‘You look lovely, Jane,’ he says to Mum, nodding his approval.
‘You look very handsome,’ she replies. ‘That colour tie suits you.’
I walk in behind Mum, with everyone else following.
When Dad sees me, he clears his throat and I swear he’s a little choked up. ‘Very nice,’ he says. ‘Very nice.’
Two very nices. I’m honoured. ‘Thanks, Dad,’ I reply. I’m being snarky in my head to stop the emotion that’s bubbling up from my core, threatening to turn into real tears, and I can’t have that. Not now mymake-up’s done. But it’s hard to stay composed. My friends and family are all here for me. To support me and watch me get married. It’s getting very real now. I’m conscious that I need to savour every moment. Document every second to relive later.
Daisy fetches my bouquet from the fridge, along with Dad’s matching white rose and fern buttonhole. She sets up the timer on her camera phone and we spend the next few minutes posing for photos. They start out serious, but soon degenerate into silly poses and more candid shots.
‘The cars are here!’ Fran calls from the other end of the room where she’s been intermittently peering out of the window.
My nerves are starting to kick in now.
Chapter Thirty-Five
NOW
‘Seth?’ I’m so confused by my still-unrecognisable ex-fiancé’s arrival at the flat in the midst of all this drama with Laurence and Francesca. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I messaged him,’ Francesca says, her voice small but defiant. ‘I got his number from Elizabeth.’
I stare at Seth, who seems to take up half the living room. ‘But why would you do that?’ I ask, turning back to her, my heart hammering so loudly I can barely think.
Seth replies. ‘Because Fran thought I deserved to know the real reason you called off the wedding.’ He scowls before crossing the room to reach Laurence. ‘This piece of shit, here. He’s the reason you didn’t go through with it, isn’t he?’
‘What?No.’ I don’t like the look of where this is heading. I’m dismayed as the two of them face off in the centre of the room, Laurence tall, blond and nervous, Seth dark, stocky and murderous.
Seth’s jaw tightens and his fingers flex. ‘Francesca kindly told me that Laurence is more than just your friend.’
‘That’s not true,’ I reply.
‘Why would she lie?’ Seth’s eyes narrow.
‘Take it easy, mate,’ Laurence says, raising his hands in a placatory manner that’s having absolutely no effect.
‘Don’t tell me to take it easy,’ Seth replies. ‘And I’m not your mate.’
‘Hey, let’s talk about this calmly,’ Daisy says, but neither of them is listening.
‘So, is it true?’ Seth asks Laurence. ‘Are you seeing Alice?’
‘No!’ he replies.
‘Okay, let me phrase it differently. Do you have feelings for Alice?’
I’m wracking my brains for something to say that might defuse the situation, but my mind is frozen.
‘It’s complicated,’ Laurence replies.
‘No it’s not. Simple yes or no will do.’ Seth’s body is as tense as a bow string. He’s wholly focused on Laurence and I’m terrified he’s about to do something incredibly stupid.
Daisy glares at me as though this is my fault, and I feel as though somehow it is.
Laurence gives me a helpless look and then turns his gaze to Francesca. ‘I don’t understand why you messaged Seth,’ he says.
‘Because he deserves to know what’s going on here,’ she replies quietly. ‘Seth thinks Alice had some kind of breakdown on their wedding day, but now I find out that you two are more than just friends. Something’s not right.’
