“Well, I suspect the mums will get more than enough for the babies,” Jenny said as she sat on her bed, “What about something for Sarah?”
“Got an idea?”
“Maybe – let’s meet up after school on Monday and get something on the way home.”
“Sounds good to me – where’s Cassie anyway?”
“Downstairs with Pippa, Claire and Hazel, I think they’re working on a project.”
“Really? I didn’t hear much from them when I came in.”
“Actually, now that you come to mention it…” We both went downstairs and into the front room, to see the four of them lined up in front of the television, sitting with their legs in the lotus position. Their legs were tied together where they crossed, and a rope ran from their ankles to their chest, where a second rope was tied round their arms.
Walking behind them, I saw their hands were behind their back, tied parallel to each other as they watched the film of The Iron Giant.
“They wanted time to appreciate the film in silence,” Jenny’s mum said as she came in, drying her hands on a towel. Walking back round, I saw now the clear tape over their lips, and the way their cheeks were puffed out.
“You four all right,” I said, and they all nodded before going back to watch the film.
“Drink?”
I nodded and followed Jenny and her mum into the kitchen, where the twins were sat in their high chairs, having their tea. David was sucking on a slice of carrot, while June was chewing away at a brown bread sandwich finger.
“You’re getting big as well, aren’t you,” I said as I tickled them under the chin.
June giggled while David grabbed my finger and shook it.
“So, ready for the fun tomorrow?”
“I think so – at least it will be a quiet wedding this time,” I said with a smile on my face.
It was a bright and clear Sunday morning as we arrived at the front entrance to the Rochester Hotel. “Well, here we are,” Dad said as we all got out, me in a pale cream jacket and skirt with a white blouse, Mum in a grey silk dress and dad in a suit, shirt and tie. Andy had on a little sailor suit, as I carried him into the hotel reception.
“Good morning,” Dad said to the lady behind the desk, “the Craig wedding.”
“The Moray suite,” the lady said, “to the right, and on the left.”
“Thank you,” Dad said as we walked down, Mum carrying a present wrapped in gold and white paper. As we entered the room, we were greeted by Jenny, who was wearing a blue dress with elbow length sleeves and a skirt that came to just below her knees, a white belt and gloves, and black heels with dark tights.
“Hey,” she said, “presents can be left on the table over there, and the drinks are at the bar.”
“Thanks,” I said as Mum placed the present on the table, and we walked over to where Colin was standing with his parents.
“She looks great, doesn’t she,” Colin whispered as I stood next to him.
“I’m sure she always looks great to you,” I said with a smile as Uncle Alexander came in with Bobby and Suzie. Both he and Bobby were also wearing suits, while Suzie was wearing a short sleeved blue dress with a white sash round her waist.
“Simon,” Uncle Alexander said as he joined us, “nice quiet affair eh?”
“I think so,” Dad said as he looked round. “Who are most of these people?”
“From Cassie and Jo’s previous work, I imagine,” Uncle Alexander said as we looked at the groups of people gathered round. One in particular caught my eye – a tall grey haired man who stood wearing a grey suit, blue shirt and striped tie.
“Is it just me,” I said to Dad, “or does he look familiar?”
“Who,” Dad said, as Grandmother and Grandfather came in. The tall grey haired man came forward and stood ramrod straight, as he said “Captain Holderness!”
“Colonel Grant,” Grandfather said as he stood as straight, and then they saluted each other before embracing. “God, how long has it been Donald?”
“Too long,” the man said as he hugged Lucinda. “How have you both been?”
“Fine,” Grandmother said, “but we were sorry to hear about Betty.”
“Yes – that was painful,” the man said as he looked round. “Alexander – how are you?”
“Not bad, thank you Sir,” Uncle Alexander said as he shook his hand. “This is Anne’s husband Simon and his daughter Alicia. Simon, this is Donald Grant.”
“THE Donald Grant? An honour,” Simon said as he shook his hand. “Alicia, Mister Grant worked with your grandparents when they had – a different job.”
“Mister Grant – I don’t think I can get used to that. So you know Cassandra and Joanne?”
“They’re friends of the family,” Dad said quietly, but how do you…”
“Donny Grant, you old rascal!”
“Miranda!” Mister Grant turned and embraced Jenny’s grandmother, who was wearing a green coat dress, hat and shoes, “How are you?”
“The better for seeing you – thank you for coming. I wasn’t sure if you would make it.”
“What, and miss two of the finest officers I ever commanded pledging their troth? Of course I would not miss this – and I see many of their colleagues have come as well.”
“Indeed – I’m glad – for them especially. Excuse me – I’ll see you later.” Miranda said as she went to join Grandmother and Grandfather. Grandmother as wearing a cream coloured dress with a matching jacket.
Jenny’s parents then came in, as did their Aunt Jessie, along with Mister and Mrs Williamson. I smiled at them as Mary came over with Cathy.
“Well, another wedding,” Mary said with a smile as I saw Eddie with Angela.
“Oh yes,” I said as Sarah and Brian came in. Sarah wore a pink smock over grey trousers, while Brian like the others was in a suit, shirt and tie. They stopped and talked to the Craigs and the Williamsons, smiling as they did so.
“Ladies and Gentlemen!!”
We all turned to see Jenny standing at a set of double doors.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats.”
“Shall we,” Dad said as he took Mum’s arm and we walked in. As we did so, Cassie and Patty were standing inside, wearing the same dress as Jenny as they showed us to our seats.
Once we had sat down, the music started to play – a selection of what I believe Martin would call “Cool Jazz.”
“It is cool, isn’t it?”
I almost jumped out of my seat before I turned round and saw Martin sitting behind me with his parents.
“Sorry – couldn’t resist,” Martin said before he gave me a little kiss. As a door to the side opened, I saw Cassie and Connie Craig come out and into the room, standing in front of the white cloth draped table. Cassie was wearing a dark trouser suit and white blouse, with black ankle boots, while Connie wore a white long skirt with a blouse over it.
She smiled at all of us as the registrar came in and stood in front of the desk, her assistant to one side. “Will you please stand,” she said, and as we did so the music stopped, and the Louis Armstrong version of Here Comes The Bride played as the doors opened, and Jo came into the room, accompanied by Cassie and Jenny. She was wearing a white Edwardian style dress, with a high collar and a long skirt that flowed in layers down to the ground, and she held a posy of flowers in her hands.
She stood at the front, Patty coming down to join the other two, as the registrar stood in front of them. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to see the joining of these two people in the state of matrimony. If there are any present who know of…”
The ceremony was very similar to a church one, but without the smells and bells, as Bobby is apt to put it. At any rate, within twenty minutes, I was wiping my tears as the registrar said “Therefore, by the power invested in me, I declare that you are now legally married. You may kiss your wife.”
“Now that is something I never thought I would hear,” Mum whispered as Jo and Cassie kissed each other, to the sound of

and clapping. They then turned and smiled at everyone as we sat back down.
“If you will both step this way, along with the witnesses?”
They walked over, joined by Brian as the photographer took pictures of them as they signed the register, witnessed by Connie Craig and Brian Holderness-Carter.
“I do so love a good wedding,” Mum whispered as we looked on, and waited for the legal part of the ceremony to finish. Once everything has been signed, we stood and clapped as Jo and Cassie left, accompanied by Brian and Connie, and then the three girls.
“Right,” Martin said as he put his hand on my arm, “would you care to go for a walk before the wedding dinner?”
“I’d like that,” I said as I went outside with him, while the rest of the guests moved out and stood in small groups.
“Nice day for it anyway,” Martin said as we walked round the grounds of the hotel.
“Yeah – it’s funny, being at a wedding and not having a part to play in it.”
“It’s good though – I get so nervous when I have to perform that it’s nice just to relax.”
“You? Nervous? When?”
“The time Bobby got me in the attic with you?”
I smiled at the memory of that, and said “Oh yeah – I’d forgotten about that for the moment. Still, that was the start of us, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah – but I was still nervous. Normally, I challenge that into my performance, but today no need – so I’m totally relaxed. Like I say, nice.”
I nodded a she put his arm round me and we walked across to where the photographs were been taken.
“Hey,” Jenny said, “we want a picture of all of us together. Come and join us.”
I smiled as Martin and I joined her and Colin, as well as Cassie and Bobby, and the photographer took a picture of us, and then started to take family group photos with Cassie and Jo.
“We need to go and do something,” Jenny said as she took Cassie and Patty, “see you in a few minutes.”