‘Go on …’
‘I’ve got my friend Kate’s wedding this Saturday.’
‘Who on earth is Kate?’ Sal asked bluntly. ‘And why do you have other friends apart from me?’ she joked.
‘She’s a girl I went to school with. We used to do a lot of “couples dates” when Oliver and I were together.’ Eleanor felt the bitterness sting her throat. ‘Anyway, I didn’t really want to go, but my mum has successfully guilt-tripped me into saying yes and I have absolutely nothing to wear.’ She paused and pulled at her baggy jumper. ‘Well, nothing that fits.’
‘Good job you have me as a best friend then.’ Sal clapped her hands together decisively. ‘It’s this Saturday, right?’
Eleanor nodded in response.
‘Fine. I’ll order some options this afternoon and they will be with you to try on tomorrow. Sorted.’
‘Thank you!’ Eleanor beamed. If she thought she was organized, it was nothing compared to Sal. ‘Nothing too fancy though, and not too much skin, please.’
‘OK, Grandma,’ Sal shot back. ‘Let the professional handle this, I know what I’m doing.’ A wicked smile had crept on to her face.
‘Sal, I’m serious,’ Eleanor warned.
‘Trust me. I’ll get you something absolutely gorgeous. And besides, you never know, there may be some cute single guys there you need to make a good impression on.’
‘Christ, you’re nearly as bad as my mum,’ she groaned.
‘I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you very much.’ Sal grinned smugly as she walked away.
Fin
‘Kate is going to kill me … she’s going to absolutely kill me,’ Fin moaned to himself, as he checked the map on his phone once again. ‘Two minutes, my arse.’ He grumbled at the directions, willing his legs to move as quickly as possible over the cobbled streets. Had driving everywhere in LA ruined his ability to walk places? He wiped the sweat from his brow and hurriedly turned yet another corner.
Some people were born with musical talents. Others, an innate art for learning languages. For Fin, it was an infuriating talent for being late. Even when he tried especially hard to be on time, minutes would accumulate and somehow he’d be even later than usual. It was something that many people had attempted to stamp out of him over the course of his lifetime, but to no avail. Fin’s lateness was as much a part of his DNA as his bright red hair and his freckles.
‘Aha! There you are.’ He beamed. At the end of the road up ahead stood the little church where, right about now, his friend Kate was probably already saying ‘I do.’
He nervously checked his watch; he was now officially half an hour late.
Weddings never start on time.
You’re fine.
Just run!
He reached the front doors of the church and placed his ear against the cool wood. He could hear the rousing congregation, their voices singing out the words of a familiar hymn. Part of him wanted to stay outside, hidden from view; the thought of disturbing this moment filled him with dread. Would opening the doors somehow break the magic that was brewing inside?
‘Glad I’m not the only one that’s turning up with their tail between their legs,’ a voice from behind whispered close to his ear.
‘Jesus!’ Fin shouted, his insides momentarily jumping out of his body. He spun round to find a sheepish, rather harried-looking man standing to his side. ‘They nearly had a funeral on their hands as well as a wedding there for a second.’ Fin felt his heart straining against his chest.
‘Sorry, didn’t mean to give you a fright.’ The man held out his weathered-looking hand and Fin shook it firmly. ‘I’m Jack.’
‘Hey, Jack. I’m Fin.’ He turned back and listened again at the door. ‘They’re still singing; do you reckon we go in now?’
‘Don’t think there’s going to be a better time, mate.’ Jack shrugged his shoulders.
Fin took a deep breath and pushed against the heavy door. Slowly the inside of the church came into view through the crack: the backs of hundreds of heads, coiffed, gelled and adorned with hats. Luckily there was more than enough room at the back for the pair of latecomers to linger. Fin felthis chest swell with affection as his eyes found the glowing couple standing at the front of the altar, the stained-glass window throwing its rainbow colours across them both, their faces reflecting the light back tenfold.
‘Good work, my friend.’ Jack leant over. ‘I think we might have got away with that one.’ He punched Fin rather hard on the arm. Fin nodded in agreement, eyes fixed forward on the scene unfolding before him. Vows being exchanged, rings in hand.
‘Are you with the bride or the groom?’ Jack hissed, pulling at his suit uncomfortably. Fin didn’t reply but Jack didn’t seem to notice. ‘I’m with the groom. In fact it’s probably best I’m hidden at the back—’
