I had several hours to simply relax at the cottage. I’d already planned on going for a walk before taking a leisurely bath and simply spending time avoiding my family. As I hung my dresses and arranged my other clothes on hangers and in drawers, again I heard my mother’s shrill voice.
“No, it is not good enough. The bridal party are all meant to be in the main house in suites, and only minor guests are staying in the cottages. Miss, I need to see your manager.”
“Danielle, it’s fine, honestly. I’m happy out here. The cottage has a lovely view of the vineyard, and it’s not a long walk back to the main house. Please don’t make a fuss for me.”
“It’s not good enough. Well, the rehearsal is at five, followed by drinks, then dinner.”
“Thanks, Danielle, and thanks, Barbara. This cottage is honestly perfect for me. I’m going to have a rest.”
“Yes, well, Scott, Debbie is looking forward to you meeting Christine and thinks the two of you will hit it off, so you might end up in a suite after all!”
Great, so now my neighbour was the best man. Well at least he might hook up with Christine who doesn’t look great in mauve, and I would be left out here with the second-rate accommodation. Slipping on my runners I headed out for a walk, making sure I would not pass Scott’s cottage.
The vines were sprouting new growth on the sunny spring afternoon. Someone was tending to one stretch of them in between throwing a ball for an enthusiastic border collie.
“Rufus! Rufus. Come back here. Don’t annoy the pretty lady. So sorry, Miss.”
Rufus had dropped his ball at my feet, and I picked up the slobbery mess and threw it as far as I could. “It’s fine. He’s a gorgeous puppy. It’s okay for me to walk around here?”
“Not a problem, Miss. You’re a guest for the wedding?”
Nodding, as again I threw the ball for Rufus, the vigneron explained that if I kept walking, I would come across a new garden area that wasn’t yet open to the public but had a rose garden in bloom. “It’s a beautiful spot. My better-half and me have been taking picnics out to that spot for almost thirty years. It’s the peak of the area, and you can see vineyards for miles.”
I kept on with my walk, keen to discover this spot. It was even more stunning than had been described to me. The scent from the roses was captivating. A solid timber bench under a pergola that one day would have roses draped all over it gave me an opportunity to sit and enjoy the vista.
I could imagine sitting out here with a picnic in summer, waiting for the sun to set and paint its hues across the sky. It was getting late, and I figured I had best be heading back in order to shower before the blasted dinner. I figured I’d make my way out here again in the morning and, this time, bring my phone to try and take some photos, even though I doubted my photography would do the place justice.
Focussing on the inner peace and calm I felt in this space, I did some relaxation exercises and hoped I would be able to hold onto this stillness when it came to the dinner.
~*~*~*~*~
Scott
I’d forgotten how similar my mother and Danielle de Duchy could be. Danielle was furious that there had been a mix-up with the accommodation, and I would be in a cottage in the vineyard rather than in the main house with the rest of the wedding party.
After her hints that the bridesmaid was keen to meet me and knowing what that secretly meant, I was thrilled to be away from the rest of the party. I’d taken up photography when I moved to London and loved nothing more than capturing shots of nature. The cottages fitted the environment of the vineyard perfectly. They were clumped in pairs away from the main house, and although an obviously recent addition, they exuded the old-world charm of the existing architecture.
I knew this was no mean feat and decided to talk to the owners about who had designed them. Despite preferring to photograph nature, I couldn’t help but take shots of the cottage interior and exterior. Inside was an open-plan room with a large bed in a corner with a bathtub big enough for at least two people separating the sleeping area from the living area. Comfy couches in a deep brown leather looked through floor-to-ceiling windows that showed off the vineyard in all its glory. A modern kitchenette blended in seamlessly.
Outside I could appreciate the tint on the windows that gave great privacy to those inside. The stone and timberwork blended seamlessly to an arbour that linked the two cottages. A wisteria vine had started growing up and over but was not yet established.
An older man rode past on a quadbike with a border collie on the back, its tongue hanging out the side of its mouth, catching the breeze. Despite my reluctance to be part of the wedding, I was glad I had a chance to visit this place as it was truly spectacular.
Although the bathtub looked inviting, I needed to get ready for the damn rehearsal, so I took a shower instead. Soaping myself, I thought about how I would be seeing my parents the following day and hoped I would be too busy with wedding party things to be able to spend too much time with them. Perhaps Christine was a nice enough woman and would be able to distract me a little.
I was locking the cottage door on my way to the rehearsal when my neighbour arrived back at her cottage.
“Oh, my gosh! It’s you!” I exclaimed as I took in the woman from the café at lunchtime.
“Hi, Scott.” She attempted to enter her cottage but was having trouble with the key, and it was clear she was not keen on conversation. But wait, how did she know who I was?
“Here, let me.” I offered, stepping over onto her verandah.
“I’m capable of opening a fucking door, thanks. You don’t recognise me, do you?”
Shit. Was this someone I’d hooked up with? Was it someone I’d done business with? I had no idea, but she obviously knew me.
“I mean, I recognise you from lunch today. Your smile was captivating as you were engrossed in your phone. Are you a friend of the de Duchy’s?” Going to an all-boys school meant she wasn’t a former classmate.
“Oh fuck,” she laughed, “You really don’t recognise me!”
She had opened her door and simply went inside and shut it behind her.
I walked towards the wedding chapel for the rehearsal playing the interaction with this mystery woman over and over in my head. Whoever she was, she knew me and remembered me as the dickhead teenager I’d been. I hoped I hadn’t hurt her in the past and was determined to seek her out and set the record straight at some stage.
“Scotty!” Daniel had a beer hanging from his hand at the entrance to the chapel. “This is Christine, Debbie’s mate. She’s really keen to get to know you, if you know what I mean!”
Christine was a clone of Debbie. Long straight blonde hair, fake tan, puffy lips from too much filler, fake eyelashes, and stiletto heels that were so high I wondered how she could walk in them.
“Dan’s told me all about you, and I hear you can be a very naughty boy.” Christine ran a pointy talon down my cheek after she’d kissed it.
Fortunately, the celebrant was ready to begin the rehearsal. It took forever for the women to work out how to walk down the aisle.