I’m still motionless in the middle of the living room. I don’t feel as though I can sit down yet. I’m too wired. Too shocked by this whole thing. And it’s all made worse by the fact that the more I think about it, the more I realise I have deeper feelings for Laurence than I first thought. Which is something I’m going to have to keep to myself for a while because this whole thing needs to be calmed down, not stirred up.
I’m startled by the sound of the front door opening and turn to see Laurence burst in, his eyes wild, his fair hair messy, and his jaw more stubbled than usual. He sees me, but his eyes go straight to Francesca.
‘I’ve been running round all over the place looking for you!’ he cries.
‘Well, you found me,’ she says with quiet venom.
‘How did you get in?’ Daisy asks him.
‘The door was open,’ Laurence replies, not taking his eyes off Francesca. ‘Come back to the flat. We need to talk.’
‘I’ve got absolutely nothing to say to you,’ Francesca replies, sinking deeper into the sofa.
Daisy gets to her feet and the two of us head for the door, both of the same mind that these two need some privacy to talk.
‘Where are you going, Alice?’ Francesca calls out to me. ‘Is it all getting a bit too real for you?’
I turn to see her straightening up. Her small chin jutting forward.
‘Fran,’ Laurence says, walking over to her, ‘it’s not Alice’s fault. She didn’t know how I felt.’
I cringe as Laurence sticks up for me, wanting to shrivel up into a little ball and roll away.
‘I don’t even know what I’m doing here,’ Francesca says, shaking her head, her voice catching. ‘I should leave.’ She stands shakily, still hugging herself before giving a bitter laugh. ‘Not that I know where to go. I don’t suppose I have a home any more.’
‘Of course you have a home,’ Laurence replies. ‘Come back to the flat with me. We can talk. You can stay there. I’ll move out.’
‘Like I can afford to live there on my own,’ she says, her voice cracking.
I’m mortified to be witnessing the intricacies of their break-up.
‘Don’t worry about that,’ Laurence tries to reassure her. ‘I’ll sort it.’
‘I don’t want you to sort it. I don’t wantanythingfrom you,’ she cries.
I’m suddenly distracted by thudding footsteps on the stairs beyond the open front door. I turn to see a dark-haired man stride across our hall and into the lounge, a murderous expression slashed across his face.
Chapter Thirty-Four
THEN
I wake up surprisingly refreshed. Those herbal drops Daisy gave me last night must have done the trick. My first thought as I open my eyes is I’m getting married today. My second thought is to acknowledge the sunlight filtering through the gaps in the curtains. The forecasters were right – it’s going to be a beautiful day.
‘Knock, knock.’ The door to my bedroom edges open and I see my mother standing in the doorway dressed in white capri pants and a short-sleeved green blouse, a cup of tea in one hand and a garment carrier in the other.
‘Morning, Mum.’ I stretch and sit up, arranging the pillow behind my head.
‘Morning, darling. Excited?’
‘Yes, but it doesn’t feel quite real. Is that tea for me?’
‘It is.’ She comes over and sets the mug on my bedside table.
‘Thanks.’
‘I remember my wedding morning,’ she says. ‘I was so nervous I could barely speak.’
‘Really?’
