Happy Ever After by Janey Louise Jones Page B

don’t we, darling?” said Sol.
    â€œYes, we certainly have. It’ll be in two months’ time, Honey, at the end of the summer,” Sally told them. “We can’t wait!”
    â€œAnd where will it be?” asked Honey.
    â€œWe’re not sure yet,” replied Sally.
    â€œDo you have a theme?” Poppy wondered.
    â€œUm, gosh, we haven’t really thought about that sort of thing. I think you girls might know more about planning a wedding that we do!” said Sally, sounding a little flustered. “There certainly seems to be a lot to think about, and not much time. Oh dear, I do hope everything will run smoothly.”
    â€œDon’t you worry, my darling,” said Sol, putting his arm around his fiancée. “I just know that our day will be wonderful, whatever happens.”
    Sally smiled back at him.
    Just then Farmer and Mrs Meadowsweet arrived on their tractor. They were delivering some fertilizer for Sally’s flowers and had also come to talk about wedding plans.
    â€œCan you believe that man – making me come through the village in my nice frock on that stinking muck machine?” complained Mrs Meadowsweet.
    â€œThis is a very fine machine, I’ll have you know!” replied Farmer Meadowsweet indignantly. “And when did you get so la-di-dah?”
    â€œOh dear, is this what I’ve got to look forward to when we’re married?” whispered Sol to Sally. “They do say we all get more and more like our parents as we get older!”
    â€œDon’t be mean,” giggled Sally, giving him a playful slap. “We’ll never be like that, I promise.”
    â€œI’m not deaf, you know,” said Mrs Meadowsweet. “Honestly, we give you a tip-top barn dance and this is the way you talk about us! Now, how about telling us where you’ve got to with the wedding plans.”
    â€œWe have to go home now or we’ll be late for lunch,” Poppy said to Sally. “Thank you for showing us your ring. We would really like to help with wedding stuff – if you want us to, that is. Me and Honey are very good at organizing and making things, aren’t we?”
    Honey nodded her agreement.
    â€œOh, thank you, girls. You are sweet,” said Sally.
    â€œAren’t weddings just so cool, Honey?” sighed Poppy as they walked back towards their homes. “I think Sally and Sol are just like a fairytale prince and princess.”
    â€œYeah, they are. I can’t wait to see them on their wedding day,” agreed Honey. “But all that kissing and cuddling is a bit gross. When my mum and dad get all smoochy like that, I get really embarrassed, don’t you?”
    â€œI suppose so,” replied Poppy. “Although actually my mum and dad don’t really do that stuff – not any more anyway.”
    She said goodbye to Honey and walked up the garden path to her front door. She arrived in the kitchen to find Dad heating up soup for lunch. Mum was on the phone, taking a hat order for Sally’s wedding.
    â€œHello, darling,” said Dad. “Almost time for lunch.”
    While Poppy was waiting, she decided to have a look at Mum and Dad’s wedding album. She hadn’t looked at it for ages, and all the wedding chat had reminded her how much she loved their photos. She went into the sitting room and opened the cupboard where Mum kept all the family photographs in special albums. Her parents’ wedding album had a lovely satin cover and was tied with pretty ribbons . Poppy flipped the album open. She couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful shots of Mum and Dad. They looked so young and happy. In every picture they were laughing or cuddling or smiling at each other, very much like Sally and Sol were behaving at the moment. Mum’s dress was amazing, all lacy and delicate, and she wore a pretty floral headdress too. Dad was wearing a dark suit, crisp white shirt and lilac