She let out a rumble of laughter. The first dance ended, and the band launched into an upbeat number that brought everyone to the floor alongside the bride and groom.
“Come on then, Tom,” Carole said, grabbing his hand. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“You’ll be sorry.”
Tom let himself be dragged onto the dance floor. Amid the crush of the other dancing guests, they found a space together and fell into the rhythm of the music.
“You’re a pretty good dancer!” Carole shouted to be heard above the band and the guests around them. “The way you’ve been talking, I was expecting far worse!”
“It’s called expectation management.”
She laughed and held out her hand. “Come on then, give me a twirl.”
Tom grinned and took her hand to spin her around. When her twirling was done, he added a twirl of his own, making her laugh again, and then threw in a funny jive move at the end.
“You’re got hidden talents, mister.”
“Or maybe the prosecco you drank makes me look better than I really am.”
“Either way, I think you should twirl me again. I’m having fun!”
Tom twirled her, repeated his daft jive move, and made it to the end of the song without tripping either of them up. He counted that as a bonus.
The wedding band knew their business, and barely paused between songs, keeping everyone energised and moving on the dance floor. Tom and Carole stayed up for the next two songs before her father asked his daughter for a dance and Tom found himself with Carole’s mother for the next tune.
Jane and her husband joined them after that, along with their daughters, for what Tom discovered was a family tradition ‘group dance’ that had them all executing some seriously naff dance moves while Frederick performed a cheesy skit that had to be seen to be believed.
Everyone needed a drink after that and a minute to recover.
“Sorry you had to see that,” Carole joked as they bought cold drinks at the bar. “My father shouldn’t be allowed out in public.”
“I’ll get over it, with time and therapy.”
Carole chuckled, and they took a moment to lean against the bar and catch their breaths. Standing in companionable silence as they sipped their deliciously cold drinks, they glanced around at the other guests who had also retreated to the bar area for a moment of respite from the non-stop dancing.
“I’m having fun, Tom,” Carole said. “Thanks for coming with me today.”
“I’m having fun, too. Being your wedding wingman has its perks. Speaking of which…” He glanced around the bar. “I haven’t seen Slimy Steven since before the meal. Do you think he’s still here?”
“I’m not sure. Actually, I’d sort of forgotten all about him until now.”
Tom couldn’t help the punch of satisfaction he felt at this admission. “In that case, I’m definitely doing my job right.”
“No argument there.” Carole nodded towards the doors that led to the dancing in the other room. “Shall we get back through there for another dance?”
Before he could answer, Carole’s two little nieces came barrelling towards them, their faces red from all the excitement and running around. Their previously immaculately styled hair was now a mass of frizzled curls pointing every which way and the younger of the two girls had chocolate smeared across her flower girl dress.
Tom blinked in amusement at the sight of the pair as they closed in on where he and Carole stood at the bar.
“Tom! Come and dance with us!” Nancy yelled, grabbing his hand.
“Yes, Tom, come and dance with us, right this minute!” Lily chimed in, taking Tom’s other hand. “Hurry!”
“Er, I was just about to dance with your Auntie Carole.”
But neither girl heard what he said as they hauled him away, and when he glanced over his shoulder, Carole was laughing helplessly, her shoulders shaking with mirth.
“I’ll catch you for the next dance,” she said cheerfully, waving him off. “Have fun!”
