A Winter Wedding at Primrose Hall (Primrose Woods #6)

Chapter 1

1

Pia Temple held the wreath, which was brimming with pinecones, whole dried oranges and cinnamon bundles along with an abundance of dried flowers and leaves, and placed it carefully onto the outside of the kitchen door. She took a step back to admire its beauty, the burnished copper tones lending a flavour of the forest floor. The crisp nip to the air was another indication that autumn had well and truly arrived. She smiled, knowing that her handiwork would provide the perfect welcome for her guests, who would be arriving in a short while.

The magnificent seventeenth-century Primrose Hall had a grand front entrance with an imposing stone portico and a regal front doorway in glossy black, but regular visitors to the hall knew to use the side entrance that led directly into the heart of the home, the large and welcoming country kitchen. It was the setting for so many special occasions, charity coffee mornings for the villagers, working brunches for the team, long leisurely lunches with guests, family conflabs and, best of all, romantic dinners. Pia relished those times when it was just her and Jackson, sitting together at the oak table, sharing intimate chatter and delicious food usually whipped up by Jackson. Bertie, the Dalmatian, and Teddy, the scruffy mongrel, were a constant presence too, as they were never far behind Pia, padding around after her at the hall and in the grounds in expectation of their next big adventure. Now, they larked about on the gravel driveway as Pia made some last-minute adjustments to the wreath, shifting it one way and then the other to make certain it was in exactly the right position.

‘Come on, you two,’ she called to the dogs, once she had finished tinkering with the door decoration. The pair of them were wandering further away, ever hopeful that they might be in for their second walk of the day, but an incisive whistle from Pia had them bounding over immediately. She rewarded them with a treat, which could always be found in the pocket of whatever outfit she happened to be wearing that day.

Inside, she poured herself a glass of water and sat at the kitchen table, enjoying the peace and calm. It had been a hectic couple of weeks. Scrap that, she thought with a wry smile. It had been a challenging few months, not only with the busy calendar of events at the hall, but also with the unexpected dramas that had made this last summer one that none of them would ever forget. Sometimes she couldn’t help her mind entertaining thoughts of what-ifs, but when she caught herself thinking that way she tried to snap herself out of it. Much better not to dwell on what had happened and instead focus on everything they had to be grateful for and to look forward to.

That’s why she had so enjoyed her impromptu crafting session this morning. A chance to properly unwind and let her mind switch off from everything else while her attentions had been focused solely on the different materials she’d gathered on the table in front of her, feeling the texture of the bumpy pinecones, hearing the crinkle of the leaves as she applied them to the wreath. The scent of cinnamon mingling with citrus tones had reminded her that Christmas really wasn’t that far away. And, with a bonfire night display, the Christmas Carols by Candlelight evening, and her wedding, just a few of the events planned in the coming months, she knew that this morning’s brief respite wouldn’t last for long.

‘Are you all right?’ Jackson asked. Pia had been lost in thought, her gaze drifting off through the leaded windows of the kitchen, taking in the beautiful view of the well-tended grounds that swept around the hall, the towering trees of Primrose Woods visible in the distance. She looked towards the door, her heart lifting at the sight of her fiancé, thinking how handsome he looked standing on the threshold. He was wearing black jeans and a cream half-zipped cable-knit jumper, his hair curling onto his collar. His dark eyes appraised her, the tilt of his head expressing his concern.

‘Fine! I’ve been making the most of the lull.’

‘I don’t blame you. Where is everyone?’

‘Rex and Ronnie have headed into town. They’re going to do a bit of shopping and then stop for some lunch.’

‘Poor Dad. Ronnie can’t be buying yet another outfit for the wedding, surely?’

Pia laughed. It had been a huge source of amusement to Pia, and a source of dismay to Jackson, that Jackson’s mum had been fizzing with excitement ever since she’d found out the date for her son’s wedding to Pia. Ronnie had been eagerly making plans over possible outfits and accessories ever since, changing her mind several times in the process.

‘They’re looking at shoes today, apparently.’

In the absence of her own parents, who she’d sadly lost in recent years after acting as their carers for the best part of her twenties, Pia appreciated having the presence of Jackson’s parents in her life. Both Ronnie and Rex were larger-than-life characters with captivating personalities who had shared a brief and tempestuous marriage years earlier before they had divorced and gone their separate ways. When Jackson fulfilled his childhood dream and bought the neglected and derelict Primrose Hall, restoring it to its former glory and making it his home, his mum Ronnie had taken residence in the grounds in her cherished camper van, refusing on several occasions Jackson’s offer to have her own rooms within the hall itself. She always said that she liked the independence and freedom the van offered and with it the possibility that she could take off whenever she wanted to, although in recent months Ronnie’s wanderlust had waned.

Ever since Rex had turned up at the hall unexpectedly last year, after several years living abroad, wanting to make amends with Jackson, the son who he had largely neglected while he had been growing up, the dynamic at the hall had changed immeasurably. Had Rex known his ex-wife was living there too, he might never have turned up at the hall that night, but after the initial shock of coming face to face with their pasts, and some heated and revelatory conversations, Jackson and his parents had found a closeness and a bond between them that wasn’t always apparent in earlier years. Ronnie had been delighted to rekindle her romance with Rex and now the pair of them were like a couple of lovestruck teenagers, spending every available moment together, making up for lost time.

‘How many pairs of shoes can one woman wear to a wedding?’ asked Jackson despairingly.

‘You’d be surprised. Well, especially as far as Ronnie is concerned,’ said Pia, still chuckling. ‘She’s been talking about heels, sandals, flats and wellies. She likes to be prepared for every eventuality.’

Jackson wandered across and placed his hands on Pia’s arms, gently massaging her shoulders with his thumbs. She wriggled in her seat, stretching out her muscles, enjoying the sensations his touch evoked. The familiar scent of his aftershave, earthy with undertones of citrus fruit, reached her nostrils and her eyes closed as she relaxed into his touch. He leant down, his breath on the back of her neck sending shivers down her spine. She turned to look up into Jackson’s dark brown eyes, recognising the intent within his gaze.

‘I told you we should have eloped, then we might have avoided all these issues. And we’d be married by now too.’ There was a gleam of amusement in Jackson’s scrutiny, but Pia knew he wasn’t entirely joking.

‘Yes, but it wouldn’t be the same without our families and friends around us. After the year we’ve had, it will be the perfect celebration. Not only of our marriage, but also everything we’ve achieved here at the hall, the friendships we’ve made, your family coming back together and, of course, you getting over the accident and Rex recovering from his heart attack.’

‘Don’t get me wrong,’ said Jackson, who pulled out a chair from the table, turning it one hundred and eighty degrees so that it was facing Pia. He straddled the seat, his clasped hands resting on the back of the chair. ‘I am very grateful for all those things, but I don’t want our wedding turning into just another event on the Primrose Hall calendar. Indistinguishable from all the other events that we’ve hosted here.’

‘Oh, but it won’t be. I know we’ve held a couple of weddings here before, and they were both gorgeous celebratory days, but ours will be all the more special, because… well, because it’s our wedding! And a Christmas wedding too.’ She clapped her hands enthusiastically, a familiar flutter appearing in her chest. Every time she thought about it, she was gripped by a mix of emotions: excitement, anticipation and a sprinkling of trepidation too. She supposed it was only natural to harbour some doubts; getting married was a life-changing event, after all. She looked across at Jackson, gauging his reaction. Underneath his confident front, she knew he was a private person who would much prefer to exchange his vows with her in an intimate ceremony with only a handful of people present. Had she been wrong to insist that they share their big day with all their friends and family?

‘It will be wonderful, but hey, it’s not too late to call the wedding off if you’re really not that keen on the idea?’ She forced herself to say the words brightly, even if she shuddered inside as she heard them roll off her tongue. Maybe they needed some extra time.

‘Now, did I say that?’ Jackson was quick to reassure Pia, cupping her face in his hands. ‘Nothing’s going to stop me marrying you, not even these gammy legs.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘We just need to remind Ronnie occasionally that it’s our wedding and not hers. Honestly, to hear her talking, you might be mistaken for thinking she was the blushing bride. I don’t want you feeling that she’s pushing you out, taking over, as she likes to do.’

‘Not at all. I love having Ronnie’s input. She’s excited for us and why shouldn’t she be?’

Jackson shook his head indulgently and rolled his eyes. As a young boy he’d had a strained relationship with his mum, not understanding why she would often take off in her camper van to go off on her adventures, leaving him to live with her sister, Marie, with whom, admittedly, he’d had a very close and loving relationship. It didn’t stop him feeling the hurt and betrayal of being left behind by his mum, though. In recent years Jackson and Ronnie had grown closer, but those old wounds weren’t far beneath the surface, and Ronnie still had the ability to infuriate Jackson, with something as simple as a wrong word or a questioning glance. Still, these days Pia liked to think of them all as one big happy family, even if they still had their fiery moments from time to time.

‘What are your plans for the day?’ Jackson asked.

‘Abbey and Willow, Ruby and Freddie, and Katy and the children should be arriving any moment now. I want to try little Rosie in her bridesmaid dress to see if she’s grown into it or if it will need altering. Then we’ll have some tea and cakes, and a catch up.’

‘Ah, of course, I remember! In that case, I probably need to make a dash for it,’ he said with a wry grin. ‘Delightful though all those babies are, I really don’t want to intrude on the wedding talk, and I can just imagine the racket that lot will make.’ He grimaced exaggeratedly. Jackson liked to pretend that he wasn’t fond of small children, but Pia knew it was only an act. ‘Besides, I need to catch up with Tom. I want to have that long-overdue conversation with him about making him a permanent fixture on the team. I’ll take the dogs with me, save them from getting underneath your feet.’

‘Thanks, Jackson, although I know Rosie will be disappointed not to see you and Bertie and Teddy.’

‘Well, I’m sure the excitement of trying her dress on will keep her distracted. Send them all my regards, won’t you?’ He stood up, leaning down to deposit a kiss on her lips. ‘Love you, see you later,’ he called, heading outside.

‘Love you more,’ Pia called after him, a smile lingering on her lips. It was true. She did love him, but there was still a part of her that wondered if she was really making the right decision in marrying Jackson.