Page 19 of The Wedding Cake Wish
‘Don’t you want a dessert?’ I try to smile...toget us back on track. ‘They’ve got sticky toffee pudding.’ It’s Rob’s all-timefavourite and he never refuses it when it’s on the menu.
He shakes his head. ‘Not for me. But you have something.’
‘No. It’s fine.’ I’m close to tears now, which isridiculous. ‘Let’s just get the bill.’
He frowns. ‘Are you okay?’
I look away and murmur, ‘Yes. I’m fine.’
‘Are you sure?’
I swallow hard. ‘Well, actually...no, I’mnot fine, Rob. I didn’t realise you felt that way about me.’
He frowns. ‘What do you mean? What way?’
I shrug, my throat choked. ‘I don’t know. I suppose I’m justworried things have changed between us.’
‘Changed?’ He sighs. ‘Look, of course nothing’s changed.I’ve just...got things on my mind, that’s all.’
‘You mean Rory?’
‘Yes, I mean Rory,’ he says impatiently. ‘Of course I’mworried about him. I assumed you’d know that without having to ask.’ He glaresat me.
‘Well, sorry, I’m not actually a mind-reader.’
He shrugs. ‘Just because we’re getting married doesn’t meanwe have to share every single little thought in our heads with each other, doesit?’
‘Well, no, of course not.’
Having finally caught the waiter’s attention, Rob scrapesback his chair and stands up. ‘Come on. Let’s go. If you grab our coats, I’llsettle up.’
He goes off and I gather the jackets and wait for him at thetable, but once he’s paid the bill, he heads straight for the door, signallingto me to join him.
I follow him with a heavy heart out to the car park.
I’ve been looking forward to this evening out all day, butif I thought it was a chance for us to relax together, I was obviouslymistaken.
My insides turn over queasily.
Far from drawing us closer, tonight seems to have driven awedge between us that’s never been there before.
The way Rob practically sprinted from the restaurant, it wasalmost as if he couldn’t get away from me fast enough...
CHAPTERNINE
As soon as I wake next morning in my bedroom atBrambleberry Manor, all the images from the dinner with Rob the evening beforestart flooding into my mind.
I lie there, telling myself it’ll be fine. Everyone getsstressed before their wedding, don’t they? Rob and I are no different.
But recalling the cool way we parted last night makes mefeel quite sick. I’d been expecting to stay over at Rob’s flat. We’d have achance to make things right between us. But without saying a word he swung thecar in the direction of Brambleberry Manor instead, and I sat there, in thepassenger seat, feeling as if my world was caving in around me.
Dropping me home, he muttered something about having to getup really early to work on a project, kissed me briefly and drove off into thenight.
Now, hauling myself out of bed, I suddenly remember thattonight is Mum’s ‘pre-hen night’ meal at The Olive Tree, and my instinct is tofall right back into bed and pull the covers over my head.
But I can’t let Mum down – not after all the trouble she’s goneto, organising the night. I’ll just have to act the part of the blissfullyhappy bride-to-be. What’s that expression?
I’ll fake it until I make it.
