Wedding Season

How can other people’s weddings possibly heal a broken heart…?

- Cilla Moss

JUNE

Gemma was sunbathing in her aunt’s garden when Jamie, the intern from the Register Office, pulled up on his bicycle calling for Rebecca.

“Rebecca! You’re wanted!” Aunt Rebecca came out of her tiny

outdoor workshop, wearing her apron, with her hands covered in ceramic paints.

“On my way!” She beamed at Gemma excitedly. “My first call of the season.”

Before Jamie could speed off again, Rebecca called after him, “Have you been to fetch Aubrey too?”

“No, because Aubrey answers his phone,” Jamie said meaningfully.

“Aubrey from the farm?” Gemma sat up. “Is he your partner now?”

“Yes,” Rebecca said, looking at Gemma shrewdly. “Why?”

Gemma shrugged. “I’d have thought he had better things to do than witnessing weddings for strangers.”

“Being a youngster, you mean?” Gemma grinned. Rebecca took in the

pile of magazines beside her niece and judged that she had no intention of doing anything productive that afternoon.

“Age, clearly, is no indication of industriousness,” she said wryly. “But actually I do have better things to do this afternoon. So I tell you what – you can go in my place.”

“What?” Gemma exclaimed. “But you love weddings.”

“Yes, but I need to finish painting my pots. And you, my dear, need to pull your weight if you’re going to be staying here all summer.”

Gemma didn’t have a response to that. Her aunt was being very kind in letting her stay in return for occasionally looking after her online store or delivering her pots and vases to some of the shops in town.