I know maybe I should be leaping around, trying to find cute kids hiding under tables or playing in corners. But looking after bride number two seems equally important. ‘I’m sure it’ll all start up again soon.’ I’m trying my best to be reassuring. But seeing as we’re the only people here, that might be over optimistic.
I pull up a chair next to Saffy and we sit together, quietly watching the numbers flipping by on our phones. After twenty minutes Saffy sits back and folds her arms. ‘The guys are taking a while.’ She pulls a face. ‘We might need to try out some girl power here. What do you think?’
I grin at the thought. ‘I’m up for it, if you are.’ Not that we’ll get very far. I’ve a feeling that Saffy’s as much of a shade girl as me.
Saffy laughs as if she’s read my mind. ‘Usually Sophie’s the ass-kicker and I’m the one who loves chocolate cake. But today I dared to get married. So maybe I’m on a roll.’ She pulls herself up and high-fives me. ‘C’m on. Let’s go gedd’em.’
From the way she’s tottering in her heels, this could be the Champagne talking. But I grab my bag and follow her anyway. As we have to force our way through the crowd by the Winter Garden door to get in, I’m asking myself whatever happened to priority for the bride? I’m shouting at her over my shoulder as I squeeze through the doorway ahead of her. ‘This is the place to be, it’s heaving.’ When we finally emerge into a space, I find I’m staring up into two familiar faces. ‘Hey, Ken, and Gary, are you having a good time?’ Seeing they’re both clasping a Mr and Mrs Roaring Waves bottle in each hand, with a label for each happy couple, I barely need to ask that.
Judging by Gary’s beady eyed glance and flaring nostrils, he’s after gossip. ‘Holly, fab to bump into you again. With all the sagas of chocolate fountains and alpine fondues, you have to update us. Has Jess got her ring yet?’
I know now’s not the time to chat, but sometimes it’s the fastest way of moving on. ‘Last night Bart popped a cork while they were suspended over a chasm in a cable car, but Jess was still gasping at views, not a Tiffany box.’ This was the eight o’clock call that interrupted my bacon sandwich this morning.
Ken’s lapping it up. ‘All this mountain air, excitement and exercise, she’ll come back a changed woman.’
Gary flutters his eyelashes as he looks down at me. ‘Talking of changes, whatever you’re doing to our cutie-pants Rory, keep up the good work. He’s one happy bunny lately.’
I’m blinking at Gary, because I’ve no idea what he means. ‘That must be the children.’
Ken taps his nose. ‘Santa knows it’s more to do with the little present we delivered to the wedding shop on our first day out with Nuttie and the cart.’
Garry nudges me with his free elbow. ‘Look, he’s over there, waving at you now.’ He gives me a wink and puckers up his lips. ‘Isn’t he a total dreamboat in a tux?’ As we both know to our cost, the transformation is incredible. It’s like someone just took my eye mask off, and I can suddenly see Rory, the smoking hot version I’ve been blocking out all these years. I must say, it’s a lot easier as a photographer, when youdon’twant to grab your helper just because his tush looks so edible.
From a distance, Rory’s face is all stubble shadows and cheekbones. Then, when his eyes lock onto mine they crinkle. As his face lights up and he pushes back his hair, his smile zings straight across the room and zaps me right in the stomach.
Ken rolls his eyes to the ceiling. ‘Eyes off, Mr Naughty, Rory’s all Holly’s now. We don’t want her getting all prickly and jealous.’
Despite reeling from the shock, I manage a loud squawk of protest. ‘Help yourself, guys, he’snothingto do with me.’ At one time the rush of heat to my cheeks would be entirely about my inability to cope. But this time it’s more about fury. At Rory, for daring to go AWOL for the last half hour when he was supposed to be rounding up guests. Then for launching that exocet of a grin. At myself for letting my insides turn to molten treacle, when I haven’t even got alcohol as an excuse.
As I look at Saffy beside me, my eyes are flashing. ‘Shall we deal with this, now we’re here?’ Let’s face it, no one else is going to get this wedding back on track. This one’s down to us.’
She shakes her hair as she gives a shiver of anticipation. ‘Over to you, Hols …’
I’ve got no idea what she’s expecting me to do, but I go for the most powerful tool I have on me. I dip my hand in my bag and close my fingers around the bells. Then I listen to the roar of laughter and chat all around me, drop the bells and grab the whistle. The breath I drag in is so deep, my lungs feel like they’re bursting. Then I put it to my lips and blow as long and hard as I can.
The noise is shrill and horribly loud. But the effect is startling. A second later, the silence is huge, gaping and somehow echoing off the high ceiling as I stare at Saffy and hiss, ‘Go on, then!…’
She opens and closes her mouth, and although there’s no sound coming out, the way she’s blinking at me, eyes wide and desperate, I know what she wants me to do.
I screw up every tiny bit of courage I have. Which, to be honest, isn’t a lot. Then, without even thinking what to say, I yell. ‘Everyone … go next door … it’s time for the talking … thank you, ladies and gentlemen … very muchly … please … now … hurry …’
There’s exactly the kind of clatter you’d expect from two hundred feet hitting floorboards, and then Rory’s sidling towards us, camera and rolled up tie in his hand.
‘Thanks very muchly for that, Berry, beautifully done. I was just about to do it myself.’ Which has to be a hundred per cent bollocks. So no change there, then.
‘Why the hell have you got a bottle of beer in your jacket pocket, Rory?’ Thank jeez I’m cross with him. I’d hate to be wondering what the inside of his mouth tastes like if I wasn’t. As for eyeing up his Adam’s apple and the vulnerable bit of his neck where his shirt buttons end. Well, seeing he’smyassistant here, that may well count as sexual harassment.
He gives a low laugh. ‘Long story. The girls’ grandma was feeling queasy and I had to rescue her. Aren’t we supposed to be hurrying here?’ If his arm’s somehow across the small of my back, it’s obviously only to speed us along. ‘Hey, I forgot to tell you we’ve found Teddie’s other sweet spot. You’ll never guess. Go on, have a try …’
I screw up my face. ‘Really, I have no idea.’ And neither has he, if he’s asking me this now. With St Aidan’s wedding of the year about to re-boot, am I likely to have the spare brain capacity?
‘Wheatus signingTeenage Dirt Bag.’ His grin couldn’t be any more delighted as he pulls out his phone. ‘Here, I took a video of him watching it.’
The frown I send him is designed to close him down and it works.
‘Okay. Sorry, Berry. I know we’ve got a wedding to go to.’ His brow wrinkles and his arm’s back again and as he dips down his lips almost brush against my ear. ‘Great work back there, by the way. Time for the talking, then?’
Chapter 28
