Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone so much for the warm welcome back I have received! I'm so glad that people still love Molly and Charles today as much as they did when I first started writing this back in 2014 (Woah! Has it really been that long?!) It's been really lovely to see some old names cropping up in the reviews and I have been absolutely delighted to see new ones too. All the kind words really do mean a lot, I can't even begin to explain the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I see an email saying I've had a review.
Hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Weddings don't plan themselves…
As soon as Charles walked into this kitchen and saw Molly sat at the kitchen table along with his mother and sister in law Alice surrounded in bridal magazines he knew he wasn't going to be in for a peaceful evening.
"Oh, perfect timing darling!" Penny called out when she saw Charles enter "We're just going through our checklist before the big day, you have sorted out your suit haven't you?"
"Yes," Charles replied stiffly "and before you ask, suits for my best man and groomsmen have all been arranged too."
Molly smiled over at Charles apologetically, she was feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the wedding talk and was very grateful that Charles had returned home to bring a bit of much-needed calm.
"Excellent," Penny responded turning her attention back to her list "now I spoke to the photographers this morning and they're going to be at the hotel with us at the hotel in the morning, then they join us to Hamswell House. It really will be lovely to get some pictures of you getting ready Molly dear."
Charles could see the tension in Molly's body, she was definitely feeling very overwhelmed by all this wedding talk.
"Can I interest you ladies in a drink?" Charles asked, walking towards the fridge in the kitchen "We have plenty of wine, or vodka maybe?" he aimed directly at Molly.
Molly laughed at her fiancé.
"Wine would be perfect, thanks, Charles." Molly replied with a big grin.
Charles fetched a bottle of wine from the fridge along with a beer for himself. He then collected three wine glasses and placed them in front of the women sat around the table and then proceeded to fill them with wine, ensuring that Molly had the biggest glass. He then sat at the table, making sure to catch Molly's eye and give her a wink. He began to flick through bridal magazines absentmindedly, not really paying much attention to the conversations that were happening around him until he heard his mum saying his name.
"Charles, are you really sure you want Sam as your best man?" Penny asked whilst she leafed through some fabric samples.
"Absolutely." Molly cut in before Charles could even open his mouth "We really want Sammy to feel as though he's a part of this day and it's the perfect way to get him involved. He's really excited about getting to make a speech in front of everyone too. Elvis is giving him a hand anyway, against my better judgement." She added throwing a teasing look at Charles.
"I think it'll be really nice," Alice also added, "and just imagine how cute he's going to look in his little suit matching his dad's!"
Penny smiled
"No, you're right. It is a great idea. Now Molly," She turned to the woman in question "you're taking your sister's and Jackie bridesmaid dress shopping this weekend. Which colour have you decided on?" She asked holding up two of the fabric samples.
To Charles, they both looked identical and he zoned out of the conversation completely until he felt Molly elbow him in the ribs.
"Oi you," she hissed quietly so that Alice and Penny couldn't hear her as they conversed over floral arrangements or something "I'm not sure 'ow much more of this I can take for today, you did this to me so you'd better help me!"
Charles laughed quietly to himself and then looked at his watch.
"Sorry to cut in ladies, and not to be rude mum and Alice, but I booked a table for Molly and me for dinner tonight. It's just that if we're going to make it, we're going to have to wrap this up now." He announced.
"Oh ok," Penny replied uncertainly looking at her list.
Alice shot her brother in law a knowing smile and turned to her mother in law.
"We've actually made a really good amount of progress this afternoon Penny. Molly's seeing to the bridesmaids dresses this weekend and then we've got the final bridal dress fitting. That gives us the perfect opportunity to all get-together, with Belinda too to go through the final details."
Penny nodded and reached over the table to Molly and took hold of her hand firmly.
"Believe me, my darling girl, this wedding is going to be simply marvellous. You're going to be such a beautiful bride."
Molly responded with a big grin. She was going to marry the love of her life, of course it was going to be a marvellous day. Even if planning the damned thing was giving her such a massive headache.
It took a little bit more time, but eventually, Penny and Alice had left together. Leaving just Molly and Charles in the kitchen. Molly took a seat at the table and poured herself some more wine with a sigh
"You know when I agreed to marry you, I didn't think planning the thing would be so bleeding stressful." She said taking a big mouthful of wine.
"If I could have my way, we'd take Sam and a couple of witnesses. Elvis and Georgie perhaps, and we'd go and get married tomorrow." Charles replied rubbing a soothing hand across Molly's back.
Molly paused for a second, genuinely contemplating the idea.
"Your mother would probably have a heart attack. It's not worth it." she giggled "Have you really got a table booked for tonight or was that just to get rid of them?"
Charles shook his head.
"Perfect!" Molly replied "I'm right in the mood for a Chinese. Bollocks to my healthy wedding dress diet for tonight."
"Pfft, you look perfectly fine just as you are. Can't find an ounce of fat on you." Charles pretended to search Molly's body with his hands.
Molly rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips.
"You're supposed to say that, you're going to be marrying me in a months time!"
"You're right," Charles said, "although maybe you could take your top off so I could do a more thorough investigation…"
Molly raised an eyebrow at him.
"I'm not wearing a bra underneath." She whispered seductively.
"All the better." Charles all but growled, pulling Molly towards him and kissing her fiercely.
Several hours later, Molly finally got her Chinese. Although she wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to eat at her kitchen table ever again.
Erm, well the characters sort of ran away with themselves at the end there!
Snapshots of a wedding is almost finished, there are a few more snapshots here that I want to post first over the next week, but keep your eyes peeled. It's definitely on the way!
Catch you all next time, Em xxx