‘It’s a little short on the arms, Nico. Maybe, if you wear a dark shirt with it? Black jacket and shirt – no tie maybe, just open collar? Or go all black for the mysterious property tycoon look.’
Nic threw him a cross look through the mirror. ‘We share the same DNA. How come I have the arms of Mr Tickle, while yours are so stunted?’
‘Rude…’
‘Oh Theo, I didn’t mean—’
‘Stop talking! My arms are perfectly in proportion to my body. As is my one leg and my new bionic limb. The suit looks fine. More than fine. You are a handsome devil, big brother.’
‘Nah, I’ll put it back and pick one out of my wardrobe instead.’
‘But they’re all so boring, Nico. This one is modern. And cool.’
‘With ridiculously short arms.’
‘It’s called fashion, innit? Talking of getting kitted up, I’ll need to buy a kagoule for my Lakeland visit, won’t I?’ Theo groaned.
Nic’s chest tightened as he remembered Aria’s speech about locals being born wearing them. ‘Mum has been going on about that too. It’s summer, you know. But anyway, when the weather changes everyone mostly goes back to down jackets and boots. The kagoule thing is a myth.’
‘Well, you can tell those rural folk exposed cuffs are the new varsity jackets. Think ahead and post a fit-pic on the gram before you go, and I’ll comment that your sleeves are super-fashionable.’
‘Varsity jackets got old?’ Nic joked.
‘How’s it going with the new staff?’ Theo asked.
‘The feelers you put out made it so much easier to recruit the right people,’ Nic replied, taking off the jacket. ‘We are getting back on track and I’m feeling more able to take a weekend off. Hence the trip up north and the wedding in one last attempt to make Aria forgive me. Now, please, go flirt with the shop assistant while I change my trousers. There’s only so much high fashion a man can try on in one day.’
55
Hetherington HQ overlooked Morecambe Bay, emblazoning the landscape with fake turrets. Aria smiled, remembering how offended Justin had been when she’d nicknamed the family’s pretentious buildingthe breezeblock castle. Felicity dropped her off, apologising once more that she couldn’t take Tiger as she had a full day of people arriving for their equine therapy.
‘I plan to retire next year but, until then, that roof won’t fix itself,’ she declared, her laugh tickling the air. No longer finding her stepmother embarrassing, Aria said she wouldn’t dream of keeping her off work to look after the dog. After a visit to the stables last week, she understood more about how horses were used to explore emotions and communication. She might even pay for a session herself, as the therapy could apparently help with balance and coordination. She was also glad the compensation she’d agreed with Nic civilly allowed her to pay Felicity some rent. She’d be using a chunk of it on a landscaping course next year. Climbing out of the car she reassured Felicity that Tiger was her official plus one.
‘I met Justin’s little brother in town a couple of days ago. He was looking for an excuse to hang out on the beach toavoid ‘soppy wedding vows,’ and begged me to bring my dog. I gave in mostly because I hate to be without Tiger. I won’t stay long. I’m only going so I can hold my head up high in front of them. Poor Aria who has been wronged again will rise from the ashes of her fishing cabin!’ She slammed the car door and made sure her rose-gold suit was covering all the relevant parts of her body. She had borrowed her stepmother’s heels and had been training herself to walk like a normal person in them. She knew she’d be the subject of gossip as Sophie said the rumours of their break-up had spread round town like a cat video, but she didn’t want to give people any more ammunition.
On the way in, she passed Cal Lawson, ringing around for temp staff. She said hello and he made a mock gesture of pulling his hair out. ‘Ever tried to cater a wedding with three waitresses? All the others pulled out this morning. It’s a nightmare. Don’t suppose you fancy a shift?’
She ticked off on her fingers the reasons why that wouldn’t work. ‘Not staying long. Have a dog. Need to be on the other side of the bar to get through this ordeal.’ She almost recommended Sophie before remembering her friend despised Cal for being alive. Pushing her hair over her shoulders, she pretended the furtive looks and glances were because she’d brought a dog as a guest to her ex-fiancé’s wedding. At least Tiger gave her that excuse. She moved into the body of the room where Justin was enjoying a captive audience.
‘How do you know when you’ve bought a static caravan?’ Justin nodded at her before waiting for a moment to let thejoke sink in and triumphantly producing the punchline. ‘You put the key in the lock and your hair sticks up!’ He boomed out a laugh, prompting Aria and a passing Cal to exchange eye-rolls as Justin’s mother Diane rocked up, dressed from head to toe in an abusive shade of violet. Meanwhile the groom’s little brother made a beeline for Tiger.
‘When do you want me to dog-sit?’ he asked in a low voice. ‘Please say now?’
Diane looked displeased, but Aria wasn’t sure whether she’d heard him or just generally disapproved of everything. She handed Tiger over, telling the boy she’d collect him after the vows.
‘Aria, can we talk?’ She knew without turning round that it was Nic. She’d rather have a cold sore than a chat with him, but as it was a wedding she couldn’t make a scene. She swung around, finding he looked as handsome as ever, although perhaps a bit less composed.
‘Why are you here?’ she asked, her voice flat.
He fiddled with his shirt sleeve. ‘To see you, really. Seemed like a good idea back in the tailor’s shop, but then so did this jacket.’ When Aria looked away, he asked her to hear him out. ‘My solicitor assures me the compensation has gone through, and I’m glad. As I said repeatedly, the demolition was a stupid, indefensible mistake. It wasn’t my action, but I am willing to own it. And I will always regret it.’
‘It was a mistake that can’t be rectified, no matter how much you grovel,’ Aria replied. ‘So, you might as well not bother doing that again. You overpaid me for the hut, and I accepted it, with some encouragement from Felicity. But whatare you expecting? Thanks? While the cabin was an important part of my life, it was obviously a part of your grander plan and now it has gone we have nothing more to discuss.’ People were looking their way as she finished the speech she’d prepared in case he came.
Mercifully Justin stepped in, leaning towards her and breathing whisky fumes. ‘Hey Aria! I did what you said and grew a pair of balls. I told Lu-Lu I’d stand her up at the altar unless she went ahead with a dance we practised.’
A threat of that kind seemed typical Justin behaviour, but she wasn’t sure why he was sharing this with her. First dances were a normal and frankly quite boring part of a wedding and she wouldn’t be sticking around long enough to see theirs. ‘Well, I’m sure we can all look forward to seeing what you practised,’ she murmured.
‘Oh, you knowexactlywhat we’ve been practising. You’re probably a little rusty these days, though,’ he poked at her.
