This took Hattie aback. ‘Oh my goodness! I’ve never done it before, you know.’
‘That doesn’t matter. Me and Nick thought – and Mum – that you somehow brought us together and so you should be the one to… well, bring us together! We’ll get married in a register office beforehand, so we won’t need to worry about the legal stuff. We just want a lovely party with you officiating at the beginning.’
Hattie suddenly wanted to cry. She cleared her throat. ‘That’s so – romantic,’ she said. ‘I’m very honoured.’
‘We’ve chosen the venue. We did think of having it in the garden at home, but you can’t guarantee the weather, not in September.’
‘Where have you chosen?’
‘It’s a new place. I’ll send you the details. Mum insisted on having proper invitations printed; she wouldn’t let me just send emails, and you’ll need one of them. What is your address at the moment?’ There was a long pause while Fiona waited for a reply. Eventually she said, ‘Sorry? Hattie? Are you still there?’
Hattie coughed and cleared her throat again, but even then she was certain her tears were evident. ‘Erm – I don’t really have an address.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I – me and my nephew – are… between addresses.’ She could have given Luke’s address. He wouldn’t have minded. But she couldn’t bring herself to. Although she had definitely made his house a home for the weekend, she knew she couldn’t stay, not the way she was feeling.
Fiona didn’t reply immediately. ‘Tell you what, let me have a word with Mum. Dad’s due to go away on a golfing holiday and she hates being on her own for any length of time. Nick and I are living in his house, waiting for the sale on the new one to go through, so she’s feeling it rather. She’d love to have you. There’s a guest suite – it’s got two bedrooms. I’ll call you back.’
In spite of her sudden feeling of desolation, Hattie couldn’t help smiling. Fiona was so happy, she wanted to make everyone else happy too. And as Hattie looked at the view and sipped water from her flask, she felt a bit more in control of her emotions – until her phone ringing again interrupted her thoughts.
‘Oh my days!’ Fiona was obviously thrilled. ‘I can’t tell you how excited Mum got when I told her you needed somewhere to live for a little while.’
‘It’s not just me, it’s my teenage nephew as well—’
‘She knows that. She is thrilled at the thought of having you both to stay! She’ll be distracted from the wedding prep by trying to overfeed your nephew. I think she’s scarred by what happened last time so it would be perfect.’
‘Are you sure? Having two people – people you either don’t know at all or hardly know – to stay can be very stressful.’ She knew this only too well.
‘Not for Mum. Really. She knew you’d say something like that but wants you to know she really would love to have you both.’ She took a breath. ‘I’m getting off the phone now. Mum wants to ring immediately!’
‘Hattie? Is Fiona right? Are you and your nephew really up for coming to stay for a few weeks? I would be SO thrilled!’
‘Well, if you’re sure that would be OK,’ said Hattie, touched by Sheila’s enthusiasm.
‘I’d love it!’
After more excited conversation, it was agreed that Hattie and Xander would arrive at five, for pre-dinner drinks. This would give Hattie time to finish off her work, collect her things and explain to Luke – and later Xander – where she was going. The ‘why’ would be more complicated.
She drove to Luke’s at lunchtime, hoping not to see his truck or his car so she could let herself in, take her belongings, leave a note and disappear. But no, the truck and the car were both there.
She rang the bell, which sent Frank and Fearless to the window so they could see who it was. Their keenness to see her was evident through the window. Would that make leaving even harder?
‘Hello,’ said Luke, surprised to see her. ‘Why didn’t you use your key?’
Hattie wondered the same thing for a minute. But she couldn’t have sneaked in and out without him knowing about it. ‘I’ve come to get our things. Xander and I are moving out.’
Luke frowned. ‘Why? I didn’t think the service was that bad.’
Hattie put her bag down on the table. ‘The service was amazing. Couldn’t have been better. But I don’t want to impose.’ She paused. ‘Can I make a cup of tea?’
He gestured to indicate that of course she could and followed her into the kitchen.
‘Sheila – remember her? Fiona’s mother?’
‘Of course.’
‘She’s got a two-room annexe and she’s on her own for a while. She’s very keen for us to go and stay. Fiona and Nick are getting married.’
