wall was a walk-through rainfall shower. The guest room next door had a similar layout with a teal blue colour scheme, no bath and a sleigh bed instead of a
four-poster. Sam had insisted they spared no expense and Nessie had to agree the overall effect was worth it. The question was, would JoJo agree? Apart from the fact that it was her bridal suite, a
good write-up from her would be worth its weight in gold.
Nessie had been up since five-thirty, unable to sleep, fretting about the day ahead. A couple’s wedding day was arguably the most important of their entire lives: what if she or Sam had
forgotten something? A tiny detail that made everything else unravel?
That fear had mingled with her worries about Owen, another thing to haunt her dreams. She’d taken a cup of tea outside, cradling it as she watched the sunrise over the eastern side of the
village. Maybe it was time to take a step away from Owen. She knew Sam and Kathryn wouldn’t agree, nor Ruby for that matter – she was all about seizing the day and making every moment
count. The thought made Nessie feel a little bereft, as though she’d uprooted a rose before it had ever truly begun to bloom, but it felt good to be making a decision instead of clinging on
to a withering hope. She’d reclaimed a bit of herself, just like Ruby had told her to. And as the sun’s rays turned the amber walls of the Star and Sixpence to gold, Nessie came to
another decision. She’d get a divorce from Patrick. Ruby was right; until she did she’d be in limbo.
So on the day when she’d be helping one couple to start out their married life, Nessie had downloaded a divorce petition, filled it in and printed it off, ready to be sent to the nearest
court. Patrick would have to agree, of course, but she couldn’t see why he wouldn’t – their separation had been amicable, the result of drifting apart. And even though he’d
sent her flowers on Valentine’s Day, she didn’t imagine he saw any kind of reconciliation in their future.
She’d spent a quiet half hour contemplating the end of her marriage and then she’d put on some make-up and prepared herself for what lay ahead. Now it was ten-thirty and there was no
time left for anything; JoJo and her bridesmaids were due any minute.
‘Nessie?’ Joss’s voice floated up the stairs from the floor below. ‘They’re here.’
With a final glance around to reassure herself everything was where it should be, Nessie went down to welcome the bride.
‘How lovely to see you, JoJo,’ Nessie said, enveloping the petite blonde-haired woman in a warm hug. ‘You look radiant.’
JoJo laughed and patted her cheeks. ‘That’s what a chemical peel and Botox does for you. Having friends who are beauty editors really pays off sometimes.’
Nessie grinned – she’d never seen JoJo looking anything other than perfect. But today she had an extra glow, the kind only brides seemed to have. If someone could bottle that,
they’d be an instant billionaire, Nessie thought.
JoJo looped her arm through her sister’s. ‘You already know Kate, of course, and these are my best friends, Brid and Amanda.’
‘Hi,’ Nessie said, smiling at the others. ‘Welcome to the Star and Sixpence.’
‘I’m so excited about staying here,’ JoJo went on. ‘When my parents told us you were opening the rooms upstairs to guests, I knew exactly where Jamie and I would spend
our wedding night.’
Nessie spread out her hands. ‘In that case, let me give you the tour. I can’t wait to hear what you think.’
Upstairs in the bridal suite, JoJo stood open-mouthed in admiration. ‘Wow,’ she said, gazing around in delight. ‘This is amazing. Really gorgeous, Nessie, well done!’
‘I’ve had more than one sleepless night
Similar Books
