‘No, one of my first TV series actually. A long time ago, when I first started out. We had a lovely doctor and nurse consultant who gave us all the juicy stories.’
‘I bet,’ Ellie said warmly.
But their conversation immediately died when his mother noticed the arrival of Savannah and Liam, sparking a flame of irritation in his chest that their arrival would automatically halt her conversation with Ellie. Although she didn’t seem to mind, and instead looked concerned about him.
Savannah and Liam made their way over to the top table and were greeted by a round of applause from their guests. Savannah was wearing some baby-pink frothy designer number, and his brother was wearing a linen suit, not dissimilar to his own except it was in the same colour as Savannah’s dress, with a frilly white shirt beneath, and a baby-pink bow tie at the neck.
At that moment, Alex knew with complete certainty that he’d dodged a bullet.
His parents stood and welcomed them both with hugs and air kisses. Savannah’s mother had died a few years ago, and herrelationship with her father was strained, so he wasn’t surprised that he hadn’t come.
Alex took a deep breath and, after glancing at Ellie for silent reassurance, they stood. He gave Savannah’s cheek a quick awkward air kiss and then gave his brother a firm handshake before sitting back down as quickly as possible. Ellie – incapable of behaving unkindly to anyone – complimented Savannah’s dress and beamed cheerfully at his brother.
As they returned to their seats, his mom and dad remained standing and turned to their audience, commanding the room easily without saying a word.
His father was the first to speak. ‘We are so delighted to welcome you all here for Savannah and Liam’s wedding. We know some of you have travelled a great distance: Monte Carlo, South Africa and even from Australia – thank you, Margot and Rocco. I can speak for all of us when I say we are so pleased to have you with us on such a wonderful occasion.’
His mother spoke next. Neither of his parents had speech cards; the smoothness of their delivery was down to their talent as actors, combined with their close relationship as a couple – a winning team who loved each other deeply.
How had he thought Savannah was the one? Was he truly so blind? Was he falling blindly again with Ellie, with another woman who didn’t really want him?
‘Savannah and Liam are perfect for each other,’ continued his mom.
His dad followed, ‘Anyone can see that, and we are all delighted to welcome Savannah into our family.’
Neither looked at him as they spoke and he got the distinct impression that this was how all of the wedding events would pan out, everyone pretending nothing had happened. His fingers clenched into fists beneath the table and his jaw tightened painfully.
His thoughts, his feelings, ignored as always.
A warm hand was laid on top of his own.
He looked up into the chocolate pools of Ellie’s eyes, and slowly the tension faded away, falling off his shoulders like a heavy coat dropping to the floor.
She understood and she saw him. But she didn’t want him, not really. Lust was a powerful thing, but love? He’d never managed to get that, not with Savannah or any of his previous flings. No one stayed; they all got bored, or sought out better opportunities and left him behind, and he’d never missed them. But Ellie? He knew he would miss her when all of this was over.
‘…which brings me on to our wedding gift.’ His mother beamed indulgently as she passed the couple an envelope.
Liam and Savannah opened it with curious smiles. After a second of confusion, Savannah burst into sobbing tears and jumped up to hug his mom. His dad was given a bear hug by Liam, and Alex tried very hard not to roll his eyes.
‘They’ve gifted us a honeymoon island!’ cried Savannah, wiping gently at her tears with a napkin.
Holly jumped up and down as if she’d won a carnival prize. ‘What, your own island? You have to let me stay!’
His mom chuckled. ‘We told you that we would sort out the honeymoon, and we have. The Bahamas will always have a special place in your hearts and ours, so we thought it only right that you should have your own place here. We hope it’s a special start to a beautiful life together.’
There was more emotional gushing from Savannah, followed by hugs, while the guests watched with captivated gasps of wonder and sentimental sighs.
Ellie squeezed his fingers lightly and he returned the touch, hoping to reassure her. He wasn’t surprised by his parents’ actions. When you’ve bought houses for your kid’s twenty-first birthdays, what else can you buy them as a wedding gift?
An island, of course.
Raw jealousy clawed at his throat and he struggled to swallow it down. He knew it was a wedding gift and the occasion demanded extravagance. But, for all their display of familial affection, not one of them had come to see his play. How could they buy an island for one brother, and not even a plane ticket for the other? Like salt poured onto an open wound, it hurt like hell, but was also strangely cleansing.
If they didn’t care, why should he?
The bitter rage that had been simmering since his arrival boiled over. He let go of Ellie’s hand and drained his glass in one swig. He then picked up the bottle from the centre of the table and repoured his glass, not caring when some of it sloshed onto the tablecloth.
‘Oh, my babies are going to love it!’ cried Savannah, hugging Alex’s mother once more.
