From The Manse Window

“It’s your dress that will look like rags, if you roll around on the floor.” Sophie’s voice was stern.

“And don’t let that dog get his germs all over you!”

The little girl stood up and tried to smooth the creases out of her dress.

Taylor ran around the sofa with Buddy after him.

“I’d hate to be a girl! Come on, Buddy – let’s go out in the garden!”

With that, they chased out of the back door.

Elaine watched as Sophie’s hand rested on her daughter’s shoulder for a moment before giving her a gentle push.

“You’ve been beautiful and sensible all day, sweetheart. Never mind your dress – have some fun before we go home.”

Jasmine didn’t need telling twice.

“I’ll go and see if I can help Heather.

“After all, she wasn’t expecting to be packing her bags for tonight, when she’s only just moved her things over from the Hall,” Elaine said, sharing a smile with her daughter-in-law.

“Good idea.” Sophie looked out of the front window.

“Nice to see the men are taking good care of the car.”

All three women laughed. Elaine felt quite sure that in a couple of days’ time, both her sons would struggle to remember what anybody wore to the wedding, but the daffodilyellow classic MG would be fixed in their minds for ever.

It had been Toby’s surprise for Heather – he’d borrowed it to take her out to dinner on the evening of their wedding.

As soon as they’d found out about Cheryl’s gift, Toby had checked whether they could use it as their going-away car and keep it for the whole weekend.

“Thank goodness nobody’s had the chance to decorate it with anything inappropriate.” Sophie’s mother’s tone was disapproving.

“Oh, no! I hadn’t thought of that, Mum.” Sophie shuddered.

“Perhaps we ought to get Darren and Dad out of harm’s way, Mum, in case they hatch a quick plan.”

She turned to Elaine, who was heading for the stairs.

“I’ll grab the kids and we’ll get going. It’s been such a beautiful day, Elaine.

“If you feel like it, perhaps you could come over to our house for Sunday lunch tomorrow.” Sophie gave her mother-inlaw a quick hug.

“Oh, I’m sure you don’t want me hanging around when you’ve got your own family and so much to do.” Elaine’s throat was tight.

“Nonsense. There’ll be plenty to go round and we’d love to have you.

“I was rather hoping you might be prepared to make the custard to go on the pudding – I have it from a reliable source that no custard in the world is quite as good as yours.” Sophie chuckled.

A short while later, Elaine stood waving goodbye to her younger son and his new wife as they set off to spend their first couple of days alone together as a married couple.

Closing the front door, she looked down at Buddy.

“After all the ups and downs, I think that went very well.” She bent down and ruffled the fur on the top of his head.

“And now, it’s just you and me, my friend.”

Buddy wagged his tail at her.

“Oh, I know he’ll be back in a couple of days, but he’ll be Heather’s husband then.”

She picked up a photograph from the mantelpiece.

It was her favourite one of Darren and Toby when they were little.

As they’d stood together in the church today, they hadn’t looked much different.

They’d always be her boys.

With Sophie and Heather as part of her family, too, she truly was the happiest mother-of-the-groom in the world.

The End.