40
Ianto had tried to stay back from Angel, knowing this was a big day for her parents, especially her mother. Daphne had never expected her daughter to marry and this wedding was something she was still coming to terms with, albeit now with delight.
"Now. You know the saying" she was softly imparting as she helped her daughter with her shoe laces "Something old, something new. Something borrowed and something blue."
"Yes. You are supposed to help with that right? Taddy said that was for a mama." She nodded happily "He did Babs but said she had her mama there too."
"Yes" she sighed happily rising to stroke her daughter's face. "You look just like a fairytale princess, about to marry your prince and I am so … excited."
"You are mummy?" she shone.
"Right. Before I go silly. Here. Taddy Ianto helped me. Here, this broach was my mother's. Her mother's too. See? It's a little butterfly. Not a bee like everything but apparently your soon to be sister Samantha has a little ladybug one she will wear too." Her hands shook as the little silver broach was lifted from the box, the butterfly of pale blue glass with diamonds speckled on it "It was one of my nanny's favourite things. She used to wear it sometimes when I sat on her lap. One day … one day your babies might sit on your lap and look at it, then their babies too."
She stopped talking, tears now as she came to terms with the fact Ianto had been preparing her gently for this. The thought of this. They would have children. They would have grandchildren. She would have this too.
"Oh Mummy, you silly bean" Angel laughed as she hugged her tightly "I almost forgot!"
"Forgot what?"
"Taddy helped me with your gift too. Look. It's to match mine. So we both have something borrowed and new. See? I have the something old and blue from you and something new and borrowed from Taddy. Look. We have pretty little bracelets of diamonds!"
Daphne gaped as a Harrods box came out of the drawer.
"You know … these are Babby's and Bethy's. They have never worn them, brand new!" she helped her mother who was now beside herself as she looked at the bling that lit up her arm. These were not simple bracelets, they were wristlets about an inch thick full of diamonds. Worth thousands … tens of thousands. Clearly. "They are going to wear them on some photo shoot next week. Babs says sisters share!"
"I am so happy you have sisters now. I always felt sad you never had a little playmate, your brothers so much older and having each other" Daphne smiled, leaning in to kiss her daughter as she made a mental note to hug that mad Welshman who despite telling her he was staying out of it still managed to fix things.
