Savannah rolls her eyes playfully. ‘If I have to listen to how you two have dreamed of giving me away in a church full of people, with an extravagant carnation arrangement pinned to the end of each pew, I swear I’m going to bed. From the day you guys adopted me, you’ve done nothing but pray to get rid of me!’
‘We just want to see you happy, darling.’ Steve smooths his smart trousers over his thighs.
I bite back my snigger. Savannah’s dads are always on her to date. I’ve witnessed this exact conversation at least fifty times before and it always plays out the same way.
Savannah takes a sip of champagne from the glass she’s clutching like a lifeline. ‘It would kind of ruin my brand, don’t you think? “Married Sav” just doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. How can I be a champion for single mothers if I’m no longer one?’ She dismisses their words with a quick flick of her wrist.
‘Maybe you’ve done enough championing? Maybe it’s time to let someone else take over?’ Steve’s hand waves the air dramatically in front of his face and Nate squeezes my waist, watching the show.
‘It’s not even about what I want. It’s my entire business we’re talking about.’ Savannah shakes her head despairingly.
‘What about the kids’ swimming instructor?’ Steve persists. ‘Oh my God, he’s absolutely gorgeous.’ Steve’s head barrels round to Stuart, who’s wearing an indignant expression on his pursed lips. ‘Not as gorgeous as you, Stu, of course, but he’d be perfect for Sav.’
Stuart perks up at Steve’s compliment. His back straightens as he preens himself. ‘Isn’t he like an Olympic medallist or something? What’s his name again?’
‘Ronan Rivers?’ Savannah practically spits.
‘That’s the one.’ Steve clicks his fingers. ‘Sexy and successful. He could be the one.’
Savannah’s eyes narrow. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me? Ronan Rivers is the most arrogant alphahole I have ever had the misfortune of coming across in my entire twenty-eight years. Well, apart from…’ She trails off, glancing at the floor. It doesn’t take a genius to work out she’s referring to the twins’ mysterious father.
‘If Ronan wasn’t the best swimming instructor in the country, and we didn’t live dangerously close to the sea, there’s no way I’d suffer bringing the twins to his overbearing lessons every week.’
‘Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.’ Steve is either very brave or very stupid. From the way Savannah’s lips are pursed into a grim line, and the blood vessel furiously pumping on her temple, she’s about three seconds away from snapping.
‘Back to Conor and Clarissa’s wedding,’ Ashley interjects from across the room. Sav mouths a silent thank you across the room.
‘Are you all set?’ Savannah latches onto the rope Ashley cast her and clings to it for dear life.
Clarissa and Conor’s heads angle towards each other again. God, even their mannerisms are in perfect sync.
‘I guess so,’ Clarissa answers for both of them. ‘Conor’s mam has done a lot of the planning. I’m not overly fussed with things like flower arrangements, table decorations and seating plans.’
‘Way to get on your future mother-in-law’s good side,’ Savannah says. ‘Especially Mrs Hazelwood.’
‘Letting her plan our civil ceremony was the only way to compensate for the fact we aren’t having a religious one,’ Conor admits.
Nate squeezes my thigh at the mention of my mother.
‘Those types of things are important to her. Once the groom turns up, and says yes, that’s all that matters to me.’ Clarissa’s hand drops to Conor’s thigh and he presses a kiss to her temple. If it wasn’t so adorably sweet, it would be sickening.
I’m on my second glass of champagne, but it’s not that making my insides warm and fuzzy.
‘You are coming to the wedding, right?’ Conor’s gaze lands on Nate and me on the floor.
‘We’d be delighted to,’ Nate answers for both of us before I can ask if that’s a good idea.
ChapterThirty
HOLLY
20th December
‘I can’t believe you’re leaving. We only just got here,’ Savannah complains, pouring star-shaped cereal into two ceramic bowls for the twins. Isla and Edenare draped across the couch watching a rerun ofHome Alone.
‘I know, I’m so sorry. I would have planned it better if I’d have known you were coming.’
‘Can’t you stay until tomorrow? Or the next day?’ She plonks the bowls at the large table and calls the kids.
