Strings Attached (46 page)

‘I don’t want to do anything for old time’s sake. Everything starts from now,’ Quinn told her, squeezing her hands.

Forty

‘Are we doing the right thing do you think?’

‘Marisa, people have travelled a long way and they’ve been waiting around all morning. They’re starving, the food’s here, the least we can do is serve it to them,’ Helen said as they pushed another trolley of food up the walkway.

‘Where d’you think George and Quinn are?’ Marisa asked, bumping the trolley over a rut in the carpeting.

‘I don’t know.’

‘I mean d’you think the wedding’s really like off, like completely? I mean sometimes these things sort themselves out don’t they?’ Marisa continued.

‘I would say it’s definitely off,’ Helen replied.

‘Did you see Adam’s face when I told him about George and Quinn? I mean, talk about freaked! Well, I guess it is his mum. Urgh, how gross is that?’ Marisa exclaimed.

‘Yes and we shouldn’t forget that. Perhaps a bit more sensitivity is called for,’ Helen suggested.

‘Yeah, you’re right. I mean, you wouldn’t want everyone talking about your mum, the one who broke up the wedding of all time would you?’ Marisa spoke.

‘Hey,’ George greeted, meeting the trolley just before the castle entrance.

‘Oh
,
George
i
s everything OK? What’s happened?’ Helen enquired.

‘It’s too complicated to explain right now,’ George replied, running her hand through her hair.

‘Is the wedding definitely off? Does Taylor know about you and Quinn? Is she going to auction her dress?’ Marisa wanted to know.

‘The wedding’s definitely off, no idea about the dress.’

‘Not that I would necessarily want a dress that’s so like obviously unlucky, but if it was a bargain then I might be persuaded. I could always insist people bring horseshoes and invite a few chimney sweeps or nodding dogs. Nodding dogs are lucky aren’t they?’ Marisa said.

‘Where’s Adam?’ George wanted to know.

‘He’s serving the guests with Team Marisa. We didn’t know what to do, but people were directed to the reception room and we thought we ought to stick to the schedule and serve the food,’ Helen explained.

‘I’ll come and help,’ George said, taking hold of the trolley.

‘Er, not being funny or anything but like are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean, you’re the woman who stopped the wedding. Well OK, I’m the one that climbed on the chair and hollered out, but you’re the one that did the talking and there seemed to be a lot of talking. What was all the talking about?’ Marisa wanted to know.

‘Maybe you’re right. Maybe I shouldn’t go anywhere near it,’ George mused.

‘Where’s Quinn?’ Helen wanted to know.

‘He’s gone to see Roger and Taylor,’ George spoke.

‘Into the lion’s den then. Hope he makes it out alive. Roger’s really scary,
Star Life
magazine reckons if someone gives Quinn bad press he makes sure they never work again,’ Marisa informed.

‘Marisa, that’s enough,’ Helen ordered.

‘OK, well, do you want me to organise some stuff in the kitchen?’ George suggested.

‘Oh.
My.
God! Wait one second! What the Hell is that on your hand? Is that a ring? Mother! She’s wearing a ring on her wedding finger!’ Marisa exclaimed her eyes bulging.

‘Sshh, keep your voice down! It’s nothing,’ George said as wine waiters passed by them.

‘Where did it come from? Who gave it to you? What’s it doing on your wedding finger?’ Marisa continued to question.

‘It’s just the one I usually wear around my neck.’

‘So why’s it on your finger now?’ Marisa demanded to know.

‘Marisa, it’s none of our business. Now, let’s get this food up to the reception,’ Helen ordered.

‘But...
’ Marisa began.

‘George, we had to tell Adam about you and Quinn. He was asking questions when you stopped the wedding. We didn’t know what else to tell him,’ Helen explained.

‘It’s OK,’ George said with a nod.

‘I think he thinks it’s a bit gross, you know, what with you being his mum and everything. But I didn’t mention the word ‘cougar’ honestly,’ Marisa began.

‘Marisa, that’s enough. We need to get this trolley to the party before the sorbet melts,’ Helen said.

‘Look, there is a lot I need to tell you but I can’t right now,’ George informed them.

‘We understand,’ Helen said.

‘No we don’t and we need to know now!’ Marisa shouted from behind the trolley.

‘I’ll find something to gag her with,’ Helen assured, pushing the trolley up the incline.

George
watched her colleagues go and then she stopped and took a breath. She was shaking. Everything was coming home to her now. Quinn was Paul, he was Adam’s father. It was both a dream and a nightmare rolled into one. How were they going to deal with it? And more importantly, how was Adam going to deal with it?

He was a father. He had a son. And he finally knew his name and where he came from. Despite the shock, despite knowing he was the heartless bastard who left the woman he loved high and dry with a baby on the way, at long last he felt grounded. He had a past. He had a start and a middle and now he had a future.

George buried herself in her work, like she always had done and began plating up chicken breasts and sauce. The food looked wonderful. The green beans were blanched to perfection and Marisa had done a fantastic job on the potatoes.

‘Hey, you’re here. You OK?’ Adam asked, entering the catering wagon and pulling a trolley with him.

‘Yeah, just trying to get these meals served up. Is everyone there?’ George enquired.

‘Well, apart from the bride, the groom and the father of the bride, yeah, pretty much,’ Adam responded.

‘Good, I’d hate for this to go to waste, I mean
...
’ George started.

‘There would’ve been no chance of it going to waste if you hadn’t stopped the wedding,’ Adam remarked.

‘Yeah, I know,’ George said, sighing.

‘Marisa told me about you and Quinn.’

‘Yeah, I know that too.’

‘Bit rich of you making comments about me and Marisa when you were having an affair with an almost married man. And Quinn, of all people! You denied it, you said it was Paco,’ Adam said harshly.

‘Oh Adam, just don’t,’ George said, putting the bowl of sauce to one side.

‘Don’t what?’ Adam asked.

‘Don’t lecture me, not today,’ George begged him.

The door of the catering wagon opened and Quinn stepped in. He had taken off his jacket and cravat and had undone the top three buttons of his shirt. He looked stressed and overwhelmed, like he was melting from the heat of the day, as well as all the revelations.

‘Hey Adam,’ he greeted his face lighting up at the sight of him.

George swallowed as she looked at them both. There were no similarities between them. Not even their height or their stance. How could she have been expected to know?

‘Hey. I guess I ought to leave you two to it. Whatever
it
is,’ Adam said, making for the exit.

‘Don’t do that,’ Quinn said, stopping him.

George’s stomach tightened. Quinn couldn’t tell Adam any of this yet. It would overwhelm him more than it had overwhelmed her. He was sensitive, he’d just found out his mother wasn’t who he thought. He thought he knew who his father was now. He couldn’t deal with the truth, especially an almost unimaginable truth.

‘Look, just because you’re sleeping with my mother, it doesn’t mean you get to order me about. Not even
she
gets to do that yet. It’s all still a bit new for me,’ Adam said stroppily.

‘Quinn, don’t, please,’ George said, sensing what he was about to do.

‘I’ve broken all ties with Roger. He can sue me over my contract if he likes, but I’m going to sign with someone else. There are more than a couple of labels that have wanted me for a long time now and I’m going to set up some meetings. Hang what anyone thinks about me not being the person they think I am, they’ll have to get over it or just stop buying my songs. The perfume will definitely be shelved, so there is a silver lining,’ Quinn informed them both.

‘I need to go and help Marisa,’ Adam said, opening the door.

Quinn took it from his hands and slammed it shut.

‘Look, what’s with you? I’m not interested in what you two have got going on. I like you Quinn, I think you’re a cool guy, but this is all a bit weird and I’d rather not be part of it,’ Adam told him.

‘I’m glad you like me, that’s a start,’ Quinn answered.

‘Quinn, stop, please. It isn’t the right time,’ George begged.

‘What’s this all about? What isn’t the right time?’ Adam questioned, looking at George.

She shook her head. She couldn’t tell him, she didn’t want to tell him, it felt too soon. She hadn’t grasped the reality of it herself.

‘Look, I’m not going to fancy it up with stuff. The fact is, I’m your father,’ Quinn blurted out.

‘Christ Quinn!’ George yelled in horror.

Adam turned to face his idol. He just stared at him, not a hint of an expression on his face.

‘Look, I know how that sounds
. It sounds totally crazy but...
’ Quinn started.

‘It doesn’t sound totally crazy. It
is
totally crazy. What the Hell is going on here? Why would you say that? Is this some joke doing the rounds on Facebook or something? First George, now you! She says she’s my mother, now you’re saying you’re my father? You’ve only known each other a couple of months and I’m eighteen, even I can do the maths on that one
!
’ Adam exclaimed.

‘It’s kind of complicated,’ Quinn told him.

‘Yeah, I get that, because it’s not true. I know who my father is, his name’s Paul Robbins, George already told me. So, I don’t know why you want to jump on the bandwagon, but the spot’s already taken,’ Adam blasted.

‘I’m Paul Robbins -
we think. We don’t know one hundred percent
yet, but you know,
ninety nine point nine
or something close,’ Quinn continued.

‘Adam, I know this is going to b
e difficult to understand but...
’ George began.

‘Why are you doing this?’

‘I had an accident. I don’t look like I used to look, I didn’t know who I was, but I do now and George knows. We were so in love back then we got married and she had you and I’m your father, that’s it,’ Quinn continued.

‘I cannot listen to this. Do you know how this sounds? It sounds like someone has taken
The Jerry Springer Show
and turned it on its head. It’s deranged! It’s totally unbelievable!’ Adam carried on.

‘We can have a test. I think we should have a test so we know, so we both know for sure,’ Quinn told him.

‘George? What’s going on? Is this true? What he’s saying,’ Adam asked, looking for guidance.

George couldn’t manage words. Seeing his anguish all over again was too much. She nodded and then had to turn away.

‘Right, so we’ll fix a test and then me and George, we’re getting married - again. So, you take as long as you want to get your head around it, but when you do, I’m going to want to know everything there is to know about you,’ Quinn told him.

‘Yeah?’ Adam scoffed.

‘Yeah,’ Quinn replied, staring back at him.

Adam sucked in a breath and then punched Quinn so hard, he reeled back against the kitchen worktop.

‘Adam!’ George exclaimed.

Quinn put his finger to his split lip and nodded at Adam.

‘I’ll give you that, just this once. But you know what? Now I know I’m your father, I’m going to tell you things straight. You have real talent, but sometimes you play that piano like you’re typing or something. You need to put more passion into it, leave the sheet music behind,’ Quinn informed him.

Adam glared at him and flew from the catering van, slamming the door with force.

‘Well, that didn’t go too badly. What’s this? Is this my wedding breakfast?’ Quinn asked, dipping his finger into the sauce on one of the plates.

‘Didn’t go too badly?! For Christ’s sake Quinn!’ George remarked, taking the plate out of his reach.

‘He’ll get used to the idea. Well, he’ll have to won’t he?’ Quinn said biting into some green beans.

‘You don’t know him yet, he’s sensitive,’ George told him.

‘Yeah well, he’ll need to toughen up, especially if he wants a career in the music business,’ Quinn replied.

‘Quinn, this is a big thing, what’s happened today,’ George reminded him.