‘Don’t remind me. I was standing in the snow in a bikini and bobble hat. How embarrassing!’
‘You were a sight for sore eyes. I couldn’t quite believe my luck that you were going to be my neighbour for the next few weeks, especially when I didn’t even want to take this job in the first place. After I took Pickle back inside the lodge, I gave her a kiss and screamed, “There is a God!”’
The mood was lightened and they both laughed and glanced towards Pickle, whose eyes were firmly shut, her front paws twitching as she dreamed.
‘Did you really?’ questioned Libby, not sure if Guy was exaggerating.
‘Absolutely I did. Pickle’s timing was perfect for me, though maybe not for you. And by the way, those springy curls trying to escape from underneath your hat were just as sexy as that bikini.’
Libby rolled her eyes in jest and Guy took hold of her hand.
‘Was the reason you didn’t want this job because your ex has moved on and is getting married?’ Libby was trying to gauge if Guy was unable to move on because he still felt some romantic attachment to his former partner.
‘Believe me, I’m sick to my back teeth of hearing about weddings, but not for the reasons you’re thinking. I’ve had a lot on my plate recently, and when Flynn needed someone, I thought that even though the job wasn’t to my taste it would give me my own space for a few weeks and a break from the situation.’
Pickle suddenly emitted a loud snore, and they both laughed.
‘I’ve been living with my parents since I left the family home. Sophie, Holly’s mum, and I met just after I left university. I’d landed a job with a film company and we were put on the same project, a safari documentary for a TV channel, which we filmed in Africa. After that we worked on a couple more jobs together and eventually decided to go freelance together. Everything was going so well, and soon afterwards we bought a flat. At the time I couldn’t have been happier. I was living the dream with a job I loved … and then my girlfriend announced she was pregnant. At first, I was shocked and couldn’t quite believe it, but of course I embraced it. We upgraded our flat to a beautiful country cottage, the perfect place and village to raise our child, and I had visions of pigs, chickens and Shetland ponies accompanying us in our life’s journey. The only thing was, at that point Sophie still hadn’t met my family.’ Guy paused, rubbed his hand over his face and then took a breath.
Libby could see that whatever he was about to share had hurt him deeply.
‘My family loved her. She fitted in so well it was unbelievable. She didn’t have a family of her own and so she quickly became close to my parents. We all took good care of her during the pregnancy and things were going so well that I wanted to make us a proper family. I proposed and she said yes. My family and I were over the moon. Then, all of a sudden, our life became about one thing: organising the wedding. My sister became the wedding planner and Sophie spent more and more time with Lydia. But after twelve months of supposedly planning the wedding, there was still no venue booked. I thought it was odd but Sophie assured me it was just a matter of finding the perfect place, and besides, she wanted time to lose her baby fat and look her best for the big day.
‘I asked to be involved in the planning but Sophie and my sister wouldn’t hear of it, even though it was meant to be my wedding too. Time ticked on and Sophie and Holly were practically living at my parents. Every time I arrived home late from work I’d find our house empty as they’d had dinner with my family and then stayed over because Holly had fallen asleep and Sophie didn’t want to disturb her. My family was becoming more involved in my daughter’s life than I was. It became a little soul-destroying.’
Guy’s voice cracked, and Libby knew he was building up to something.
‘I spoke to my mum about the way I was feeling, which was mainly left-out and a little jealous. I know it sounds daft—these people are my family and it was good for Holly to be surrounded by her auntie and grandparents. My mum explained that becoming a new mum was difficult and that Sophie was lucky to have the support while I was out at work. But by this point Holly was two, and the family home had been standing empty for most of those two years. Holly had her own bedroom at my parents’ and Sophie was sleeping in the other spare room. My sister took me out for lunch and convinced me I was over-reacting and putting too much pressure on the situation. Honestly, Libby, I thought I was going mad. I’m not normally a selfish or jealous person and yet my whole life was becoming affected. Then my dream of the perfect family life—the house, the child and the marriage—turned into my worst nightmare.’
Guy placed his empty mug on the table. ‘Have you got anything stronger?’
‘Wine or whisky?’ asked Libby, standing up.
‘A drop of whisky would be perfect.’
Libby walked over to the fridge, dropped a couple of ice-cubes in a glass then poured in some whisky from a decanter on the sideboard. She watched as Guy swirled the amber liquid around in the glass then took a huge swig.
‘I was filming down in Kent. I finished the job early and instead of spending the evening sitting on my own in the hotel I headed home … well, to my parents’ house, as I knew that’s where Sophie and Holly would be. It was just past 11pm and my parents go to bed early so the house was in darkness. But I knew Sophie was there as her car was on the drive. I let myself in with my key, thinking I’d surprise her. I’d made a plan. I’d take on less work and not travel long distance. Family was more important than my career and money.’
‘That’s exactly right,’ Libby said, watching Guy drain his glass. His words resonated; it was exactly what she’d been thinking about earlier.
‘I checked in on Holly first and she was fast asleep in her bed in the tiny boxroom. She looked perfect lying there and I pressed a kiss to her forehead.’ His voice faltered. ‘She was beautiful and I knew I’d made the right decision to limit my jobs. After watching Holly sleep for a moment, I headed to the spare room. The door was ajar and the bed was empty. My initial thought was that maybe Sophie couldn’t sleep and was in the snug downstairs or the bathroom, but I checked both and there was no sign of her. I texted her, asking her where she was, and I heard her phone beep. Then I heard hushed whispers from my sister’s room. After knocking on the door and being met with complete silence I opened it slowly … and discovered that the reason my wife-to-be was always at my parents’ house was not because she needed help with Holly, but because she was in a relationship with my sister.’
Libby’s eyes widened and she stared at Guy open-mouthed. She had not been expecting that revelation! No wonder he was struggling with his family. It was bad enough coming to terms with the betrayal of a fiancée but when that betrayal was with your own sister? It was the worst situation imaginable.
Libby’s hand moved to her heart. ‘I’m so sorry, Guy. I don’t know what to say.’ She was still trying to digest it all. The situation was a complete mess and she wouldn’t wish on anyone the hurt and anger that Guy must have experienced. Then the penny dropped. ‘Oh, Guy, Sophie’s wedding… She’s marrying your sister, isn’t she?’
All Guy could manage was a nod as he stood up and walked over to the decanter. After refilling his glass, he sat back down next to Libby.
‘Yes, and my daughter is a bridesmaid, and my father is walking both Lydia and Sophie down the aisle. I feel like I’m in the middle of a weird reality TV show.’
Libby could understand why.
‘And it gets better. My ex-fiancée and sister are now living together in the house Sophie and I bought, and I’m back with my parents. My daughter’s auntie will soon become her step-mum and my parents haven’t taken any stance on the situation.’
Libby could see how difficult this was from both sides. Cynthia and her husband were caught in the middle: their daughter had found happiness but at the expense of their son’s, and they were trying to deal with everyone’s emotions, including their own.
‘I know it’s daft but I feel abandoned by everyone: my sister, my parents and of course Sophie. I can live with her betrayal, but my own sister?
