Page 26 of From Notting Hill with Love…Actually
“But we’ve said we can’t go now,” Sean protested. “We’ll mess their numbers up.”
Phew, nice one, Sean, I thought, relieved.
“That won’t matter,” Ursula said cheerily. “It’s going to be a buffet reception, I remember from the invite. They’re quite free spirits, Rachel and Julian,” Ursula explained, turning to me. “I think they even said we didn’t need to reply to the invite, just see how we felt on the day. If we wanted to come, we should; if not, no bother. But I always like to do things properly, so I sent them a card.”
I nodded. “Well, it is good manners.”
“Exactly. So what do the pair of you say? Come on, Sean, you can introduce Scarlett to Dad. I’m sure with their love of films they’d have loads in common; he might even be able to suggest some things for Scarlett to do.”
Sean looked over at me. His look suggested he’d given it his best shot with the numbers objection and now it was my turn.
“But…I don’t have anything to wear to a wedding,” I said, thinking hurriedly. “I only brought casual things with me.”
Sean nodded approvingly.
“That’s not a problem,” Oscar said, joining in. “I’m certain I can find you something from my boutique.”
“There you go. Now no more excuses, the pair of you. I’ll call Dad to tell him you’re both coming.” Ursula rubbed her hands together in glee. “Oh, I love it when a plan comes together!”
***
Sean and I left Oscar’s house together that night, feeling like children whose parents were forcing them to do something they didn’t want to, with the excuse, “It will do you good!”
“I’m sorry about Ursula,” Sean said when the door was safely closed behind us and our lives could be organized no more. “She gets a bit carried away sometimes.”
“That’s OK,” I said, smiling up at him while we walked. “Her heart is in the right place.”
“Shame her head isn’t!”
I laughed. But inside I felt deeply grateful to Ursula, Oscar,and the others. I’d opened up more today to Oscar, and tonight to a bunch of strangers I’d only just met, than I ever did at home to my so-called family.
I’d even ended up telling them about Dad bringing me up alone, and what I’d only learned recently myself, about Mum sharing my love of the cinema when my father didn’t.
“You don’t mind too much, then, about the wedding?” Sean asked, breaking into my thoughts. “I mean you don’t really have to come with me if you don’t want to. I’ll still have to go now Ursula’s phoned Dad, but I quite understand if you want to back out.”
I stopped walking as we passed one of the communal gardens that sat in the middle of this part of Notting Hill.
I peeped between the black railings that surrounded the garden. Then I turned back to Sean.
“So it’s your call, really,” he continued.
“Give me a leg up,” I said.
“What?”
“A leg up—put your hand out and help me up, so I can get inside.”
“No.”
“Why not? You’re not scared, are you?”
“No, of course I’m not,” Sean said defensively. “Why would I be?”
“No reason.” I turned back toward the railings. “Fine, I’ll do it myself then.”
It wasn’t easy, but I managed to get a part hold on the railings and a part hold on a tree that overhung the top of them, and unceremoniously I hauled myself up. I wobbled a bit at thetop, but I then managed to jump—well, I guess it was more of a fall—down the other side and into the little garden.
“See, I didn’t need you after all.” I peered back at Sean through the railings. “Bet you feel a bit silly standing there on your own now!”
