03.09.16A.D. Part 3

The final course was either apple pie and custard or apple pie with ice-cream, for me it will always be with custard unless it’s a heat wave! Proper comfort food for me, but I wasn’t comforted today and like the wonderful 2^nd course I didn’t finish it, I just couldn’t, how could I? My child and his girlfriend was outside in the cold and wet while everyone was inside the warm laughing at the funny stories about the happy couple seen through the eyes of family and friends.

I had thought of poor Paul at home but my first propriety was them. I went to my phone that I’d put on charge in the secret place under the table and I’d missed a call from Daniel, was everything OK I wondered as I hurriedly rang him back, I asked, “You OK?” Daniel replied we are cold and bored,” He also asked how long I’d be? I told him “I don’t know,” I asked as only a Mum would, “Have been to the loo?” Daniel replied Susan went in the Indian restaurant where we had the take away but I didn’t want to go, I went at home.” I told Daniel that it was the speeches now so hopefully it would soon be over! But I was SO full up; none of us at the meal would be remotely ready for another meal not for many hours! So although I was more than ready for home I know Daniel and Susan had wasted their Saturday outside, alone wondering the streets!

At last after what seemed like an age it was over I went with Megan to my car I asked Daniel where he was, he said outside the Church, just opposite at the bus stop! And of course as only I could, I got lost trying to find the church!!!!! It took me half an hour to find it!!!!!!  They were cold; I then got lost trying to find the reception hall again!!!!! I had wished a 1000 times I’d said no to the invite! I have promised myself I’ll never say yes again if we all can’t go and it’s far away; it would have been OK if we were near, I could have simply picked them up.

The evening guests were arriving it was lovely to see old faces, some I’d not seen since I’d left school many moons ago. I didn’t know what time food would be served so I gave them both a muffin from the sweet and muffin bar, I asked them what they wanted to drink I gave Daniel £10 and didn’t get much change back. I didn’t plan to offer to buy another. After Susan had been seated 10 minutes my Mum whispered in my ear, “People are talking; Susan is not dressed for a wedding!” The many large rips in her jeans did stand out, but what could I do? She wasn’t my daughter I had no right to tell her what to wear. I dismissed it I had more important things to worry about, like when was the buffet going to be so, they could eat and I can quickly drive home, without nodding off!

While I waited for the buffet I looked at the posh guest seating list by the main entrance, it told people where they were sitting and to my horror there was at least 10 seats that were available, guest that didn’t turn up for the meal, my friend Sonja told me later on that evening, she’d asked 3 of her sons to not go to the hotel as planned for now there was spaces to be filled at the wedding tables, but they didn’t want to so those seats stayed empty! It was almost more than I could bear!

The cake was cut; it was a pretty looking cake! Then the first dance was had by the bride and groom, and then the music carried on as others joined on the dance floor. My tummy stayed in knots and while I smiled and said, “Hello” to many people including the bride, Megan and myself had told her the dress was, “Wonderful, the food and the Muffin bar and that if she was on Four Weddings we were sure she would have won,” all I could think of was I didn’t want Daniel’s and Susan’s day to be wasted! I wanted them to eat and then I wanted to go!

My Mum and Auntie are very close almost like twins, so I asked my Mum, “What time would the buffet be? As I wanted Daniel and Susan to eat so I could travel back.” It should have been 730pm but everything was late because of the bride! Mum said, “I’ll find out for you”, Mum soon returned and told me, “In a side room now there is a small hot buffet,” I asked the kids to, “Follow me,” to the out of the way small room certainly not easy to find, I had a bit and the kids ate. I looked at the time and was horrified to see it was 10.30pm!

I said, “Goodnight” to Mum, the wedding hall was packed now with the day and evening guests the night was young for them, as the wedding guests a lot of them were sleeping over in the nearby hotel, and really that was a great thing to do. We couldn’t afford 2 to 3 nights in a hotel, plus we have animals to look after, money was tight and I’d spent far more than I’d planned on this wedding.

Before we left the house, I’d already told the kids on the way home to talk to me, to make sure I didn’t nod off to ask me questions that I had to reply to, they said they would, so inside the car I reminded them they must talk to me and ask me and I must reply, they replied, “We will.” I rang Paul just before I drove off to let him know we just leaving, I asked him, “How’s your hand?” He replied, “Very sore.”

Two minutes into the journey, Daniel asked me, “How old are you?” I asked him, “Why are you asking such a silly question?” He replied, “You asked me to talk to you,” I said, “Not yet, I’m still wide awake, ask me 30 minutes from now.” Megan asked a few questions then she put her ear plugs in and listened to her music on her iphone! Susan fell asleep, so it was just me and Daniel he did a grand job, but it was tough for me, I was scared, I went extra slow 40mph or less so that I would be more in control if I was to nod off. I put the radio on and made sure the window was open a bit so I wouldn’t be too warm. Sometimes Daniel would be quiet for longer than I’d like, so I’d ask him questions, and remind him he had to speak to me now.

It took me just over 2 hours to get home, Megan was the first to go in the house and Paul was very cross with her he said, “I thought you were all dead, I rang your mobile and your Mum’s and got no reply!!! Why did it take SO long?” I explained to Paul, “I went extra slow to keep us all safe, so don’t be cross with Megan.”

It was good to be home it had been a very stressful day. I found out a few days after, that  the small hot meal the kids had before we went home, there was a huge buffet much later on, and that was lovely for those who went on the evening reception for a lot of them stayed over at the hotel and went home the next day.

Paul asked me, “Was the wedding good?” I told him, “The actual wedding was perfect, could not fault it, just wished when people say, ‘no kids’ they realize the hassles they put parents through.”            

I wish my Cousin and his lovely Bride well. Xx xx