‘I’m sorry to disturb you at this time of night—’
‘It’s only nine o’clock,’ he said.
His voice was so comforting. She took a breath.
‘I’ve got to go out. There’s a drama with Sheila – you know? The mother of the bride, who organised the quiz?’
‘I don’t need a full CV – how can I help?’
‘While I’m sure Xander would be absolutely fine here on his own—’
‘Drop him off as you swing by. Pack some things and I’ll take him to college in the morning.’
All her tension melted away. ‘Oh, Luke! You are so kind! I lo— I’m loath to think how I’d manage without you. We don’t have any near neighbours he could call on if there was a problem.’
‘More than happy to have him,’ said Luke.
As she knocked on the door of Xander’s bedroom she realised how close she’d been to telling Luke she loved him. She did love him, of course, but as a friend. And words like ‘love’ shouldn’t be used casually, she decided.
Xander was delighted when Hattie told him what was happening and didn’t object to packing some things. Hattie allowed herself a couple of seconds to wonder how her sister would respond if she heard her son had gone to spend the night with a man she didn’t know at a moment’s notice. Not well, was her conclusion as she started the car.
Sheila almost dragged her into the house the moment she rang the bell.
‘Come in, do! I don’t know what’s going to happen. Fiona is beside herself.’
As Hattie followed Sheila into the kitchen, she wondered where Sheila’s friends the Craigs were. Perhaps they’d gone touring before the wedding.
Fiona was standing at the kitchen table in her dressing gown, tear-stained and looking desolate. Her father was sitting at the end of the table, a large glass of something by his hand. Sheila took hold of her daughter and gently led her to a chair.
‘You’ll feel better if you have something to eat,’ she said.
‘Food isn’t always the answer, Sheila!’ said her husband.
‘What’s going on?’ asked Hattie, sitting next to Fiona, hoping the name of her father would come back to her shortly.
‘Lance wants to call off the wedding,’ said Fiona.
‘Do we know why?’ asked Hattie, secretly thinking again that this was very good news.
Fiona nodded. ‘He doesn’t think I’m committed enough to him. I’ve let him down.’
Hattie took a breath. ‘How have you done that?’
‘I didn’t lose weight before the wedding. He thinks I don’t care if I’m a fat bride although of course I know perfectly well he doesn’t want one of those. I did try hard, I really did, but it wasn’t enough!’ Fiona’s voice broke.
‘She hasn’t eaten a thing today. I’ve only just found out about it,’ said Sheila quickly.
‘Oh God,’ said Hattie. ‘Why did he think you hadn’t lost weight?’ she asked Fiona.
‘He came to the latest dress fitting,’ said Sheila. ‘The dress fitted perfectly; Fifi looked a dream, didn’t she, Malcolm?’
‘I can imagine,’ said Hattie. Her mind was whirling, wondering why they didn’t have a wedding planner to sort out this mess – she was a property hunter, for goodness’ sake! What on earth were they expecting from her? Had she been a wedding planner, she realised, she would not have let the bridegroom near any dress fittings.
‘I don’t see what all the fuss is about,’ said Malcolm. ‘Eat less between now and the wedding: you’re bound to lose a bit of weight.’
Hattie and Sheila looked at the man sitting at the end of the table, glass in hand. ‘She doesn’t need to lose weight,’ said Hattie.
‘How do you know?’ Malcolm said belligerently. The whisky in his glass was probably not the first.
