Page 42 of Four of Hearts

Margaret handed Grace the ring for Harry. She took it, held it for a moment, glanced at Arthur, then took Harry’s hand.

‘Harry, you make me feel safe, loved, and never alone. You’re gruff, stubborn, and bloody-minded, and there’s no one else I’d rather spend my life with. I promise to stand beside you, laugh with you, argue with you occasionally, and to love every scar on that face of yours for the rest of my days.’

The laughter this time was louder, and Grace pushed her father’s wedding ring on to Harry’s finger.

‘Well, what are you waiting for?’ Margaret bellowed. ‘Kiss the brides, for goodness sake!’

Harry lifted a hand to Grace’s face. He held it in her own, both wedding rings glinting.

‘I love you,’ Harry said.

‘Ditto,’ said Grace.

And they kissed.

EIGHTEEN

The reception was a whirlwind. Everyone at the Fountain had sorted out the most amazing carvery Harry had ever seen. The smell of Cockett’s meat roasting in the pub had met Harry and Grace as they’d arrived in Hawes’ marketplace and clambered out of a wedding vehicle neither of them had been expecting.

‘Do you have a secret barn somewhere filled with vehicles no one knows about?’ Harry had asked, as, back in West Witton, Dave had opened the rear door of a very old, pristine, Series One Land Rover. It was a long wheel base, painted in heritage green with gleaming chrome trim, the back done out in beige leather, with cushions, silk, and bunting added for the occasion. Harry wasn’t so sure it was comfortable, but he could appreciate the thought, and the amount of work Dave must have put in to restoring it.

Dave’s response had been simple: ‘Working on the rigs, the money’s good. Always liked cars. Bought a few, that’s all.’ He’d then added, ‘And no funny business in the back, you hear? I’ll be watching.’

With a laugh from Harry, and a playful slap from Grace, they’d sat back in the leather seats, and enjoyed the ride back upthe dale. Behind them, Ben and Liz had followed, chauffeured by Jadyn in a Triumph Stag, provided for the day courtesy of Mike.

Harry had wondered if the pub would close for the day, because of the sheer volume of people coming along to the reception. Instead, the bar had been kept open, so that anyone and everyone could come along and join in the fun. Though there was an official list of guests for the reception itself, if only to make sure that enough food was provided, the pub had remained busy throughout the afternoon and evening. Those not on the guest list had respectfully stayed in the bar, spilled out onto the street, and filled the car park round the back of the pub. At no point during the day had Harry had to worry about getting himself a drink. Mostly, he seemed to be chasing at least three, bought for him by a waving hand here, and a smiling face there. To Harry’s relief, none of Dave’s goats escaped. It was a small point, true, but one that had had the potential to go very wrong indeed.

Once the carvery was near enough done, everyone had settled in for the speeches. Harry had been nervous, but a quick pep talk from Matt had put an end to that, as had a nip from the hipflask he’d had in his pocket. Arthur somehow managed to pull off both a speech as Grace’s dad, and stand-in for Liz, making himself cry, as well as pretty much everyone else in attendance. Matt’s speech, which was apparently on behalf of the whole of the Dales, was a whistlestop tour of Harry and Ben’s lives, peppered with just enough humour to keep everyone engaged. Ben’s speech had been short, the words of a man who had yet to fully come to terms with just how different his life now was. And Harry’s had been pretty much the same, though he’d thrown in a few more stories here and there, because he knew from experience that sometimes a memory shared with a wider audience was the best thank you that you could ever give. Finally, Grace and Liz had stood up, and as a double-act,brought the speeches to a close, with a thank you to everyone for coming along, and a final toast.

A good while later, and with the food done, the spectacular wedding cake cut, and a cheese board let loose, Harry was with Grace out the front of the Fountain, as Gordy and Jameson made to leave.

‘Thank you,’ Gordy said. ‘And you know why, I’m sure, so I won’t be going into it or getting all emotional.’

‘Just wanted Anna to be a part of it,’ said Grace.

‘She was already,’ said Gordy. ‘Her ring looks lovely on Liz’s finger. But having everyone down by the river? That was really special.’

‘It certainly was,’ said Harry.

For a moment, no one said a word. A faint breeze hushed past, and to Harry it seemed as though Anna had swung by just to make sure everything was going nice and smoothly.

‘You’ve done bloody well, Harry,’ Jameson said. ‘I’m not going to say you deserve it, because that always makes me think that those who don’t get to have all of this don’t deserve it, and that’s not the case. What I will say, though, is that I couldn’t be happier for you, and that even though it’s been a long time coming, I reckon it’s been well worth the wait, don’t you?’

Grace gave Jameson the softest of kisses on the cheek.

‘Visit soon, okay?’ she said.

‘I will.’

Harry wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself. He’d never hugged Jameson in his life, but now, such an act seemed almost inevitable.

‘Come here, you massive idiot,’ Jameson said, and before Harry could react, he’d thrown his arms around him.

Harry returned the gesture, then they both pulled away.

‘I’ve never said this before, but now seems about the right time,’ Jameson said, eyeballing Harry. ‘I know I’m not your dad,mainly because he was an arsehole, I know, but ignoring that, I just want you to know, that had I been, I can honestly say, I could not have been more proud.’

Before Harry had a chance to respond, Jameson turned on his heels and walked away.