went down on one knee and everything and he’d already got the ring and it fitted. It’s like this big flower and all these little coloured stones and it was just so romantic. God, there is so much to do; we were thinking Christmas? Sleigh bells, reindeer – maybe we should fly everyone out to Lapland, what do you think? I’m going need your help to get this together because Max is really busy. I mean, what are the chances of there being any decent snow in England? And you know I’ve always loved snow, mind you maybe we could hire one of those machines. Is that a bit naff? Oh, isn’t it exciting, Mum? If we had snow I could have one of those fur-trimmed hoods and a long cloak and the pageboys could wear tartan waistcoats. Maybe we could have it in Scotland. Oh my God, they could all wear kilts then – Max is shaking his head. What do you think? Aren’t you going to say something?’
Molly opened her mouth to speak but there weren’t any words in there.
‘Mum? Are you still there?’ asked Jess, sounding a little anxious, and then presumably to Max, said, ‘I think she might be cracking up.’
Never a truer word was spoken, thought Molly. Finally she found her voice and said, ‘Well, well done you – both of you – congratulations. Look, do you think I can ring you back later? We’re right slap-bang in the middle of a show here…’
‘I know. They’re playing our song,’ said Jess wistfully.
‘Look, I’ve got to go, sweetie. We’re interviewing some guy who is singlehandedly trying to save the British fishing industry. He uses comedy to make his message more interesting.’
‘Uh-huh, the bad-tempered herring juggler in the bear suit,’ said Jess.
‘That’ll be the one,’ said Molly. ‘How did you know?’
‘Stan told me about him. You are pleased though, aren’t you? You know, about me and Max?’
‘Of course I am, I’m really pleased for both of you. Have you rung your dad yet?’
‘No, he and Marnie are still away on a cruise at the moment. We’ve just emailed them. And then we’re going to ring Max’s parents. You don’t sound very pleased,’ said Jess.
‘I’m working, sweetie.’
‘I wanted you to know first.’
Robbie sang on in Molly’s headphones.
‘So you are pleased?’
‘Of course I’m pleased. Just a bit shocked. You know me, it’s not often that I’m speechless.’ Molly forced a laugh, trying hard to recover her composure. ‘It’s a bit of a surprise, that’s all. I mean, I hadn’t realised that it was that serious.’ Inwardly Molly groaned. ‘Though I mean, obviously it is,’ she stumbled on. ‘Look, can I ring you back later?’
‘Okay,’ said Jess, giggling.
‘Have you rung Jack yet?’
Jess snorted. ‘Not yet, every time I ring my little brother’s phone it goes to voicemail. I’m sure he’s trying to avoid me.’
‘I don’t think it’s you, Jess, I think it’s Pippa.’
‘No! Pippa? She’s not still after him, is she? Are you serious? They split up months ago. She must be mad…’
‘I think that is the general consensus. He thinks she’s stalking him.’
‘Really? God, shows how long it is since I’ve talked to him. Mind you, she must be desperate if she’s stalking Jack. Anyway, I’ll leave him a message.’
‘I’ve got to go –’
‘Talk to you later,’ Jess said, and then the line went dead.
‘You okay?’ asked Stan through Molly’s headphones.
‘What do you think? What the hell are you playing at, putting Jess through live on air?’
‘It was lovely. Really touching – and I thought you’d want to know.’
‘I did, but not on air – it was nuts to put her through. What the hell are they going to say upstairs?’
‘They’ll love it,’ said Stan. ‘Trust me. The phone lines are jammed solid. See you at three.’
As soon as they finished broadcasting Molly unhooked the pocket battery pack for her radio mike and her headphones and handed them back to Phil. ‘I just need to thank the guys who were on the show.’
‘Sure thing – and congratulations, Mum,’ Phil said, with a grin.
Molly turned to her guests and the impromptu audience that had gathered around the radio car. ‘Thanks for coming along, you were brilliant. Great show, we’ve had lots of calls. Well done,’ she said warmly, shaking hands and paws and smiling, signing autographs and handing out pens and balloons and various other station freebies to anyone who wanted them.
‘Congratulations on the wedding,’ said one woman brightly.
Molly smiled. ‘Thank you.’
‘Very exciting. Did you know anything about it?’
‘No, not at all – bit of a surprise,’ said Molly, scribbling her name on a glossy eight-by-ten.
‘Oh, it’ll be lovely,’ said the woman. ‘One minute you’re taking them to nursery school, next thing you know they’re getting married. My oldest daughter got married last year – I’m a granny now.’
Phil meanwhile was putting away the PA system, and retracting the giant aerial which very slowly slid down into the body of the car like a giant periscope all clad around with a curl of gold cable.
‘Ah, show business,’ he said, as Molly handed out an autographed paper sunhat to a small child with a horribly runny nose and what looked like it might be impetigo.
‘Thanks for coming,’ said Molly, ignoring Phil. ‘And I hope you have a lovely holiday.’ The little boy skipped away to rejoin an exhausted-looking young woman in a sundress who, along with a bad case of sunburn, had a baby on one arm and was heavily pregnant. Molly caught herself staring; the young woman looked a lot like Jessica. Another five years or so and it could be Jessica. Looking away Molly dropped the give-aways back into a plastic stacker box.
‘You are extremely cynical for one so young,’ she replied, sliding the box into the back of the car.
Phil apparently took it as a compliment. ‘Jess telling everyone she was getting married on air was a masterstroke. Did you know she was going to do it?’
‘Of course I didn’t know,’ said Molly indignantly. ‘It’s incredibly unprofessional –’
‘There’s nothing people like better than a bit of romance. We could do a feature on the show, do a countdown to Jessica’s big day. Have a competition – I can see the strapline on the website now, “Be a bridesmaid at Jessie’s Big Fat Norfolk Wedding” You want me to bring it up at today’s planning meeting?’
Molly
