Chummy floated – there was no other word for it – up the steps to Nonnatus; feet for once positively gliding as gracefully as she could muster across the stone as she clutched her flowers; knowing she would have to throw them aside at some point today. She had already decided she would aim them at Trixie for all her good hearted teasing these past few weeks. A touch of revenge and even with her erratic throwing arm, Chummy was at least seventy odd percent sure she could manage it without decapitating the girl.
Everything was different now though, everything was new, everything was so suddenly alive and it was though the person who had walked down these steps just a few hours ago - two if you were being precise about it - was someone gone but not so misremebered. Chummy was sure that old girl would only lay dormant for a while, but, now Mrs Camilla Frances Elizabeth Noakes, was on top of the world and it would seem as though nothing could bring her crashing to earth for a change.
Chummy could hear the buzz of happy conversation behind her, general chit-chat as stories toppled from friend to friend and she pushed open the front door to find Sister Julienne and Sister Evangelina had made it back from the ceremony far quicker than anyone else and they were standing side by side in the hallway.
"Now come along" Sister Evangelina smiled as she took her arm, seeing everyone else pile in behind her from their short walk from All Saints, passing all their usual residents of Poplar on their way wondering what the commotion and procession was. There was not one face that was not pleased to see a bride, her groom and the beloved Sisters as they paraded down the road.
Sister Evangelina chose to breathe deeply when the group cleared to find Fred holding the door open for Lady Browne and the more than curt nod of acceptance for his gentlemanly behaviour. It was very obvious that she was certainly not amused by the lack of an appropriate carriage for the handful of yards they had to cover from the Church to Nonnatus and the handyman holding the door open for her seemed to be the absolute limit.
"Now I know you said that you wanted a quiet reception and we have adhered to your wish, but we had to splash out just a bit!" Sister Evangelina concluded, a rather stupendous smile lighting up her face; one, Sister Evangelina would perhaps only today admit, she had been wearing all day.
With that she released Chummy's arm, who had looked behind to find Peter who was deep in conversation with Fred a few feet behind her, and the two Sisters opened up the tightly closed doors to the dining room.
"Oh!" Chummy exclaimed a hand flying to her mouth in surprise and wonderment at the room as it bared itself to her. "Oh! It's glorious!" she smiled, not imagining anyone would go to these rather stupendous lengths just for her.
The table was bursting, the entire room adorned with every imaginable decoration possible. Fresh flowers, ribbons, garlands danging from the fireplace, candles, and a rather spectacular three tiered wedding cake stood proudly in the middle of the table that in itself was filled with plate after plate of food.
"Thank you" she whispered, face creasing as she did, choosing not to ask herself the same question. Why have you done all of this just for my wedding? It's only me after all but you took the time to do this?
The group standing behind her surveyed the spectacle, excited conversation tripping all around her as Peter squashed through the crowd of nurses and nuns to take his wife's hand. "Isn't it just wonderful?" she whispered to him, still taking in the sight around her; still shocked.
"Perfect" he replied simply, entirely unable to wipe away the smile that had been on his face since he woke up this morning. The last time he had woken up as a single man and it was glorious too.
"Did you know about this?" she continued, the swell of the group enveloping them as their guests went to examine the table, set out by Mrs B in all its glory; meticulous and precise and not a pineapple and cheese hedgehog out of place.
"I had an idea" Peter replied, too keeping his voice low to her ear. Sister Julienne had in fact asked him about the wedding cake as he popped into Nonnatus on his beat a week or three back. She had been sure in the recesses of her mind that, on one of Nurse Browne's first days with them, that she had politely turned down fruitcake in favour of sponge and made comment that the former was far too sweet and heavy for her liking. It was a good job Peter knew she couldn't bare the stuff either! "But I didn't know about most of it!" he concluded, squeezing her hip, not realising her mother was slap bang behind her and saw exactly where he had touched her.
Sister Julienne saw her mother's mouth open to say something and spirited herself to her Ladyship's side.
"I have reserved a seat just for you Lady Browne", she said, gesturing ahead to what was very nearly the top of the table. Peter and Chummy, so much engrossed in examining the room, barely noticed as her mother was discretely removed from behind them.
"Now come along!" Sister Evangelina said appearing by Peter's side. She had see Sister Julienne's actions and wished, just for a few moments that she could tell Lady Browne what she thought of her, but this was a wedding day and it was not going to be ruined by anybody.
"There's food here to be eaten and I do believe we have something to celebrate!" she concluded as she pushed the bride and groom forward to their seats.