“Ah, so that’s what you were doing up in Manchester last week?”
Tom nodded. “I was there to lead a sales and contract negotiation with a big legal firm in the area that’s in the process of expanding. We agreed terms for a product and service contract before I left which will mean a lot of extra revenue for us.”
“Well done. You must be thrilled.”
“Thrilled and relieved, too. Winning their business helps me meet my sales targets, and it was touch and go while I was up there, which was why I stayed an extra day to persuade them and win them over. They only agreed to sign a deal with us once we’d wined and dined them yesterday evening. I think they wanted to squeeze every penny of hospitality out of us.”
Carole laughed and then gave him an apologetic look. “So that’s why you were home so late last night? I bet you’d rather have spent today recuperating from work instead of coming along to this wedding.”
“I’m looking forward to it. We’ll have fun.”
“We will. I promise.”
A sign beside the road announced their arrival in Petersfield.
“Oh, we’re here already,” Carole said as they drove into the town. “The time flew by, we were talking so much. I’d better put my shoes of torture back on.”
Tom laughed as she slid her feet back into the killer heels and gave him a wincing smile for effect. The traffic slowed as they wound their way through the town centre, following the directions to the church.
After taking a few turns, the satnav told them they were almost at their destination, and they soon passed the road works Carole’s sister had mentioned and which were causing congestion in the area. On their final turn, Tom glanced along the road to where a pretty church stood further along.
The road was lined on both sides with parked cars, and wedding guests in formal attire were walking along the pavement towards the church, clearly having come from further afield on account of the congested street.
“Good thing you suggested arriving early,” Tom said. “I think we’ll have to drive around for a bit to find a space.”
For the next ten minutes, they circled the streets around the church in search of a parking space. On their fourth loop around the area, a car pulled out of a space just a few minutes’ walk away from the church, and Tom flicked on his indicator and quickly reversed into the tight spot.
“That was a lucky break,” Carole said as Tom turned off the engine. “And we’re nice and close to the church, too. I won’t have to limp too far in these ridiculous shoes.”
“If you need a fireman’s lift, just say the word,” he laughed.
“You might regret that offer later when I’m forced to take you up on it.”
They got out of the car and met together on the pavement.
“Shall we?” he said, offering her his arm.
“That’s very gentlemanly of you,” Carol said with a laugh, sliding her arm through his.
“I just want to make sure you’ve got something to hold on to, so your ankles don’t snap while you’re walking in those shoes.”
She laughed again as they started walking towards the church, the sound warm and melodious to Tom’s ears.
“So, any sign of your ex-plonker yet?” he asked.
Carole let out another low laugh and shook her head. “Not yet.”
“It looks like a big wedding,” Tom said, taking in the crowds heading into the church. “Maybe with so many people here, you won’t even see him at all.”
“I don’t have that kind of luck, Tom, but we can live in hope.”
It was Tom’s turn to laugh. Being Carole’s plus-one at this wedding was only supposed to be an arrangement of convenience, but he realised he was already having fun in her company.
Which was just as well, because with many, many hours of wedding celebrations ahead of them, it would feel like an awfully long day if they weren’t having fun.
