Page 121 of The Last Saturday In July
She stepped back and Zoe slipped in and handed Jess a fuchsia pink wrap. ‘Hey, are you all right?’ She draped the wrap around Jess’s bare shoulders. ‘It’s Nana’s, she said you’d need it. I told you we should have stayed at Linford.’ When Jess didn’t answer, Zoe’s voice softened. ‘Are you sure about this? You both want to call things off?’
Jess managed a nod, shivering almost uncontrollably, as the enormity of what had happened began to sink in. Zoe put her arm around her.
‘It’s not too late. It doesn’t matter what other people think. I know I’m not Simon’s biggest fan, but if you really love him …’
‘I don’t.’ Jess met her eyes. ‘I mean, in a way I do, but not enough to spend the whole of my life with him. And he deserves better than me, Zoe. He deserves someone who’d never, ever cheat on him, who wants to have children with him and generally loves him to bits.’
‘So, you did the right thing.’
‘You know, Simon felt the same way? Why didn’t I see that?’ Jess sat down on a hard plastic chair. ‘God, I thought we had our lives sorted. I actually felt sorry for you and Finn.’
Zoe perched on the edge of the formica table. ‘I know.’
Jess looked up at her. ‘Sorry for being a smug bitch.’
‘You’re forgiven. Hey, you did Finn and me a massive favour by getting him that gig today.’ She paused. ‘Do you think anyone will notice that it’s a different bride?’ She grinned and Jess giggled weakly, wondering if she’d ever be able to stand again, now her limbs had turned to lead.
‘How are Mam and Dad?’
‘They’ll be fine. As far as I can tell, I don’t think they’re as shocked as Úna and Edward. The meal should be fun.’
Jess pulled the wrap a bit tighter around her. ‘We just didn’t want to waste it.’
Zoe shrugged. ‘Yeah, screw that. How do you feel?’
‘A bit numb right now, it all feels a bit unreal. But I’m sad for Mam and Dad.’
‘Are you sad for yourself?’
Jess looked at her. ‘Mainly, I just feel guilty. Look at all the trouble everyone’s gone to, Zoe. I’m letting so many people down.’
‘You won’t be the first couple that called things off at the altar,’ Zoe said.
‘Seriously, stop overthinking it, it’ll wreck your head. Simon feels the same way, right?’
‘Yeah, I know it doesn’t make much sense, but I think that’s one of the reasons I feel guilty. I’m just so relieved.’
Chapter 51
‘JESS, Kate is here to see you.’
Carmel came into the sitting room that Sunday morning and regarded her daughter anxiously. For the last few hours, Jess had sat looking out through the French doors into the garden. In spite of everything, the previous day hadn’t been as awful as she’d feared. Simon had come back to the sacristy to check on her, and Zoe had surprised Jess by giving him a hug before leaving them alone.
Simon had sat down and pulled off his tie. ‘You okay?’
Jess had nodded. ‘What about you? What happened out there after I left?’
He’d given a small smile. ‘Nothing much. I had a quick chat with the folks. I’m glad we’re going ahead with the meal. People need to talk, and they need to know we’re all right.’
‘When did you get so wise?’ she’d joked, before adding, ‘I’m kind of dreading this.’
He’d looked thoughtful. ‘I’ll make sure my mother doesn’t say anything to upset you. This was our decision.’
It had been the first time ever that Simon had admitted he needed to stand up to his mother. Without hurting his parents, he’d been as good as his word. And even though she’d spent the day in a daze, Jess knew that everyone had been kind.
They’d been halfway through the meal when the news about Leo and Brandi’s wedding had broken, with wild speculation about Chelsea. Jess skimmed the headlines with growing dread:California Girlfriendbride Chelsea Deneuve disappears from 400-year-old Irish castle under the noses of the world’s press,andChelsea uses decoy runaway bride to flee cheating groom.
The latter was accompanied by photos of Jess struggling to get into Zoe’s twelve-year-old car, and arriving at the church in Ballygobbin, barefoot and caked in mud.
