Page 25 of The Wedding Cake Wish
She stops and studies me. Then she cups my cheek in her handand murmurs, ‘Friendship is so important. I’ve been guilty of forgetting thatin the past but I’ve been reminded of it tonight.’
Surprised by the intimate gesture and her oddly wistfulexpression, I find myself stuck for words.
Mum smiles. ‘I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself.’ She patsmy cheeks gently. Then she turns and walks quickly away towards Dad’s carthat’s drawing to a stop up ahead.
Dad turns the car then he winds down his window with a grin.‘I’d join you but I think I’m a bit long in the tooth for skinny dipping. Havea great time!’
Laughing, I wave them off and walk slowly back along theriver path to join the others.
On the way, I spot Ruby by the water’s edge. She’s chattingto a woman walking her dog. I’m on the path, higher up the bank, and as I passthem, the little terrier splashes into the water, causing the woman to turn andshout, ‘Trixie! Come out of there!’ As she tries to coax the dog out of thewater, Ruby waves and calls up to me, ‘I’ll be along in a minute, Fen.’
‘Okay.’ I wave back cheerfully and walk on, still thinkingabout Mum’s unexpected display of emotion and wondering why she seemed soanxious to leave. Perhaps she was just disappointed the evening didn’t work outthe way she’d planned.
Not that she needed to worry about that on my account. As Itold her, I’m having a lovely time tonight.
I think of Rob and my heart plummets. We’ve hit a rockypatch that may or may not be due to stress over the wedding. But I’m not goingto worry about that now. Tonight has helped me to forget that we seem to haveveered off track – plus there’s some lovely food to be eaten!
There’ll be time enough to worry about Rob and me tomorrow...
Ruby
CHAPTERELEVEN
I knew I recognised the woman walking her dog, but itwas only when she passed by where we were sitting, and she saw me and waved,that I realised who it was.
It was Shirley, Rachel’s friend and next-door neighbour fromthe Carlton Estate flats.
The excuse for a chat about Rachel and Rory seemed too goodto miss, so I excused myself and joined Shirley further along the path, whereher little dog, Trixie, was snuffling in the undergrowth.
She smiles. ‘Have you been to see Rachel again?’
‘Oh, no.’ I shake my head, falling into step with her as thenarrow path widens into a circular space with a bench to sit on and admire theview over the river. ‘I’m here with some friends.’ I point back to the littlegroup by the riverbank.
She smiles, sitting down on the bench with a little sigh.‘You’ve got a nice night for it. It’s far too hot still to be tramping around,but Trixie needs her exercise.’
‘Of course. I expect it keeps you really fit, walking her.’
She nods. ‘Rachel used to come with me on our walks, butsince the...accident...it’s just been meand Trixie. Hasn’t it, girl?’ Trixie wanders over, and Shirley gives her a firmscratch behind her ears.
‘Is Rachel okay? It must have been an awful time for her, fallingin front of that car.’
‘Oh, it was. I’ve been her neighbour for a long time now,and I’ve never seen her so low and so...diminished.And then for Rory to just disappear like that.’ She stares up at the sky andcloses her eyes briefly in despair. ‘It’s a terrible business. That poor lad.I’m in such a quandary.’
‘How so?’ I look at her, puzzled. ‘Do you know where Rory’sgone?’
She looks straight at me, frowning as if she’s weighing upwhether or not to tell me what’s on her mind.
I shrug. ‘I’m only asking because, as you know, Hudson and Iare trying to find him. So anything you can tell me would be really helpful. Wewant him back. In time for Fen and Rob’s wedding.’
Still she hesitates, and in the silence I stare out acrossthe river to the glimpses of people at the party in the trees. Warm white fairylights have been strung between the trees, casting a lovely cosy glow in thefading light. It’s a happy scene. A stark contrast to Shirley’s obvious anxietyover Rachel and Rory.
At last, she takes a deep breath and murmurs, ‘I think I doknow what’s happened to Rory. I want to report him missing because I’m reallyconcerned about him. And I know Rachel is absolutely desperate with worry. Butshe’s made me promise not to go to the police.’
‘What? Butwhy?’ I ask in astonishment. ‘If you knowwhere Rory is and you think he’s in danger, why wouldn’t you get the policeinvolved?’
She gives a heavy sigh. ‘Because Rachel thinks it’ll makethe situation a whole lot worse. She’s afraid that...’Shirley breaks off and looks down at the dog’s lead in her hand, twirling itbetween her fingers.
‘She’s afraid that what?’ I ask gently.
