Happy Ever After (2 page)

“Just let go, you silly old fool!” called Mrs Meadowsweet. “Sally, you tell your father to stop – he's going to have one of his bad turns.”

Sally Meadowsweet didn't look at all worried; there was no way she could have said anything to her father – she was laughing so much she couldn't get a single word out!

“Quick! Someone do something!” wailed Mrs Meadowsweet. “This is not good for a man of his age!”

But just then, the farmer let go of the bull and tumbled off onto the hay below in a crumpled heap.

“I told you I could do two minutes, didn't I?” he chuckled, exhausted. “Now, who's going to help an old man up?”

Sally's boyfriend, Sol, who was a doctor in Strawberry Corner, rushed over to help the farmer up and check that he was OK.

“I think he'll live, but he'll need a glass of punch to revive him!” Sol announced to the guests, and a big cheer went up.

“Now, he's the sort of doctor we need round here,” said Farmer Meadowsweet merrily.

Poppy's dad was next up on the bucking bronco. He whispered to Poppy that he was going to better Farmer Meadowsweet's record by staying on for a full three minutes.

Poppy watched nervously as her dad clung onto the bull and was very proud indeed when he broke the record. He could hardly walk afterwards but luckily Mum didn't notice as she was busy throwing hoops onto a cone, trying to win teddies for the twins. Poppy knew what
Mum
would have said if she had seen Dad hobbling around: “Told you so!”

“Well, I think I deserve some of that punch now – don't tell your mother, Poppy!” Dad smiled. “I'll see you girls later.”

Poppy, Honey, Mimosa and Sweetpea decided that it was time to try some line dancing so they headed over to the big barn. The steps were being called out by Len, the lead singer of The Cattlemen. All the villagers were having a wonderful time stepping to the beat, with calls
of
“Yee-haa!” every now and then! The girls joined in immediately and soon got the hang of it.

After a while Mum came over to say that it was time to go home, but just then Poppy noticed Farmer Meadowsweet climbing up onto the hay-bale stage and walking over to the microphone.

“Please can we stay, Mum – just to hear what he's going to say?” she begged.

“Someone's got to get back for the twins
but
I suppose it doesn't need to be all of us. I'll go and you and Dad can stay,” agreed Mum.

“Thank you, Mum!”

Poppy and Dad kissed Mum goodbye and turned back to look at the stage.

“It is wonderful to see so many of you here tonight,” began the farmer. “This barn dance is just our way of saying thank you to everyone for buying local produce and keeping us in business! Well, that is one of the reasons for the party. The other reason – and the most important one, I think – is to share some very special news with you. My beautiful daughter Sally is getting married to Sol Melville. Mrs Meadowsweet and I cannot wait for him to officially be part of the family – the son we never had. I mean, Dr Sol
Meadowsweet
sounds good, doesn't it?” he joked.

There was a huge cheer and lots of laughing and shouts of “Congratulations!” and “About time too, Sal!”

Poppy was thrilled at the news – she simply adored weddings.

Chapter Two

THE NEXT DAY,
desperate to hear all about Sally's wedding plans, Poppy and Honey headed over to the Lavender Valley Garden Centre. When they arrived they found Sally and Sol sitting on a bench in the lavender garden. They were chatting happily about the party the previous night and discussing plans for their wedding, such as where to exchange their vows and which date to pick.

“Hello, girls!” called Sally. “What brings you here?”

“We wanted to see your ring!” replied Poppy. “Please will you show us?”

They hadn't managed to get a look the night before – Sally had been surrounded by people after the announcement.

Sally held out her left hand proudly.

“Wow!” gasped Honey.

“It's so sparkly!” said Poppy. “I love it!”

“Me too,” laughed Sally.

“When's the wedding going to be?” asked Honey breathlessly.

“Well, we think we've decided on a date, don't we, darling?” said Sol.

“Yes, we certainly have. It'll be in two months' time, Honey, at the end of the summer,” Sally told them. “We can't wait!”

“And where will it be?” asked Honey.

“We're not sure yet,” replied Sally.

“Do you have a theme?” Poppy wondered.

“Um, gosh, we haven't really thought about that sort of thing. I think you girls might know more about planning a wedding that we do!” said Sally, sounding a little flustered. “There certainly seems to be a lot to think about, and
not
much time. Oh dear, I do hope everything will run smoothly.”

“Don't you worry, my darling,” said Sol, putting his arm around his fiancée. “I just know that our day will be wonderful, whatever happens.”

Sally smiled back at him.

Just then Farmer and Mrs Meadowsweet arrived on their tractor. They were delivering some fertilizer for Sally's flowers and had also come to talk about wedding plans.

“Can you believe that man – making me come through the village in my nice frock on that stinking muck machine?” complained Mrs Meadowsweet.

“This is a very fine machine, I'll have you know!” replied Farmer Meadowsweet indignantly. “And when did you get so la-di-dah?”

“Oh dear, is this what I've got to look forward to when we're married?” whispered Sol to Sally. “They do say we all get more and more like our parents as we get older!”

“Don't be mean,” giggled Sally, giving him a playful slap. “We'll never be like that, I promise.”

“I'm not deaf, you know,” said Mrs Meadowsweet. “Honestly, we give you a tip-top barn dance and this is the way you talk about us! Now, how about telling us where you've got to with the wedding plans.”

“We have to go home now or we'll be late for lunch,” Poppy said to Sally. “Thank you for showing us your ring. We would really like to help with wedding stuff – if you want us to, that is. Me and Honey are very good at organizing and making things, aren't we?”

Honey nodded her agreement.

“Oh, thank you, girls. You are sweet,” said Sally.

“Aren't weddings just so cool, Honey?” sighed Poppy as they walked back towards their homes. “I think Sally and Sol are just like a fairytale prince and princess.”

“Yeah, they are. I can't wait to see them on their wedding day,” agreed Honey. “But all that
kissing
and cuddling is a bit gross. When my mum and dad get all smoochy like that, I get really embarrassed, don't you?”

“I suppose so,” replied Poppy. “Although actually my mum and dad don't really do that stuff – not any more anyway.”

She said goodbye to Honey and walked up the garden path to her front door. She arrived in the kitchen to find Dad heating up soup for lunch. Mum was on the phone, taking a hat order for Sally's wedding.

“Hello, darling,” said Dad. “Almost time for lunch.”

While Poppy was waiting, she decided to have a look at Mum and Dad's wedding album. She hadn't looked at it for ages, and all the wedding chat had reminded her how much she loved their photos. She went into the sitting room and opened the cupboard where Mum kept all the family photographs in special albums. Her parents' wedding album had a lovely satin cover and was tied with pretty
ribbons
. Poppy flipped the album open. She couldn't take her eyes off the beautiful shots of Mum and Dad. They looked so young and happy. In every picture they were laughing or cuddling or smiling at each other, very much like Sally and Sol were behaving at the moment. Mum's dress was amazing, all lacy and delicate, and she wore a pretty floral headdress too. Dad was wearing a dark suit, crisp white shirt and lilac tie and he looked very handsome – he had a lot more hair then!

Mum hardly ever put on dresses or looked glamorous nowadays. Ever since the twins had been born she wore boring, sensible clothes and no make-up. She said it was because they were forever spilling things on her – and anyway, she had no time to think about herself any more.

Just then Poppy noticed the date on the album.

Wow! It will be their tenth anniversary two weeks before Sally's wedding! That's a LONG time!
she thought.

Poppy was absolutely fascinated by the wedding pictures. It was lovely to see Granny Mellow looking so pretty, although it made Poppy a bit sad to think that she had never known her mum's mum.

And Saffron was such a beautiful bridesmaid, her long copper hair decorated with fresh garden flowers. Poppy found it amazing and weird to imagine her parents' life before she was born – looking at their wedding photos always made her think about it though.

“Lunch is ready,” called Dad, interrupting Poppy's thoughts.

She put away the album and went to wash her hands.