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

Chapter 22

22

‘Pia! My gorgeous daughter-in-law! Well, very nearly… As good as, eh?’

Ronnie plonked herself down on the seat beside Pia and took hold of her hands. Pia smiled, feeling deliciously light-headed. She noticed a gentle slur to Ronnie’s words, but then she wasn’t entirely confident that she was making a lot of sense either. It was hardly surprising considering the number of pornstar martinis they’d been knocking back all evening. Pia should have known that she could rely on her friends. They’d given her the best hen night ever, everything she could have ever imagined or wanted. Go-karting had been highly contested but brilliant fun, before the group had headed off to a cocktail-making workshop where they’d sampled all of their concoctions, then eaten from the most exquisite tasting menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant where the ma?tre d’ and his waiters had fussed over them all night long, keeping their glasses topped up with champagne. Now they’d arrived back at The Three Feathers, where Rhi had organised a private disco in the barn at the back and the friends had been bopping to all the old classics from the eighties and nineties.

‘Do you know, darling, what you’ve done for our family?’

Pia shook her head, a beatific smile on her face, knowing from the way Ronnie was peering into her eyes and the tight grip she had on her hands that Ronnie was about to tell her, whether she wanted to hear it or not.

‘You’ve brought a joy and a light to the hall that was missing before. Jackson spent a lot of time and money restoring the hall and there’s no denying everything he accomplished; he turned a derelict run-down building into a magnificent country house, but there was something missing. He’d admit that himself. It was effectively a beautiful shell and Jackson and I were like characters from a bygone age, wafting in and out of the rooms, not knowing what to do with ourselves. That’s why I always preferred to live in the van. It was so much cosier. Then you arrived with Bertie and turned everything upside down. You made the hall a home. It was wonderful to see the place suddenly come alive, and of course I knew right from the outset that Jackson was smitten. He can be prone to his dark moods at times, as you well know, but it was clear that he was so much happier within himself as soon as you arrived. It was as though he’d been waiting for you to turn up.’

‘Aw, Ronnie, that’s such a lovely thing to say, but I honestly feel as though I’m the lucky one. I found my teenage love again when I wasn’t even looking for him.’

Abbey, Katy and Ruby had pulled up some seats to join them, taking a break from their exertions on the dance floor.

‘It’s so romantic,’ sighed Katy. ‘To be reunited with your first love and then to end up marrying him on a beautiful country estate. It’s like one of those Channel 5 movies that are shown in the run-up to Christmas.’

‘Yes, the really bad ones! I love those and curling up on the sofa to watch them on a rainy afternoon. What you have to remember is that there has only ever been Jackson for Pia,’ said Abbey.

‘Uh? You’ve had other boyfriends though?’ Katy asked, her head wobbling on her shoulders.

‘No,’ Pia admitted. ‘After Jackson left the village, I spent the next few years looking after my parents. I didn’t have time for boyfriends and then when I applied for the job and I ran into Jackson again, well, the rest, as they say, is history!’

‘Oh my God, I didn’t know that! That’s amazing,’ said Ruby. ‘So you didn’t have to kiss a load of frogs to find your prince then?’

‘No,’ admitted Pia, unsure if she should be proud or embarrassed of that fact.

‘Well, tonight is your last chance to let loose as a single woman and what happens on a hen night stays on a hen night, isn’t that right, girls? So come on, let’s go and have some fun,’ Ruby rallied, grabbing hold of Pia’s hand, trying to drag her up on her feet, but Pia resisted, laughing.

‘You go, I’m just going to have a chat with Ronnie first, but I’ll come and join you in a moment.’

She dropped her head on to Ronnie’s shoulder as they watched the girls bop onto the dance floor, thinking what an amazing day it had been, how she would remember it forever.

‘I know how lucky I am. Not only did I find Jackson, but I also found a sense of family again with you and Rex, and Tom now too, up at the hall. I still have to pinch myself that it’s actually my home.’ She gave a low chuckle. ‘I can hear my mum saying from on high, “Well, you’ve certainly landed on your feet, young lady!” They’d be so proud. It’s such a shame that you and Jackson never got the chance to meet my parents.’

‘Oh, I would have loved to have met them,’ said Ronnie, ‘and to sit around the kitchen table at Primrose Hall and share a drink with them.’ She frowned, peering into the bottom of her empty glass. ‘Well, maybe a cup of tea then. I’d have probably needed to be on my best behaviour,’ she said with a chuckle.

‘Not at all. They enjoyed a drink too and would have loved you. And Rex, and Jackson, but it wasn’t to be,’ she said sadly. ‘Talking of which, do you fancy another?’ Pia nodded to Ronnie’s glass.

‘We could have a nightcap. We’ve had everything else. Do you fancy an Irish coffee to see us on our way?’

‘Good idea,’ said Pia without thinking twice.

‘Well, you sit, my lovely, and I’ll go and see if the other girls want anything. I won’t be a jiffy.’ Ronnie dashed off, and left alone, Pia felt her head swimming and wondered why she’d ever thought it a good idea to let anything else pass her lips tonight, but soon Ronnie was back with a promise that the drinks were on the way. It didn’t matter. The very last one, she told herself, and then she would definitely have to head for home.

Ronnie sat down beside her.

‘It’s been a fabulous day but I clearly haven’t got the stamina that I used to have.’ She giggled. ‘Honestly, Rex and I are changed people these days. We used to be party animals, but now we both prefer a quiet night in, a couple of old farts, you might say. You know, I do love him, but it’s never easy when you love someone as much as I love Rex.’

‘Oh, Ronnie, why do you say that?’

‘Well, being in love makes you vulnerable. The fear of losing Rex is never far away. It’s that sense of dread you feel in the pit of your stomach that something bad might happen. I suppose it’s the price you pay for love.’

Pia had experienced that same sense of dread for herself. Could it explain her own doubts about marrying Jackson? That she was scared her happy ending might not be guaranteed after all.

‘It’s understandable,’ said Pia. Now it was her turn to take Ronnie’s hand, interlocking her fingers with the older woman’s. ‘Rex gave us quite a scare in the summer and you don’t easily forget about something like that. The thing is, at least he’s receiving the best medical care now. Besides, he’s looking great these days. I know it’s hard not to worry but try to put it at the back of your mind and enjoy the time you do have together.’

‘Oh, I’m not worried about him popping his clogs, if that’s what you mean.’ Ronnie’s laughter rang out around the bar. ‘Rex will see us all out, I’m sure about that! I suppose it’s…’ Her gaze drifted around the room. ‘Well, he’s been acting a bit oddly recently, don’t you think? I’ve got a sixth sense about these things and I’ve always been able to tell when Rex is up to something. I’m wondering if his health scare has reawakened his wandering spirit.’ Ronnie cast Pia a warning glance. ‘If that man takes off again, breaks my heart for a second time, I honestly don’t know what I’ll do. I’ll bloody well run after him and murder him properly,’ she said with a raucous cackle.

‘Rex adores you, that’s one thing I do know. He wouldn’t do anything to upset you, not intentionally at least.’ Pia gave Ronnie’s arm a gentle squeeze by way of encouragement.

‘I do hope you’re right.’ Ronnie shook her head as though ridding herself of that line of thought. ‘It’s the booze, making me melancholic, and that’s no good at all. Not tonight.’ She exhaled a big sigh. ‘What a lovely night we’ve had! I’m so pleased you invited me.’

‘It wouldn’t have been the same without you, Ronnie.’

‘I felt a bit out on a limb before you arrived at the hall. Jackson tolerated me, but only just!’ Pia gave Ronnie an indulgent smile. ‘It’s true! There was a bit of an atmosphere about the place and I think Jackson still held a lot of bad feelings towards me from when he was a kid. That boy certainly knows how to hold a grudge.’

‘All I know is that he’s incredibly fond of you, Ronnie. You’ll probably think me mad, but I honestly believe that the hall was waiting for its rightful owners to arrive. Jackson had an emotional attachment to that old derelict building from when he was a teenager and he’s put his heart and soul into bringing it right up to date, making it a home and bringing the Moody clan together as a result. He always says he’s just the caretaker of the place, looking after it for future generations.’

‘Ooh, well, I for one can’t wait for the future generations to arrive,’ said Ronnie, giggling. ‘Not that I’m putting any pressure on you.’ She flashed a look of innocence. ‘I would absolutely adore to be a grandmother, even though I didn’t make the best job of being a mother. Perhaps I’ll get it right the second time around.’

‘You’re too hard on yourself, Ronnie. No one’s saying you were a bad mother to Jackson. You did your best and that’s all anyone can do. How can anyone else judge when they have never stood in your shoes? Jackson’s upbringing has made him the man he is today and I’d say that he’s done pretty well for himself. More than that though, he’s the kindest man I’ve ever met with a beautiful soul. Most of what he does at the hall is for the benefit of others and he has to get those admirable traits from somewhere.’

‘Probably his dad,’ said Ronnie with a curl of her mouth. ‘Well, I always say to Rex that you and Jackson seem to have your heads screwed on properly. You seem much more level-headed than Rex and I were at your age. We were a bit wild, a bit selfish, although we had plenty of good times,’ she added wistfully.

‘Are you suggesting Jackson and I are boring?’ Pia asked in mock outrage.

‘Not at all! I think you’ve got it exactly right. And this is only the beginning. You’ll have so much to look forward to together. There’ll be ups and downs, that’s just life, but it’s how you deal with the issues that will help build and bond your marriage. That’s where Rex and I went wrong. At the first sign of trouble, we headed off in opposite directions. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I’m sure you won’t fall into the same traps as us.’

Pia hoped not, but Jackson was like his dad in so many ways.

‘It’s good though that you and Rex found each other again after so many years apart. I always think how romantic that is, as though you were always meant to be together.’

‘I always loved him, even when we were separated. He was the one who stole my heart, and he’s the reason why I never pursued anything serious with anyone else. Not that I was a saint. I liked to enjoy myself, but no one could really compare to Rex.’

Pia saw so many similarities in the way she felt about Jackson. Would she get to Ronnie’s age and have regrets about the choices she’d made, the things she hadn’t done?

‘Honestly, Ronnie, what are these Moody men like?’ Pia took a breath and a sip of her creamy coffee, the whiff of alcohol meeting her nostrils. Up on the dance floor, Abbey, Rhi, Sophie, Katy and Ruby were still brimming with energy and Pia marvelled at their stamina. There would be a few sore heads in the morning, including her own, and the deliciously rich coffee in her hand was going to do little to sober her up.

Ronnie leaned across and whispered in her ear.

‘I don’t want to worry you, but there’s a guy over there, up at the bar. He’s not been able to take his eyes off you for the last ten minutes. Do you know him?’

Pia turned around to check and her eyes locked with the good-looking guy sitting astride a stool at the bar. Her heart filliped. She hoped this wasn’t the moment when those male strippers that she had so dreaded made an appearance at her hen night. She’d been convinced she’d got away with that. Although… maybe at the end of the day, with several drinks inside her, it didn’t seem such a terrible proposition after all. Ronnie had been right: despite Pia acknowledging the man, he still continued to stare, even perhaps rudely, clearly unable to takes his dark eyes off her.

‘Do you want me to go and have a word with him? Send him off with a flea in his ear?’

‘It’s fine,’ said Pia, getting to her feet, steadying herself for a moment. ‘I have a way with handsome men. Leave it with me. I’ll go and sort him out. See what he has to say for himself.’

‘Well, be careful! And don’t get into any trouble!’ Ronnie called after her as she went off in search of the other girls.