They pulled up outside the church hall. June was relieved to see the news van was still there, although the camerawoman was putting black cases into the back.
“Is this it?” Rocky said. “The agency told me it was a high-end event. This is a shitty village hall.”
“The thing is, the bride loves the local library, which is being threatened with closure. So, she’s combined her hen do with an event to support the library.” June knew it was a ridiculous story and she could see Rocky wasn’t buying it either. “There’s a news crew here to film you.”
Rocky’s face lit up. “A TV crew? Why didn’t you tell me?” He leaped out of the car and grabbed his bag from the back seat. “Let’s get started.”
“Great. When you get inside ask for Mrs.Bransworth and tell her that Matilda sent you.”
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“I’ve got a few other hen-do bits to sort out first. Good luck, though.”
June got out of the car and walked away before anyone inside the church hall spotted her. When she reached the van, Tessa was on her mobile phone. “Yeah, complete washout. No point even cutting it.”
June gave a small cough. “Excuse me?”
“No autographs,” Tessa said, not bothering to look up.
“I don’t... I think you might want to go back in there and start filming again.”
“There’s no point; that’s not a news story.”
“It’s about to get a lot more interesting.”
“What, they’re going to make balloon animals?”
“Please, trust me. You’re going to want to see what’s going on in there.”
Tessa frowned. “This better not be another waste of my time. Come on, Cleo.” She nodded at the camerawoman, who sighed as she pulled the camera back out of its bag.
June stood at the bus stop, as she didn’t want to risk getting any closer. She watched Tessa and Cleo step inside. A moment later she heard music starting to blast out from the church hall, the opening bars of some R and B song, followed by a loud, shocked scream. June caught a flash of Rocky as he strolled past the door, wearing nothing but black leather chaps and an American cop’s hat, and couldn’t help but laugh. If only Alex were here to see this.
“You coming, love?”
She turned around to see the bus had pulled up, the driver staring at her through the open door. June climbed on board and was still chuckling to herself as the bus pulledaway.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
By the time June approached the hotel it was past one o’clock and she was very late. As she hurried in through the front door, she caught sight of her reflection in a mirror and groaned. She had a huge grass stain on her blouse from where she’d thrown herself on the verge, and the ride in Rocky’s convertible had wreaked havoc with her hair, which was now a giant halo of frizz. June tried to flatten it, but it was no use; she was going to have to go in looking like this. At least the party was fancy dress so there would be others looking equally ridiculous.
But as soon as June walked into the hotel bar, her heart sank. Twenty or so women were standing around drinking champagne, all wearing the most unbelievably glamorous outfits. There was Becky, who’d come as Audrey Hepburn inBreakfast at Tiffany’s, and Tara, dressed as Marilyn Monroe fromSome Like It Hot. In the middle stood Gayle, her blond hair elaborately piled on top of herhead and wearing a huge crinolined gown, a resplendent Marie Antoinette.
“Is that June Jones?” Tara said, and everyone turned to look at her. “I can’t believeyou’rehere!”
June hung by the door, wishing she could disappear into thin air.
“Oh my god, you look exactly the same as you did at school,” Gayle said, coming over and kissing her on both cheeks. “You’re even still wearing school uniform!”
“I’m actually dressed as—”
“Where are you living these days?” interrupted Tara.
“Are you single? Married?” Becky said, joining them. “We need all the gossip.”
June shrank back as they gathered round her. She had a sudden flashback to these same girls laughing at her old-fashioned clothes or the book she was reading.
“Erm, I still live in Chalcot,” June said, her voice betraying her with a wobble.
