‘Is everything all right? With you and Hugo.’
‘Of course,’ said Gabby, her voice a little shrill.
‘I know I’m nagging but do you have any idea on numbers? The invitations went out ages ago. Do you need a hand chasing people up?’ Hattie crossed her fingers out of sight. She had more than enough to do. ‘I know people are all a bit last-minute these days but do you think you ought maybe to phone a few people? It’s all getting a bit close and I need to finalise orders.’ Hattie paused, unnerved by the blank expression on her cousin’s face. ‘The invitations did all go out, didn’t they?’ It was such a stupid question, she couldn’t believe she’d asked it.
Gabby’s throat moved convulsively and she shot an uncertain look at someone beyond the phone screen.
‘Is Mum there?’ asked Hattie with sudden suspicion.
‘Hello, darling,’ her mum trilled a little to cheerfully to be natural. What was going on?
‘Hi, Mum.’
‘Gabby and I were just having a little chat.’ Hattie’s mum moved in front of the screen and sat down next to Gabby, taking her hand.
Hattie narrowed her eyes and a sense of unease gripped her. ‘What’s wrong? Have you and Hugo split up? Has he changed his mind?’
Gabby gave a very weak laugh and shook her head. ‘No, nothing like that.’
‘But something,’ pressed Hattie.
Gabby’s face began to crumple.
‘It’s all right, love,’ said Hattie’s mum, putting an arm around her niece. ‘Come on. This is your wedding. You have to do what you want to do.’
With a small sigh of gratitude, Hattie rubbed at the knot of tension at the back of her neck. Thank God for Mum, she would help get some decisions made.
Gabby nodded and wiped her eyes with the tissue Hattie’s mum handed to her.
‘Thing is, Hats,’ she sighed and looked at her aunt for reassurance, ‘I’m just really nervous. I never wanted a big fancy wedding. It’s Daddy that wants it. And Mummy. I just wanted family and close friends. He’s invited loads of business bigwigs and their smart wives, and Mummy all her charity lunch friends. It’s got out of control. Daddy wants it to be the wedding of all weddings, to show everyone that he’s made it, and I can’t tell him now that I just want a small intimate celebration. That’s why Hugo and I decided on the register office wedding in the first place. But then Daddy got hold of things and decided we needed a big party afterwards and another ceremony and it’s just snowballed. I’m not sure I even want to get married now.’
Hattie felt sick. How could she have not seen this? Now she felt awful for badgering her cousin and, less charitably, a little bit irritated. Actually, a whole lot irritated.
‘Oh my God, Gabby. Why didn’t you say anything?’
‘Partly because it’s impossible to say anything to Daddy because he’s so bloody excited about the idea and then he was so pleased with himself for coming up with something for you…’ Gabby trailed off.
‘Coming up with something for me to do,’ Hattie said woodenly.
‘Playing to your strengths, darling,’ said her mum, in her motherly placating way, which was no consolation whatsoever, and then she disappeared out of view.
‘You have been doing a brilliant job, Hats. It’s just…’
Hattie slumped in her chair. ‘So what do you want to do? Call off the celebration over here?’ This gig had always been too good to be true.
‘No! No! I can’t do that to Daddy. It will be fine. Sorry, pre-wedding jitters, that’s all. I’ll chase up the numbers tomorrow, I promise.’
‘Great,’ said Hattie, relieved to hear it.
‘I’ve got something else to tell you.’
What now? Hattie steeled herself, giving her cousin a patient smile although she was about ready to throttle her.
‘I’ve changed my mind about the colour of the flowers. I don’t think we need the pink roses as well. Can we just stick with the white ones?’
Hattie laughed; that was a small amendment. The florist would only buy the flowers a day or so before the wedding. They needed advance notice to ensure they had enough people to make the floral arrangements on the day before or on the day of the wedding.
‘That’s fine. I’m sure I can sort that out.’ She’d better not let her cousin know how easy that would be, she’d be changing her mind over and over.
