Page 39 of From Notting Hill with Love…Actually
“That looks like Diana under that hood…” Sean said, peering at them. “Oh no, that means Chewbacca must be…”
“Sean, how are you?” Diana asked as they reached us.
“Good, thanks, Diana.” Sean kissed her on the cheek. “And yourself?”
“Wonderful, darling.”
“Hello, Dad,” Sean said, looking up at Chewbacca.
Chewbacca removed his head. “How’d you know it was me?”
“I should have known, this is right up your street, isn’t it, all this movie stuff?”
“Fantastic idea! It’s certainly livened up the occasion.” Sean’s father turned to me. “You must be the Scarlett Ursula was telling me all about?”
“Sorry,” Sean apologized. “Dad, this is indeed Scarlett. Scarlett, this is my father, Alfie, and my stepmother, Diana.”
“Fantastic to meet you.” Sean’s father reached out his large paw and shook my hand vigorously.
I turned toward Diana. Underneath the hood was a tall, elegant woman, with long, silver hair tied up loosely on topof her head. She had electric-blue eyes, with which she studied me intently.
“Lovely to meet you, Scarlett,” she said, holding out her hand.
“And you, Diana,” I said, shaking it.
I knew at that moment she wasn’t my mother: Sean had been right once again. I don’t know how I knew; it was just a feeling—well, a lack of feeling really. I was certain if Diana had been my mother I’d definitely have felt something…anything, when our hands touched.
Ten
We spent the rest of the wedding celebrations with Alfie and Diana.
They were a lovely couple. Alfie was a large, jolly man, full of mischief and laughter—he reminded me very much of Gareth fromFourWeddingsandaFuneral. Diana was his calming influence—she was elegant and serene, but very approachable and friendly. Honor Blackman with a touch of Helen Mirren were my favored choices for Sean’s stepmother.
“You must take after your mother,” I said to Sean, as we sat watching Alfie spin Diana around the dance floor at great speed. It seemed it was not only in looks that Alfie resembled Simon Callow’sFourWeddingscharacter. He’d been dancing with great exuberance for most of the evening; no female was safe once he selected his next dance partner—even me. I had been chosen by Alfie to strut my stuff with him to Robbie Williams’s “Let Me Entertain You.” Which, considering it was one of my favorite songs, I didn’t mind too much. But Alfie’s rendition of the song was something I didn’t think I’d ever forget.
“Why do you say that?” Sean asked, turning to me.
“Your dad—he’s just so spontaneous and full of life.”
“And I’m boring, is that what you’re saying?”
“No,” I said, quickly trying to backtrack. “You’re just…more laid back—there’s nothing wrong with that. Ursula must take after your dad, and you, your mum.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right. Mum and I always understood each other better.”
“Do you see each other much?”
“Mum died two years ago.”
“Oh, Sean.” I was shocked by his revelation. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea—I just assumed your parents had divorced.”
“They did, and then Mum went to live in Wales with another man. Her illness came on quite suddenly—but she died without too much pain, so we were grateful for that.”
Sean looked so sad as he reflected on his mother’s death that I desperately wanted to put my hand over his to comfort him. But I didn’t feel it was my place to.
“She was happy, though,” Sean continued. “Before she died. She remarried, and her second husband, David, was nothing like Dad. He was a very quiet chap, calm and conventional, good at his job. Ursula thought he was boring, but Mum was happy with him, so we were happy for her.”
“Davids often are,” I said, not meaning to think aloud.
