.

Emerald Bond

Greetings, Guests and Gifts

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In the reception hall of the Oxford Blues Hotel there was a table with a white cover. On its left and on its right side there was floral decoration in the theme of Barbara's bridal bouquet. The glass vase from their sand ceremony was placed in the middle of the table. The big Scotland Yard picture with the best wishes from their colleagues leant against the wall behind it and the old mailing tube from Hillier sat next to the picture. The antique map was safely stored inside again. The rope from the hand-fasting ceremony had been tied into a fisherman's knot by the bridal couple at the Saxon and now was on display here. All the bottles and little sweet treats the couple was given at the beer reception were arranged here by the gift carers too. A basket stood on one edge and a huge hamper sat almost under the table.

Barbara already had seen their table for gifts out of the corner of her eyes when Letty came through a glass double door.

"You! Are late..." she exclaimed pointing her finger at the couple, but her face widened into a grin. "Ooh, come here! You have to see this!" She almost bounced to the gift table. "There's a surprise for you. Especially for you, Babba!"

Curiously, the couple followed to have a closer inspection of the basket next to the knotted rope. It contained a bottle of Jägermeister, an earthenware bottle of a special German gin, a bar mat from an American micro-brewery, a neat embroidery picture of two cuddling koalas surrounded by a heart of eucalyptus leaves, a cute stuffed toy wombat, and a beautiful unique card with a hand-painted watercolour scenery on its front and greetings and best wishes in six different handwritings inside.

It made Barbara squeak with joy. "What a brilliant idea!" She waved the card in front of Tommy's face. "They've sent it around the world. Oh, these lovely girls!"

"Who?" Tommy had no clue.

"Tessa, Catsy, Sparks, Hobbs, Birch and Lene."

He was none the wiser. "Ummm...?"

"My online friends from... ah, never mind. A chat group. Anyway, they've sent this card around the globe and everyone wrote a few words. Isn't it brilliant? So wonderful!"

"It is indeed." Tommy chuckled. "And what's your main topic? Drinking and cute animals?"

Barbara grinned. "Sort of. I wonder how they got the rest of it here."

Letty shrugged her shoulders but from her grin towards Yazza and her winking eyes they knew that the sisters probably had a helping hand in this conspiracy. But before this secret could be revealed, Judith came from the garden.

Tommy's sister groaned in annoyance. "You're late!" she scolded the couple. "They're waiting for you. Chop, chop! Get out there!"

As the bridal couple and host of this party, Barbara and Tommy had the obligation to go and finally greet their guests who were standing on the grass in the garden, waiting, chatting, doing guest things.

The first glasses of champagne or orange juice were offered already while the last touches were made in the large room where they would dine. The doors there still were closed when Tommy and Barbara stepped into the garden together. In an instant the low conversations ebbed and it was replaced by appreciative murmurs.

"Hello, everybody!" Tommy waved a greeting into the round of people and they greeted back before they slowly continued talking with each other. The couple would greet all of them personally, as it was the habit, and they would start right now.

Barbara deeply breathed in. She had to squeeze Tommy's hand. Of all people, the first guests in their way were her aunt Sabina with her daughters Tonya and Sasha. Barbara's cousins had brought their partners too. All looked dressed exquisitely, but you still could tell the fine difference to the garments Tommy's lot wore.

"Oh, hello." Barbara greeted them and only Tommy heard the half-hearted joy in her voice. The women exchanged air-kisses, then Barbara turned to Tommy to introduce him. "Thomas, my... husband." She said it with a broad grin. Tommy nodded a greeting. "Thomas, this is my aunt Sabina, my cousins Sasha... and Tonya... and... umm..."

They all shook hands and the unknown partners introduced themselves. "Nice to meet you." Tommy said. "And enjoy yourself."

"Oh, Barbara, dear..." Sabina started rummaging in her oversized bag before the couple was able to walk on. "Of course we have donated to Macmillan, but we also have a little something for you."

Tommy and Barbara received a voucher for a sky jump for two. Politely they thanked them and went on to other guests. Later that day Barbara would comment it with the assumption that the three probably just would love to see her fall. For now she kept that to herself because there were more guests to be greeted. They only just had started their round.

Tommy's cousin James and his wife Katherine with their twirly twins Lauren and Michael stood near them. Barbara was truly happy to see them again.

"I have a huge hamper full of good stuff." James laughed after their welcome. "But I'm not carrying that around. Maybe you've seen it next to your table out there."

They had. Tommy was "most certain that we'll have enough apples until Christmas, right?" and they shared a laugh.

"It's actually under the table." Letty interposed. "Sorry about that, James, but it was too huge."

"Ah, never mind. The main point is that they'll get these good products so they won't eat their usual junk food in the near future."

"No junk food?" That was Nicky who had turned towards them. She already had met Pan-Yong who had come here with Ramon, the chatty hair-stylist from St Ives. "Oh, then take this and cook something good." She gave them a combination of small earthen containers in Greek design for salt, pepper, oil and vinegar, all neatly draped together onto a Greek cook book.

"Oh, Tommy is a lousy cook." Peter said from behind. "Here, brother. Barbara. Get this cookery course voucher. Learn something useful."

"And how are your studies, Peter?" Tommy asked in return. Peter had started studying and his marks were not the best. In secret, and only with Barbara, Tommy sometimes voiced his concerns about it, but now he was grinning and pulled his little brother into a bear hug.

After adequate appreciation Letty and Judith, their gift carers, were so kind to take the small things the couple received on their welcome round through the garden. All were put onto the table in the entrance hall of the hotel.

And Tommy and Barbara were given a lot of small things. They got so many that Barbara eventually wondered if the lines with the charities on the invitation cards may have been too small.

From Yazza and Curt they got a family of three rubber duckies. One with cylinder and monocle, one with dungarees and a flower in her long hair, and one tiny duck with a baby's dummy in its beak. "Doesn't the small one look bumpy?" Curt laughed.

Simon and Deborah surprised them with two VIP tickets for a home match of The Spurs. Simon got them organised via a shared friend, he told them, who happened to be an actor. "He sends the kindest regards on this autograph card." Deb had handed them two envelopes and tapped on the white one.

"He's a friend of yours?" Barbara asked with disbelief and turned her head to Tommy who also nodded. They all knew that she loved that actor, even though he mostly appeared on stage and not on screen.

Tommy grinned. "Yes, sweetheart, and we'll arrange a meeting some day."

"Good heavens." This was exciting. "And why does he have VIP tickets for a football match?"

"Well, he's not only a huge fan but also a regular in their stadium and some sort of voluntary poster boy." Tommy explained.

"He's really one of a kind." Daze added. The Lynleys and the St James stood together in a small group. Martin Thackerton also was part of them, and Liam and Stephanie, and Judith of course, when she was not caring for the given gifts. Even Peter and Emily joined the family group eventually.

After their hello the family went inside because the glass door front was opened a few moments ago. It was the sign that they all could start seating. There still were a few guests to be greeted but a quick glance at his watch told Tommy that they almost had recovered the lost time.

"Annie!" Barbara suddenly exclaimed and rushed to a woman Tommy only had seen briefly in the arch of swords. Barbara also had not had the time to greet her properly because unfortunately Annie had not had the chance to attend their beer reception.

"Barbara!" the women shrieked similarly and they clasped each other in their arms. "Congratulations, you two." She added a "Sir." and nodded towards Tommy when Barbara had let go of her.

"Thomas, this is DC-"

"DS!"

"Oh, hey, great!" Barbara grinned appreciatively. "Thomas, this is DS Annabel Lévi and her partner Nat Baker."

"Please call me Tommy." Tommy shook hands with the couple. "We're not at work here."

"Tommy. Nice to meet you in person."

Barbara turned to her husband's quizzical expression and explained. "Oh, of course I've talked about you. It was years ago. I know Annie for... for how long now?"

"Don't ask me. I've stopped counting years."

"We're friends since the day of our swearing-in ceremony."

"Ah, so you're a colleague at the Met?"

"Nah, we live in Colchester now. But I'm still in the forces."

"Service."

"Thomas, stop that. Nobody says service."

"But we should."

"Ah, whatever." Barbara groaned. "Annie, you can go inside and look for your seats. And have another glass of bubbly."

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