‘Of course I haven’t asked him about it. He’s made a fool of me once already. I’ll not humiliate myself by showing I’m bothered.’
‘I’m sorry to hear things aren’t going well with him. He seemed a lovely guy the couple of times I met him.’
‘Appearances can be deceptive.’
‘How about we look at table decorations this week?’
‘Sure.’
For the next hour, Kate and Sarah rifled through magazines, cutting out pictures of floral displays and sticking them into Kate’s scrap book. Not for the first time, Sarah wondered why she’d been drafted in to help. It wasn’t like she had an artist’s eye. Most of the table decorations looked the same to her.
‘This is nice,’ said Kate, pointing to one design. ‘I reckon I could have a go at making that myself. We could collect some greenery from the forest.’
‘Yes, that sounds good.’
Kate sighed and placed her wine down on the table. ‘Look, Sarah. I can’t hold off telling you any longer.’
‘What?’
‘We’ve invited Mark and Gary to the wedding.’
‘You’ve what?’
‘We got on well with them when they came to stay and the invite just kind of slipped out.’
‘Oh.’
‘I’m sorry, I know you said you were friends, but I understand it could be awkward.’
Sarah flushed. She should have known lies would get her nowhere. ‘Weddings are hard enough for me without my ex being there.’
‘Maybe you’ll have patched things up with Felix by then? Anyway, as you’re doing the catering, I doubt your paths will cross that much.’
Sarah frowned. ‘I think I’d better get going.’
‘Sarah, don’t be like that.’
‘I’m not being like anything.’
‘At least wait till Bob’s back so he can drive you home.’
‘I told my dad I’d call him this evening. It’s getting late and I know he likes to get to bed early. Tell Bob not to worry about a lift tonight. I’ll get a taxi home.’
‘You’re sure you’re not angry with me?’
Sarah swallowed down her hurt.‘I’m sure.’
‘And you’ll be there for my fitting next week?’
‘Of course.’
‘OK then.’ Kate drew Sarah into an awkward hug. ‘I’ll text you the details of the fitting. You’re sure you’ll be OK getting home?’
‘Yes.’
‘OK.’
Sarah left the house and walked along the dark street. She liked Bodmin in daylight, but felt vulnerable walking the streets after dark. She told herself she was safer here than in the town she grew up, but that didn’t stop her jumping at noises and being spooked by shadows.
