Page 111 of The Last Saturday In July
After a brief silence, Kate spoke firmly. ‘Don’t worry, if I don’t see you back at the hotel before I go to the church, I’ll let your mam and dad know. Just keep an eye on the time.’
She hung up.
Jess turned to Zoe. ‘She’s coming.’
‘I got that.’ Zoe gave her a critical look. ‘You might want to fix your eye makeup. There’s some tissues in the glove box.’
‘Thanks.’ Jess leaned forward and rooted through the overstuffed glove compartment. She was jerked back as Zoe braked hard.
‘Sorry about that.’ Zoe started to reverse. ‘The road ahead is closed, but Google Maps is taking me another way.’
Jess glanced back over her shoulder. Her wedding dress, which Zoe had suggested bringing in case they had to go straight to the church, slid in its zipped cover across the back seat. On the floor were her wedding shoes: beautiful, nude Manola Blahniks, a gift from her Auntie Anne.
Zoe turned the car up the small road that led to the enormous front gates of the hotel.
As she rounded the final corner, Jess stared at the scene that greeted them. ‘There’s easily a hundred paparazzi here, Zoe.’
Zoe slowed down, as photographers snapped pictures around the car, before they seemed to realise they weren’t wedding guests. ‘They’re just doing their job, Jess. Any idea how we’re going to get in?’
Before Jess could reply, a man banged on her window, making her jump.
‘What’s your deal, girls? You heading to this? You working at it? Did you hear that Leo’s been screwing Brandi Oliver?’ The photographer put his phone against the window.
Jess pulled out her own phone, her thumbs flying over the keypad to find the article. There it was: Leo Dinardia cheated on fiancée Chelsea Deneuve with her half-sister,California Girlfriendsco-star Brandi Oliver.‘Oh crap.’ She scanned the first few lines, barely able to take it in. This wasn’t just gossip or speculation anymore: the article was on one of the more reputable sites. Chelsea must have found out just before it broke, no wonder she was upset.
She almost dropped her phone when the reporter banged again on her window.
‘Is there going to be a wedding? Come on, girls, give us something. What’s her dress like?’
Jess phoned Ian. ‘It’s Jess, I’m right outside the front gate. But I think we’re going to need extra security to get us in.’
It took over a dozen security guards to get Zoe’s car through the front gates, while keeping the press out. Jess noticed that Zoe seemed as shaken as she was when they finally drove around to the hotel’s west side.
‘Zoe, you okay?’
‘I’m cool. I didn’t think today would be this exciting.’ She grinned and Jess gave a strained smile.
‘I could probably do with a bit less excitement. Park here, we’re right near the door.’
Ian met them inside, dressed in a billowy white shirt, red waistcoat and pale-brown knee-length britches.
‘He looks like a giant, fat robin,’ Zoe muttered.
‘Jess, thank you for coming.’ Ian was grim. ‘We’d better not waste time; you’ll have to change so you can blend in.’ He turned and walked quickly down the corridor, leaving Jess and Zoe to catch up. They followed him to a small room with a dressing table and a rail of costumes. He turned to them. ‘You should find something to fit you both there. Jess, have you seen the latest online?’
Jess nodded. ‘A few minutes ago.’
‘Leo’s just tweeted this.’ Ian took a mobile phone from a pocket in his britches.
‘Here it is:Chelsea and I really hurt to see these lies about us, but we hope the media can respect our privacy on our special day.I’m just hoping Chelsea will agree to listen to him.’
‘Right.’ Jess scanned the bewildering array of costumes on the rail in front of her. ‘Did you say he tried to phone her?’
Ian raised an eyebrow. ‘He did, she’s turned her phone off now too. Then he phoned Angel, but he’s not answering either.’
Jess shook her head. ‘When did Angel leave?’
‘Mid-morning, after Chelsea fired him.’
