9th December 2022

It has been months since I read Aunt Adaline's letters. There are a few more diary entries in December and I hope to read them soon but in the meantime I have been throwing myself into The Astoria.

But now it is complete. Ahead of schedule too, much to everyone's surprise. Perhaps mine most of all. From the moment I first walked in, looked around and saw the level of work needed I had been afraid it would be never-ending. Each new problem that popped up only served to build my worry.

Tommy had seemed confident though. I suppose he has been doing it a lot longer than I have and I should have trusted him. When he called me to say the finishing touches were being added and the furniture was arriving I had been so shocked. "What's left to do then?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all. It's done, you did it." He replied and I could hear that massive grin in his voice.

I let that sink in for a moment, the weirdest feeling in my chest. I was excited it was done but it also felt like the end of something huge. Something that had filled my time, my heart and my life for almost a year now. "We did it." I breathed by way of a response.

"Yes we did. Adaline would be so proud of you."

Somehow Tommy always knew the exact right thing to say and the warm feeling in my chest grew. It was love I realised. Love for him. Love for the Astoria. 

Albeit it tinged with the sadness that my Aunt wasn't here to see it.

I planned to visit The Astoria before heading to Tommy's later today. Sometimes I just like to go and bask in what we have achieved!

Tonight Tommy was attending the BAFTA's and he had invited me along as his plus one. To say I was worried about attending a huge award ceremonies with hundreds of celebrities was frankly an understatement. 

We had been keeping our dating quiet and whilst most of our friends and colleagues knew, it wasn't exactly general knowledge. 

Something that was likely to change tonight. I had initially been so hesitant to put myself out there like that and Tommy had been really understanding about needing to go alone. 

And then I found out she was going.

Melanie Price posted a preview of the red satin fabric of her dress and I just knew there and I was going to have to go or drive myself mad at home waiting. I hated that Tommy still worked alongside her after she kissed him like that. Especially knowing that had it been the other way around she would have screamed harassment or tried to destroy him.

He still didn't quite get why I hated her so much. Something about her and how she behaved rubbed me up the wrong way. The way she hung off Tommy when she was around him. She had even posted about looking forward to attending the awards with him.

I had asked him not to tell anyone that I was coming. Half because I wanted the chance to chicken out if I needed to and half because I couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she saw us together. Petty? Maybe. But I was looking forward to it anyway.

Megan had offered to pick up the dress I had chosen and meet me at Tommy's to help me get ready. She knew just how nervous I was and over the last year we had definitely grown closer. I really considered her a friend now.

If anyone would know how to calm me down before we left it would be her.

Pushing aside my nerves about the evening plans I turned down the high street and rolled passed the Astoria. My smile grew as I looked on with pride. There she is. My big, beautiful building. Ready to make memories and see love again.

Parking up and letting myself in I breathed in deeply in the main lobby. It was so perfect. Every inch gleaming and vibrant again.

I picture that moment William passed my Aunt for the first time and their eyes connected. I couldn't wait to share this with the world. 

The current layout was neatly spaced tables and chairs ahead of our upcoming Craft and Wedding fair but after that I would be recreating one of the original photos to show how much we had achieved.

Each room had a life and a personality now and it was all so worth it.

I snapped a photo of the room to send to the attendees of the fair so I could explain where they would each sit. That had been my excuse for making the trip. 

With no more reason to stay I reluctantly closed up. "It's looking beautiful." A passer by commented.

"Thank you, the opening is tomorrow if you want to see inside." I point to the sign for the fair and he smiles.

"I will be there. It has been a long time since Wynford had reason to celebrate and after the last couple of years I am going to support anything that brings us together again." He said and tipped his hat before heading off up the path.

Did people still tip there hats? I didn't know that was a real thing! "See you there." I call out and he waves as he disappears round the corner.

That's one of the luxuries of small town life. The people are so much more friendly and willing to stop and chat than those around where I live. In my fast-paced London life. For work, that's ideal but I'm starting to prefer the more laidback outlook of Wynford.

I never thought I'd ever be back here after Aunt Addie and now look at me.

With a small shake of my head I make my way to my car and drive the short distance to Tommy's. He could live anywhere. He has more than enough money to. 

That's why it's weirdly endearing that he chooses to stay in his family home. 

I liked staying at Tommy's. His home is like Aunt Adaline's in layout but modern and different enough that I could separate the two in my mind. We currently split our time pretty evenly between each of our homes. I noticed him trying to broach the topic of moving in last week and quickly changed the subject. There has been a lot of change over the last year or so and I really don't want to overdo it before I'm ready.

When I pull up outside his I can't help but smile at him waving excitedly from the window. He always says that he doesn't sit there waiting for me and just checks regularly, but every time I get there he is waving and waiting.

The front door opens and I slide out of the car. Grabbing the small suitcase containing all my make-up and a pair of shoes for tonight. I've started keeping a few changes of clothes here for emergencies. Megan says that is as good as moving in but I am pretty sure she is just being dramatic. 

"I've missed you," Tommy whispers pulling me in for a kiss that makes my heart stutter.

"I've missed you more." I reply when we finally break apart again.

"Not possible." Tommy laughs, "What all this?"

He gestures to the rollers pinned in my hair. "This," I say snootily, "Is how I am going to make sure my hair looks incredible later."

"You always look incredible." He doesn't skip a beat and I laugh.

"You are too smooth for your own good!" I flap his hand away as he tries to tug my hair, "I paid good money for this! Stop!" 

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything." Megan's amused voice has me spinning and she's stood there with the biggest grin on her face and huge black bag containing my dress.

I let out a squeak of excitement and pull her in for a hug. That's another thing that's changed I suppose. With no longer keeping everyone at arms length emotionally I have found I'm quite a hug-loving person. A fact that Tommy finds hilarious considering how I was when I first met him.  

"Oooo let's see." Tommy reaches for the dress bag, but with reflexes a superhero would be proud of she spins out of his reach.

"No! You can't see the dress until the event." She hisses, clutching it to her chest.

He rolls his eyes, "That's weddings Meg."

"I don't care Tom. You're not getting anywhere near this thing until she's wearing it." Megan gives her most threaten look which is surprisingly intimidating given her small stature.

I shake my head at the way they bicker like brother and sister. There's something comforting about how they get on so well even if they do annoy each other.

"Well the sooner I get in it and ready the sooner you can see it." I point out.

With a long suffering sigh Tommy leads us back to the house. I'm already half-way up the stairs when he calls after us. "How long is this going to take?"

"It will take as long as it needs to take!" Megan laughs, herding me up before I can respond.

I see him wander into the kitchen laughing as we make our way to the guest room. On the way through I pass the master bedroom and look at Tommy's suit hooked on the door. The navy blue trousers about to perfectly compliment what I will wear. Not that he knows it yet.

With the door firmly closed behind us Megan hooks the dress on the back and slowly unzips it. The dress takes my breath away as much as it did the first time. A stunning navy blue gown with cap sleeves and cut-outs at the waist. It perfectly accentuates my best features and makes me feel like a princess. I've never been the type of girl who wanted to twirl around in a dress, but when I tried this one on I was giddy with excitement and I understood that feeling. 

"Let's get you ready." Megan smiles, guiding me towards the bed. 

I sit on it, cross-legged and face tilted towards the window as I allow her to work her magic with make-up. She is entirely focused on the task of making me beautiful and it allows me the time for my mind to drift back to my Aunt's letters. I want to do something with them. It feels so selfish to keep them all.

I briefly considered tracking down William's family so they could see how loved he was but his parents have long since passed and there was no mention of him having any siblings. I just don't want their story to be forgotten, the way it almost was. 

A love story, even if it ends in tragedy, is still a love worth remembering.

"Nearly there." Megan murmurs after what seems like an age.

I may not know a lot about make-up but there's a real talent in the way she buffs and blends, smoothing every inch of the make-up into my skin until she is finally satisfied.

"Can I look?" I ask when she finally sits back on her heels and smiles.

"Nope, I want you in the dress and to sort your hair first so you get the full effect." She shakes her head with grin.

"Bossy." I tease and she laughs as she helps me slip into the dress.

It glides over my skin and settles with a slight train. My fingers brush over the pleated bodice, touching the cut outs a little self-consciously. "You look beautiful." Megan reassures, "Now sit so I can sort this hair."

I obey and let her set to work gently unpinning it. She scolds me when I try to help and distracts me with conversations about the Winthorpe wedding. My work being one of my favourite subjects means it works like a charm.

"And you are done." Megan leans back to admire her handiwork.

Nerves hit me out of nowhere as I approach the mirror. The woman looking back at me feels familiar and like a stranger at the same time. Perfectly smooth skin, a light brown smoky eye, big bouncy curls and matte red lips. I bring my hand to them and the beautiful stranger copies. "Wow," I breathe, "This is actually witchcraft or something."

Megan laughs and comes to stand behind, "So you like it then?"

I turn to face her, nearly losing my balance in my strappy silver heels, "I love it. I can't thank you enough for doing this."

There are two soft knocks on the door, "You decent in there?" Tommy calls out.

Megan grins at me and steps back so he will have a clear sight of me. "Come in."

The door opens and Tommy's playful gaze falls on me and his jaw drops open in shock, "Fucking hell. I can't take you out looking like that."