she never seemed to remember he detested. ‘Why don’t you find a veterinary practice down here and move back? Daddy and I would help to buy a partnership.’
‘Because I’m happy where I am now, and not only do I like living in West Lancashire, but Lucy and I love our cottage – and we’re getting married in December.’
His mother’s mouth fell open in dismay, exhibiting thousands of pounds worth of dental implants so white they probably glowed in the dark. ‘Oh, no! I was hoping your unsuitable infatuation was finally wearing off. You could do so much better than a girl who makes dog coats for a living.’
‘But if they’re happy together …’ began Gerry Kenyon timidly, only to be quelled by his wife’s gorgon look.
‘We are happy, Dad, and though at first we were ploughing money back into Lucy’s business, this last year she’s earned as much as I have and had to take on one of her college friends to help her in the workshop, as well as extra outworkers.’
‘That’s very hard to believe,’ Pamela snapped.
‘Believe it or not, it’s the truth. And what’s more, she’s just got a huge order from a pet supply chain store, so the business is booming.’
‘That’s excellent news – well done, Lucy,’ Gerry said, too interested to think of his wife’s disapproval. ‘Remember when we were just setting up Crate Parties, Pammie? We worked all hours of the day and night to get the business off the ground – but it was fun,’ he added wistfully, suddenly wondering where the girl he’d married had gone … or even if he himself had slowly turned her into the monster she’d become by giving in to her increasing sulks and rages when she didn’t get her own way.
‘That was entirely different, Gerry,’ she said coldly. ‘And don’t call me Pammie!’
Matthew felt sorry for his father, though as always he wished he would stand up for himself more and not be quite such a doormat.
‘So, Lucy and I are getting married a couple of weeks before Christmas,’ Matt said firmly. ‘And of course I want you to be there – so long as you treat her and her mother with proper respect.’
‘I suppose Mrs Thomas is delighted that her daughter’s marrying a professional man. She’s so dreadfully common that I was surprised to find she had a secretarial job, rather than being a cleaner or some such thing,’ sneered his mother.
‘She’s not a secretary, but the personal assistant to a successful local businesswoman, who says she couldn’t manage without her,’ Matt said.
‘Really? I find that hard to believe – and I certainly never want to see her again after the things she said to me! I’ve never been spoken to like that in my life!’
‘She only gave you back as good as she got. You couldn’t expect her to stand for you being rude about Lucy,’ Matthew said. ‘And I won’t have it, either, because I love her and I’ve become very fond of Mrs Thomas, too.’
Gerry Kenyon gave his son a look of admiration and, emboldened, said, ‘You’re old enough to make up your own mind and you’ve been together now for a good ten years, so I’m very happy for you both. And of course we’ll chip in with some of the wedding costs, if Lucy’s mother can’t manage it all herself.’
‘We’ll do no such thing, Gerry!’ exclaimed his wife.
‘Thanks, Dad, but there’s no need. We’re having a small wedding in the local church and a reception with a buffet in the village hall.’
‘I suppose you mean that dreadful woman can’t afford to pay for a proper wedding?’ Pamela said.
‘Lucy’s mother has saved since Lucy was born to give her a big wedding, so it’s entirely our choice to have a simpler one.’
‘Well, whatever kind it is, if you go ahead you certainly won’t have my blessing, let alone any help in paying for it,’ his mother told him. ‘I couldn’t bear to watch you marrying a girl like that – it would break my heart!’
‘Oh, come now, Pammie, you’re going too far,’ Gerry protested. ‘Of course we’ll be there and we’ll at least pay for the honeymoon,’ he insisted.
Pamela stared at her husband, momentarily silenced by astonishment. It was such a long time since he’d dared to cross her that she’d forgotten he’d ever been capable of it.
‘That’s OK, Dad,’ Matthew said cheerfully. ‘We’ve already got everything covered and we’re delaying the honeymoon till spring, when we’re going to tour Cornwall in a vintage Volkswagen campervan. It’s booked and so are the church and village hall.’
‘Before you’ve even told us? Nobody considers my feelings!’ Pamela said, employing a handkerchief to dab her dry eyes.
‘I didn’t know you had any,’ Matthew snapped, losing patience.
‘Matthew! You wouldn’t have said that kind of thing to your mother before you met that girl,’ she said. Then, seeing his expression darken, she added quickly, ‘But I can see you’re set on marrying her, so I suppose we have no choice but to go along with it. You were always stubborn, from being a child.’
Matt thought that, in the circumstances, developing a stubborn streak had been a survival skill. And it was just as well he had, or by now he’d be married to the hunting-obsessed, ferret-faced girl with the plummy accent they invited to dinner every single time he was visiting!
When Matt got home I ruefully described Mum’s unexpected reaction to my news.
‘She’s totally obsessed with the idea of our having a traditional wedding and quite sure that’s what Dad would have wanted, so it was impossible to persuade her that it isn’t the kind we’d like at all! She just didn’t believe me.’
‘Your dad was putty in your hands and would have agreed to us tying the knot while skydiving, if that’s what you really wanted,’ Matt said, grinning. ‘And I’m just the same.’
I hit him with a cushion and Minnie jumped up and started dashing about, barking excitedly.
‘I do love the idea of a small, quiet vintage-style wedding with just our friends and immediate family. I mean, I don’t want to upset Mum, but on the other hand we’d really hate
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