A Wedding in December

Maggie thought about Rosie’s asthma. “Please tell me Rosie and Dan aren’t having a llama wedding.”

“No. Rosie wanted something simple.”

That didn’t sound like Rosie at all. She was wildly romantic. Maggie would have expected something over the top. Not llamas, of course, but something dreamy. But perhaps the time frame didn’t make that practical.

“It’s kind of you to organize this at such short notice.” She felt stupid for ever feeling jealous. Rosie was lucky to be marrying into such a charming family.

“It’s my pleasure, and I mean that literally. There is nothing I love more than arranging a wedding, and when my son is marrying the girl of his dreams, then it becomes my dream, too.” She slid her arm through Maggie’s. “What sort of wedding did you and Nick have?”

The ache was back in her chest. “A simple one. It was the two of us, in a small church in Oxford, with my best friend as a bridesmaid and Nick’s closest friend as best man. We were married in winter and the church was freezing, so we exchanged vows as quickly as possible before one of us developed frostbite.” And laughed the whole time and kissed. Nick had tried to thaw her frozen hands by tucking them under his jacket, then made indecent suggestions of how they could both warm up. “Afterwards we went to the pub with the whole of his department.”

“Your family didn’t attend?”

“Nick’s mother was there, although I don’t remember her smiling much. He never knew his father. My parents didn’t approve, so they refused to come. At the time I was miserable about it, but looking back on it I can see it was probably the best thing. A few more people might have warmed the church a little, but I can’t imagine they would have added much to the proceedings.”

“Why didn’t they approve?”

“They thought we were too young. And they didn’t understand Nick’s career. They thought he was too cavalier and adventurous, and that he needed to get a proper job. He’s an Egyptologist.”

“I know. Rosie says he’s super smart. She showed us a video of him lecturing on YouTube. She’s very proud of her dad. Your parents weren’t proud?”

“They died soon after we married so they only knew him at the beginning, before he’d made a name for himself, but they didn’t understand an academic career. They thought it was a frivolous thing to do. Not a proper job. They were worried he wouldn’t be able to support me.”

“You didn’t work?”

They strolled together through snow and even with a pounding head and a mountain of anxiety, Maggie was charmed.

The whole trip was turning out much bet

ter than expected, if you ignored the discomfort she felt from not telling Catherine the truth.

“I worked in academic publishing. Still do.”

“What a smart pair you are. No wonder he married you.”

Maggie didn’t feel smart, particularly when she was with Nick. She tended to listen rather than talk, conscious that anything she said would be boring compared to his tales of the desert. He was a natural storyteller with an ability to embellish each anecdote and hold the attention of an audience. It was the reason his lectures were always standing room only.

“We understood each other. We both wanted to create the sort of family neither of us had growing up.”

“Rosie tells me you have the most darling cottage.”

“Yes.” Maggie thought about the cottage, standing dark and empty over Christmas. She felt something close to guilt, and decided that was ridiculous. A house couldn’t feel lonely. What she was feeling was nostalgia for all those wonderful Christmases they’d spent in the cottage. “It’s a special place. I hope you’ll visit.” She said it to be polite, not because she genuinely thought it would happen. How could it? She wasn’t going to be living there next year.

“What did you wear?”

“For my wedding? We didn’t have much money, and my parents refused to pay for what they saw as a mistake, so I found something in a nearly new shop and told myself it was vintage. Talking of which, you must tell me how much you’ve spent on Rosie so that I can pay you back.”

“Not at all. This wedding is my gift to them. So, tell me, did you lose your baggage on purpose?”

“Excuse me?”

“On purpose. Lost baggage is a fabulous excuse for shopping, isn’t it?”

How was she supposed to answer that? Maggie decided that she might be lying about her marriage, but she wasn’t going to lie about anything else. “I don’t completely love shopping. I never find things I like, and I often find the process intimidating.”

“Then you’re going to be so happy you met me. Shopping is my superpower, and we have arrived at my favorite boutique.”

Maggie took one look at the outside and knew she wouldn’t be able to afford more than a pair of gloves. “I think this might be outside my budget.”