Page 108 of Just Say Yes
‘Stop reading me. It’s very annoying!’ His mouth briefly gave the flicker of a smile before setting back into a grim line. ‘And I really don’t know, but it definitely sounded like she’d been crying.’
‘I bet this is down to that bloody Vance!’ he said, his teeth gritted, voice low.
‘We don’t know that.’
‘Yeah, but you think so too.’
I met his eyes. ‘It wouldn’t surprise me, but hopefully it’s just a little bit of nerves and I’ll be back shortly with everything on track.’
* * *
‘And now I’m wondering if we really have rushed into things, like people said,’ Peyton finished, inhaling a massive gulp of air to make up for not having done so for what seemed like several minutes as she’d poured out her worries and panic. We were sitting in a massive four-by-four like the one the hire company had tried to give me and looking out over a field of sheep. Well, we had been but a combination of our warm breath and Peyton’s hot tears had steamed the windows, so it felt as if we were stuck in a bubble.
‘Everybody gets nervous, that’s natural. But you and Patrick have been together for three years and you both wanted this. It’s not exactly a two week whirlwind romance. Neither of you were pushing the other, which is just how it should be in a partnership that’s right.’ I started with reason and hoped that would be the only tool I’d need from my emotional toolbox to fix this.
‘But what if I wanted to go back to the States to live? I mean, I do have my family and lots of friends over there.’
‘Do you want to move back?’
‘No. I love our house and where we live. I’m just thinking about the future.’ She gave a sniff.
‘But you travel back and forth now, don’t you, when you want to see your family? And they’re happy and able to travel too so that always makes things easier.’
‘That’s true.’
‘And if that was something you did decide in the future, then you and Patrick would talk it over, like you do everything, and you’d find a solution.’
She nodded and worried a false nail. I sat on my hands in order not to try and move it away from her mouth. That was a minor problem compared to the bride getting cold feet.
‘I suppose. Do you think Patrick loves me?’ she asked, looking at me as if she was genuinely concerned.
‘I do,’ I replied without hesitation. ‘And I know you think I probably say that to everyone, but the moment you two walked into my house that day it was obvious. I don’t think he just loves you. That man absolutely adores you. He’d do anything for you. You were bouncing about at some godforsaken time when you video-called me while he was trying to sleep and he accepts that’s you and adores you all the more for it because he loves you. Without question.’
‘Why do you think he said about getting married over here? I mean, it’s meant all my family and friends have had to travel whereas most of his are quite local.’
Peyton was lovely but there was no denying she was still rich and entitled and on the odd occasion that came across. From what I’d heard in the gossip vines from guests and her bridesmaids as we’d coordinated and double-checked details over the past few days, she’d actually been quite the diva back in the day. The perils of never having to wait for anything or be told no. But meeting Patrick had changed that. I meant what I’d said when I told her he adored her but his down-to-earth character and feet firmly set in reality seemed also to have balanced out the less desirable tendencies of her own nature.
‘Peyton. You told me that you were the one that wanted to get married here. To connect with your ancestry. Remember?’ I didn’t let on that I knew there wasn’t any, but I wasn’t about to let Patrick get kicked for something he didn’t do. ‘On that first meeting you said that Patrick had told you he didn’t care where you got married, so long as he got to marry you. Do you remember?’
She picked a different nail to fiddle with. ‘I suppose.’
‘So Ireland was your idea.’
‘Yes… but don’t you think he should have insisted we get married in America. Where my friends are? I mean, the wedding is supposed to be about the bride, isn’t it? I mean, it’s supposed to be my day.’
I wasn’t sure I liked this side of Peyton.
‘It’s both your days, Peyton. It’s a day about showing those you care about how much you mean to each other, making that commitment. Yes, it’s also the opportunity to wear a beautiful dress and have a magnificent party, but that’s all just window dressing. The main thing, the most important thing, is that you love Patrick, and he loves you and today you show each other that.’
She nodded quietly.
‘Can I ask something?’
‘Hmm?’ Peyton looked up.
‘Where has all this come from? A couple of days ago on the phone, you were saying you wished the wedding were happening that day. And now you’re hesitating.’
‘Nowhere really,’ she said, two spots of high colour appearing on her make up free face.
