Did Jasper want kids?
I tutted at my own behaviour. I’d known the guy a couple of days and I was already thinking about us having a family.
Honestly. Was there something in the water in Fairlight Bay and Midwinter? Did everyone come here, fall madly in love with someone, and live happily ever after?
Marcus and Cara hadn’t.
‘Are you going to China for that tea?’ Lucy’s sarcasm brought me to my senses.
‘Yeah. Shanghai,’ I yelled back. ‘And I’ll pick up that dress while I’m here.’
‘If only,’ Lucy laughed.
I made a pot, poured milk into a jug, and added the sugar bowl to the tray of cups and saucers, and then I carried it all into the dining room.
‘Ooh,’ Lucy said. ‘How very posh. It’s usually mugs.’
‘This is a special occasion,’ I said. ‘It’s not every day we all get to sit around a table and plan a wonderful wedding.’
Adele, who seemed to have regained her composure while I’d been in the kitchen, burst into tears once again.
‘Biscuits,’ I said. ‘We need biscuits.’
‘No!’ Adele sobbed. ‘I’m already the size of a house. Please don’t tempt me with biscuits. I know that’s selfish of me to stop you having them, but if I see them, I’ll eat them, and I really must stop.’
I placed the tray on the table and sat down beside her, taking one of her hands in mine.
‘Okay. I’m going to say something you might not like but I’m an honest and straightforward person, so here it is. Firstly, Adele, you are not the size of even a doll’s house, so stop this nonsense now. Secondly, if you want to have a biscuit, have one. We can all go for a walk later and burn the calories off. Thirdly, I know we’ve only just met recently, but I think you’re lovely, kind, and caring. Not to mention exceedingly pretty. Not so much right now, because your eyes are red from crying, but the other day, I told Lucy that I could see why Marcus was so proud to have you by his side. Not just for your pretty face, your lovely hair, and that gorgeous smile, but also because you’re a very special woman and everybody likes you.’
‘Not … not everybody,’ she said, as a small smile crept across her mouth. ‘That woman the–’
‘Forget that bloody woman,’ I told her. ‘What you need to understand about women like that is they’re the ones we should all feel sorry for. She said all those things to hurt you because she’s hurting inside. She’s unhappy, and nasty, and she’s clearly jealous of you. She’s a bully, Adele. And bullies are the biggest cowards on the planet. They try to bring others down to their sad and pathetic level. Don’t let a woman like that win. Don’t let her make you think things that are complete and utter rubbish. The only person who can control your life and your happiness is you, Adele. The only people’s opinions of you that matter are your own, your friends, and the people you love. Don’t let anyone take that from you. Right. We’ll drink this tea – and if you want a biscuit, have one, but if not then we won’t either. We’ll stick together like women should and like good friends do. Okay? And then we’ll have a good, long chat, and you can tell us how you really feel about Marcus, and about this wedding. And what you want to do. If you want to go ahead with it, then we need to sort a few things out. Like flowers, whether you want a church or not, the guest list, what food you’d like, and … well, that’s enough for now.’
They were all staring at me and no one said a word. So I poured the tea and waited, and finally Adele responded.
‘I … I love Marcus, more than anyone in the world. But sometimes love doesn’t work out, does it? I thought we had a fairytale romance, but fairytales aren’t real. I know he cares about me a lot, but is that enough? And what if someone better comes along? For him, obviously. Not for me.’
I’d heard enough. ‘Stop right there. You’re blind, Adele. Marcus doesn’t care about you – he adores you. Everyone in this room can see that apart from you. He asked you to move in with him. He asked you to marry him. He’s paying for this wedding. Bloody hell, Adele, he’s even paying me to make sure you have the best day of your life. Do you honestly believe that he would do all those things if all he wanted was some female to live with him to keep him company? He just took you to a Spa so that you could be pampered and relax. Believe me, Adele, if you don’t marry him there’ll be a queue of women lining up to do so. But do you know what? The only woman he wants is you. You, Adele. Not some thin super model. Not his ex-wife. Not Noelle. Not Lucy. Not me. You. You say you love him more than anyone in the world. But do you? If you genuinely did, you’d believe what he says. You’d stop hurting him with all your doubts. You’d do anything to make him happy. He’s doing everything he can to do that for you. I have no idea what’s going on with you, Adele, but if you need help, get it. If you’re ill, see a doctor, and then talk to Marcus. If you’re pregnant, congratulations, and again, tell Marcus.’
‘Pregnant!’
It was probably just as well that she stopped me, because I’d possibly said some things I shouldn’t. And perhaps I might’ve been a bit unkind. But I believe that there are times when we sometimes need to give tough love, providing it’s given with the best intentions, as mine was.
Yet out of everything I’d said, she’d picked up on that?
‘Pregnant?’ she repeated. And then shot a look at each of us. ‘Do you … do you think I could be? I … I haven’t had a period for a while. But they’ve never been that regular. The last one was … two weeks before Valentine’s Day. Is there any chance that…? No. I wouldn’t be that lucky. Would I?’
Lucy and Noelle were both glowering at me. Tough love obviously wouldn’t have been their choice. But now they looked equally concerned. Which was understandable. I’d just got Adele’s hopes up without realising that she’d clearly love it if that were true. And if she wasn’t, I’d have broken a lot more than her nose. I’d have broken her heart.
‘There’s only one way to find out,’ I said. ‘Noelle? Can we take your car and go to the supermarket to buy a test?’
‘Erm. Yes. Of course. If that’s really what Adele wants to do.’
‘I think it is,’ she said, looking determined and hopeful for the first time since that woman verbally assaulted her outside of Fairlight Bakes.
‘Why don’t you all stay here?’ Noelle said. ‘It only needs one of us to go and buy it. And please don’t get your hopes up too high, Adele. Just in case.’
‘No. Of course I won’t,’ said Adele, looking as if she might be about to burst with excitement. ‘And you’re right. We don’t all need to go. But may I come with you, Noelle? I … feel a little fidgety now. And I think the fresh air might do me good as I’ve been crying.’
