Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (fiction books to read .txt) 📕

layby near Bampton’s wedding boutique. ‘Tina, are you sure you want me to be a bridesmaid? Thea would be fine without me. I’m not really a dress kind of person.’

Reversing a fraction, Tina made sure the car was tucked away from the road. ‘You’ll look amazing, and yes, of course I want you.’

‘And I don’t want to stand behind Tina and Sam on my own!’ Thea gave Helen an anxious smile. ‘I’ll be less nervous if you’re there too.’

‘Right. Okay.’ Helen exhaled a breath.

Unlocking her seatbelt, Mabel picked up her bag containing the huge wedding planning folder. ‘The owner sounded lovely on the phone. She totally understands we are simply browsing and getting style ideas today. Come on, girls, no need for nerves.’

Thea and Helen climbed out of the car, but Tina remained where she was.

‘You coming, Tina?’ Thea opened the driver’s door. ‘We can’t do this without you.’

Tina’s hands remained on the steering wheel. ‘What if she does try to sell me something I don’t want, though? You know what I’m like. I’ll find myself buying a dress because she thinks I should have it because I’m rubbish at saying no if I think it might offend someone.’

‘Well, umm…’ Thea floundered, knowing she’d probably have similar trouble in the face of a determined dress saleswoman.

Mabel tapped her folder thoughtfully. ‘If you feel yourself being polite, rather than saying no thank you over a dress, signal me with a fake cough.’

‘A fake cough?’ Tina frowned.

‘If you do that, then I’ll know you need rescuing.’

Helen grinned at the old lady. ‘You really have thought of everything.’

As Mabel and Helen crossed the road to the shop before them, a flutter of butterflies stirred in Tina’s stomach as she turned to Thea. ‘I’ve looked forward to this all my life, one way or another, so why am I so nervous?’

‘Because you’ve been waiting for it all your life.’ Thea linked arms with Tina. ‘Come on, if I know Mabel, she’ll have arranged for Bucks Fizz to be sipped during the trying on.’

‘But what if they don’t have anything I like?’

‘Didn’t you look at their range online?’ Thea was surprised.

‘I know it sounds daft, but I didn’t dare. Mabel had already booked the appointment. I was worried I might not like anything I saw online.’

‘Well I did look.’ Thea gave her friend a hug. ‘I promise you’re going to love everything – well, nearly everything. There was one very meringue-ish construction which you’ll want us all to give a very wide berth!’

*

Thea had been right about the Bucks Fizz, although Mabel swore it hadn’t been her doing. After trying on two dresses, one for each glass of heavily diluted champagne she’d had, Tina realised she’d better abandon her drink or she’d be unable to drive home.

‘You looked fantastic in both of them.’ Thea realised her input wasn’t terribly helpful. ‘How many others have you lined up to try before you start ruling frocks out?’

‘Three.’ Tina gestured to the huge changing room behind her where the boutique owner was calmly and without fuss helping her in and out of each gown in turn. ‘I just needed a break. It takes an age to get into the simplest frock, and to be honest, I’m falling in love with all of them!’

‘I can imagine. At least you taking your time means I have longer to choose something. I hadn’t realised how hard it would be. I usually just grab the first vaguely suitable dress and go with it.’

Tina laughed, ‘Have you and Helen decided on a colour?’

‘That at least has been sorted. Mabel was very firm on the matter, she…’ Thea looked around. ‘Where is Mabel?’

‘She’s in the changing room.’

‘In with you?’ Thea tilted her head to one side, not sure if this was an agreeable situation or not.

‘She’s taking her mother of the bride role seriously.’

‘Is that okay?’ Thea lowered her voice, not wanting to offend the old lady should she come out of the changing area.

‘It is. She’s being really helpful. Well, except for one thing.’

‘One thing?’

‘She keeps blubbing. Apparently, I look like the most beautiful woman in the world every time.’

‘Oh bless her!’ Thea experienced a stab of sadness for her friend. ‘She and Bert would have made fabulous parents.’

Tina pulled a random bridesmaid’s dress from the rack in front of her. ‘This might suit you, Thea.’

‘Maybe. I have no idea what suits me, to be honest, so I’m aiming to try a range once Helen’s done.’

‘Is Helen okay?’

‘I think so, but now you mention it, she’s been in the changing room for absolutely ages.’

*

Helen stared at herself in the mirror. Mabel had been right about the colour, but she wasn’t sure about the dress. Or rather she was sure – and that made her feel even worse.

She looked good. She knew she did. But I never look good in dresses. She remembered Tom’s expression of disbelief when they’d spoken before she’d joined Tina and the others for their shopping expedition. He’d dismissed her claim that she looked awful in anything that showed her legs, telling her she’d look good in a bin bag. She flushed at the memory of Tom picking a roll of bin bags off the store room shelf and suggesting she put the theory to the test for him later.

Is he going to see me wear this?

Helen knew, if she did attend the wedding, it would be in this dress. She didn’t need to try on anything else.

Midnight blue, it made her eyes shine, complimented her hair and her colouring. With a corset top, it magically pulled her in at the waist, while the skirt slimmed her thighs; giving her a hint of sophistication, with just a touch of medieval serving wench thrown in.

Tom would love it.

‘Tom.’ She whispered his name as she turned to examine her side view for the fourth time. ‘I’ll have to go away. If Dylan wants them to be a family again…’ She couldn’t finish the sentence, and was somewhat relieved when she