PART 21

"ever been so nervous you can't speak?" Lexie asked Archie

"um no" he replied as he changed gear "why has it happened to you, although obviously not at the moment?!"

"well no but I was just wondering if it was possible"

"look stop worrying everything will be fine, we are planned and organised down to the very last detail"

"I know it's just" Lexie was interrupted by the trill of her mobile

"Hi Jill"

"mm right ok, I see, well thanks for the warning" Lexie laughed

"ok, yes that would be lovely.............will do.........right.......bye then"

"what was all that about?" Archie asked

"Jill said, Matt told her she had to warn us, that this Judy Abbott can be well a bit fussy and overbearing, well she is like that in school, and they didn't want us to be put off, and bearing in mind she is mother of the bride, it could be a potential minefield! Oh and she said we are welcome to go round there tonight to de stress for a barbecue if we feel like it, I said I'd ring her later and tell her our plans"

Archie laughed "I'm sure whatever she is like between us we can handle her"

"mmm I'm sure you are right, at least it's a lovely day otherwise, transporting food from the kitchen to the marquee would have been a nightmare! I just hope Judy Abbott was right when she described her kitchen as extremely spacious! How many waiters are there?"

"I think she said 10 which should be fine for 120 guests on tables of 10, all they have to do is help serve the buffet and clear tables"

"and help wash up!"

Eventually they turned onto a gravel driveway in a hamlet about 5 miles from Banbridge. Archie had just turned off the engine, when a tall blonde neatly coiffured woman appeared on the doorstep

"you're late, wondered where on earth you were, now come along let me show you the kitchen" she said

Archie and Lexie exchanged a look knowing they were in fact 5 minutes early and followed her inside. They were led into a vast kitchen with plenty of work space, they both breathed a huge sigh of relief. Having shown them around the kitchen, she took them outside to see the marquee and the set up for the buffet tables.

"right well I'll leave you to it, if you need anything yell" with that she dashed off towards the house. leaving Archie and Lexie in the marquee.

"wow it looks lovely and the smell of sweet peas, a real fairytale wedding" Lexie said as she gazed around the marquee

"you think, a little ostentatious to me"

"Archie Macdonald, how can you say that, you who wanted some extravaganza for our wedding"

"ok ok I know, well I thought that was what I wanted, but you were right and I was wrong as usual" he replied resignedly

"come on you we've got a buffet to prepare"

Everything was frantic in the kitchen there were the waiting staff to organise, and not only the buffet to plate up, but also the canapes, everyone was beavering away when suddenly one of the waiting staff let out a scream, which was followed by a resounding crash. Archie and Lexie turned simultaneously to see what had happened. One of the waitress' was standing with blood pouring out of her hand and the blood appeared to be gushing all over a tray of canapes, another waiter baulking at the sight of the blood had dropped the whole dressed salmon he was holding. There was a moment of silence and complete inactivity as everyone stood around stunned.

Archie dashed over to retrieve the salmon, which despite the fall, remained intact on the platter. Lexie carefully guided away Sarah the waitress who had cut her finger

"you ok, look press down here above the cut to stop the bleeding and hold your hand up ok" she said gently, Sarah nodded as Lexie went to get a first aid kit to dress the wound. When Lexie returned Sarah was quietly crying

"hey its ok, come on its just a shock" Lexie smiled reassuringly as she began to dress the wound

"its not that, its just well its my first day working for this waitressing agency and I need this job to help pay for college and look what has happened"

"look accidents happen, don't worry"

"oh I just had a bad experience in the first job I had in the pub in the village, and I wanted today to go well"

"really?" Lexie responded trying not too sound too interested in the snippet about the pub, it didn't take a genius to imagine what the bad experience was Sarah had, or who had caused it "look" she continued "I'll let you into a secret, this is the first job Archie and I have done for our new outside catering company, we're probably more terrified than you!"

"I don't believe you, you're both so calm and organised"

"don't you believe it, listen make sure you leave me your name and phone number before you go, as Archie and I need to build up a bank of reliable waiting staff"

"really, oh thanks that would be great"

"there all done, your finger is as good as new"

"everything ok?" Archie asked as he wandered over

"yes fine, how was the salmon and the canapes?" Lexie asked him

"both ok, the salmon was unscathed and the canapes were still covered in cling film, so back to work"

"yes alright slave driver" Lexie said turning to wink at Sarah.

"Lex we have to set up the wedding cake tiers, they have just arrived. I suppose it would be best to set it up on the cake table in the marquee"

" yes definitely, what are the tiers all fruit or is one sponge?"

"no idea, look you grab the top tier and the pillars and I'll carry the other two"

"Arch you sure you should carry two together? What happens if you drop one?"

"It'll be fine, you know I made a wedding cake once"

"you?!" Lexie responded incredulously

"yep for a cousin of Justine's, I was considered the consummate cake baker you know"

"well I've been baking cakes for years, I'm sure I could make a wedding cake"

"ooo do I sense a little competitive edge here?" Archie asked as he carefully placed the cake boxes down

"no I was just saying"

"I thought your speciality was chocolate cake" Archie said suggestively moving in close to her

"Archie Macdonald keep your mind on the job" Lexie replied laughingly pushing him away

"isn't there a cake baking competition at the May Fayre Lex?"

damn thought Lexie I didn't think he knew "um yes I think there might be"

"mm well I might enter then"

"oh I think entries had to be in last week" Lexie added quickly

"really? that's a shame"

"yes isn't" Lexie said smiling to herself, then changing the subject "hey the cake looks great" as they both stood back to admire the wedding cake.

"yep it does, come on Lex we better get back to the kitchen" Archie said taking hold of her hand.

The rest of the day went without a hitch, the guests devoured with food with many compliments abounding.

"well that it is then our first successful job" Archie said as they both did one final check of the kitchen, ensuring it was left as pristine as when they had arrived that morning

"sure is, what a great team we are" Lexie said as they wrapped their arms around each other, they were interrupting by a throat being cleared, and they sprung apart

"sorry to interrupt you" said Judy Abbott with a twinkle in her eye "but I just wanted to thank you for saving the day, the food was exquisite, I shall be recommending you to all my friends. I must confess when Jill suggested you I was a little dubious being as you are new, but I was proved wrong, thank you both so much, now I must get back to the reception" with that she left them.

Archie and Lexie looked at each and laughed

"well not much we can say to that is there" said Lexie as she grabbed her handbag as they walked out of the kitchen

"no, home I think" Archie said, Lexie nodded her head as she rested it on his shoulder.

When they got home they collapsed on the kitchen sofa with mugs of tea

"well I'm off for a long hot soak in the bath before we had off to Jill and Matt's"

"ok Lex I've got something I have to be doing" Archie said with a furtive expression on his face

Lexie looked at him quizzically "what?" she demanded

"nothing you need to concern yourself with, now off you go, but don't soak for too long so you go pruney"

Lexie turned and poked her tongue out him and made her way upstairs.

Archie grabbed a picnic blanket, filled the ice bucket with ice and placed the champagne bottle inside and made his way out to the orchard. He spread out the blanket and hid the champagne behind an apple tree. He then headed inside to shower and change.

"what are you looking so secretive about Archie Macdonald?" Lexie asked as she spied him later sitting on the sofa in the kitchen looking extremely nervous

"you look lovely"

"thanks, but I sense you are up to something"

Archie smiled and stood up and grabbed hold of her hand

"come with me" he said leading her out into the garden

"Arch we haven't got time we'll be late"

"this won't take long, trust me"

They walked through the garden to the orchard, to where Archie had set out the picnic blanket, he sat down and gestured for Lexie to do the same. Looking slightly unsure, she did as he invited. He moved his position so he was facing her

"Lex do you remember the ring pull"

"yes of course, but Arch what is this about?"

"do you remember the ring I gave you, well Molly's ring"

"yes"

"and then you sold it to help pay off the death duties"

"mmm" Lexie responded wondering what on earth Archie was getting at

"well because the death duties were paid, Glenbogle was saved, you helped to make that possible, it was a very altruistic gesture. I know material things and possessions have never been important to you, but you are very important and precious to me and I wanted you to, well have" he said as he began to fumble in his pocket, producing a small box "this replacement"

Lexie took the box and opened it, inside was a ring, a solitaire diamond on a platinum gold band. Archie took it from her and slipped it on her finger so it rested next to her wedding ring. He smiled, kissed her "I love you Lexie Macdonald"

Lexie held out her hand to admire the ring "oh Archie thank you, its beautiful, you know I think I love you too, especially right now" she teased as she hugged him in return

" I thought today was a good a day as any to give it to you as we had done the catering for that wedding, it sort of seemed appropriate" Archie said

"it's a lovely thought and gesture, you know sometimes you can be a very thoughtful and sweet man" Lexie said as she gently ran her hand down the side of his face

"I know I just can't help it! Oh and we have this to celebrate" Archie said as he stood up to retrieve the champagne

"celebrate what?"

"us, you, me, love, life, marriage, a successful catering job, anything you want"

Lexie laughed "if we start drinking that we'll be here all night, I can see exactly what will happen, come on lets take it with us to Jill and Matt, after all they put us onto the job today" seeing Archie's crestfallen face, Lexie continued "oh Arch I didn't mean to rain on your parade, look tomorrow evening we'll have a champagne picnic out here, when we have no commitments and there will be no interruptions, just you and me and no one else"

Archie smiled and said "ok you're on you gorgeous woman, now get me out of here before I start something I can't stop" as he trailed his fingers up her leg

Before he could finish Lexie jumped up laughing and took hold of his hand and they made their way down to the house, locking up as they passed by. They then continued up the lane to Jill and Matt's house. Suddenly Archie stopped, turned and kissed Lexie, they were both completely oblivious to the fact that their progress up the lane and their kiss was being watched from an upstairs window of the pub.