Page 60 of The Last Saturday In July
Jess stumbled and quickly righted herself. ‘Well, yeah, Simon thought she’d know where I was. But you’ve got it backwards: it’s Kate and Luke who rely on Simon.’
‘And you don’t mind?’ He frowned.
Did she mind? She’d never minded before now. ‘No, not at all.’ She smiled brightly. ‘Simon’s like a brother to Kate.’
She ignored the strange look David gave her and glanced over at Simon and Kate. The two of them seemed to be dancing pretty well together, but maybe Kate was easier to lead. Jess watched as they both laughed quietly at some shared joke. She remembered how her nana had once advised her to marry her best friend. Jess was fairly sure that Simon was still her best friend. But for the first time, she wondered if she was his.
Chapter 24
‘I’M OFF now, Simon.’ Jess tried not to sound relieved as she said goodbye.
Simon glanced up from his work. ‘You’re working on a Saturday?’
She wouldn’t point out the irony. Right now, their relationship was fragile enough. ‘It’s my bridal shower, over at my parents’ house.’ She gestured to her wrap-around, floral dress. ‘What do you think?’
‘You look beautiful.’ He adjusted his glasses. ‘I don’t have to be there, do I?’
‘Girls only.’
‘Enjoy it.’
‘Thanks.’ Jess turned to go.
‘Jess?’
‘Yep?’ She turned.
He offered a half-smile. ‘Let’s just forget about the dinner, okay?’
She released a breath. Everything would be fine once this month was over. The celebrity wedding would be a success, and her and Simon’s wedding would be a good day out and photos on people’s Instagram accounts. She walked over to where he was sitting and hugged him. ‘It’ll be okay, you know.’
Simon frowned. ‘What will?’
‘Everything.’ Jess shrugged. ‘See you later.’
This afternoon would be great, Jess told herself as she arrived at her parents’ house. She’d always been close to her family, especially on her mother’s side. This was what mattered: love and family. And Simon, obviously. She took a deep breath and let herself in.
Her mother’s eldest sister, Maggie, was in the hall.
‘There’s the girl of the hour!’
Maggie held out her arms and Jess allowed herself to be hugged tightly before Maggie planted a lipsticky kiss on her cheek. She breathed in her aunt’s familiar perfume.
‘Great to see you, Maggie.’
Maggie pulled away and searched Jess’s face. ‘Everything all right now, love?’
Jess nodded vigorously. Maggie could sniff out people’s worries in a minute: it was her superpower. ‘Absolutely. Just excited about seeing you all.’
Maggie linked her. ‘We’re all in here. Your mam doesn’t want too many people in the kitchen. Zoe’s giving her a hand.’
‘What about Kate?’
‘I haven’t seen her yet. Come in and let everyone make a fuss.’ Maggie led her into the sitting room, where the dividing doors to the rarely used dining room at the front of the house had been opened. The ancient dining-room table was pushed back against the wall, covered in the good tablecloth and piled high with sandwiches, sausage rolls, vol-au-vents and small, heart-shaped iced cakes, bottles of Prosecco, sparkling water and orange juice. Chairs and sofas were grouped around the two rooms and the whole area was decorated with pink and white helium balloons and a hugeCongratulationsbanner that Jess recognised from her engagement party.
‘There she is now!’
The volume of voices rose and, for a few minutes, Jess was surrounded by her aunts and cousins, who took it in turns to hug her and kiss her.
