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She smiled at him, feeling a little guilty. Had she really allowed her feelings to show that much? Dad was always so quiet, one tended to think he didn't notice. 'All right, Dad. I'll go now. But do go up and make a start, won't you? You don't want to keep Isobel waiting at the Register Office.'

Isobel answered her knock at the door looking pale and slightly tearful. She seemed taken aback to see Katy standing outside. 'Oh—come in, dear.'

Katy looked at her with concern. 'Is anything wrong? Don't you feel well?'

To her dismay Isobel burst into tears. 'I'm sorry, dear,' she sniffed. 'With all there's been to do I haven't really thought about it but last night it all sort of came over me!'

Katy stared at her. 'You're not having second thoughts about Dad, are you?'

Isobel bit her lip, shaking her head hard. 'No— not about David. It's you! I feel I'm taking so much from you—your father, your home. I was so carried away with my own good luck, when I met David it all seemed so wonderful—too good to be true, almost. Even when I first met you I didn't give you much thought, you had your job and your own friends. But since you came back from Yorkshire I've seen another side of you—a side that made me wonder.'

Katy took her hand and pressed it. 'You're not to let thoughts like this spoil your big day,' she said firmly. 'Don't worry about me. I have a lot of work to get down to over the coming weeks. It wouldn't be possible for me to live at home anyway.'

Isobel looked at her, still not quite convinced. 'When I met that nice young doctor of yours I thought—but then when I got the letter I could see that it wasn't as I'd imagined—and when I think of the way I must have embarrassed you!' She bit her lip in anguish.

Katy swallowed hard. 'Letter—you had a letter—from Sean?'

'To say he didn't think he would be able to make the wedding—that he was taking a job up there in Yorkshire. Well—I knew from that that you and he couldn't be close. Either that or you'd quarrelled.'

Katy shook her head. 'Don't worry about that. It's all in the past now. Today we're all making a new start and you can't begin it with tears on your face. Here—let me help you get ready. You don't want to keep Dad waiting, do you?'

Isobel hugged her, smiling now. 'Bless you, Katy. We will have a good relationship, you and I. I'll never take your mother's place—I wouldn't be fool enough to try, but I would like to be your friend and to feel I was someone you could come to.' She laughed nervously as she hurried into the bedroom. 'My trouble is that I talk too much when I get nervous. I say silly things and put my foot in it, but you'll get used to me.'

When she was dressed in the pretty delphinium-blue dress and hat, Katy left her sipping a small glass of brandy for courage whilst she went across to change herself. She found her father pacing the landing and looking nervous for the first time. She hugged him reassuringly.

'Dad—you're a very lucky man,' she told him. 'Isobel looks beautiful. We've had a long talk and I think we understand each other a whole lot better now.'

He looked relieved. 'That's good news.' He looked at her. 'Hadn't you better start getting yourself ready? The cars will be here soon and you don't want to keep us waiting, do you?'

Katy stared at him for a moment, then burst into a peal of laughter. 'I seem to have heard those words somewhere else this morning!' she told him.

After the private ceremony at the Register Office a reception was being held at the Park View Hotel and Katy was surprised at the number of guests who arrived. The newly-weds looked happy and relaxed now that the ceremony was over. They had eyes only for each other and Katy tried to perform the duties normally carried out by the bride's mother— circulating among the guests to make sure that they all had something to eat and drink and that strangers were introduced to each other. The cake was cut and telegrams read. Toasts were drunk and speeches were made, after which the guests began to wander out through the open french windows on to the hotel lawn to stand chatting in groups.

Katy looked around her with a sigh. Soon it would all be over. Dad and Isobel would be leaving for Torquay and she would be faced with the prospect of a lonely weekend—just her and the pile of accumulated rubbish in the box-room. The air was warm and heavy as she wandered out on to the terrace and began to cross the lawn towards the car park, looking for a quiet place to cool down. Halfway, she felt a drop of rain on her cheek—then another and another. She darted for the shelter of a clump of trees but as she did so there was a brilliant flash of lightning followed by an earsplitting crash of thunder that brought a cry of alarm to her lips. She withdrew further under the-trees, knowing full well that it was the last place she should be sheltering in a thunderstorm. Why hadn't she dashed towards the hotel when she felt the rain starting? If she made a run for it now her beautiful new suit and hat would be ruined. Crossly she pulled off her hat and shook the raindrops from it, watching as the rain pattered down and the rest of the wedding guests fled indoors. She pushed a hand through her hair, wondering how long it would be before she could join them.

'You look like a marigold in a thunderstorm!'

She spun round with a squeak of surprise. 'Sean! What are you doing here?'

He grinned at her. 'Asking to be struck by lightning, like you! I
was
invited to the wedding you know.'

'I—I know—but—'

'Don't tell me I'm too late! Is it all over?'

'No—no—it isn't over—' She was staring at him, her heart beating so fast that she could hardly breathe. Here he was, standing close to her and looking down into her eyes with that familiar amused look she always found so devastating. Somehow, all she wanted to Say seemed to dry on her tongue.

'You know, I was wrong,' he said stepping closer. 'You're not a marigold any more Katy, and it isn't just the hair.' He put out one finger to catch a raindrop that was about to slide down her cheek. 'You're more like a tiger-lily.'

'I—thought you couldn't come,' she said in a whisper. 'I thought we'd said goodbye for the last time.'

He smiled gently. 'So did I. I told myself that it was for the best, that I could forget you—that I
should
forget you—but as you see, I couldn't stay away.' His hands were on her shoulders and she was acutely aware of his touch—of the warmth of his fingers through the thin material of her dress.

'Over these past weeks I've felt so many things for you, Katy—admiration, irritation,
exasperation
—but I finally had to admit that it all added up to one feeling in the end.' He pulled her close. 'I'm in love with you—that's what I'm really trying to say. In love with you—to stay.'

She opened her mouth to speak but he went on, 'I know I'm twelve years older than you and that you don't approve of age gaps—I even told myself that it was probably a father figure you were looking for and that you should be left alone to sort your mixed-up feelings out.' He smiled wryly, shaking his head. 'But none of it was any use. I'm just too damned selfish. I want you too much to care any longer. When I woke up this morning I knew it was my last chance, so I jumped into the car and here I am—at your mercy. Now you can tell me to get lost if you want to.'

She stared up at him incredulously, shaking her head. 'Oh, Sean—I don't understand half of what you're saying—but I am glad you're here.' She wound her arms round his neck and pressed her face against his shoulder. 'I tried not to fall in love with you too—but not for the reasons you think. If you only knew how much it hurt to say goodbye.'

He lifted her chin with one finger and kissed her. 'There isn't a thing you can tell me about that. But I warn you—you're going to be seeing quite a lot of me in the future. I don't intend to let you out of my sight again in a hurry!'

'But your new job?' She looked up at him. 'And I'm starting back at St Anne's again on Monday.'

'So am I!' He grinned. 'I took myself off the shortlist for the new job. Until a certain staff nurse can come with me I'm not moving. And now, if you wouldn't mind shutting up for five minutes, I'd rather like to kiss you properly!'

He crushed her close and she gave herself up to the heady delight of his kisses till her head reeled, she pushed him gently away, laughing breathlessly.

'Sean—we're forgetting about the wedding! Dad and Isobel will be leaving soon and you haven't seen them! They'll be wondering where on earth I've got to.'

He caught her hand and turned it over, kissing the palm. 'In just a moment. I haven't said what I drove all these miles to say yet. Will you marry me, Katy?'

She looked at him for a long moment, her eyes misty. 'Oh, Sean!'

He bit the tip of her little finger. 'Well—come on—are you going to put me out of my misery? Is it yes or no?'

'It's yes, of course!' She stood on tiptoe to kiss him, her heart almost bursting with happiness. To think that when I woke up this morning—' But the rest of her words were lost as his lips found hers again in a kiss that told her all she ever dreamed of knowing about what he felt for her.

It was some time before they moved again. Under the dripping branches it was as though they hung together in space, oblivious to the dying storm and the rest of the world around them. At last, voices from the car park brought them back to reality.

'Dad and Isobel must be leaving for their honeymoon!' Katy said, catching at Sean's hand. 'Come on, we'd better run or we'll miss them!'

The rain had stopped and as they ran across the lawn to the car park they were just in time to see David and Isobel Lang getting into their car. Isobel pointed.

'Here she is—here's Katy!'

'Look who arrived—almost too late,' Katy said breathlessly.

'Congratulations!' Sean shook hands with them both. 'I'm glad I was at least in time to see you before you left.' He cleared his throat. 'I don't know if this is an appropriate moment or not, but I'd like to ask for permission to marry your daughter, Mr Lang.'

Later, as they watched the car out of sight, Katy laughed. 'Dad's face! I'm sure that was the last piece of news he expected today.' She slipped her arm happily through Sean's.

He looked down at her. 'What were you planning to do with this weekend?' he asked.

She smiled ruefully. 'Clear out the box-room, believe it or not! Sounds madly exciting, doesn't it?'

He bent to kiss her, teasing her with his eyes. 'I'd say it had distinct possibilities. Is the box-room big enough for two?'

She nodded, laughing. 'A tight squeeze, I'd say.'

'Then I suggest we make a start as soon as possible,' he said. 'I've a feeling that it's going to take us quite a long time!'