Wags To Riches (11 page)

“What?” he says, “I’m only saying what I think!”  I’m shocked and I know I shouldn’t be - but I’m kind of flattered as well.

After the meal, we sit alone in the hotel bar on a gorgeous leather sofa, finishing our wine and listening to the soft jazz tunes the piano player is playing.  Everyone else has either gone up to bed, apart from Tony and Sharon who are outside as Sharon is having a cigarette.  “The meal was lovely Adam” I say, “I really liked that spinach and cheese ravioli”.

“It was nice wasn’t it?” Adam replies.  “I didn’t think I was going to have room for it after eating all those mussels we had for a starter but I found some somewhere.  Do you think you’ll be able to remember everyone’s names tomorrow?”

“I’ll try” I reply, “Everyone’s really nice aren’t they?”

“Yes - I told you they were” Adam replies smiling.  “No need to worry”.

“Well, I suppose” I say, draining the last of my wine out of the glass, “I’d better go up to bed.  I’m really tired”.

“Then I shall walk you to your suite Princess!” Adam said, getting up.  We go upstairs, arrive outside my door and stand there for a few seconds.  “Well - this is me,” I say.  I don’t know if to invite him or not.  I want to, but I know we’ve got to be up early and I don’t him to think I’m being too easy - oh God - why is this so complicated?

“I’ll come and call for you at 9.30” Adam says, “but I will ring you before that to make sure you are awake”.  Suddenly, he steps towards me, cups my face in his hands, kisses me passionately and then just as suddenly steps back away from me.  “I’ll see you tomorrow Gail” he says and starts walking off backwards down the corridor while I just stand there wide eyed, staring at him.  Oh my God!

“Adam!” I say in a cracked voice, “Which one is your suite again?”

“Balmoral.  Why?” he asks.

“Just wondered,” I say smiling.  “Night!” I call and go into my hotel room.

I close the door behind me and lean my back against it for a moment, trying to get my breath back.  God he is so – oh – he is just so ooooh!  I’m tempted to run after him.  How can he kiss me like that and then just go?  Argh!  Well, I think to myself, he’s obviously being a gentleman and letting me get some sleep and not hassling me or anything, that’s very nice of him.  He’s treating me like a lady.  I undress, cleanse my face, brush my teeth and get into bed, lying there for a moment before clicking the light off. 

If I do wake up in the night and feel like going and knocking on his door however - well - I may have to act on that definitely very unladylike and decidedly slutty impulse I think and grin to myself in the darkness.

In the end I didn’t have to face that quandary in the wee small hours as I was completely out of it until the alarm went off, thanks to the early start and the long journey yesterday - the wine and champagne I’d drunk the night before having nothing to do with it at all of course.  Spirit was willing but the flesh was weak and all that.  I feel slightly delicate this morning which is not good so I ring room service to order my hangover cure – large glass of fizzy water, a bacon sandwich and a pot of strong tea.  Hopefully that should sort me out.  Just then my mobile phone starts ringing.  I pick it up and blearily peer at the screen to see who is calling.  It’s Adam.

“Morning gorgeous!  You all right?” he asks.

“I’m fine thank you!” I say, hastily stifling a yawn.  “Did you sleep alright?”

“Not too bad thanks.  I woke up and thought about you a few times,” Adam says and a delicious little shiver runs down my spine.  Wish he wouldn’t say things like that.  “I just thought I’d ring you to make sure you were awake”.

“Well that’s very kind of you” I say.  “I was already up and have just ordered breakfast – bacon roll and a pot of tea”.

“Great!” Adam says laughing.  “Well I’ll come and call for you at 9.30 then shall I?”

“Yes, I’ll be ready” I reply and we hang up.  Oooh - he is lovely!  Can’t wait to see him in his grey suit again today!  I’m so excited about today - I’m really looking forward to it!

After a marvellous breakfast of proper English breakfast tea and one of the nicest bacon rolls I’ve ever had, I shower and begin the long process of getting ready.  I put my best pair of knickers on as it is a special occasion after all and rub some shimmery body lotion that Alex recommended on my arms and legs.  Hmmm – not bad.  I did have a fear that I would look like the woman from the film
Gold finger,
but I don’t so that’s good.  I put on my makeup and blow dry my hair and curl it so I’ve got lots of nice loose curls round my face.  My hair behaves itself for once, which is good.  I then put my dress on and sit on the edge of the bed to fasten my shoes – my fabulous, wonderful shoes.  Then I stand up and carefully walk over to the mirror to assess the finished result.  Yes, I look good, even though I do say so myself and even if Adam’s ex is one of the most beautiful women on the planet, I don’t care.

Well - perhaps I will a little bit.

I glance at the clock.  Nearly 9.25.  Adam will be here any minute.  I put my diamond earrings in again that he gave me yesterday, hastily squirt some perfume on and then stick my head out of the door to see if I can see him.  He’s walking down the corridor, looking absolutely gorgeous in his grey suit so I put my fingers in my mouth and blow a massive wolf whistle.  Last time I did that I was at a Take That concert with Alex that she talked me into going to and I whistled when they all came out on stage.  Was a good night actually, although I would never admit that in a million years to other members of the Foo Fighters fan club.  Adam looks around startled and then his face breaks into a smile when he sees me and he does a flamboyant disco spin in the middle of the floor.

“Hey look at you!  You look well sharp!” I say laughing.  He does too – he looks
great.
His suit has a slight sheen to it, which stops it looking drab and the tailor’s done a great job cutting the jacket in such a way to emphasise the broadness of Adam’s shoulders but at the same time, it nips in at the middle to highlight his slim waist.

“And you Gail – wow!  You look beautiful,” Adam says as he walks up to me.  “I can see I’ll be fighting them off with a stick today!”

“Not as many as I will be off you” Gail said firmly and Adam laughs.  “I’m serious Adam!  Never underestimate the power of a well-cut suit” I say as I lock the door and we go downstairs.  I mean – look at Daniel Craig as James Bond.  Would he be half so impressive if he was wearing extremely stonewashed jeans and a baggy off white T-shirt?  Course not.

Loads of people are milling around downstairs outside the room where the service is to take place and there are lots of security guards, all of them looking around and talking frequently into the radios clipped to their chest.  We make our way through the crowd to the door and are just about to go inside when one of the security guards stops us.  “One moment please sir” he says to Adam who looks mildly surprised and my heart starts pounding.  It’s me isn’t it, I think wildly.  They are going to tell Adam that I’m too fat to go in and I can’t anyway as I’m not a celebrity.  Oh God.

“Would you mind signing this programme for my son please Mr Finchley?” the security guard asks, holding out a football programme and pen to Adam.  “He’s such a huge fan of yours”.  I take a big sigh of relief.  It’s not me – it’s okay.

“Of course.  No problem” Adam says.  “What’s your son’s name?”

“Ben” the security guard replies and Adam signs the programme.  “Thanks very much” the guard says, beaming at us.  “Enjoy the wedding,” he adds, opening the door.

“Thanks” I manage to say, having now calmed down after realising the security guard is not about to throw me out.  I look round the room and gasp.  It is just as though we have walked into an enchanted forest.  The walls are covered in dark green ivy, intertwined with red and gold flowers and through which, peep thousands of white twinkling fairy lights.  At the far end of the room two gnarled trees stand on either side, their branches bending towards each other - presumably to make a kind of archway - and perching in each tree is unbelievably, a plump white dove.  Behind the trees, a medium sized orchestra is busy tuning up and three photographers are setting up expensive looking camera equipment, checking light readings and talking to each other.  Rows and rows of little gold chairs with red velvet padded seat cushions fill the space between the door and the trees at the far end; many of which have been already filled by guests.  There is a hum of conversation and a general air of expectancy.  “Blimey!” I say awestruck to Adam, “Tim and Gina don’t do things by halves do they?”  Adam smiles and then one of Tim’s younger brothers who is one of the ushers approaches us.

“Adam - do you and Gail want to go and sit near the front, just behind Mum and Dad?” he says.

“Okay – thanks Gaz” Adam says smiling, “nice suit by the way” he adds and Gaz blushes.

“Cheers” he mumbles, “Mum says I’ve got to keep the tie on till after dinner and then I can take it off,” he says, pulling at it.  “I hate wearing stupid ties!”

“You look very smart,” I say reassuringly before Adam and I go to sit down.  Oh my goodness – I think I’ve just spotted one of the celebrity chefs off the TV show
Flambé It Now!
  I didn’t think he was as tall as that.  Oh and that woman who has just walked in wearing a ghastly yellow suit was in
EastEnders
for a while!

“Yeah – apparently Tim and Gina bought in over six thousand flowers to decorate the room” Adam says as I look round to see if I can see any more famous people.

“Six thousand!” I say shocked.  “Goodness gracious!  They must have cost an arm and a leg!”

“Well – yes – Tim nearly fainted when he saw the florist’s bill” Adam says grinning.  “Speaking of which, I’m just going to go and have a quick word with him and wish him luck”.  He makes his way to the front as Tony comes to sit down next to us.

“Morning Gail!  You look nice!” he says.

“Thank you,” I say smiling.  “How’s Sharon?”

“Oh she’s fine” Tony replies.  “I left her drinking a glass of champagne” he adds, rolling his eyes, “and then she was going down to Gina’s suite”.

“Oh right” I say, still looking round to spot more celebrities.

“Morning Tony!” Adam says as he returns.

“How’s Tim?” I ask, observing the anxious looking bridegroom, “He looks petrified”.

“He’s fine – just a bit nervous” Adam replies.

“Who’s his best man?” I ask, nodding towards a tall guy stood next to Tim.

“Oh that’s James, Tim’s eldest brother”.

“He wasn’t at the dinner last night was he?”

“No he flew in from New York late last night”.

“Oh how very glam!” I say as the orchestra starts playing ‘Here comes the Bride’.  Everyone falls silent and stands up, turning to face Gina as she walks down the aisle with her father.  She looks stunning.  Her dress is floor length, with a straight skirt and strapless bodice that shimmers with crystals that are also woven through her hair.  On top of her head is a sparkling crystal tiara.  She also carries a huge bunch of red roses – the red of which match Sharon and Olivia’s dresses perfectly.  As she reaches the front, she and Tim smile at each other and all the cameras flash away.

I sit holding Adam’s hand and listen to the service.  I’m quite hungry now actually.  That bacon roll seemed ages ago.  I put a tube of wine gums in my handbag for just an emergency so I reach down for my bag and have just got the sweets in my hand when the
Gush!
cameras start turning on the congregation so I daren’t try and eat any at this precise moment.  Adam looks at me, smiles and squeezes my hand tightly, squashing the tube of sweets.  Oh God.  I smile painfully back and then I hear a camera click and one of the photographers from
Gush!
smiles and gives us the thumbs up.  Oh God – I wonder if that photograph will end up in the magazine?  I hope the sweets are all right.

* * * *

After the service, Tim and Gina are stood at the end of the reception room and we hurry to congratulate them.

“You look stunning!” I say to Gina, “I love your dress!”

“Thanks Gail” Gina replies, “The crystals make it a bit heavy though!  I’ve got another dress I’m going to change into later for the evening”.

“Congratulations mate – I hope you will be very happy together,” Adam says, shaking Tim’s hand.

“Thanks mate.  I’m sure we will” he replies grinning.

“Lets go and a get a drink” Adam says.  Tim and Gina go to have yet more photographs taken and Adam and I make our way over to a large table where waiters are busy preparing and serving drinks and Adam passes me a glass of champagne.

“Thank you” I say and take a sip.  I then notice the table next to the drinks table – it is covered with the most mouth-watering selection of canapés imaginable.  Smoked salmon vol-au-vents, hot lemon sole goujons, tiny tomato and cheese sandwiches and even tiny paper cones of French fries!  “Is it okay if we get a bite to eat?” I ask Adam, “I’m starving”.  The wine gums - when I’d eventually managed to eat some - just did not touch the sides.  And they were a bit squashed as well.

“Of course it is” Adam says and we pick up two delicate china plates.  He piles his high with food but I try and behave, selecting a salmon vol-au-vent and one of the little paper cones of fries.  They taste lovely.