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

Chapter 2

2

Rex and Ronnie had spent all morning mooching around the shopping centre, stopping for coffee in the big department store before heading to the old town where they wandered, hand in hand, along the cobbled streets. Ronnie loved the array of specialist shops there, including an antiquarian bookshop, a record shop selling all the old vinyls they knew from their younger days and a wool shop where Ronnie stocked up for her latest project, a patchwork bed blanket for Pia and Jackson’s wedding present. There was also a choice of independent boutiques which Ronnie gravitated towards as they stocked the unusual colourful clothes that weren’t readily available on the high street that so appealed to Ronnie’s eclectic tastes. Although today it was Rex’s attention that was caught by one particular treasure in a shop window.

‘Oh, look at that, Ronnie! Didn’t you have a dress similar to that one back in the day?’

Ronnie turned to look at the display in the window of a shop that sold vintage clothing and accessories. The cream dress on the mannequin was long and flowing with a smocked front and embroidered daisies dotted over the lace skirt, evoking memories of long-ago summers, flower power and the sounds of strumming folk guitars.

‘I think I may have done,’ said Ronnie with a smile, transported to another place and time. ‘I was always a bit of a hippy, even long after they were a thing.’

‘What do you mean “was”? You still are!’

‘You’re probably right there. Okay, so I might be stuck in the past, but everything seemed so much better when we were young. Don’t you think?’ Ronnie took a step forward to admire the dress in closer detail. ‘It really is beautiful, but more suited for a bride, don’t you think?’

‘Well, I can just imagine you in something like that.’ Rex’s eyes sparkled, no doubt conjuring up images of Ronnie in the dress.

‘Besides, I’ve already bought two outfits for Pia and Jackson’s wedding so I certainly don’t need any more. Although…’ She gave a final lingering glance at the dress, clearly considering the idea, before breaking into laughter. ‘I couldn’t! It’s not the done thing to wear cream to a wedding. Come on, before you lead me into trouble. Let’s go and find some lunch,’ she said, taking Rex by the hand.

They found a little café in a secluded cobbled mews that served a selection of quiches, wraps and sandwiches. Rex chose the healthy option as he was on doctor’s orders after his recent health scare, opting for a seafood salad, while Ronnie went for a slice of salmon quiche with salad. Ronnie loved the time she spent with Rex, just the two of them, enjoying each other’s company. They’d always got on well, sharing a similar outlook on life and sense of humour, but in their younger days, they’d both been spontaneous and fiery, which would often result in broken promises, hurled insults and screaming rows. These days, they were wiser, kinder and mellower, and while there was still a delightful spark to their relationship, it was a relief to everyone concerned that there were no longer the dramatic fireworks of before.

‘I’m so pleased I’ve picked up the rest of the wool for Pia and Jackson’s blanket. I was almost running out and I really need to keep going with it so that it will be ready in time for the wedding. I can hardly believe it’s only a few weeks away now.’

‘This year has certainly flown by, but then I suppose we’ve had a lot going on.’ Rex gave a wry chuckle, shaking his head. ‘I don’t know what I’m supposed to get them for their wedding. What do you buy the couple who have everything?’

‘We can say the blanket is a present from us both. How about that?’ Ronnie leant over the table and squeezed Rex’s hand. ‘Besides, I bet they’d say you’ve already given them the best gift ever by still being here!’

‘Well, nothing was going to keep me from a good old shindig at the hall, not even a heart blip. It will take a bit more than that to get rid of me.’

‘I’ll hold you to that, Rex, and don’t go getting any more ideas about taking an early check-out,’ she joshed, although any reminders of that time were enough to stir dread in her heart. It had been more than a blip. Ronnie and Rex had been on an extended trip to Europe in the camper van when Rex fell ill in the south of France. He’d been rushed into hospital and underwent emergency treatment while Ronnie struggled to cope with the idea that Rex wasn’t infallible as she’d thought. She’d always looked up to Rex, admired him and loved him, and having only just found him again after several years apart, she couldn’t bear the thought that she might lose him so soon. Now, her gaze drifted around the café, appreciating the mundane normality of the moment, knowing it could quite easily have been denied them.

‘Do you ever think that if we had stayed together we would have been married for over thirty years now?’

‘Crikey, there’s a thought! You know me, though, Ronnie love. I don’t like to look back with regret. What’s the point in that? I’m all too aware of the mistakes I made, the bad decisions I took and the people I hurt in the process.’ He tilted his head and scrunched up his mouth in apology. ‘I was young. Selfish. More interested in the cars and the booze and the next big deal than acting like an adult or being a good husband and father. I can see where I went wrong, how I could have done things differently, but no amount of hand-wringing and soul-searching will make a jot of difference. You can’t change the past. All you can do is learn from it.’

Ronnie nodded, observing Rex closely. He might have aged, as indeed she had. His dark chestnut hair, so recognisable in his sons, was entirely grey now and there were laughter lines around his eyes and mouth, his skin a ruddy bronzed colour from all the years spent living in the sun, but he was just as handsome as ever. He still had the ability to set her heart alight and to make her laugh, deep down in her belly, in a way that she had never replicated with anyone else.

‘I like how you hold your hands up and admit to your mistakes. Not everyone can do that.’ She fell silent for a moment, her lips pursed together. ‘Obviously I would if I could, but then, as you know, I don’t make mistakes.’ Ronnie lifted her chin high, trying to contain the mischievous smile twitching on her lips.

‘I wouldn’t expect anything less coming from you, Ronnie.’ Rex laughed, shaking his head in mock dismay.

Ronnie took a sip from her mug of Earl Grey tea.

‘I look at Jackson and Pia and am amazed at how together they are. They really seem to have the whole life–work balance sorted out. They’re focused, responsible, sensible even. We were never like that at their age. Quite the opposite, in fact!’

‘I’m not sure we’re like that now. Perhaps Jackson has watched and learnt from his parents’ mistakes. He’s certainly got his head screwed on right and with Pia at his side they make a formidable team.’

‘Exactly, he’s lucky to have her. We’re lucky to have her,’ Ronnie added with emphasis, leaning across the table towards Rex. ‘She really is the heart of Primrose Hall. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to Pia becoming an official member of the family.’ She gave a small clap of delight. ‘Honestly, I’m counting down the days.’

‘I know you are, love,’ Rex said with a tolerant smile. Sometimes he thought Ronnie was more excited about the upcoming event than the bride and groom. Seeing her so animated and enthusiastic made him happy, reminding him of the young and beautiful woman he’d married. She was still as alluring with her mass of silver curls that she piled high on her head, her intelligent eyes and sparkling wit, and while it was true that he didn’t spend a lot of time mulling over the past, he wouldn’t be human if he didn’t feel an occasional pang of guilt that he had effectively crushed Ronnie’s dreams of a happy marriage of her own.

Rex pulled out his phone from his pocket, scrolling through his messages, before scrabbling around to find his wallet, pulling out his payment card and handing it over to Ronnie.

‘If you want to settle up the bill, love, I just need to make a quick phone call. A mate of mine from Spain wants me to put him touch with a mutual friend that he’s lost touch with. I’ll meet you down on the bench by the old town hall. I’ll be ten minutes at the most.’

‘You go ahead and do what you need to do, Rex.’

Ronnie had to smile. At one point in time, he might have left and not come back for days, or weeks even. At least these days she could be confident that he would be true to his word. Not 100 per cent, but pretty certain that he would be waiting at the designated time, with a smile on his face. As to that tiny inkling of doubt, born from her bitter experience all those years ago, well, it only added to that frisson of excitement, relief and happiness every time he turned up and fulfilled the promises he made her.