Page 92 of The Last Saturday In July
‘You and David?’ Jess frowned. ‘No, hang on, he was at Simon’s stag.’
‘I know.’ Kate started to fuss with the back of the wedding dress, ruffling out the layers of tulle. ‘I was at a club with the gang from accounting and we bumped into them.’
‘You’ve never gone clubbing with them before.’
‘They’re always asking me.’ Kate sounded defensive.
‘That was a coincidence, running into the lads like that.’ Jess spoke slowly, her mind whirring. ‘Did Simon or David tell you where they were having the stag?’
Kate blushed furiously. ‘Obviously not. It’s not like Iplannedto run into them.’
‘No, fair enough.’ Jess tried to sound casual. ‘So did you and David hang out for a while?’
Kate moved to the Jess’s left side, arranging more of the skirt. ‘We,uh, we weren’t with them for long.’ She straightened and met Jess’s eyes in the mirror. ‘Look, I need to ask you something, and it’s not very easy to say it, so please hear me out.’
‘Okay?’
‘Do you really want to marry Simon?’
Jess turned to look at her, the bodice tightening more. ‘Is this because we’re on a break?’
‘No, it’s not just that.’ Kate’s voice shook. ‘Okay, here’s the thing, Jess. I think you love Simon, in a way. But in the last year you’ve changed quite a lot.’ She folded her arms. ‘Maybe it’s not just you, it could be Simon too, but I can see it. And I really feel that the two of you are about to make the worst mistake ever.’
Jess’s mouth dried. ‘Is this a weird joke, Kate?’
Kate paled. ‘You honestly think I’d joke about something like this? Look, I’m sorry, Jess, I can’t do this. Forget I said anything. The dress is gorgeous, you look wonderful. And I have to go, I have to get home to Luke.’
Jess felt a bit dizzy. ‘What else is going on? What aren’t you saying?’ She knew she was pleading, but she didn’t care. ‘Ever since my hen weekend, you’ve been different. I don’t feel like you have my back.’
Kate’s eyes flashed. ‘I’ve had your back every step of the way, Jess. Why can’t you understand? You’re the one who’s changed. And I’m the only one telling you the truth.’
Kate was right: itwasher. But Jess was falling, and nobody was going to catch her. She’d nothing to lose.
Jess gulped in some air. ‘Nobody undermines their best friend like that.’
‘I’m not trying to undermine you.’
What was she missing? ‘Did something happen at the stag?’
‘It’s nothing to do with that.’ Kate’s voice sounded strangely thick. ‘I’m sorry, Jess, I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think you’ve sleep-walked through the last three years and you’re about to sleep-walk into a marriage. You and Simon are amazing people and I love you both, but you’re not right for each other.’
Vaguely, Jess realised that she might be going into shock. ‘I don’t believe you’re doing this,’ she whispered. ‘I thought you were my friend.’
‘I am.’ Tears had begun to roll down Kate’s face. ‘That’s why I can’t do this, I can’t pretend everything is fine when it’s not.’
Anger bubbled up. ‘Get out!’ The words seemed to come from someone else, but Jess knew she’d screamed them.
With a sob, Kate turned and flung open the changing-room door. A moment later, Jess heard the old-fashioned bell clang, as the shop door banged. Then Carmel was guiding her into a chair and saying something soothing.
‘What?’ Jess tried to focus on her mother, but the room had started to spin.
Her mother’s hand was on her back, gently pushing her forward.
‘Head between your knees, Jess.Breathe.’
This stupid dress: she needed to get out of it. Her throat was as tight as the bodice.
‘I can’t.’ Panic flared in her chest.
