Bride To Be

A ROMANTIC SHORT STORY BY TERESA ASHBY

Everyone wanted Edith to toss her bouquet in their direction…

Edith sat at her dressing table and smiled calmly at her reflection.

She was ready. She’d been ready for some time.

Her mum kept telling her to slow down, but how could she not be eager?

She was about to marry the love of her life.

A gentle breeze ruffled the curtains and the church bells began to ring for her and Tom.

She stood up and took a deep breath just as there was a tap on the door.

Her sister came in.

“You look so beautiful, Edith,” Alice told her.

Tears were shimmering in her eyes as she came forward for a careful hug.

“Can I ask something?”

“Of course,” Edith replied.

“When you throw the bouquet, will you make sure I get it?”

“Of course I will.” Edith smiled. “But I’m sure your turn will come soon. Dylan is mad about you. Stand behind me to the left and I’ll try to aim it at you.”

“Thanks,” Alice said. “Don’t tell anyone I asked, will you?”

In a flurry of smiles, she was gone.

No sooner had the door closed than Edith’s best friend, Julia, came in.

“We’re off now,” she said. “You look amazing. You’re going to blow Tom’s socks off.”

“I hope not.” Edith laughed. “It’ll spoil the photos if he has bare feet.”

Julia giggled.

“I’ll see you at church.” She paused. “When you throw the bouquet, could you send it in my direction?”

“Yes,” Edith agreed. “I’ll throw it back over my head. Stand right behind me.”

“I will,” Julia replied. “Thank you!”

Edit bit her lip. This was going to be awkward.

How could she choose between her sister and her best friend?

She looked out of the window at the church tower, its spire reaching up into a flawless blue sky.

Down below, the bridesmaids were climbing into the limousine that would take them to church.

The little ones waved and jumped up and down with excitement and she blew them a kiss.

Her little niece had already told her she looked like a princess.

Did princesses throw their bouquets to a prearranged recipient or did they let the magic happen?

The bedroom door opened and Edith’s mum came in.

“It’s just you and me, love,” Molly said. “Are you ready? Would you like a quick glass of prosecco to steady your nerves?”

“I’m not nervous, Mum,” Edith said, holding out her hands to demonstrate they weren’t shaking.

She’d been a nervous wreck up to this point, but now a sense of calm had descended.

The birds were singing, the sun was shining and so far everything had gone to plan.

Edith’s dad had passed away when she was a child.

Asking her mum to give her away had seemed like the obvious thing to do.

“Mum, are you OK? You’re not worried, are you?”

“No,” Molly replied, but her anxious eyes told a different story.

“What is it?”

“It should have been your dad doing this.” Molly sniffed. “He always said one day he’d walk you down the aisle and he’d be the proudest dad ever.”

Edith grasped her hand.

“Dad would be so proud of you. All these years you’ve managed alone, and you’ve never once complained.”

“I’ve had nothing to complain about,” Molly said with a rueful smile. “I’ve been lucky to have two beautiful daughters.

“Just because I’ve been seeing Andrew, it doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten your dad or that I’ll ever stop loving him,” Molly added.

Andrew was the only man Molly had dated since her husband died.

Edith and Alice both adored him, and he made their mother happy.

He was at the church already, making sure things were running smoothly.

“Did you stop loving me when Alice was born?” Edith asked.

“What? Of course I didn’t!”

“Did you love me any less?”

“No,” Molly said, then smiled.

“I see what you’re trying to do. You’re right. Our hearts have an inexhaustible supply of love, don’t they?”

“Exactly.” Edith smiled. “As far as I’m concerned, Andrew is part of this family.”

“I’m glad you said that,” Molly replied. “I was going to ask if you could throw your bouquet my way. It sounds silly, doesn’t it?”

“Stand behind me and to the right,” Edith told her.

Molly hugged her.

“Thank you. It feels like cheating.”

“The flowers will find the person they’re meant for,” Edith assured her.

Edith had made the bouquet and posies herself with flowers from her mum’s garden.

There were vibrant orange marigolds and peachy dahlias, yellow freesias and blue delphiniums, along with flowers she didn’t know the names of.

Ten minutes after leaving the house, as Edith walked down the aisle holding her mother’s arm, she knew the fragrance of flowers would always remind her of this day, the happiest of her life.

She’d never forget the way Tom’s face lit up as he turned to watch her approach, or the words he whispered that warmed her heart as he took her hand.

“Tom looks like a prince!” Edith’s little niece piped up, and everyone laughed.

It was a wonderful moment, another memory to be added.

Edith forgot about throwing the bouquet and thought only of her future with the man she loved.

Afterwards they spilled out of the church into the sunshine for photographs before heading to the reception.

The rest of the day was a blur of dancing, cake-cutting and speeches, until it was time for them to leave for their honeymoon.

“Edith, the bouquet,” Alice whispered as she handed the flowers to her sister.

“I forgot,” Edith said, and as she looked round she saw her mum giving her a wink and Julia sharing a smile.

She spotted a hopeful-looking cousin and a friend who was flexing her fingers.

Edith turned round, heart hammering, and could hear whispering and rustling behind her as they took up their positions.

She hadn’t thought about this all day, but in the background her sub-conscious had been at work.

Her bouquet was tied with a white ribbon and her fingers moved quickly.

As she threw the flowers backwards, the ribbon floated to the ground and the flowers rained down on everyone.

When she turned round, Molly was clutching a handful of marigolds.

Julia had caught a single delphinium, while Alice held freesias to her face.

Even the best man found himself clutching a dahlia, looking bemused, as he smiled at his girlfriend.

Andrew smiled as he held a rose.

As Edith and Tom ran to their car, they were followed by laughter and a shower of confetti.

The magic was only just beginning.

Enjoy exclusive short stories every week inside the pages of “The People’s Friend”. On sale every Wednesday.