Strings Attached (40 page)

‘Morning, again.’

‘Hello,’ she answered subdued.

‘Look, I know this is really awkward and I’m really sorry for putting you both in this position,’ George began, sighing and taking another drink of her coffee.

‘I’ve explained things to Marisa, I hope you don’t mind. I’ve told her the wedding is going ahead as planned and she’s not to mention anything to anyone,’ Helen informed them.

‘Mum
said it was one last fling before you got hitched. Is that what it was? One last fling? Because
George has
been acting weird for months. I put two and two together about the designer bikini and the bling, but no one would have it,’ Marisa piped up.

‘No, it isn’t one last fling,’ Quinn told her.

‘Quinn
...
’ George said, wishing he didn’t feel the need to elaborate.

‘It’s complicated,’ Quinn replied, taking hold of George’s hand.

‘Friggin’ Hell! You’re in love aren’t you?!’ Marisa exclaimed, putting her hands to her mouth.

‘Sshh Marisa, we agreed. You have to be discreet,’ Helen ordered.

‘That’s D-I-S-C-R-E-E-T,’ Quinn told her.

‘What?’ Marisa questioned.

‘Take no notice of him, he’s an idiot.’

‘But a hot idiot.’

‘Listen, there’s something else you should know - about Adam,’ George began with a swallow.

‘Like where he is? Because he didn’t come home last night. Does he know about this fling that isn’t a fling, you know, the one I’m not supposed to mention?’ Marisa asked them.

‘No, he doesn’t know and I don’t want him to know. He’s got too much other stuff going on right now,’ George informed them.

‘Then where is he? Why isn’t he here?’ Marisa questioned.

‘Well, you know we had an argument and
...
’

‘It’s my fault isn’t it? Because I didn’t want Belch putting his hands all over me. I know I did before, but I don’t now and Adam was only tryin
g to help and I upset him and...
’

‘Adam’s my son. I told him last night and he’s obviously shocked and upset and he doesn’t want to see me,’ George blurted out as quickly as she could.

‘You’re shittin’ me!’

‘Marisa!’ Helen exclaimed shocked by her daughter’s language.

‘OK, are we done here? I’m going to go and check on Adam. He’s meant to be at a rehearsal this morning. I’ll call you, let you know,’ Quinn said, kissing George on the lips and heading for the door.

‘Tell him I asked after him won’t you,’ George said, following Quinn to the door.

‘I will. I’ll see you later,’ Quinn promised, smiling at her.

‘For Christ’s sake, what is going on here?! Have I slipped into an episode of
Lost
or something? I have no idea what’s going on. Someone sane speak to me!’ Marisa begged her mouth open so wide it was almost on the floor.

‘George is Adam’s mum. George and Quinn are in love with each other and he’s marrying Taylor Ferraro tomorrow. Are you up to speed yet?’ Helen asked her.

‘You’re really Adam’s mum, not his sister,’ Marisa said, staring at George wide
-
eyed.

George managed a nod.

‘F**king hell. No wonder he’s gone AWOL. Did he have like no idea?’ Marisa questioned.

‘Marisa, why don’t you finish getting ready and let George have her coffee,’ Helen suggested.

‘Why can’t I hear what you’re going to say to her? I’m always the last to know everything around here,’ Marisa moaned as she reluctantly mounted the stairs.

‘Helen, I’m so sorry about all of this,’ George said, sitting down at the table and offering her friend an apologetic look.

‘So you finally told Adam,’ Helen remarked, sitting opposite her.

‘You knew?
!
’ George exclaimed.

‘Not for definite, but I had a feeling. You were always so concerned about him, always talking about him and always looking after him, much more than an elder sister would. I don’t know it was just a feeling I had. That and the fact that having a baby so young might explain why you wanted to take on the world on the pool table and eat every man you could for breakfast back then,’ Helen told her.

‘God Helen, he hates me. He doesn’t want to see me and he barely let me explain,’ George told her, putting her head in her hands.

‘He’s just angry and confused, he’ll come round,’ Helen reassured.

‘That’s what Quinn said but I’m not so sure. I think I might have made the biggest mistake of my life by telling him. My mother said this was the right thing to do. Why did I go against my gut instinct and listen to her? I never listened to her before,’ George said.

‘Come on, we need you on top form today. We’ve got a lot of preparation to do for tomorrow,’ Helen reminded her.

‘We haven’t been sacked yet then?’ George remarked, sipping at her coffee.

‘At this short notice? Where are they going to get another catering firm from?’ Helen asked her.

‘I’m sorry to leave you in the lurch last night. Was everything OK?’ George enquired.

‘Marisa worked really hard. The Chinese food never arrived so we had ravenous bachelors on our hands. She prepared hot dogs with a spicy salsa for the bachelors and courgette, asparagus and brie parcels for the bachelorettes. I don’t know where she found the sausages from and I didn’t really like to ask,’ Helen informed.

‘She made it all from scratch?’

‘Yes, I was absolutely astounded. I never knew she had it in her but she took control. I handled things at the party and she beavered away in the kitchen. Once the security guys arrived and Belch and the oth
ers calmed down, things settled
,’ Helen explained.

‘And what about Taylor?’ George asked, feeling a knot of embarrassment rising in her throat.

‘She came to and insisted she was taken back to her villa.’

‘Oh.’

‘She was back within the hour wearing a different outfit,’ Helen replied.

‘Good. I lost control. Adam wasn’t listening to me and she was carrying on and on about the food and
...
’ George began.

‘You’re only human George, not Superwoman. Anyway I don’t like the silly girl. She swans around like the world owes her and she turned her nose up at Marisa’s canapés - the bitch,’ Helen said, biting into a bread roll.

Thirty Six

‘So, what’s he like in bed?’ Marisa blurted out as she mixed up ingredients for the wedding day sauce.

It was another sweltering day and the complex was rife with golfers, media, holiday
-
makers and celebrity spotters. They were all making the most of the Spanish sun and the opportunity to get a real tan, rather than one sponsored by Piz Buin.

‘Marisa! What are you like? We agreed not to talk about it!’ Helen exclaimed.

‘I didn’t agree. You told me we wouldn’t talk about it I said I wouldn’t shout it from the rooftops. It’s only us girls and that’s the sort of thing girls talk about. Besides, if my employer has been having it off with
the
hottest rock star on the planet, I think I deserve details!’ Marisa told them.

‘He’s not that good,’ George replied roughly chopping herbs.

Marisa stared at her, a look of total disbelief and disappointment on her face.

‘OK, I’m lying,’ George answered with a smile.

‘I knew it! So does he do that
thing, you know when the guy...
’ Marisa started.

‘Er, I don’t want to worry you, but Taylor Ferraro just got out of a golf buggy and she’s heading up here,’ Helen interrupted, looking out of the window of the catering wagon.

‘Shittin’ Hell! What are we going to do? Do you think she knows about you and Quinn?’ Marisa questioned.

‘We’re going to act normal, because everything is normal right?’ Helen ordered her daughter.

George hurried to the door and opened it before Taylor had a chance to knock. She was wearing a figure
-
hugging, lemon coloured dress with high
, peep-toe
shoes. A pair of large sunglasses were sat on her face and she had a lemon and white handbag on her arm.

‘Ms Ferraro,’ George greeted formally.

‘Ms Fraser,’ Taylor replied stiffly.

She gingerly removed her sunglasses and George got a look at her badly swollen eye. It was heavily covered in foundation.

‘I am so sorry about last night. Your eye
...
’ George remarked as Taylor brushed past her and entered the catering wagon.

‘Yes, it’s a mess. I’m having hourly ice compression. Luckily the make-up artist thinks the swelling will have decreased considerably by tomorrow. Even so, he will definitely be earning his fee trying to work miracles,’ Taylor told her, putting her glasses back on.

‘Look, I’m really sorr
y about last night. I apologise unreservedly and...
’ George began.

‘She was under a lot of pressure and the bachelors weren’t making it easy for anyone. I mean they were so drunk and completely out of control and
...
’ Helen piped up.

‘Believe me, if it wasn’t for the fact I’m getting married tomorrow and over two hundred people are expecting food, I would fire you right now, without hesitation,’ Taylor spoke firmly.

‘I realise that and of course that would be no more than I deserve,’ George replied.

‘But Michael insists you stay. He keeps saying you’re brilliant and I haven’t got the time or energy to look for an alternative,’ Taylor continued.

‘She is brilliant. We’re all pretty brilliant actually. And we’re just preparing everything so it’s all perfect tomorrow,’ Marisa chipped in.

‘All on schedule? You have everything you need?’ Taylor enquired.

‘Yes, everything’s fine,’ George answered.

‘And where are your staff? I thought Pixie had arranged a team of helpers,’ Taylor spoke, looking around for signs of other people.

‘They were...
’ George began.

‘Surplus to requirements,’ Marisa added quickly.

‘So how are you going to serve everything tomorrow if there are only three of you?’ Taylor wanted to know.

‘That’s for us to worry about Ms Ferraro, not you. Now, why don’t you go and have a rest? Get some more ice on that eye and leave the catering to Finger Food,’ Marisa spoke, putting an arm around Taylor’s shoulders and ushering her to the door.

‘I’ll call Pixie. I’ll have her look into it,’ Taylor said, walking down the steps of the wagon.

‘Everything’s under control. It’s going to be the perfect wedding, better than - well - better than any wedding there’s ever been and any wedding to come. The best! The wedding of all weddings,’ Marisa told her, smiling broadly.

Taylor smiled at her unconvincingly and got back into the golf buggy where her driver was waiting for her.

‘Bye!’ Marisa called, waving a hand in the air.

When she was sure she was out of sight, she ran back into the catering wagon and picked up her mobile phone.

‘I’ve still got Sally’s number. I’ll call her, get half a dozen of them back. Not the smelly one, or the one with the grim beard, or that girl with the plaits who thought she was like
sooo
cool, but the best ones, well the best of a bad bunch,’ Marisa said, looking through her contacts.

‘Marisa, you don’t have to do that. Let me do it, I’m the one who sacked them all,’ George reminded her.

‘Exactly. Do you think they’re going to come back for you? No, I’ll do it. I’ll put on my best grovelling voice and we’ll have six people in here to help sort out the food today and serve tomorrow,’ Marisa spoke, taking charge and putting the phone to her ear.

‘What about Adam?’ Helen suggested.

‘I don’t want to rush him into anything. He made it clear last night
...
’ George started.

‘Oh don’t you worry about him. So his sister’s really his mother. So what? Happens all the time on Jezza Kyle. Doesn’t mean he can bail out on us, leave him to me,’ Marisa insisted.

George exchanged a look with Helen, taken aback by Marisa’s positive attitude.

‘Hello Sally, it
’
s Marisa from Finger Food. Now, I know you’re probably down
the beach, but I need you here…
’ Marisa began as she strutted up and down the wagon.

Within half an hour, Marisa’s persuasive skills had managed to entice a small group of catering assistants to return to work for Finger Food and by lunchtime all the preparation that could be done was completed.

‘I don’t know how to thank you enough guys. You’ve all worked so hard this morning,’ George told them all as the last bits of clearing up were done and foodstuffs were put back in the fridge.