Page 103 of The Last Saturday In July
For a moment, Jess was tempted to beg. But she knew she’d be wasting her time. ‘Have it your way.’
She left, suddenly needing to clear her head, and took the stairs down to the foyer. She didn’t stop until she was outside on the street.
Crossing the road, Jess walked along the canal until she found a free bench. When had her friendship with Kate started to change? Her mother and Zoe both thought Kate was jealous, but Jess had a feeling it wasn’t that simple: she had to be missing something. Had their friendship started to shift three years ago when she’d met Simon? No, if anything they’d got closer because Kate and Simon had always got on so well.
She tried to pinpoint anything odd that had happened since the engagement, but nothing stood out. She understood why Kate was hurt that she hadn’t told her about the Isle of Man, but it didn’t explain her anger. Kate and Simon might be good friends, but if Jess and Simon were prepared to give things another try, why wasn’t Kate happy for them?
Even stranger was that Kate had voiced doubts about Jess and Simon, before she’d even found out about Adam. Nor had she trusted Jess to see the stag party kiss as a bit of harmless fun. Only, what if it hadn’t been?
Half-formed thoughts that Jess had previously dismissed rushed back. Kate was beautiful and smart and kind. Men had always been interested in her: it had rarely made any difference that she’d been a single mum. But in the last few years, she’d made no effort to date.
In fact, now she thought about it, David was the only man Kate had gone out with more than once in the past three years. Bumping into him at Simon’s stag should have been an ideal opportunity for her to have some fun. But at Jess’s final dress fitting, Kate had barely mentioned David. In fact, she never talked about him. By contrast, she never stopped talking about Simon. But then, Kate saw almost as much of Simon as she did.
Her thoughts swirled to a stop as a final jigsaw piece slotted into place. She knew why Kate never dated, why she was happy to be a third wheel in their relationship. And it was suddenly crystal clear why Kate had pulled away from Simon, when she and Simon had been on a break: she’d been afraid to overstep a sacred boundary. It was also why Kate believed that she was about to marry the wrong man. Kate was in love with Simon.
Chapter 40
KATE was in love with Simon. It was all Jess had thought about since yesterday. No wonder Kate wouldn’t talk to her. How had she never seen it? The only reason that made any sense was that Kate hadn’t realised it either. It seemed she’d been too focused on Luke, and on the delicate nature of her friendship with her best friend’s fiancé.
Somehow, all that had changed after the hen weekend. Long before Jess had accepted it, Kate had somehow guessed that something had shifted, and Jess was different. Because one thing was certain: if Jess had been lying to other people, she’d also been lying to herself.
But she wanted to marry Simon. They’d been together three years, and their relationship pointed in one direction. Still, one thing niggled: Jess didn’t know how Simon really felt about Kate. She knew a quick snog at a stag usually meant nothing, but she also knew how much Simon genuinely cared for Kate. Jess had taken their friendship for granted and now, even if she didn’t marry Simon, she couldn’t see how things could ever return to normal between the three of them.
Her phone pinged: Chelsea had just started a live video. Jess clicked on the link and Chelsea waved at her from a large white sofa with pale pink and white scatter cushions, that looked a bit like a giant marshmallow.
‘Hi, everyone.’Chelsea smiled broadly.‘So, three more sleeps to my special day and I’m sooo excited, I can’t even. As you know, Bobbie Grayson is gonna be filming on the day, so I’ve been sworn to secrecy. But we have awesome surprises lined up for our two hundred guests, and you guys will get to see everything afterwards, that’s a promise.’She thrust her hand into her long, loose hair and it fell across her other shoulder.‘The one thing I’ve tried to do every day of my life is to live my truth. But I also believe in the power of forgiveness.’
She nodded to someone off camera and a moment later, Brandi Oliver came into view and sat beside her. Jess was struck by how alike they were: same long, blond hair and deep blue eyes, same delicate, sculpted faces, cleverly made up to appear natural. Chelsea continued.‘I wanted you all to know that I’ve made up with Brandi, because there’s nobody else I want on my special day as my maid of honour.’She turned to Brandi, who was wiping away some seemingly imaginary tears.
‘Thanks, Chelsea. I’m truly blessed to have a big sister like you. And I’m so psyched.’
‘Thanks, Bran.’Chelsea swung the camera back to her.‘I’ve still got so much to do, so I’mgonna go. I love you all.’ Massive smile. ‘Find your truth, live your truth, be your truth.’
The video ended. Jess wondered if their fallout had been one giant publicity stunt but was grateful they’d ended it on a happy note.
Her phone rang and she swiped quickly when Moira’s name flashed up. ‘Hi, Nana, how are things?’
‘Very good, all things considering. Now, a little word: I’m giving you some money.’
Jess frowned. ‘For what?’
‘For you, dear, for your wedding.’
Jess felt a stab of unease. Was Moira becoming forgetful? She knew it was the one thing she dreaded. ‘Nana, you’ve already given Simon and me a wedding present, that beautiful antique dinner service.’ It was one of Jess’s favourite wedding gifts: a 1930s full Wedgewood service that Moira had tracked down on eBay. Jess suspected Zoe had helped her.
‘That was for you both.’ Moira clicked her tongue. ‘This is just for you. Only you, do you hear me? You’re not even to mention it to Simon.’
Oh God, this was even worse. ‘Nana, please don’t think you have to do that.’
Moira gave a sniff. ‘Listen, Jess, and you know I think Simon’s a grand young fellah. Bit stiff for my liking, but he’s a good lad. But it doesn’t matter one bit whether you’ve got a big, high-powered career, or you’re at home rearing your children, every woman needs running-away money.’
Jess blinked rapidly, feeling a rush of love for Moira.
Moira seemed to read her mind. ‘I can afford to do this, Jess. I’ve had my own running-away money all these years and not even your granddad knew. Always have a few secrets, pet.’
Jess suddenly remembered what Mrs McCarthy had written in the bridal shower guest book:The key to a happy marriage is to keep a few secrets.
It took Jess a moment before she could speak. ‘Thanks, Nana.’
