Hattie said, ‘They’ve met, but she doesn’t know him well.’
‘So she could make a big fuss about it.’
Hattie considered telling Xander that he shouldn’t refer to his mother as ‘she’ but decided against it.
She called Rose later in the day when she’d got through quite a lot of jobs, which included looking at ahouse that might suit Nick if his second viewing with the builder didn’t go well. She’d soon realised it wasn’t right for him but might be right for someone else.
‘Hattie!’ said Rose. ‘How’s things?’
Hattie explained her need for a wedding outfit, knowing Rose would relish finding her the perfect thing, even if she only had her own wardrobe to choose from. ‘My clothes are either really old or work-related. Smart trousers and country jackets.’
‘That’ll be huge fun,’ said Rose. ‘I’ll get Sam to pick you up so we can have wine. When would you like to come? For supper, obviously.’
‘Thanks! That’s really kind.’ She’d leave something cold ready for Xander – wedding conversation wouldn’t be his thing. Of course she’d immediately wondered if Xander would like to go to Luke’s again, but with a pang she remembered he’d gone away.
Hattie disconnected a little later, very grateful for her good friends. She had caught some of Rose’s enthusiasm for a wedding that was doomed before the first chord on the organ had been heard.
She stood in Rose and Sam’s bedroom examining herself in the mirror, although her mind wasn’t really on the job. ‘The thing is, Rose, I can’t let the wedding go ahead.’
‘Because the groom is a coercive control freak who bullies his bride before they’re even married?’
‘That’s about it.’
Rose exhaled and sat down on the bed on several cotton skirts that would now need ironing. ‘But how are you going to do it? Will you stand up at the “if anyone knows any just cause” bit?’
‘I really don’t want to. I want to avoid drama as much as I can.’
‘But what else can you do? Could you take Fiona aside and say, “Your fiancé is vile and is already cheating on you”? She would say, “How do you know?” and you’d have to tell her about your visions.’
‘I don’t know! What do you think of this dress? With luck no one will see it because there won’t be a wedding.’
‘That, I’ll have you know, is a very expensive dress! OK, I got it off Vinted, but it’s practically designer. You should be proud to be seen in it.’
‘I would be very proud to be seen in it under any other circumstances.’
‘It does look lovely on you. In fact, I’d better give it to you as it’s not so great on me.’ Rose took a breath. ‘You’re a sort of bridesmaid so you’ll go to the house early?’
‘There are little bridesmaids, I think.’
‘Not relevant. You’ll have to help Fiona get dressed.’
‘That’s the plan, yes,’ said Hattie.
‘And her mum – Sheila? Is she on your side about all this?’
‘I think I could get her on side. But her father isn’t. He is obviously a bit like Lance. Which may be why Sheila is so worried.’
‘So if you and Sheila talk to Fiona, wouldn’t that have an effect?’ Rose started hanging up the discarded dress-choices.
Hattie bit her lip. ‘What do you think? She’s madly in love with this man who has her exactly where he wants her. Your newest friend and your mother say he’sa wrong ’un and you should call off the wedding of your dreams? Can you see that working?’
‘No.’
‘I’ve done hardly anything except think about what to do and I haven’t come up with any answers.’
‘Didn’t you tell me you’d had a vision about Nick and Fiona?’
‘Yes, but I’m not a hundred per cent sure the woman in the vision is Fiona. I mean, the basket and the scarf I saw were in her house, but I might not be right.’
