Page 31 of The Last Saturday In July
‘This is gorgeous.’ Jess took a deep breath and then sneezed a few times. ‘Dammit.’ She caught Ian’s eye. ‘Sorry, I’m just a bit allergic to flowers. I’ll be fine.’
Ian produced a small remote from his pocket and pressed a button. Immediately, a number of small, high windows started to open. ‘That should help.’
Adam pointed to a corner of the ceiling, where two of the small windows seemed to be boarded up. ‘What happened there?’
‘They’re being replaced on Monday.’ Ian sighed. ‘We came in one morning last week to find them smashed all over the floor.’
Adam frowned. ‘Has there been a storm?’
‘No, I don’t think so.’ Ian hesitated. ‘All the staff were told not to say anything – we don’t want any negative publicity right now. Please, make yourselves comfortable. The manager and I are meeting our guests at the helicopter pad. We’ll see you shortly.’
‘I can’t believe they don’t know what caused two broken windows,’ Adam grumbled after Ian left.
Jess ignored him as she checked her phone for a text from Kate, but the WhatsApp hadn’t been read. She sighed, distracting herself by soaking up her immediate surroundings: a generous, round table laid with china tea and coffee settings, and a couple of tiered cake-stands filled with tiny savouries and petit fours.
Adam poured them both some water. ‘How bad is your allergy?’
Jess grimaced. ‘I usually take antihistamines at this time of the year. I just forgot how many flowers this place has.’
She remembered Úna’s horror when she explained that she wouldn’t be having any flowers at their own wedding. ‘You have to have flowers,’ she’d said, in the same tone of voice Jess imagined she’d use if Jess had suggested she get married naked. ‘You could just have white roses.’
After Jess had patiently explained about pollen, Úna had sent an email with a list of ‘suitable’ flowers that contained very little. Jess had sent a short, polite reply to say that she didn’t want so much as a daisy at her wedding.
A chorus of chatter and laughter alerted them to Chelsea and Leo’s arrival and, as Ian led the trio into the room, Jess and Adam stood to greet them.
Jess had seen a couple of episodes ofCalifornia Girlfriendsand decided that Chelsea Deneuve looked much younger in real life. Unlike the over-the-top stuff she wore on TV, she was wearing a pink cashmere sweater and white jeans, her long blonde hair caught back in a ponytail. Beside her, in designer jeans, a polo shirt, and sunglasses perched on highlighted hair, Leo Dinardia looked like he’d just stepped off his yacht.
Ian stepped forward to make introductions.
‘We’re psyched to be here,’ Leo said.
His face barely moved as he smiled, Jess noticed.
‘We’re delighted you’ve chosen Linford for your special day,’ she said, and shook his outstretched hand.
Chelsea beamed as she looked around. ‘Wow, this place is awesome! It has all this positive energy. I feel really drawn to it.’ She turned to Jess. ‘You guys must feel it, working here every day.’
Jess smiled. ‘Adam and I work in head office in Dublin, but we drove down today to meet you.’
‘Aw, that’s so sweet!’ Chelsea turned to Leo. ‘Isn’t it, honey?’
Leo looked faintly amused. ‘Hundred per cent.’
‘So, is this your first time in Ireland?’ Jess said.
Chelsea’s smile widened. ‘It’s my first time in Europe. But Leo’s been here before, haven’t you, honey?’
‘Not for the weather.’
Everyone laughed politely.
‘That’s what makes Ireland so beautiful,’ came a soft voice.
Angel had arrived.
Jess was glad of an excuse to look at the middle-aged man who stepped into view, his white, shoulder-length curly hair framing a tanned but sparsely lined face, his squat figure swamped by a voluminous white shirt and loose white trousers.
Two female waiters, in full Victorian uniform, entered from a side door with a trolley of hot and cold drinks. Ian gave them a discreet nod and they stood to one side.
