20
It wasa beautiful wedding ceremony filled with light and love and laughter. Although Carole knew neither the bride nor groom, she couldn’t help shedding a few tears as they exchanged their vows and began their new adventure as a married couple.
Tom’s eyes looked a little damp too, she noticed, and his expression filled with pride and amusement as Evie twirled around her mother and stepdad as they kissed for the first time as husband and wife.
When Martin scooped Evie up into his arms and planted a big kiss on her cheek and then pulled his new bride into an embrace alongside them both, the sweet scene had everyone in the room raising their phones to snap photos of the moment. Once more, Carole noticed that wistful look she’d caught on Tom’s face earlier in the day.
She squeezed his arm and smiled softly. The look he gave her in return was filled with emotion. Tom had assured her that he felt nothing but happiness for his ex as she married another man, and she didn’t doubt his words. But it stood to reason that he’d feel many different things today, even as he wished Lucy well.
In the whirlwind of the busy wedding schedule, time quickly slipped away. The bride and groom and the rest of the wedding party posed for photographs while the guests mingled and migrated to a function suite further along where drinks were being served. There was chatter and noise, warm welcomes and greetings, introductions and reunions, popping champagne corks, festive wedding music, and every good thing that the perfect wedding ought to have.
Carole relaxed into the fun of the lovely day, feeling infinitely more at ease than she had at her cousin’s wedding when she’d been on red alert the entire time for the awful Steven Weaver. A popular wedding guest, Tom was in high demand as people stopped to chat, and when Evie reappeared once her photography duties were complete, it was Tom she made a beeline for, racing towards him across the function room to much laughter.
Carole snapped shots of the pair of them, smiling and happy together as Evie recounted her role in the wedding. By the time she rushed off to find her grandmother, it was time for everyone to take their seats for the meal.
Hours had flown by in what seemed like only moments.
“Let’s see which table we’re at,” Tom said, scanning the seating chart on display at the front of the room where the meal would be served. Once he’d located their names, he pointed towards a table on the other side of the room.
“Still no sign of Lucy’s work colleague who you’re so keen to avoid today?” Carole asked quietly as they took their seats.
Tom shook his head. “I haven’t seen her. Her name is on the seating chart, but we’ve all been here for ages now and I’ve yet to cross paths with her.”
“Maybe she couldn’t make it.”
Tom looked cheered by this idea. “Maybe.”
It was while the first course was being served that Tom uncovered the mystery of why he’d yet to encounter Claire, the woman he was so determined to avoid. Tom and Carole were seated beside another of Lucy’s work colleagues, who happened to mention that Claire had been unable to come to the wedding because her sister had gone into labour that morning, two weeks early, and she was now at the hospital along with the rest of their family.
The baby had been born quickly, arriving safe and sound at just after two o’clock that afternoon. It stood to reason that the woman would want to spend such a wonderful time with her sister and family, rather than dash off to attend a wedding.
Carole couldn’t miss the relief on Tom’s face at the news that Claire wouldn’t be at the wedding after all.
“It turns out I dragged you here unnecessarily,” he joked as they finished their first courses.
“I’m glad I’m here and I’m having a great time.”
“Me too. I loved seeing Lucy and Martin get married and I know they’re perfect for each other and they’ll have a wonderful life. But I think I would’ve found today just a little difficult if I didn’t have someone by my side.” He paused and gave her a shy look. “If I didn’t haveyouby my side.”
Tom smiled and Carole felt a whoosh of pleasure ripple through her body. She reached out and squeezed his arm.
“I said I’d make a good wingman, didn’t I?”
He laughed and nodded. “You did. And I’m grateful.”
Tom lifted his hand to hers, which still rested on his arm, and gave her a soft squeeze in return, holding her gaze. Carole wondered what exactly they were doing here.
Was this just the easy gratitude of a friend? Or did she see something more in his expression as his gaze held hers?
The moment was broken as bustling waiters arrived to clear away the empty plates and deliver the next course. Wine glasseswere refilled, conversation continued around the table, more delicious food was enjoyed and commended by all.
And then it was time for dessert and coffee, and then the wedding speeches, and soon the room was swiftly transformed for the evening party. Carole could scarcely believe how quickly the time had passed. Between the beautiful and relaxed wedding day and Tom’s easy company, it was one of the loveliest day’s Carole had spent in a long time.
Everyone gathered to cheer and applaud as the bride and groom took to the floor for their first dance together. Evie beamed as she, too, was treated to a dance with her stepdad, and once that song was over, she grabbed Tom and danced with him, too. Carole snapped endless shots of the pair, knowing Tom would treasure them.
And then it was Carole’s turn to dance with Tom.
She savoured every minute spent in his arms. As the evening wore on and the twinkle lights lit up the room, she decided she could’ve happily danced every single dance with the man until the night was over. The soft romance of the occasion, the perfect slow songs played by the DJ, and the warm sensation of Tom’s hands resting on her hips had her sighing in pleasure more times than she could count.
