Page 51 of A Secret Cornish Wish
Suzy shrugs. ‘A little sad, I suppose. But I didn’t really live here as long as some of you did when I was growing up, so it’s not quite such a tug on the heartstrings.’
‘I guess it will all come to us eventually,’ Rob says. ‘Mum and Dad are happy in the pub at the moment, but I guess they won’t run it for ever.’
‘Why are you all looking so sad?’ Claire is walking towards us. ‘This is supposed to be a happy occasion!’
‘We’re not sad, beautiful,’ Eddie says, taking her hand and giving it a little squeeze as she joins the group. ‘We’re just talking about people moving away – our parents specifically. Do you want to sit down for a bit and take the weight off your feet?’
‘Yes, please,’ Claire says gratefully. ‘These shoes are killing me.’
‘Here, take my seat.’ Rob stands up. ‘I’ll perch here.’ He sits down on the arm of the sofa next to me, and I can’t help notice a few wry smiles and raised eyebrows. But I pretend not to notice.
‘Thanks, Rob.’ Claire adjusts the many layers of tulle under her dress as she sits down. ‘Ah, I can relax for a bit here with you guys. I feel like I’ve been on show all day.’
‘Jonathan seems like a good guy,’ Rob says. ‘I spoke to him for a bit earlier.’
‘Yes, he is. He’s lovely. I’m very lucky.’
‘No,he’sthe lucky one,’ Rob says, smiling at her.
‘You’re very sweet, Rob, thank you.’
‘This must have all cost a pretty penny,’ Mandy says, looking around her. ‘Is Jonathan loaded or something?’
‘Mandy!’ I exclaim while the others laugh.
‘His parents did pay for much of our wedding,’ Claire says, not seeming to mind. ‘And my parents helped out with a few things too. There’s no way we could have afforded all this without them. We’ve just bought a little house up the road, so our mortgage is huge with the prices in St Felix now.’
‘I didn’t know you’d bought a house,’ I say. ‘You never said.’
‘Yes, we’re moving in after the wedding – Jonathan’s parents are quite traditional.’
‘You don’t live together yet, then?’ Mandy asks in surprise.
‘No,’ Claire says, beginning to look a little uncomfortable.
‘But how do you know if you’ll get along?’ Mandy continues. ‘You have actually done the deed, Claire, haven’t you? I mean you’re not going into this without road-testing his equipment?’
We all laugh and Claire flushes. ‘Yes, of course,’ she whispers, looking around her in case anyone has heard. ‘And I’m pleased to say he passed his MOT with flying colours!’
‘Good,’ Mandy says surprisingly seriously, while the rest of us are still smiling at this exchange. ‘Cos, you never know what you’ll find out until you do.’
We all look at Mandy, waiting for her to continue, but she doesn’t.
‘Right, is that bar open again yet?’ she says instead, looking across at the bar. ‘I could do with another drink.’
‘Yes,’ Claire says. ‘It never actually closed.’
‘Then what are we waiting for?’ Mandy stands up. ‘I’ll get the drinks in.’
‘Do you want a hand?’ Eddie asks. ‘I’ll be asleep soon if this room gets any warmer.’
Mandy and Eddie take our orders and head off to the bar.
‘Mandy’s right, it is pretty warm in here.’ Rob takes off his jacket, ‘I might get some fresh air – anyone?’ He looks at Claire and Suzy first before his gaze falls on me.
Claire and Suzy stare at me with such force it feels like they’re actually pushing me with their eyes. ‘I’m fine, thanks, Rob,’ Suzy says. ‘Claire?’
‘No, I’d better go mingle again,’ Claire replies, standing up. ‘I’m sure Frankie will go with you, though.’ She smiles deliberately at me.
