Chapter 39

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While I'm sat at the kitchen table lost in a vision of how I see the advert for Banner Hotels playing out on screen, my phone begins to ring.

I quickly glance at the clock and notice that it's just after ten in the morning before seeing Callum's name on the screen. Daniel's childhood friend and our builder immediately sounds stressed when I answer the phone.

"Lizzie... thank God you answered! Are you available today?"

"Callum? What's up?" Sitting up right in my chair, I take a deep breath for whatever news he has to share from our Cotswolds home.

"I can't get hold of Daniel..." he practically shouts causing me to hold the phone at a slight distance from my ear.

"He's on set today. What's going on?" I respond immediately, desperate to know what's gone wrong.

"Shit! The designer is here ready to complete the order for the home cinema. Daniel made the appointment, but he hasn't turned up and he's not answering his phone. I had a text from him about ten minutes ago that said he was sorry but he wasn't available today. He said you will need to meet with the designer, and that you know what to order!" His tone becomes more frantic with each word. "If this doesn't get sorted today it puts the rest of the project on hold... and I know you both want it all finished before the twins are here!"

My brow furrows deeply, knowing it's unlike Daniel to make an appointment and not keep it. "That's so strange... he knew he was away filming." I stand up and begin trawling through Daniel's design folder with the phone pinned between my ear and shoulder. Placed on the top are the sketches we put together for how we want the room to look, along with printouts of ideas for the decor and materials. "I've found the designs. Can I send pictures for you to go through them with the designer?"

"He's here now, Lizzie. I really think you should come up and talk him through what you and Daniel are looking for! I can't make the kind of decisions that he's going to be wanting from you today."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, not really wanting to drive up to the Cotswolds today when I have so much work to do.

"Please, Lizzie. This guy is really difficult to get an appointment with, so he's not sure when he will be able to come back." Callum's voice is strained. I can practically see him pacing as he talks to me.

"Give me ten minutes and I'll be on my way." I end the call without another word, slamming my laptop shut with a bit too much force.

As I ascend the stairs to get dressed, I repeatedly attempt to ring Daniel. When he doesn't answer for the fifth time, I decide to leave a message. "Hi. It's me. Can you call me back as soon as you get this message please! I'm not sure why you would think it was a good idea to make this appointment for today, or why you've told Callum I can deal with it without talking to me first. It's not a problem, but a heads up would have been nice... I'm busy too, you know!" I sigh loudly. "Like I said, call me back!"

Quickly, I change into a knee length stretchy navy dress and run my fingers through my hair in an attempt to tame the waves. Applying some minimal makeup, I grab my cardigan, the project folder, and make my way out to the car.

Repeatedly I check my phone during the journey, but it just stares blankly back at me. I can feel my frustration with him rising, so I decide to put a cheesy eighties pop playlist on and take some deep breaths. Somewhere between Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody and A-ha's Take On Me, I finally realise that I feel calm and at ease.

Turning up our sweeping driveway, I can't see any cars parked outside the front of our house.  "That's strange." I mutter to myself as I turn down the volume of Starship's Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now.

I step out of my car and pause to look around me. The house and surroundings are completely silent, where I expected our home to be a bustling hub of activity. Reaching back into my car, I dial Callum's number. The frown across my face only deepens when he fails to answer. I quickly dial Daniel's number, knowing that he won't answer either. "This is bullshit!" I groan while I lock my car and approach the front door.

Considering there should be at least four builders working here, I'm surprised that the front door is locked. Reaching into my handbag, I grab the front door key and allow the front door to swing open. My heart begins to pound at the wall of silence that greets me. "Hello? Callum?"

I step inside and close the front door behind me. "Callum?" I shout, but hear nothing in response. Presuming he must be down in the basement, I begin to walk towards the kitchen door when I notice, out of the corner of my eye, a piece of paper tied with a cream ribbon to the bottom of the bannister at the foot of the staircase.

Walking across, I immediately recognise Daniel's handwriting.

Upstairs xxx

I stand perfectly still for a few seconds, bemused by the note. What is going on? Is he here? "Daniel?" I call up the stairs, angling my body so I can see all the way up. My eyes focus on cream rose petals that are scattered up each of the steps. My heart flutters at the sight before me.

Ascending the stairs a little cautiously, and feeling my hands tremble against the bannister, my body emits a nervous laugh. "What's going on?" Expecting to hear silence again, I'm surprised when I hear what can only be muffled giggles.

When I reach the top of the stairs, I notice another handwritten note tied with a cream ribbon hanging across a photograph of Daniel and I on the wall.

Keep following the rose petals...

A smile spreads widely across my face pondering what on Earth he could be up to. But, my thoughts are distracted when I realise that someone is standing at the other end of the landing. I yelp in surprise, protectively cupping my bump. My eyes focus when I hear a familiar voice.

"Took you long enough to get here, sweetheart." My Dad smirks mischievously.

"Dad, what's going on? Why are you here? Where is Daniel?" I hit him with a barrage of questions while I walk towards him. Through the confusion in my head, I realise that my Dad is dressed in a black tuxedo complete with a black bow tie. He is cleanly shaven and his hair is perfectly styled. "Why are you dressed like that?"

He smiles at my questions. "All will be revealed, my darling..." he gestures for me to walk passed him and into my bedroom. I stop to engulf him in a hug, and he immediately reciprocates, holding me close for a minute or two.

Dad then steps back so I can enter my bedroom. My heart practically stops beating when I see my Mom, Caroline, Sarah and Robin. "Surprise!" They all shout in unison while Sarah loudly pops open a bottle of champagne. Unexpectedly, I burst into tears, sobbing loudly at the sight before me. Can this really be happening? My brain feels like it has turned to mush.

"Lizzie... don't cry! It's your wedding day!" My Mom steps forward, firstly placing her glass of champagne down before cupping my soaking wet face in her hands. Her words along with her loving gesture make me look up at her in surprise.

"It's my what?" I whimper, unable to comprehend that this is actually happening.

"Lizzie's going to her back garden, and she's going to get ma-a-a-ried..." Sarah animatedly sings to the tune of the Dixie Cups' Going to the Chapel.

"Where is Daniel?" I ask, looking around the bedroom.

"You know it's bad luck to see the groom before the wedding." Caroline chuckles softly as she kisses my forehead. "You will see him very soon!"

"Is this why you've all been too busy to see me this last week?" I mumble while attractively wiping my running nose.

They all nod enthusiastically. "Daniel wanted to make today perfect for you, so we've all had our duties to fulfil this week." My Dad puts his hands on my shoulders. "Now, as much as I know you ladies love to chat... you really need to start getting ready..."

I glance down at my navy dress, but then I hear Robin clear her throat. I immediately look up at her, perplexed by why she is here.

"Come with me." Robin beams at me, clapping her hands excitedly before her face. She turns on her stiletto heels, and strides into the dressing room.

I look towards Caroline and Sarah who both nod for me to follow her. Their enormous grins let me know that I'm in for a big surprise.

Tentatively, I walk after her, but stop in my tracks when I realise what they have to show me. A fresh deluge of tears erupts from me, causing my chest to heave. Feeling my Mom's arms wrap around me, she kisses my temple while I lean into her.

"What do you think?" Robin asks nervously while standing to the side of three dresses hanging from the outside of the wardrobes.

In the middle is a beautiful cream wedding dress. The top is embroidered with lace, with delicate lace straps. The lace continues in an intricate pattern until just below the bust where it fades into a plain and flowing soft material to reach the floor. The style appears that it will fit my ever expanding form wonderfully.

On either side of my wedding dress are light grey strapless bridesmaid dresses. The plain material compliments my wedding dress perfectly.

I step forward to glide my hands across them, completely speechless by how stunning and soft they are. "Oh Robin, these are perfect!"

She laughs, but I can hear the relief in her tone. "Let's get your hair and make up done then shall we? You don't want to keep Daniel waiting!"

I spin round to look at the people I love the most, other than Daniel. "Well... lets get married then!"

- hey guys

I hope you are all safe and well at this difficult and strange time! I'm sorry for the delay in uploading this chapter, but things have been pretty crazy!

Please let me know what you think of this chapter - I think most of you saw this coming!

I hope you think the surprise is perfect for them.

Thank you for still reading and please tick the little star. Love T x -

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