The Wedding Date (35 page)

‘Not like me.’ I grab Ryan’s arm, squeezing a bit too hard in my excitement. ‘You like her.’

Ryan shrugs, knowing he’s caught out. I’ve known Ryan long enough to know when he’s telling porkies. ‘Maybe a little bit.’

‘How much?’ Lauren has proper, inexplicable feelings for Ryan – she’d be gutted if he only fancied a fling.

‘I may be a teeny, tiny bit in love with her.’

I gasp, covering my mouth with my fingers. Ryan is in love with Lauren? But he’s never been in love with anybody before. This is huge. I want to run to Lauren right now and tell her – except I can’t because she hates me for being a lying, secret-keeper of a friend.

‘If you like her so much, why are you always bickering?’ I get a whoosh of déjà vu – hadn’t I asked Lauren the same question?

‘You know what boys are like. They always pull the pigtails of the girls they like.’

‘Is this why you’ve let your mum walk all over you all these years? Why you hardly ever go out with women you actually like?’

‘Number one.’ Ryan holds up a finger. ‘My mum does not walk all over me.’ I raise my eyebrows at Ryan. We both know Eleanor stomps all over her son but I let it pass. ‘And number two, do I look like a psychologist? All I know is that I miss her, so you’ve got to make her forgive you for whatever grievance has gone on between you.’

‘You could always speak to her yourself.’ The three of us have been friends for over a decade. Surely Ryan doesn’t need me to hold his hand and act as a go-between?

‘I could but that won’t make her happy.’ Ryan has no idea. Speaking to him will make Lauren extremely happy. ‘She’ll be missing you too.’

‘Just talk to her, Ryan. About everything.’ I’m not quite sure what to make of this new development; Mum once asked if Lauren felt like a gooseberry when she thought Ryan and I were dating – is that how I will feel? Will I get squeezed out? The start of a blossoming relationship between Ryan and Lauren could be the death knell of our cosy little threesome, but I want my friends to be happy and I know I’ll always have a place, somewhere.

‘Come on, Delly.’ Dad has wound down his window and is tapping at his watch.

‘Have a nice time at the wedding,’ Ryan says as I move towards the car. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? We could tell everyone you were drunk yesterday and posted your confession for a laugh.’

‘No way.’ I shake my head. ‘No more lies. Ever.’

‘Don’t make promises you can’t keep,’ Dad says through the window. I reward him with an icy glare, which he slinks away from and busies himself by having a rifle through the glove compartment.

‘I have to go now, but thanks for everything, Ryan. Even if it didn’t quite go to plan.’

‘Keep that head held high, Delilah James.’ Ryan pats me on the head before we go our separate ways.

‘Talk to Lauren,’ I call out. ‘You might be surprised.’

I join Dad in the car and he drives us to the church, dropping me as close as he can with all the extra cars parked along the pavement. He reminds me to ring at any time if I need to and I promise I will before kissing his cheek and climbing into the lion’s den.

The church is a giant, imposing building made of pale stone with large, ornate windows. Organ music wafts through to the churchyard as I make my way along the path towards the huge doors. Luckily there aren’t many people hovering outside – and none that I recognise – so hopefully I can slip inside unnoticed.

‘Delilah!’

No such luck. I pause as I hear my name being called and turn slowly, preparing myself for ridicule and interrogation. Last night at the hen party I could drunkenly laugh off the enquiries but I have no choice but to face them today.

‘Adam?’ I’m expecting a number of people to be heading towards me, the worst case scenario being Ben. But Adam is possibly the very last person I’m expecting to be shuffling to a halt in front of me.

‘Hi.’ Adam gives an awkward little wave. ‘I was hoping I’d catch you before you went in.’

‘What are you doing here?’ I have many more questions, but this one comes out first.

‘I saw your message on Facebook and I wanted to tell you that I’m glad you finally have some closure.’

‘How did you see it?’ Adam, in the early days, had asked if I was on Facebook and I’d told yet another fib and said no. I couldn’t let him see my profile and the life I’d fabricated for myself.

‘Katey-Louise showed me,’ Adam explains. ‘She thought it was hilarious.’ Of course she did. ‘But I thought it was brave. And honest. And I was also wondering, since you’re flying solo now, whether you’d need a plus one?’

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Adam wants to be my date? After everything? ‘I don’t have a plus one any more, so since you’re here…’ I give a nonchalant shrug, belying the party that has started up inside. Adam wants to be my plus one!

Adam holds out his arm, which I take before continuing along the path towards the church.

‘How did you know where the wedding was?’ I ask as we reach the steps leading up to the doors.

‘I posted a comment on Facebook but I don’t think you saw it.’ I shake my head. I haven’t dared log onto Facebook since posting my confession, fearing what the response would be. ‘But your friend Lauren did and got in touch. She gave me the details.’

‘And she gave the right address?’ I could weep for joy. Does this mean Lauren hasn’t given up on me completely?

‘Does this mean you’ve forgiven me?’ I ask Adam.

He stops as we reach the doors and turns to face me. ‘It wasn’t about forgiveness for me. I just didn’t want to be second best.’

‘You’re not,’ I assure him. ‘You’re really not.’

‘Good. I’m glad to hear it.’ Adam pulls me towards him and kisses me. And he doesn’t stop kissing me until Francesca and the bridal party arrive and we duck into the church.

Epilogue

What Happens Next

The room is jam-packed with friends, family and colleagues of the bride and groom, who are currently enjoying their first dance as husband and wife while everybody gathers around the dance floor in the hotel’s opulent function room, oohing and aahing and wiping away tears of happiness. The wedding singer is crooning Elvis’s ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love With You’, and although he’s probably sung it a million and one times, he’s putting his all into that song to make it special for Clara and Graham, so that every time they hear that song from this day forward, they will have fond memories of their first dance together at their wedding.

‘Look at my baby. She looks like a princess.’ Mum sniffles into the tissue she’s had permanently pressed to her face since the moment she woke this morning. She’d sobbed her way through the ceremony, so much so that Dad had been forced to shush her as she was drowning out the vows. ‘Doesn’t she make a lovely bride?’

I nod in agreement and give Mum a gentle pat on the arm. Clara and I have never got along and the past seven months of wedding planning and Bridezilla moments have really soured our already dubious relationship, but even I wouldn’t be churlish enough to diss a bride on her wedding day. And she actually does look very pretty. Even Graham’s scrubbed up well in his suit.

Mum leans in close to murmur in my ear. ‘It’ll be you next, love.’ Which only makes Mum sniffle some more. She replaces the tissue with a fresh one from one of the many packs she has tucked in her handbag.

But it won’t be me next. I know this and although I’m desperate to marry the man I love, I am happy to say that the next in line for exchanging their vows are my very best friends, Lauren and Ryan. Lauren doesn’t know it yet but Ryan is planning to propose when they go on holiday to Thailand next week. I’ve helped him to choose the ring and I know that he’s going to get down on one knee while they take a moonlit stroll along the beach. It’s going to be so romantic and I know, without a doubt, what the answer will be. Lauren and Ryan have been smitten with each other for the past seven months and I know that Ryan is The One for Lauren, not only because she’s told me several gazillion times, but mainly because if she can put up with Eleanor’s constant interference, then it must be true love.

And speaking of true love…

‘Would you like to dance?’ Adam takes hold of my hand and leads me onto the dance floor, which is quickly filling up with couples as Clara and Graham’s first dance comes to an end. Adam places his hands around my waist while I loop my arms around his shoulders and together we sway to the music. We had a bit of a rocky start, but Adam and I are in a good place now. There are no lies or secrets, from each other or anybody else. The whole office knows about our relationship (and how it almost came to an end, thanks to Katey-Louise’s big gob) but Neville doesn’t care as long as it doesn’t interfere with our work.

The office is a much more pleasant place to be now. And not just because I get to spend all day with Adam. No, the main reason is Katey-Louise – or rather her absence. Yes, Katey-Louise has left Brinkley’s and is currently pursuing a brand new career. One that she is actually good at. Five months ago, Katey-Louise won a prestigious beauty blogger award and since then she has been catapulted into fame, with a regular beauty spot on This Morning and a magazine column where she tests new products and gives advice to the masses. There is also talk of hair product sponsorship and a new ‘Katey-Louise’ brand. The office is much quieter without Katey-Louise and I like it that way.

The rest of the office is pretty much the same. Jasper barely makes a sound, apart from a few weeks ago when he won a game of Minesweeper and roared so loudly at his success that Denise threw a cup of coffee down her blouse in fright. Denise and Neville still plod along, barking out their orders (Neville) and sneaking off to the development kitchen at every opportunity (Denise). The only difference is Barbara, Katey-Louise’s replacement, who is bloody good at her job.

‘Aww, look.’ I point out another love-sick puppy across the dance floor. Justin is entwined with his girlfriend, trying his best not to look awkward or tread on her feet. Emily has done wonders for Justin and has made him a much more pleasant human being. When Mum found out about Justin’s seedy knicker-selling racket, she went ballistic and grounded Justin for a week. When he was let off for good behaviour after two measly days, he returned to form and emptied my underwear drawer. But then he met Emily and his muckiness seemed to disappear overnight. He no longer steals or sells knickers (to the dismay of his sicko mates) or attempts to clear a room with his farts. He occasionally even uses manners. Emily is a miracle I will be eternally grateful for.

‘Uncle Adam, Uncle Adam.’ Isaac is tugging on Adam’s jacket as he hops up and down.

‘What is it, matey?’ Adam scoops up his nephew and holds him aloft.

‘Luke is starving. He wants something to eat.’

Luke has followed his brother to the dance floor so I pick him up and place him on my hip. ‘You’re in luck. The buffet has just opened.’ Adam and I look at each other, challenge sparking in both pairs of eyes.

‘Race you.’ Adam nestles Isaac on his hip. ‘Ready, steady… Go!’

Adam and I tear off across the room, dodging people and stray chairs, a whooping and giggling child clinging to us as we race towards the buffet table. Adam and Isaac arrive at the end of the long queue first, high-fiving each other in victory. Adam leans towards me and kisses me briefly and I’m amazed once again at how lucky I am. What Adam and I have is special. It’s meaningful but so full of fun and laughter and not at all like what I had with Ben. I have to admit that when Ben and Eden announced the arrival of their son Thomas, I felt a little twinge of jealousy – hey, I’m only human – but I wouldn’t trade what Adam and I have for anything.

‘Do you have to kiss all the time?’ Isaac asks. He looks like he’s being put off his food by our display of affection.

‘Sorry.’ I pull the corners of my mouth down to show how contrite I am, but the truth is I’m unbelievably happy. Happier than I’ve ever been and every day feels like a jubilant musical number complete with joyous choreography. If my life was a musical, it would have just won a Tony award.

‘Delilah?’

I shake my head to dislodge the acceptance speech I was just imagining giving to my adoring fans. There is now a sizeable gap between me and Adam but I’ve been too wrapped up in my musical daydream to notice the movement of the queue. Not even Luke’s tugging of my hand has shaken me from my reverie.

‘I hope you thanked me in your speech,’ Adam whispers in my ear. He clearly knows me too well. I could tell a little fib and pretend I don’t know what he’s talking about, but we all know how much trouble my fibs have landed me in already.

‘You were at the very top of my list.’

‘Glad to hear it.’ Adam, much to Isaac’s displeasure, kisses me and I have to agree that when they say honesty is the best policy, they are absolutely, one million per cent right.

If you loved
The Wedding Date
, then turn the page for a fabulous, festive teaser from
The Mince Pie Mix-Up
by Jennifer Joyce, available now!

We Made a Wish

The alarm clock jumped to attention, emitting an annoying but effective siren to wake the occupants of the nearby bed. The occupants groaned and stretched but, as no attempt was made to reach for the clock, it kept going, enjoying stretching its clock equivalent of vocal cords. This clock was a true professional. There would be no snoozing on his watch.

From the bed, Calvin groaned, rubbing at his dry, scratchy eyes. How much had he had to drink last night? His brain was fuzzy but he recalled eating turkey with all the trimmings the evening before. So why could he taste mince pie? Slightly burnt mince pie? Had Christmas been and gone already? Did that mean that they had reached the Benvenuti deadline at work? He hoped the rescheduled photo shoot had gone well. He couldn’t remember it at all.

Shoving his head under his pillow, Calvin mumbled something incoherent about turning off the alarm. Though Calvin couldn’t remember much, he was pretty sure it was the weekend. Didn’t a bloke deserve a lie-in at the weekend?

Inches away from Calvin, Judy stretched out a hand, wriggling fingers searching for the off switch on the alarm. How could it be morning already? It seemed like only minutes ago she’d been driving home from her parents’ and having a stupid row with her husband. But she must have been asleep because she’d been having a weird dream about eating one of her burnt mice pies, fairies and pine needles. A life-sized fairy had crashed into the sitting room, waking her and Calvin and upending the Christmas tree.