Free A Vintage Wedding by Katie Fforde Page B

said April, giving Beth a frisson of anxiety about ponies. ‘But Dad can do that. There’s a lovely one in the barn. Needs a bit of cleaning up but Charlie can drive me.’
    ‘Great,’ said Beth, crossing ‘transport’ off her list. Then she had a thought. ‘Do you think he’d be happy for us to hire it for other weddings?’
    April shrugged. ‘Probably. If we’ve got to clean it for mine we might as well use it. We’ve got the perfect pony, and Charlie’s very good at driving.’
    ‘What about if it rains? It will be February, after all.’
    April made a face. ‘It’ll have to be Dad’s Range Rover.’
    ‘Well, that sounds smart and we can put ribbon on it.’
    ‘It’s not smart,’ said April, giggling, ‘but we could put ribbon on it.’
    ‘That’s another expense we don’t need then. Now what sort of food do you want?’ Catering was one of the things they hadn’t properly worked out. They’d agreed they needed to offer it as it was such a big part of the wedding, but neither Lindy nor Rachel had declared a passion for making canapés, and they hadn’t yet found another solution.
    ‘We fancy a proper meal but maybe people could serve themselves? A sit-down do would be very expensive, wouldn’t it? Of course we would sit down to eat it. We wouldn’t expect them to stand around, chomping away.’
    ‘What sort of food? Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding? Or something a bit easier to serve?’
    Beth then realised she had no idea what the kitchen arrangements were like at the hall and that they’d have to hire in hotplates and things. She made a note. ‘If you went for the easier option, with people serving themselves, it would certainly save on waiting costs and there are lots of women locally who produce great food. I went to an event at the hall – which will look amazing by the way – and the nibbles were excellent. We just need to find out who did them.’
    ‘Dad has lots of goodwill locally – because he’s a widower, I suppose – so I’m sure we could find people to make food. We’d pay for the ingredients, of course, although we can provide a ham. And my auntie wants to make the cake.’
    ‘This wedding will turn out very reasonable!’ said Beth, pleased. ‘I wonder if your auntie might like to make cakes for other clients?’
    ‘I’ll have to ask her. I’m not sure. But there are always people willing to make a cake. At Mum’s funeral – I was ten – I remember tables full of cakes.’
    ‘Does your auntie do icing?’
    April shrugged. ‘Not sure.’
    Beth made a note. Cake-decorating, like catering, was fairly important.
    Just then Charlie appeared. He’d obviously come in through the back door. ‘Any soup on?’
    ‘No, sorry,’ said April, getting up. ‘You did the lambs for me; I’ll make lunch. You talk to Beth.’
    Charlie joined Beth at the table. ‘So, tell me all about yourself. You’re new to the area, aren’t you? I certainly haven’t seen you around.’
    ‘I am new,’ Beth agreed.
    ‘So, what brought you here? Not the amazing nightlife.’
    ‘Just luck really. I’ve been lent a house – a holiday let – to live in for the winter. But I love it here. It’s really pretty and I’m meeting great new people.’
    ‘I’m meeting great new people too!’ said Charlie, twinkling. ‘Or maybe just one person.’
    ‘Charlie!’ said April, laughing. ‘Leave her alone. She doesn’t want to be hit on.’
    ‘No, I’m working,’ said Beth but she smiled, to indicate that she actually didn’t mind at all.
    ‘So, what are you working at, exactly? To me, if it doesn’t involve tractors or livestock, it’s just having fun.’
    Beth laughed lightly. ‘I know farming is important but so are other things. We – two friends and I – are just in the process of setting up a business and April is our first client.’
    ‘Beth and her colleagues are helping me with the wedding,’ said April. ‘Sarah’s daughter Lindy is one of them.’
    ‘So what’s