“Two.” Lake pulled up in front of the castle. “And a panic room.”
As they got out of the car, the castle’s front door opened and her mother raced out. Kirsty felt her stomach clench and fear rise at the look on her mum’s face. She rushed to her side.
“What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
“You need to come with me, right now.” Her mother turned and hurried back into the house.
Kirsty flashed a worried glance at Lake and saw he had his head together with Ryan and Dougal. He caught her eyes and nodded at her. A reassurance. Heart racing, Kirsty followed her mother into the castle.
“Come on,” Margaret said from the top of the stairs.
Kirsty ran up them and followed her mum into the blue guest room. And stopped dead.
“What’s going on?” she said.
Her wedding dress was out of the bag and draped over the bed. Her shoes sat on the floor beside it. Her makeup bag was set up on the dresser.
“Quick.” Her mother tugged her into the room and closed the door behind them. “You need to jump in the shower. Make it fast—we have less than an hour to get you ready.”
Kirsty was rooted to the spot. “For what?”
“Your wedding, silly girl.” Her mother shooed her in the direction of the bathroom. “Get on with it.”
“But how?” Kirsty’s head was spinning as she let herself be herded where her mum wanted her to be.
“Buts and hows later. All you need to know is that Dougal and I took care of everything. We commandeered a snowmobile and picked up supplies. You wanted a Leap Day wedding and you’re going to get one.” She reached up and cupped her daughter’s cheek. “It’s the least you deserve. Now, hop to it. Shower. Time’s ticking.”
Kirsty felt hope surge inside her, but it didn’t feel right. “I can’t get married when Mitch and Alastair are in hospital. It seems like a callous thing to do.”
“Don’t be daft,” her mother snapped. “You think those boys wouldn’t want you to have your special day? You can call them if you’d like, but I know what they’d say. They’d tell you to listen to your mother.”
“But...” Kirsty wasn’t so sure.
“No buts.” Her mother pushed her into the bathroom. “You know I’m right. It’s time to stop waiting and marry that man.”
Kirsty found herself alone with the bathroom door closed firmly behind her. She stood staring at herself in the mirror for a minute wondering what the heck was happening. How could she get married when the castle was a bombsite? All the food would be ruined by now, and she wasn’t even sure if the vicar stayed awake this late.
“I don’t hear the shower running,” her mother shouted. “Don’t make me come in there.”
With a giggle, Kirsty started to undress. Excitement began to froth through her veins. She was getting married. It was actually happening. At last.
Years of performing quick changes on fashion shoots meant Kirsty was ready for her ceremony in forty-five minutes. She’d parted her hair in the middle and left it loose around her shoulders in gentle, spiralling waves. Her lips were a pale pink, to match her cheeks. Her eyes were dark and smoky, in shades of purple to make her dress pop and her green eyes luminous.
Her dress was the same blue/purple of the Campbell tartan. Kirsty had it made for her by a friend from her days as a model. It was a form-fitting fishtail shape that flared out gently from mid-thigh to fall to floor length. It was sleeveless, with one shoulder uncovered, and the other had a large chiffon flower pinned to it, in the exact same shade as the dress. The material came down from the shoulder to wrap around her body, following her curves into the fishtail. She’d matched the dress with simple metallic silver sandals with a high pencil heel and thin straps that wound around her ankle and toes. Drop earrings in silver, two oversized silver bangles around her right wrist and her engagement ring were her only jewellery.
Her mother saw her and covered her mouth with her hands. Her eyes welled up.
“You are so beautiful.” She rushed towards Kirsty, stopping an inch in front of her. “Am I allowed to touch you? Will I ruin the look?”
Kirsty laughed and pulled her mum into a hug. “It’s all really simple. There’s nothing to ruin.”
“I can’t believe you’re getting married,” her mother said on a sob.
“I can’t believe it either. I thought we’d missed our chance to do this today. I keep thinking this is all a dream and I’ll wake up to find my wedding dress was trashed in the raid.”
“This is definitely real, although you might wish it wasn’t when you catch sight of Betty.”
Kirsty narrowed her eyes. “What’s the old witch done now?”