Page 107 of Cover Story

‘There you are, you’re rather hard to get hold of for someone in the communications business, Isabel.’

‘Sorry, I’ve been completely consumed by this Mayor story.’

‘Oh yes, I read everything you sent me. That foul man. Why are there so MANY of them?’

‘It’s a sickness of patriarchal society,’ Bel said.

‘I wanted to tell you that Verity’s trying to pin you down to finalise her table plans. I know this isn’t forefront of your mind but please be diplomatic and helpful as you can– the final stages of wedding planning are awfully stressful.’

As usual, her mother was labouring to smooth it over between her best friends and their former would-be-daughter-in-law. Her mum and Miles thought no less of Tim, why couldn’t the Hornbys be adults? Instead her mum, as interlocuter, was left constantly auto-tuning everyone’s vocals.

She thought of Connor’s views on the matter.

‘Ah, that’s Verity now,’ Bel said, as Call Waiting blipped at her. ‘I’ll be sweetness and light, Mother. See you Saturday.’

‘Hi, Bel, sorry to chase you like this, some last-minute housekeeping,’ Verity said. ‘I’ve moved you to the table furthest from the top tables, like you wanted. I wondered if you’re bringing a plus one? I was sure you said you were on your RSVP and I’ve planned it in but Tim says you’re definitely single?’

‘You’ve moved me, like I wanted?’ Bel said, brow furrowed.

‘Yes– Tim said you wanted to be towards the back of the room? Giving you some space from each other.’

Bel was stung, taking real offence at this. It wasn’t the truce she’d hoped for, that was for sure. It was no longer excusable as a newly hurt person, lashing back. Tim had moved on romantically and would be in the bosom of his family. It was becoming more like a nasty little vendetta.

How had she never seen the peevish side of Tim when they were together? She’d liked how loyal he was to his family and friends, how he firmly out-grouped the ‘dickheads’ at work. It had seemed like integrity and unpretentious decency to Bel. She’d been one of the Good People in Tim’s life, so she’d failed to notice how such tribal simplicities could also mask a childlike intolerance. Now she was labelled Bad People, she was learning the downside to the lack of nuance. No wonder he’d not known how to deal with her mum and Miles, who weren’t by any logical stretch Bad People, as a result of Bel’s decision, but nevertheless ‘people Tim couldn’t stand to be around’.

It wasn’t that Tim was a sinister person. Just a really petty, unimpressive one.

‘Ah, I didn’t say that, but wherever you put me is great,’ Bel said, breezily, quickly, before the pushback on Tim could be fully absorbed: ‘Really looking forward to it!’

‘Only doing as I’m told,’ Verity said, in a tight, fatiguedvoicethat conveyedwhy the hell do I have to have my brother’s ex there, I didn’t ask for this.Nor did I, Verity, thought Bel, but it’s far too late to make up a phony holiday and be hated for that instead. She wasn’t going to give Tim the satisfaction of a no-show.

‘And is Tim right, you’re single?’

Bel couldn’t bring herself to say yes. For the first time she wondered if coupledom with Rhiannon had been… time-led.

‘No, I’m bringing a plus one,’ she blurted, defensively.

Uh, BEL, what the hell did you say that for?

‘Great, see you on the day!’ Verity said, ringing off so fast it was like crashing the receiver back into the cradle with a Bakelite phone.

Bel seethed. She messaged Tim.

Bel

Hi! Why did you tell your sister I wanted moving tables at her wedding?

Tim

Hi! She said she was doing a table of singles. I said I’d prefer it, she must have got mixed up.

Twat.The sullen, juvenile insolence of it. The assumption she was a single.

Bel

Right, sure. This is very small person stuff, isn’t it, Tim?

Tim

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