It was Tess who took the phone call from the magazine, to say Daisy had not only been chosen as a bridesmaid but had won the special prize.
"She never?" Tess was trying to get Alec's attention.
Tess always had the home phone forwarded to her mobile in case the school rang it.
"We just needed to check she had your permission," the magazine editor was glancing at Rose.
Before the call was made, Rose was wondering if she'd have to pick another envelope.
"Well, I never expected her to actually win," Tess had to admit. "So she actually got chosen to be the head bridesmaid? Did you say she gets to stay at the Tyler mansion?"
She was wondering what it would be like, to get Daisy in the photos that would be all over the papers and magazines, not to mention the news, probably. Should she take advantage herself? What would Alec say, she wondered as she got up to go to his office.
"Well, yes. Daisy was chosen out of thousands of entries, by Rose Tyler herself," the editor told Tess. "She's here now, she'd like to speak to you."
Rose was passed the phone, hoping she wouldn't be shot down in flames like the last time.
"Hi, Daisy's mother," Rose greeted Tess. "I'll make all the arrangements, there's nothing for you to do, except get her to London," Rose assured her.
Alec was wondering what Tess was doing heading towards his office, with her mobile in her hand and talking into it.
"Tess?" he questioned her as she entered, not bothering to knock.
Tess put her hand over her mobile.
"Alec, I've got Rose Tyler on the phone. Daisy won a place as a bridesmaid, the head one," she told him.
"How do you know someone is not having you on Tess?" Alec dismissed the idea that Rose Tyler would be calling personally.
"Someone from the magazine put her on," Tess scoffed back. "Miss Tyler, my husband doesn't believe she actually won," she told Rose.
Rose let out a laugh.
"Then put him on. This is a genuine call, I'll give you my personal number, you can call me back. So, put him on if he's not sure," Rose tried to be serious.
Tess held the phone out to Alec, who reluctantly took it.
"I hope you are not going to be playing a joke on my daughter?" Alec questioned Rose.
"Geez, are you the police or something," Rose couldn't resist trying to get him back for doubting her.
"Yes, detective inspector," Alec replied indignantly. "I can easily trace this call."
"Hey, I'm who I say I am," Rose was getting furious he was being serious.
Tess was trying to take her phone back.
"Don't be so rude Alec," she told him. "Let me deal with this."
"Well I am not getting Daisy's hopes up if one of her friends is behind this," Alec insisted.
"I'm still here you know?" Rose reminded him. "Call the magazine if ya don't believe me. Fine, I'll choose someone else then, shall I? I had enough earlier when someone else from your town refused to let her daughter be one of my bridesmaids."
The way Rose was now talking, Alec was just starting to believe her. Anyone else would have laughed it off by this point, he supposed.
"Fine, I will pass you back to her mother then," he gave in.
Rose wondered why he'd said her mother and not his wife? Maybe something was not right in the Hardy household? That wasn't her concern though but she didn't want her wedding being spoiled by squabbling parents of the bridesmaids.
"I'm sorry about that," Tess apologised. "We can do this by phone for now, unless you need a photo of Daisy?"
"Tess, don't encourage the woman," Alec hissed at her.
"Yeah, I never thought of that," Rose laughed. "I won't recognise them otherwise, will I? You can send it to the magazine editor, then they can publish the results when we've got them all?"
"Fine, I'll get a few taken then," Tess agreed. "I'll tell her when she gets home or will you want to speak to her?"
"Ah, well yeah," Rose thought the poor girl wouldn't believe she'd actually won. "I'll call again later then, we were just checking for permission."
She still had two more to do plus get a replacement envelope chosen. How had she ever got herself into this, she should have made Jamie and her mother choose them, it was their idea. The next two calls were slightly easier and Rose had picked another entry, the editor seeing the consent looked genuine and told the winners they needed to send a photo.
"Well that wasn't too bad," Rose grinned as they looked at all the unopened envelopes. "I feel guilty now. All those hopefuls, what did my mother start?"
"So it wasn't your idea?" the editor Sophie smiled.
"Well I didn't know anyone," Rose admitted. "Imagine if all of them had to be opened if there'd been a question to answer," she nodded to the envelopes.
"Well I'm glad there wasn't," Sophie agreed. "Why don't we put a free gift inside the wedding edition?" she suggested. "A bracelet or something, not too expensive of course."
"How many copies are we talking about?" Rose asked. "Well I suppose it would also compensate those who weren't allowed to enter?" she added, remembering the first girl whom she'd chosen. "I hope that young girl doesn't get into trouble."
"Well we sometimes do put free gifts in," Sophie admitted. "If it's for your wedding special, we'll have no problem getting them made, probably at no cost if it's known who supplied them."
"I expect there'll be a lot of interest then?" Rose smiled.
Sophie was already planning the wedding special plus all the extra revenue from advertisers, they may run out of room. Rose finally left, feeling pleased with herself but she wished she'd talked to the mother of that young girl, Sophie had insisted on dealing with it herself. Maybe it wouldn't have made much difference though?
Pippa Gillespie was on the school bus, heading home since her mother had failed to collect her.
"Hey Pippa," some girls opposite her called over. "Did you enter that bridesmaids contest then?" the ringleader asked her as four girls were squashed up on a double seat.
"Didn't everyone?" one of the girls laughed. "Bet your mother didn't let you though?" she directed the question at poor Pippa.
"Yeah, I entered, I got her to give in," Pippa lied, since she'd finally got Lisa to sign it.
"Well, one of us is gonna win so you wasted your time," another girl laughed.
"And a stamp," the last one joined in.
They all turned away, hoping they'd upset Pippa sufficiently. That was why Pippa hated getting the bus on a morning as well, once a day was bad enough with those four. She was glad Claire and Lee dropped her off sometimes and wished Lee would get out of the car and escort her to the gate, to make those four opposite get jealous.
She got off the bus at the top of the road and walked towards home and was just entering the street when she was sure Lee had just come out of their house. Lee had nothing to do so he thought he'd waste his time with Cate, if she'd not drunk that much. He'd had the misfortune to be there when Cate had got the call from the magazine.
"I'm going to be having words with Lisa when she comes round again," Cate had told him. "She must have forged my signature on that competition entry."
"Come on Cate, they're just kids," Lee had told her. "I heard Pippa going on about it to Claire."
"I hope Pippa never asked you or Claire to sign?" Cate asked him.
Lee just laughed and got up to leave.
"You women and weddings," he told her. "You and Ricky still off to that other one then?"
"We already told them we'd go but I wish I'd said no now," Cate admitted. "I don't know if I can trust Lisa overnight with Pippa."
"Me and Claire can keep an eye on them for you," he offered, hoping to get in her good books.
"Well if you're sure?" Cate was tempted. "I suppose I can trust you?"
Lee held his hands up.
"I could take offence at that question," he grinned. "I'm off before Pippa walks in from school then? I could go out the back way."
"Get out of here Lee," Cate replied, seeing the look on his face.
As he went out, he was sure the young girl was just coming around the corner of the street so he quickly opened the door and hoped she'd not noticed him. Pippa got inside her house and called to her mother. She knew any time soon, the bridesmaids would be chosen but she'd be caught out if they bothered to check the permission part of the form.
Lisa had tried her best to copy Cate's handwriting but had said she wasn't promising anything.
"Come in here Pippa, I want a word with you," Cate called her before Pippa could get upstairs. "Who forged that signature on that silly competition I told you not to enter?"
"Which one was that Mum?" Pippa tried to act all innocent.
"You know Madam," Cate told her. "Was it Lisa?"
"How did you find out, did they check?" Pippa admitted. "Did I win?"
"Oh no you don't Pippa, don't think you got away with it," Cate faced her daughter and grabbed her arm. "So you thought you'd get Lisa to help you, did you? Well forget it Pippa, I told them I did not give my permission and to choose someone else."
Pippa pulled back, rubbing her arm.
"Mum, you mean Rose Tyler rang here?" she stuttered.
"Of course not, why would she? It was only someone from that magazine. When did you sneak off to buy it anyway? Did you get Lisa to buy it for you?" Cate wanted to know.
Pippa tried not to look guilty but it was better laying the blame on her cousin rather than Claire.
"Wait until I see her," Cate then told Pippa. "I should tell your father, young lady."
"Please don't Mum," Pippa pleaded with her. "I just wanted to try, all my friends were sending their applications. I never gave any details, just my age."
"I should think not, have you any idea what they use your information for?" Cate asked her. "They target young girls like you, with all kinds of things. I've a good mind to cancel that wedding and not let Lisa stay overnight with you."
Across town, Tess had just got home before Daisy, wondering why Alec hadn't believed Daisy could actually win something. After the call, he'd tried to get out agreeing to go.
"Why would I want to go to a celebrity wedding?" he had complained when Tess had gone on about it.
"We have to show our support to Daisy," Tess had tried to convince him.
"Well it won't look good if all we do is argue all the time," he had used the excuse. "Then there's the question of staying over. You did say the prize was staying overnight after the wedding?"
"Daisy and I can share, you can have the room they give to her," Tess had told him, beginning to enjoy herself to get back at him. "Spend some time with Daisy for goodness sake."
Daisy was delighted to be told Rose herself would be calling her when Tess told her.
"No-one's going to believe it Mum," Daisy had told Tess. "Everyone will be so jealous. Will dad be going with us?"
"I've tried to get him," Tess admitted. "You'll just have to work on him. When you get another call, ask when it is."
"Well I hope dad doesn't use the excuse he can't get the weekend off," Daisy then complained.
Rose had got home, pleased the plans were coming together. Now, she had to organise four bridesmaids dresses though. She'd discussed some arrangements with her mother and they had decided on an afternoon wedding so everyone taking part had time to get there and get changed. The other three bridesmaids could share a room and Jackie suggested they hired the dresses, since Jamie was hiring a wedding suit.
Then there was just Tony to sort out but he'd insisted he wanted to be like Jamie, which had made them laugh as getting Tony to wear a suit wasn't going to be easy. They may just have to leave that with Jamie himself.
So Rose told him the bridesmaids were sorted and he was going to have to take charge of Tony when he got home.
"Fine Rose but we still don't have a date, remember?" he asked her.
"How about the beginning of May?" Rose suggested, sure they'd already mentioned that.
"Rose, that only gives us about six weeks love," Jamie reminded her. "End of May?"
"Right but we stick to that, agreed?" Rose replied, putting her arms around his neck. "I'd best call mum, she has the wedding invitations on standby."
"I can imagine," Jamie laughed as he went to kiss her. "Best get the PR department to issue a statement then?"
Everything was going to plan over the next few weeks. The marquee was booked, the DJ and live entertainment for the smaller evening reception for specially invited guests, including a now nervous Daisy Hardy, who had been given a link to the dresses the bridesmaids would be wearing.
"That woman must have some money," Tess was telling Alec as it started getting into the newspapers. "You won't let Daisy down, will you Alec?"
"Of course I won't Tess. I know it's important to her. Have you been given the arrangements yet?" he asked.
"Only what time to get there and that Daisy has seen the dresses being worn. I'm sure no-one will notice us Alec," Tess replied. "Oh, an official wedding invitation arrived this morning," she added. "Best not say I've gone back to my maiden name."
"I'm sure they are not interested Tess," Alec replied.
He was going to regret that statement shortly. Cate Gillespie hadn't cancelled the wedding she and Ricky were going to after all. His only complaint was having to share a hotel room with her when she'd had too much to drink but then he'd made his mind up he was going to see which of the female wedding guests would invite him to their room.
Lee had mentioned to Claire that he'd offered to keep an eye on the two girls while Cate and Ricky were away.
"You should have told me Lee," Claire got angry with him when she found out. "I was going out with some friends and maybe staying overnight.
"Well that gives me more time alone with Lisa then," Lee taunted her.
"You would as well," Claire snapped at him.
"Come on Claire, why do you keep inviting them round then? I've seen the way you look at Ricky."
Claire raised her hand but he fended her off. She ducked out of his way but he pushed her against the wall, aiming his other hand up her back.
"I hate you sometimes Lee," she told him as they were getting dressed again. "Were you joking about Lisa?"
"What do you think Claire?" he replied. "Maybe she's ready? Maybe when you're out I'll invite them both over?"
Pippa had still been getting taunted about entering the contest but it was dying down slightly. She was relieved none of the four involved had won either and she'd told no-one she'd been turned down for it. In the next magazine edition, the names of the four lucky girls had been released and Pippa was upset someone from the town had won the special prize.
It was also announced a special gift, chosen by Rose herself would be given away in the wedding edition and for readers to place their orders so as not to be disappointed. Rose hadn't wanted any of them to be disappointed but expected it would be a free-for all if they didn't heed the warning it may sell out.
Pippa and her friend were talking about it, Pippa having to pretend she wasn't that jealous of Daisy Hardy from the same school but a higher class in a different building so she didn't have to see her being followed around everywhere.
Daisy was quite enjoying herself once the news got out but Alec wasn't pleased when Tess had allowed the local newspaper to interview her.
"Alec, she would have been in the wedding photos," Tess pointed out to him. "At least I made sure it was done properly."
"Well I hope so Tess. Does she know about us though?" he asked her.
"She knows something's going on Alec," Tess reminded him. "We can keep it civil, for her sake, can't we?"
"As long as you do Tess," Alec told her. "You knew it was coming."
"Yes and you had to be the one who made the first move, Alec," Tess reminded him.
"How do you expect me to feel when you don't even hide the fact about you and Dave around the station anymore," he asked her. "It's one thing you being work partners, you said there was nothing more and I trusted you."
"You always suspected Alec," Tess told him.
"You fooled me Tess. Enough though, I will go to that wedding with you and Daisy, for her sake, not yours. Clear?" he asked her.
The wedding plans were going nicely but on the day Cate and Ricky Gillespie were setting off for their friends' wedding, Ricky was determined Cate wasn't going to spoil his fun later on. Cate had argued about him driving but had won in the end and they had ordered a taxi. Cate was giving Lisa last minute instructions as Pippa was out riding her bike up and down the street.
"Keep an eye on Pippa," Cate was warning Lisa yet again.
"I know how to look after her Cate," Lisa told her aunt bluntly.
"Don't be cheeky Lisa," Ricky interrupted them. "Stay away from next door as well."
"Ricky, someone has to take charge if something happens," Cate insisted.
"What's going to happen Cate?" Ricky had wanted to know. "We're going to be miles away and you won't let me take the car so nothing had better happen."
"Will you two stop?" Lisa interrupted them. "Just go, we'll be fine. If there's any trouble, I'll just have to try and call you or go next door."
Cate shook her head and went to see if the taxi had arrived.
"Jealous if I go see Lee?" Lisa asked Ricky cheekily.
"You little tart," Ricky hissed at her.
"You think I'm saving myself for you?" Lisa laughed. "Well I've got news for you, 'Uncle' Ricky.
He was about to raise his hand to her when Cate shouted the taxi had arrived. Cate had called Pippa over to tell her to behave for Lisa.
"Don't worry Mum," Pippa had told Cate, going to give her a hug. "We'll go see Claire if anything's wrong."
"You do that then sweetheart. I'll bring you some cake back," Cate replied, kissing Pippa's forehead.
"Can I ask Claire to do my hair tomorrow Mummy?" Pippa then asked as Ricky came out with a small case. "Bye Daddy," she went to give him a hug.
As they got into the taxi and Pippa waved to them, they had no idea how events were going to turn out and Cate would never see her daughter alive again and that her husband would be partly responsible.
Alec had been looking forward to meeting Daisy in the town then she was going to visit his apartment for a few hours, just to see if she felt like staying over next time. Tess was giving the almost teenager a lecture not to be so hasty in making her mind up.
"Mum, he's been asking me for weeks now," Daisy was telling Tess on the way. "I still don't know why he had to move out though. Can't you two get on?"
"Daisy, we've tried but your dad insisted he moved out," Tess was trying to steer the blame away from herself. "Don't worry, I made him promise he'll take you to Rose Tyler's wedding."
"I hope he won't let me down at the last minute Mum, he'd better not find something else to do," Daisy replied.
"I'll make sure you get there," Tess promised.
"I want him to see me in my bridesmaid's dress Mum. They look gorgeous on the website," Daisy was getting excited.
"Well, they could look different in real life," Tess warned her as they approached where Alec was waiting.
Daisy greeted Alec, then they went to look around the shopping centre and get something to eat.
"So, how are you getting on at school?" Alec was asking, running out of things to say.
"Fine Dad. I'm glad that wedding's during the holidays, I'm going to need time to recover," she told him.
"It's only a wedding Daisy," he replied, getting tired of hearing about it already and it was weeks away.
Why had he promised he'd still take her? Tess was quite capable of going on her own, weddings were more her thing than his. It was Daisy who would get all the attention, he and Tess would be seated somewhere with other guests the couple had invited, they wouldn't get to sit with family and close friends. Then they had to endure the formal evening reception, Daisy had been told that was only for special guests which even the other bridesmaids weren't invited to.
Why had his daughter have to be picked to be the head bridesmaid? Well he hoped the bride and groom wouldn't pay him and Tess much attention but knowing Tess, she would throw herself into it just to show him up.