This must be one of Bobby’s good days because we sit and chat. Someone brings us cups of tea and biscuits and Bobby tells me about what Jake was like when he was a little boy, and he asks questions about our wedding, and I do my very best to make things up on the spot. I know Jake didn’t want to get his hopes up, but now that Bobby has jumped to the obvious conclusion, it would break his heart if we didn’t play along.
Jake listens patiently as his dad chats, correcting gently when needed, never once rushing him or making him feel silly.
It’s hard not to smile watching the two of them together, like two peas from the same pod.
When Bobby eventually gets tired we leave him to sleep, promising we’ll be back to visit soon. I do hope I get to see him again, before this little charade is over.
When we leave, Jake only walks a few steps towards the car when he stops in his tracks.
‘Thank you,’ he says quietly. ‘You didn’t have to do that.’
‘I wanted to,’ I reply.
‘You made him so happy,’ he says.
‘I’m glad. You’re a good son, you know.’
Jake puffs air from his cheeks.
‘I try,’ he says.
‘You’re turning your life upside down to live closer to him,’ I remind him. ‘Moving countries, giving up your ranch – and helping me out at the same time.’
‘We’re helping each other,’ he says with a smile. ‘And I’m really grateful.’
‘So am I,’ I tell him.
All of a sudden, things feel different. Something has shifted, like, I don’t know, this is more than just a deal now. It’s more than his business deal or my book deal. I care about him, and about Bobby, and making sure they both get exactly what they want. And I’m going to do everything I can to help them.
24
I’m starting to wonder exactly who Cordelia is, and what she’s done with my cool friend Andy, because the Andy I know and love is the guy who screams the absolute top-shelf expletives while blowing zombie brains out of their skull while he’s playing video games. He’s absolutely not this guy, the man who has bought us all pre-wedding dance lessons, so that we can all dance together.
Of course, there are five of us, but JJ is busy with work, so she’s sitting on the sidelines, on her laptop, judging us. The instructor did say she could dance with her but she whispered to me that she can’t think of a bigger ick, so she’s watching.
Which means it’s just Cordelia and Andy, and me and Jake, having couples’ dance lessons in one of the barns. My comfort zone has imploded.
Honestly, Andy and I used to laugh at people who did shit like this. We would go to friends’ weddings together and just sit at the back, making fun of their dorky first dances, and yet here I am, not only watching Andy turn into everything we used to hate, but being part of the choreography myself. Oh, and with my cowboy ‘fiancé’ – don’t forget that detail.
And then there is our dance instructor, a woman in the tightest leggings I’ve ever seen, with a frankly exhausting level of enthusiasm. It’s too early for this (and it’s after lunch).
‘Right!’ Fizz, our dance instructor, says – yep, even her name sounds full of energy. ‘Love this vibe. So excited to work with you all.’
Andy is just here. Cordelia, on the other hand, is glowing. She’s wearing a white wrap top and leggings – things she happened to have with her, which makes me wonder whether she was expecting this, or if she asked for it. I can’t imagine Andy pulling this out of nowhere.
JJ is perched on a bench, sipping coffee out of a takeaway cup, and if she’s trying to hide that she’s judging us then she’s doing a terrible job.
‘Hello,’ Fizz says, approaching Jake.
‘Ma’am,’ he replies.
From the look on her face, Jake saying ‘ma’am’ hits everyone like a lightning bolt to the knickers.
‘Wow,’ she blurts. ‘Have you danced before?’
‘Well, I love to try my best at a party but, proper dancing, not since cotillion,’ he replies. ‘I?—’
‘What’s that?’ Cordelia interrupts him.
