Laura suspected changing the offer to cheese and pickle wouldn’t help. ‘I’ll pop some toast in. It’ll help soak up the alcohol.’
‘Yes, nurse.’ Polly sighed and refilled her glass. At first she glared at the plate of thick buttered toast Laura slid in front of her but picked up a slice and nibbled a tiny bite. Soon she had ploughed through the lot. Neither of them did the whole ‘fading away through love of a man’ thing well.
Laura flopped down on the other chair.
‘I thought I knew Johnny inside out.’ Polly whispered. ‘This is all Hunter’s fault.’
‘Hunter? What’s he to do with it?’
‘I suppose it’s not strictly his fault.’
Laura struggled to be patient.
‘If I hadn’t invited him to the party I’d never have found out.’
‘Found out what?’
‘I poked around online to discover more about Hunter so I could have a bit of fun and tease Johnny tomorrow at the party.’ Polly’s noisy sobs made it hard to catch her gulping words, but Laura was able to make out something about prison.
‘Who’s been to prison?’
‘They have.’
Laura’s head spun.
‘Sort of.’
How could anyone ‘sort of’ go to prison?
‘It was one of those tough schools where desperate parents send troublesome teenagers they don’t know what to do with. The name Greystone even sounds grim, doesn’t it? Hunter actually runs a non-profit to help troubled youngsters, unlike my dear fiancé who kept it all a secret from me. I missed finding out about that when I first checked on him because his name isn’t attached to the charity unless you delve into the details of the organisation.’
‘Have you asked Johnny for an explanation?’
‘How could I?’
‘How couldn’t you? He’s the man you’re supposed to marry in four days. You owe him that much. Please tell me you haven’t cancelled any of the wedding plans?’
‘No.’ Polly’s protest popped out too quickly. ‘Only one or two small things.’
‘For instance?’
‘The church.’
‘I’d hardly call that a small thing.’
‘Keep your hair on. The vicar wants to see us later before she agrees. Why are you so bent out of shape anyway? You never wanted me to get married in the first place.’
Talk about having her jaded views thrown back in her face. ‘There’s something you ought to know. I meant to ring you after I had my tea. Hunter came to see me at work this morning and someone attacked him as he was leaving. He’s been admitted to the hospital with a concussion.’
‘I’m trying hard to be sorry but it’s not working.’ Polly swiped the bottle out of Laura’s reach and sloshed the dregs into her glass. ‘You’re knackered. I’ll go back to my place andI’llsort this out. It’s my problem.’
‘But—’
‘—But nothing. Before you start to lecture me I caught the bus over here so you don’t have to worry about me drinking and driving. I’ll let you know later if you’ve escaped wearing the scratchy silver dress.’ Her eyes glazed with tears. ‘Go to bed.’
‘I will.’ Now she had even more questions for her captive American.
* * *
