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

Chapter 15

15

‘Here’s two of my favourite girls! How lovely to see you both! There’s a special seat over there by the window. It’s the best view in the house. Why don’t you wander over and I’ll be across to take your order in a moment.’

Pia and Sophie had arrived at the Tree Tops Café to a characteristically warm and friendly welcome from Lizzie. It was a beautiful spot offering panoramic views of the landscape and the café had a first-class reputation for its homemade quiches, soups and sandwiches, along with a wide and scrumptious selection of cakes. This place would always hold a special place in Pia’s heart because it was where she first learnt about the job at Primrose Hall, her eye taken by a hand-written advertisement on a postcard in the display box at the front of the café. She often thought where she might be now if she hadn’t noticed the job vacancy that day and hadn’t rushed off an email to the address given. The advertisement had given away few details, only that it was a live-in job as a personal assistant involving admin work and animal care, and while she didn’t have a lot of experience on either front, she thought there would no harm in taking a punt, never believing for one moment that anything would actually come of it. Had she known that Jackson Moody, her teenage crush, was behind the unknown email address and was also the new owner of the refurbished Primrose Hall, then she would never have applied for the job in the first place. There were so many coincidences and a synchronicity that led Pia to reconnecting with Jackson. When she’d accepted the job at Primrose Hall, albeit somewhat reluctantly, she’d only ever viewed it as a short-term solution to her urgent need to find a job and somewhere to live for her and Bertie.

Now, Pia sat down at the table and let out a satisfied sigh as she always did as her gaze took in the sight of the huge redwood trees around them.

Who could have known then that eighteen months later she would be preparing for her wedding to that boy, now a man, who had once broken her heart? She still had to pinch herself that she had found a whole new family and community, a home, a menagerie and the love of her life, all within the grounds of Primrose Hall. There had definitely been something of that magic working in the air around that time and Pia liked to think it was her mum and dad looking out for her, giving her a gentle nudge in the right direction.

‘So how have you been?’ Sophie asked, breaking into Pia’s thoughts.

‘Good, yes, really good! Busy, as usual. We’ve got some new animals coming to join us at the hall soon.’

Just then Lizzie arrived with her notepad and wide smile.

‘What are you girls having?’

‘I’ll go for a cappuccino and a toasted teacake, please.’

‘And I’ll have a latte and a Chelsea bun,’ added Sophie with a smile.

‘Anyway, tell me about these animals,’ she asked when Lizzie had gone to see to their order. ‘It sounds very intriguing.’

‘Ah, yes! Well, Jackson’s secured a deal to buy some old cottages. He’s going to do them up like he did with the hall, but Harry, the man selling them, was dragging his feet because he had his three alpacas who had belonged to his late wife to consider. He didn’t want to sign on the dotted line until he knew the animals had a home to go to. Jackson had taken me along to show me the cottages and it looked as though the deal might fall through, but of course once I found out about the alpacas I knew we simply had to have them, regardless of the cottages. Honestly, Sophie, they are gorgeous and they are going to fit in perfectly over at the hall. You’ll have to come and see them as soon as they arrive.’

‘Jackson really is the consummate businessman, isn’t he?’

‘Yeah, he is.’ Pia paused, noticing the knowing smile hovering on Sophie’s lips, the light in her eyes. ‘What do you mean exactly?’

‘Well, taking you along, knowing that you would be able to persuade the guy to sign the deal with a promise to look after his alpacas; it’s genius!’

‘But Jackson didn’t know…’ Pia’s words trailed away as she clearly considered that idea. Was that why Jackson had taken her along in the first place? Had he known about the situation with the animals and anticipated that Pia would jump in to offer the animals a home? ‘Oh my God, I wonder if he did. It didn’t even occur to me… the…’

She saw the smile spread across Sophie’s lips, the nod of her head. Was Pia a fool not to have even considered the possibility? At that moment Lizzie reappeared with their order and placed their coffees and cakes on the tables.

‘How are you, Pia? How’s life at the hall?’

‘Yes, good,’ she said, putting all thoughts of Jackson’s dodgy business dealings to one side. ‘We’re just gearing up for the last few events of the year, and then the wedding will be here. It’s come round so quickly!’

‘We’re looking forward to it. We’ll be there for the Christmas carols, we wouldn’t miss that now, and then to have the wedding the following week, well, it’s going to make the festivities extra special. Rosie is so excited to be your bridesmaid, I really think she might go pop. We can’t wait to see her in her dress; oh, and you in your dress as well, obviously,’ said Lizzie, laughing.

‘It’s fine,’ said Pia with a grin. ‘I know exactly who’s going to be the star of the show that day: little Princess Rosie.’

Despite Pia’s best plans to keep the preparations low key, the build-up for the wedding had taken on a force of its own. She supposed it was only natural that the people around her would be excited for her, but the constant chatter about the big day was doing nothing for her nerves. To think that in the matter of a few weeks she would be Mrs Moody or Lady of the Manor, as Jackson liked to tease her, only added to her trepidation.

‘Anyway, tell me your news,’ Pia said, conscious that once they got on to the subject of weddings, they might never get off it. ‘How’s Bill?’

‘He’s absolutely dandy, revelling in being a granddad. He absolutely adores little Willow, but then we all do! She’s such a little cutie.’

‘I know, isn’t she just? Abbey brought her round the other day and Ruby came with little Freddie too. We had such a lovely time with lots of cuddles, which played havoc with my hormones, I can tell you! Being an auntie and a godmother has to be the best.’

‘I can tell you being a grandmother is pretty decent too!’ said Lizzie, chuckling.

When Lizzie left to see to another customer, Pia turned her attention to Sophie, whose vibrant chestnut hair fell loosely onto her shoulders, offsetting the healthy glow radiating from her skin. Pia reached across the table and squeezed Sophie’s hands.

‘You’re looking great, Sophie! How are things going?’

‘Good!’ A smile spread across her lips as though she was hugging a big secret to herself. ‘I don’t want to jinx anything, but I can honestly say I’m happier than I’ve been in years. The job’s going well, I’m settled in my little cottage in Wishwell and I’m enjoying being able to do what I want, when I want, without having to answer to a bad-tempered boyfriend.’

‘Well, the new lifestyle certainly suits you.’

‘I feel so much better in myself. When you’ve been in a toxic relationship like I was with Kyle, it impacts on every aspect of your life. Your job, your health, your friendships. When I look back, I realise what a bad way I was in, but when you’re in the middle of something like that it’s difficult to think clearly or to see a way out. It makes me shudder to think that I could still be in that relationship if it hadn’t been for my friends, you and Greta especially, helping me to find a new path.’

‘That’s kind of you to say, but you’d already taken those big steps on your own before I’d even met you. But what I do know is that you’re unrecognisable from the girl I met on that first day at the stables. Then you were shy, fearful and almost invisible beneath your dark clothes. It’s been lovely seeing you come out of your shell and being the person you were always destined to be. That might sound corny but it’s true! And I’m really glad that we’ve become good friends through this time.’

‘Me too. It’s been a revelation to me, putting the effort into my female friendships. When I was with Kyle, I lost touch with my friends because he never liked me seeing them. He would give me a hard time if I even suggested doing something without him, so in the end it became easier not to. I should have taken that as a red flag, but I was blind to his controlling behaviour. Meeting you and Greta, Abbey and Rhi, Katy, it’s just brought home to me how much I appreciate having you all in my life. I’ll certainly not make the same mistake again. My girlfriends will always come first now before any man!’

‘Really?’ Pia took a sip from her cappuccino before taking a bite from her buttery, delicious teacake, dabbing at her mouth with a napkin. ‘I had thought that Tom might be playing a part in this newfound happiness of yours.’ Pia’s eyes were wide and filled with curiosity.

‘Okay, so he might have something to do with it too,’ Sophie said lightly. ‘It’s funny because I swore off men, after Kyle, and told myself I’d be better off single, and then when I least wanted to, or expected to, I met Tom and that’s thrown all my best-laid plans up in the air.’

‘And is it such a problem?’

‘Not really. I suppose I’m just worried about getting hurt again. I like Tom, he’s such a sweetheart and we get on well together, but I guess I’m wary, having had my fingers burnt before. It’s almost like it’s too easy and I’m trying to find reasons why it shouldn’t work. We both told each other we weren’t looking for anything serious and so I think the way we feel about each other has taken us both by surprise.’

‘Well, I can give a great character reference for Tom if that helps? I’ve not known him long either but he’s one of the kindest, sweetest men I’ve ever met. He would do anything for anyone and we wouldn’t have coped without him when Jackson was in hospital and when Rex had his heart attack over in France. He took care of all the arrangements. He’s slotted into the family really well, as though he’s always been part of the clan, and has even managed to win Jackson round, which is no mean feat.’

‘He is lovely,’ said Sophie, sighing. ‘I’m conscious that he’s been through quite a difficult time with everything that’s happened and I really don’t want to put any additional pressure on him, so I’m happy just to carry on the way we are and see where things take us.’ Sophie shrugged. It scared her to admit how strong her feelings were for Tom. In truth, she realised she’d fallen in love with him weeks ago, when she could no longer put down her stirrings of longings and desire as a passing infatuation. Not when she spent all her time thinking about him, wondering when she might see him next and imagining a future they might have together. ‘I think finding this new job is a big step for him. He sees it as a way of getting his life back on track.’

‘Sounds like a good move for him, although we were disappointed because Jackson and I had hoped Tom would stay working for the hall. It’s perfectly understandable though that he would want to pursue his own interests.’

‘I think it’s more about the money. He had a very good career before and a great lifestyle too, so when he turned his back on all that, his living arrangements changed quite significantly. Now, he’s ready to get back on the property ladder so I think that’s what’s behind the decision. He did say something about…’ She tried to recall Tom’s words. ‘Something to the effect that he didn’t have much to offer me materially, that he’d like to plan some holidays and decent nights outs for us, to be able to treat me, which is a lovely thought, but those things aren’t really important to me.’ It made Sophie feel special enough that Tom would even think that way. ‘I just like spending time with him, that’s enough for me.’

‘But not for Tom by the sounds of things.’ Pia nodded her head as though one of life’s mysteries had been revealed to her. ‘He’s obviously thinking to the future, which has to be a good sign, right?’

‘Yes, I guess so,’ said Sophie, although she still couldn’t be certain that he was thinking long-term future as far as she was concerned, or just until something better presented itself.

‘Just think, if you and Tom do end up together, then we might become related to each other one day. Sisters-in-law. How fantastic would that be?’

Sophie laughed.

‘Now you really are getting ahead of yourself, but I must admit I love being involved with the Primrose Hall community so I would never want to lose that connection. As for me and Tom, well, we’ll have to see how it goes.’

Pia and Sophie finished their coffees and cakes, soaking up the atmosphere of the busy, vibrant café, their gazes continually drifting outside to the eye-catching scenery. Pia put down her mug decisively and turned to Sophie.

‘You’ve got me thinking. I’m wondering if Jackson did know about Harry’s alpacas all along and took me with him knowing I wouldn’t be able to resist some defenceless animals that needed a home. Do you think he would do something like that?’

‘Absolutely, he would,’ said Sophie, laughing. ‘That’s got Jackson’s signature all over it. I’m sure there’s no ill intent there. He just knows the right way to seal a deal.’

Pia widened her eyes and shook her head, hardly daring to believe it.

‘Honestly, I’m going to have words with that man and if he has done that, then… Well, I’m not sure what I’ll do.’

‘Call off the marriage, I reckon. Or else you’ll have to let that old man down and send those poor helpless animals to a rescue centre instead. That will show Jackson,’ said Sophie, teasingly.

‘Hmmm, well, I would never do that, but I’ll get the truth out of Jackson, don’t you worry.’

‘Well, I’d like to be a fly on the wall when you have that conversation. Come on,’ said Sophie, still laughing, ‘we should get going.’

On their way out, Lizzie came across to say goodbye, enveloping them both in a hug.

‘See you soon. Thinking about it, the next time will be at your hen do, Pia. Katy and I are really looking forward to it. Sounds as though it will be a fun night and we can’t wait to see all those bronzed, lean, dancing men up close.’ Lizzie flapped a hand over her heart dramatically. ‘It will be a proper treat.’

‘Oh my God,’ exclaimed Pia fiercely. ‘I hope you’re kidding me. I’ve told Abbey I don’t want anything like that. If she?—’

‘It’s fine, Pia,’ said Lizzie, holding up her palms to prevent her friend from having a full-on meltdown in the middle of the café, and giving her another hug. ‘I was joking. There’ll be no hunky men, or at least I don’t think there will be.’ She gave a far too nonchalant shrug, her gaze lifting to the ceiling. ‘Although every hen night should contain a few surprises, don’t you think?’