‘Yes. I’ll sort that while you grab your coat. It’s cold out there.’
Rosie nodded and busied herself with checking her handbag for essentials, then wrapping up warm.
‘Cab’s here,’ Aled soon said, and they headed outside.
Seemingly without thought, he opened the door of the taxi and helped Rosie inside. At their destination, he was similarly gentlemanly, leaping from his own side of the car to offer her a hand out before she could exit the vehicle herself.
Maybe, she thought,my previous form has him on high alert. She guessed it wouldn’t do for her to trip over and skin her knees immediately before meeting his work colleagues.
The hotel was an old industrial complex, lavishly refurbished. Inside, it was modern and sleek: exposed brick and metro tiles were offset by polished metal light fittings and functional hardwood furniture. The wedding reception – for Cora, Aled’s workmate, and her new husband Ed – was on the basement level. This, Rosie discovered as they descended the stairs into the space, was now a cavernous function room with vaulted ceilings, a marble floor and a bar twinkling with filled champagne flutes.
‘This place is incredible,’ Rosie breathed, unable to stop the interiors obsessive in her from gushing.
‘Is it the sort of hotel you and James would have got married in?’ Aled asked.
The question took Rosie aback. ‘I never thought that far ahead, to be honest,’ she admitted. ‘I guess I was more focused on the idea of him proposing than on what a wedding, or even a marriage, might look like. Which might have been part of the problem.’
They made their way to the bar and each picked up a drink.
‘Do you think you’ll ever get married?’ Rosie asked, deciding that the mood between them tonight was already so awkward, nothing she said could make it any weirder.
‘I used to think I’d marry Ceri,’ he said. ‘Then, for a long time, I thought I wouldn’t settle down at all.’
‘Too much fun sowing wild oats?’ Rosie said, sipping her drink and doing her best to sound nonchalant.
‘Hardly,’ he snorted. ‘I just didn’t think I’d meet the right person. Someone who’d feel like the other, better half of me.’
‘Hmmm. As in, “you complete me”,’ Rosie murmured, quoting the end ofJerry Maguire. Aled’s eyebrows shot up, and she realised he was desperately waiting for some sort of explanation.
‘You’re not the only one with a memory for a good line,’ she said, cutting through the tension. ‘It’s what Tom Cruise says to Renée Zellweger right before she tells him, “you had me at hello”.’
‘You’ve lost me.’
‘Oh my god, have you not seenJerry Maguire?’ Rosie cried. ‘How many other cinematic triumphs are you ignorant of?’
‘No end, I should think. That sounds like one I might like, though I’ve never recovered from seeing Tom jump up and down on Oprah’s sofa.’
‘Eek,’ Rosie said, shuddering. ‘Fair point.’
‘We should go and say hi to Cora,’ Aled said, pointing at her. She and her new husband were on the other side of the room, welcoming newly arrived guests. Her wedding dress was made from layers of lace, all slightly different shades in a palette of blush, cream and gold. The bodice was long-sleeved and belted at the waist, from which tiers of delicate fabric flowed. It was lovely – and unlike any wedding gown Rosie had ever seen before.
Up close, Cora was glowy and smiling – tightly clutching the hand of her new husband as she turned to greet them.
‘You came! I’m so glad,’ she said sincerely.
‘I’m Ed,’ said her husband, ‘it’s nice to meet you. Cora says they’re trying to persuade you to stick around permanently.’
‘That’s right,’ Aled said, a little uncomfortably. ‘I’m just trying to work a few things out.’
‘You must be Rosie,’ Cora said, reaching over to peck her on the cheek. ‘Please help us persuade him to stay. I’m sure you wield far more influence than the rest of us put together.’ She smiled at Rosie warmly, yet somehow pointedly – her gaze skimming Rosie from head to toe in a way that implied said ‘influence’ was more to do with feminine wiles than wit.
‘I’m not sure I have that kind of power,’ Rosie said, waving the idea away. ‘When you’ve been travelling for as long as Aled has I think it takes something pretty extraordinary to ground you again.’
‘It does,’ Aled interjected, catching Rosie’s eye, ‘but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.’
‘Keep trying!’ Cora mouthed at Rosie, winking as she and Ed disappeared into the crowd to mingle.
‘Another drink?’ Aled said, inclining his head towards the bar, which had rapidly run out of complimentary bubbles.
