Page 90 of The Layover
There’s a lot of sidelong glances and hastily whispered conversations, but I hardly pay them any attention. Kayleigh’s true colours got a reveal after all, and – shocker – nobody even cares that much. Especially not Marcus.
She really is the most like herself around him.
They’re made for each other.
‘I have to go,’ I tell the other two. ‘Catch you later? Cocktail hour?’
They both nod. Leon puts a hand on Fran’s back, saying, ‘Do you want to sit by us?’
‘Oh! Yes, please.’
I leave them to it and go join the other bridesmaids. The music starts up, and one by one, we make our way down the aisle as Kayleigh descends to the pavilion once more, with all eyes on her.
She wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m sure the only person who notices me smiling to myself is one of the photographers, busy capturing every inch of the wedding, but that’s okay.
This will be the last thing I ever do for Kayleigh. I suppose I should do it well.
Time after ‘I Do’
2 ½ hours
Chapter Forty-one
Leon
Cocktail hour is a blur after the ceremony. Mum and Myleene are aghast about the arrival of David the stripper, although Kay convinces them quickly enough to see the funny side, and Dad merely rolls his eyes when I catch his gaze.
None of us exactly say it, but I can feel the sadness in the air when my family watch Kay interacting with her other friends and Marcus’s family. That withering, trembling, fragile scrap of hope that we won’t lose her for good, this isn’t the end – even if she hardly bothers to come speak to us for more than a minute or two, all the while looking for someone else to spend time with.
Mum and Dad go off to mingle with some of our extended family. I have to track down a chair to bring out for Dad – I don’t know how many times we reminded Kay about it, could it really have been that difficult? – but they seem to be having a good enough time, in spite of it.
Myleene’s been sticking to my side ever since the ceremony ended. Francesca vanished to chat to some work friends, which I think was really just an excuse to give me some time alone with my family.
‘I wish you’d been here sooner,’ Myleene tells me. ‘I kind of needed you. Mum keeps trying to find out if they’re coming for Christmas, and I don’t know what to say. Kay said she didn’t know what their plans were, but … Well, Joss told me they’ve allbooked to go skiing. So obviously Kay’s lying, she’s just trying to find a way to break it to us that she won’t be home, and – do you think I should say something? She always comes home for Christmas. It’s … it’s like, the only time weseeher, it feels like. But now, she’s …’
‘I’ll talk to her,’ I promise. There might not be anything I can do about the person Kay really is, but I’m still her big brother – and I can still tell her that if she won’t tell Mum and Dad about the skiing trip, I will. ‘That’s not for you to worry about, My, okay? I’ll handle it.’
Her relief is palpable. ‘Thanks, Leon. God, I cannottellyou how much it was stressing me out. I don’t like keeping secrets from Mum and Dad. We’re not that sort of family.’
‘No,’ I agree. We aren’t, but Kay’s personality isn’t a secret I’ll be keeping. It’s just a fact I have to let the rest of my family see for themselves. I so very nearly confronted Kay before the ceremony, but seeing her pose for a few solo shots in the gardens and order the photographer around – I knew it wouldn’t make a difference. It didn’t feel so much like chickening out or giving up as simply accepting a fact.
And I think I haven’t been giving Myleene enough credit. She’s more tuned in to Kay’s attitude than I have been.
‘It’s notfair,’ she whines now. ‘I get that she’s got this awesome new life that doesn’t include us, but sometimes it feels like she doesn’t want to bother with usat all. You should’ve seen the way she talked to Mum yesterday. All the olds were up dancing like I told you about, and Kay went over and told Mum she wasembarrassingher. It was horrible. And I thought maybe I should say something, but I didn’t want to make it worse …’
‘I’m sorry I wasn’t here.’
‘Oh, that’s not your fault!’ She elbows my side. ‘But … would’ve been nice if you were. I thought,Leon’d know how to handle it. You always do. Like Nana.’
Maybe it’s all the exhaustion and adrenalin and the sheer madness of the last twenty-four hours, but Myleene’s words make emotion swell in my chest, and I give her a one-armed hug. She holds on tight, and then informs me that I smell like hangover, and offers me her sunglasses. They’re shaped like hearts. I take them, strike a pose, and we both crack up laughing before she grabs a selfie.
‘I know it’s rough,’ I tell her. ‘But Kay’s her own person, with or without Marcus around. I guess we just have to accept we’re not always going to fit into her life these days. We’ll be there if she ever wants to come back home, though.’
‘It justsucks. I hate that this feels like goodbye.’
‘I know, My.’
