B&B OF LOVE AND FUN-25

Hi everyone. After a week break we are coming back to our favorite B&B. Last chapter was rather eventful, so this one may seem slower, but I hope that you will like it. Thanks for all your reviews and I'm really happy, that after 25 chapters, you still want to read this story.

"So you are saying Elsie, that the apple pie turned out to be a great success?"

Elsie smiled discreetly, not wanting to reveal everything to her special, but nosy friend..If only Beryl knew, what kind of success the apple pie has turned out to be, a success that gave both her and Charles some really sweet moments...

"Yes Beryl. Charles ate three pieces at once, I was even afraid, that he might be sick, but you know him, he has a really strong stomach..."

"Yes and quite a big appetite, but I don't mind, at least I have someone to cook for here, since you and Katie are eating so little..."

"Soon you will have one more person to cook for-your dear husband..."

Beryl blushed again, which Elsie still found lovely...Even in her age and normally being a loud and confident person, Beryl still was blushing, for the very thought of her future marriage...

"Yes, we managed to organize everything and the wedding will take place in three weeks.."

"Three weeks? That's such a short time, we have to prepare everything..."

"I know...There are so many decisions to take, like for example when the reception will be held?"

"Wouldn't you want to give it in here?"

"I thought about that, but it would be too much trouble...We will go away to our honeymoon and you and Katie would be left with all the cleaning..."

"Don't worry about us, we are a tough group..."

"I know that you are, but it would be too much burden...So we decided to follow your example and have it in the school...It will not be a big party...Just you, Katie, my sister and her family and few people from the Abbey...Nothing much...But I want it to be special..."

"Of course you do Beryl. This is suppose to be the most beautiful day of your life and I will make sure, that this is exactly how it is going to be...Just like you helped me..."

"Thanks Elsie...You are one of the kind...Oh and you will probably be happy to hear that-we also want to go to our honeymoon to Scarborough...Neither me nor Bill have ever been there, so this is going to be an adventure..."

"It certainly will Beryl...In many ways..."

"All right, all right...I know what you mean...Don't even get my nervous about that part..."

"You don't have to be nervous Beryl, I mean I know you are, because I've been there, but believe me, the thing that you are so afraid of, will become the most wonderful journey of your life...I can assure you..."

"Is that how it is for you and Charles?"

"Yes my nosy friend...This is how it is for us and that's all I'm going to say...Even though I know, that you would want to hear more..."

"I definitely would...But I know your discretion...It is killing all the fun...I'm just worried, that once we will go away, you will have problems with handling the B&B? Is it all right to leave you here for those few days?"

"Don't worry Beryl...We will manage...I know what you are thinking...Don't try to make that innocent face of yours here...I know that you think, that my cooking can scare our guests, but you know that Katie is a wonderful cook...I already talked to her about it and she is very excited, to become the head cook, even for those few days..."

"Well, I guess you are right...This will be a good lesson for her actually...She will have a unique chance of learning some things..."

"Yes she will, while her beloved auntie will learn something else in the same time, almost as valuable as the cooking..."

"Elsie, one more word and I will...Don't you run away from me!"

Beryl pretended, that she wanted to use her rolling pin on Elsie and she pretended to run away from her...

"I will better run away, I can't risk a meeting with an angry cook"

"Before you do Elsie...I need your advice about something...It's really important for me.."

"Anything Beryl, how can I help you?"

"It's about my wedding dress...There isn't much time and I don't want to make a fuss, because I'm not a young girl, but I need to wear something for my wedding..."

"You should make a fuss about it Beryl..Remember how I behaved? I wanted to marry in that old, hideous, brown dress..If it wasn't for you, I would look awful..."

"But you looked wonderful...The thing is, that I always had a weakness for pink, but because of my hair color, I'm not wearing that often, as it seems to look silly on me, but do you think, that I could buy a pink dress for my wedding?"

"Of course you can sweetie...If you love this color, you should...Do you have anything particular in mind?"

"Not yet...I tried to find something in our village, but I'm afraid that it will not be possible..."

"I think so too...You know what? I believe that we should take a half day off and go to Ripon, there are a lot of stores there and I'm sure, that we can find something suitable there...We can take Katie with us, she will be pleased..."

"Can we bring Daisy too? Since I helped her with the wedding dress, she told me, that she wants to help me pick mine..."

"Great idea...We will make it like a girls day out..."

"But what about Charles? Won't he be terrified with the prospect of staying all alone?"

"He can manage...We only have Mr Sollis as our guest now, we can serve him breakfast and prepare something for lunch, which Charles will be able to serve him..."

"Lovely, but you will be the one who tells him that..."

"No problem...You go and call Daisy and I will talk to Charles.."

"Deal.."

Few moments later...

"You mean I'm suppose to stay here all alone for more than half day? How do you imagine this?"

"Normally Charlie..We will serve breakfast to Mr Sollis and prepare something for lunch, which you will be able to give him and we will be back by dinner time..."

"I don't like this idea at all Elsie...It's too revolutionary..."

"Revolutionary? Charlie, you are suppose to serve lunch, not do the military coup!"

"Still Elsie..."

"Please Charlie...I really want to help Beryl...She was so kind when we were getting married, buying a dress for me...So I would look nice for you, you remember?"-Elsie touched Charles's lapels, soothing it, even though it didn't really require soothing...She caressed his cheek gently, looking him in the eyes with pure love...

"Of course I remember...You were the most beautiful bride I've seen in my whole life and you still are..."- Charles bent down a bit, to kiss Elsie's lips...He could never refuse anything to her, especially when she was looking at him that way..."You know what Els? I have an idea. Since Beryl bought this wedding dress for you then, why don't we reciprocate with the same thing and pay for the dress that she will choose?"

"Really Charlie? Oh, you are so sweet...My darling husband...I love you..."-Elsie wrapped her arms around Charles's neck...Kissing him soundly...

"I love you too my baby...I can never refuse anything to you and you know that...Does Beryl have any idea about the kind of dress she wants?"

"Pink"

"Pink? Really?"

"Yes, it's her favorite color, so I will let her her choose whatever she likes, after all it's her day..."

"It is...You three will have a lot of fun in Ripon..."

"We four...Daisy is coming with us too..."

"Sounds like a girl day out..."

"It is indeed...And my sweet, caring husband will guard the B&B"

"Yes my lady..."

Two days later in Ripon...

Elsie, Beryl, Daisy and Katie had a lovely time in Ripon...They visited few clothes stores, had lunch in one of the local pubs, even had a short walk through the park. Picking a dress for Beryl, was a harder task that they could imagine...All the dresses were either too fancy, or not the right color, or in Beryl's opinion, they cost too much...

In one point of the day, Elsie and the others began to loose hope, for ever finding something appropriate, when suddenly, when they were walking through the town center, Beryl stood like frozen, watching one of the shops exhibition...

They all noticed her reaction and their eyes went towards this direction...One look was enough to know, that they finally found what they were looking for. There, in an inconspicuous, little shop, a dress, which seemed to be taken straight from Beryl's dream was waiting...

They followed Beryl to the shop and asked the seller for a possibility of a try out...

Few moments later, Beryl showed herself to her entourage, looking like a dream...The dress was fancy, but not too elegant, the cut, the style, the color, everything was perfect...

"Well ladies, what do you think? I'm not sure if your silence means that it's that good or that bad?"- Beryl was a little unsure of herself at the moment...

"It is wonderful auntie Beryl...Like it was made for you...You should definitely buy it..."- Katie was clearly enthusiastic...

"It's lovely Mrs Patmore...Exactly like you wanted it to be..."-Daisy was impressed too..

"What is your opinion Elsie?"

Elsie was normally not very sentimental, but this time, even she had to admit, that she was touched with the sight...

"Beryl...This is your dress...Perfect, simply perfect...No need to look further...Mr Mason will be enchanted, when he sees you in this..."

Hearing such words of encouragement, Beryl had no other option, but to believe her best friends and with a very decisive voice, she said to the seller: "We are taking it"

That's all for this chapter...The dress is picked, so Beryl can get married now. Writing this chapter kind of reminded me, of watching one of my favorite shows: "Say yes to the dress". Same situation. Entourage said yes and the bride is happy ;-) Hope that you liked this Beryl-centered chapter. Thank you for reading and have a very nice weekend!