Page 21 of The Wedding Cake
River turned off the machine.
“Leave it to me, sweetheart. I’ll have a word with her.”
“I don’t think you’ll get very far. The thing is, Hayley decided to combine the initial minibus trip down to the Costa del Sol with a pitstop at Disneyland Paris on the way over… and Lourdes on the way back, in case anybody needs a miracle – hence the massive uptake. Whether we like it or not, most of the wedding party will now be arriving by coach.”
“Bloody hell. I suppose those would be tempting day trips, but both destinations are hardly what you’d call cheap! I take it she’s sailing to France then.”
“Apparently her boyfriend knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who runs a chain of cheap roadside motels. The kind that are dotted about on the French motorways. He’s given her a special discount for the group.”
“I’ll make it crystal clear that the coach needs to be parked miles down the finca’s lane so it doesn’t get in the way of any of the amazing drone shots that the photographer is planning to capture.”
“Thanks, Riv. I love Hayley to bits. She’s been there for us through thick and thin but she’s such a loose cannon with her impulses, and the most infuriatingly stubborn person I know.”
“She’s definitely both of those!”
Somehow River had already added the rum, vodka, tequila and lime to the coconut. The noise of the creamy mixture being poured into a glass soothed Alice. She watched River expertly strain the fusion, turning it into silky liquid goodness. Before she knew it she was taking a restorative sip.
“Wow. That’s hit the spot.”
“And I’m hoping I might be able to do the same later.” River quipped.
Alice slapped her boyfriend on his backside, hinting that his luck might be in.
“So, time’s ticking,” she said, reminding them both. “My packing is coming along nicely, since you asked, and I’ve got some last-minute calls to make to the caterers as your mum claims she’s only able to eat food cooked in flaxseed oil all of a sudden.”
River rolled his eyes.
“Soon there won’t be anything left that shecaneat.”
“What’s left to do on your list?” Alice ignored yet another tangent to the progress they needed to be making and sipped at her tropical cocktail. It was tempting her dangerously to suggest they make another change to the wedding: destination Antigua. But, no. Focus so close to the big day was key.
Alice and River had divided the remaining tasks equally, as far as wedding and stables preparation was concerned. All bases needed to be covered since they’d be opening their business at the end of September after their month-long honeymoon in Spain and Portugal in the camper van.
“I’ve just got to pick up my suit and pay the builder. Then we’re done.”
“Ah, yes.” Alice gulped down the rest of her drink for courage. “On the subject of the last thing, you might want to take a seat.”
TIM
Tim stuck his Pennines climbing and Peak District wild camping ads on the notice board in the hospital’s corridor. He doubted he’d get many takers, as both were slightly hardcore pursuits. But it would make a positive start to married life if he was to be proven wrong and a flurry of fitness fanatics signed up for his mid-August start date. It was a bit late in the season to get the ball rolling as far as his chosen career was concerned, but his mood had plummeted since the trip to Spain back in February and his motivation had deserted him.
His eyes scanned the other posts on the pinboard relating to physiotherapy, meditation and counselling. Checking nobody was looking, Tim carefully removed one of the counselling fliers and stuffed it in his pocket. He had no idea why.
Who was he kidding? He had every idea why. But he doubted anybody could help him. He was beyond rescuing. Especially this close to his nuptials. He had to do something, though. Weeks, and now months, had passed and he still couldn’t stop thinking about Freya’s brazen kiss… or how he wished he’d reciprocated, taking her in his arms for a fully loaded and passionate encore. And then there was the one hundred euro note she’d tucked in his rucksack to pay her way for the paragliding experience. He’d hardly given her value for money.
Back in the UK, things with Piper hadn’t been all that bad, he supposed. Once they’d cleared customs at Manchester airport after the flight from Spain that winter’s evening, she’d apologised for having such a monumental go at him during landing. Tim had made life easier for himself by being careful to eat only the most nutritious, low carb food in front of her. He’d actually lost his appetite, so fitting into his suit should be a breeze. And although Piper was tired a lot of the time and less in the mood for bedroom antics – much like himself, because all he could think about was a certain cake maker – she seemed to be happy enough with her lot and all the weekly career goals she was setting and exceeding. She was spending a lot more time on the phone too, dashing off to a quieter area of the apartment to make work calls, but this gave Tim the time and space he needed to contemplate his next career move as the weather turned warmer.
Or rather it gave him the time and space he hadn’t wanted (but probably needed) to evaluate his love life.
Tim finally made his way out of the rabbit warren corridors of the hospital and into the car park. This couldn’t go on. He needed to take inspired action and call the number on the card immediately, before he found a hundred reasons to procrastinate. Even if the person on the end of the phone couldn’t solve his problems, they could listen. Sometimes that was all anybody needed; an impartial stranger to listen to them. If he could get these bottled-up emotions off his chest then he could move forward and feel confident that everything would turn out okay. Maybe not as wonderful as a Disney movie. But good enough.
FREYA
“Freya, can I have a word?”
Hannah did not look like her perky self when she entered the decorating room clutching a piece of paper tightly in her hand. What now? Not that Hannah had been asking for many words with her boss of late. They’d both successfully skirted the subject of Piper’s infidelity for five months and counting, which was something of a miracle given Hannah’s apparent obsession with the pursuit of justice – and the incessant thoughts of Tim that swirled around Freya’s mind, particularly when she tried to sleep. But the way Hannah was asking to take Freya to one side rang alarm bells, of the same decibel level as those February get-togethers in the orange tree square’s bar. Whatever was up, Freya could already tell that it didn’t bode well for the near future.
“Sure. Shall we pop into the office?” Freya asked without waiting for an answer.
