Page 66 of The Wedding Cake Wish
‘I think so. To be honest, I haven’t really spoken to himabout everything yet. He was with Rory last night, talking things through withhim before Rory went over to his mum’s. Rob phoned me around ten and said hewas just going to crash at his own place but that he’d see me tonight. Isuggested we go out for dinner.’ I look down at the table, picking up somecrumbs of cake and placing them on the plate. ‘To be honest, I was worried hemight not want to see me at all because of...well, because ofwhat Mum did to Rachel and Rory.’
‘You don’t know the full story,’ Ruby reminds me, and Idredge up a half-smile.
‘So what are you going to be doing tonight?’ she asks me ina fake stern voice.
‘I’m going out for dinner with Rob and we’re going to talkthings through and hopefully get back on track.’
She nods. ‘Exactly. You and Rob are meant for each other.This is just a little blip on your journey to wedded bliss, I’m telling you.’
‘You’re a good friend.’ I smile wistfully. I’ve never wantedto believe someone’s words to me so much in my entire life!
But hopefully Ruby’s right.
There might be no wedding but at least if Rob and I can staytogether through all of this, that’s something...
‘What about this wedding cake wish, then?’ She holds thebowl aloft.
‘Do you think it’ll work?’
‘Of course.’ Ruby crosses her fingers and smiles. ‘Let’s doit.’
So I take the spoon and start stirring.
‘Close your eyes and concentrate.’
‘Okay.’
‘No surprises for guessing what that wish of yours will be,’she murmurs, and I know she’s thinking about the wedding and how much I want itto go ahead.
But surprisingly, although that’s true, there’s another wishin my mind that’s pushing ahead of the rest. As I think of it, my throat getsall choked and I know that if my eyes were open, tears would start to fall.
‘You okay?’ I feel Ruby’s hand on my arm.
‘Yes. Just getting it right. I need to get it right.’ Ilaugh, embarrassed by own desperation. It’s highly unscientific, thiswish-making thing. I’d be a total fool to think it could work. But strangerthings have happened and if I put my whole heart and trust into it, maybe...justmaybe my wish will come true...
*****
Back home, Richard greets me in the entrance hall of themanor looking worried.
‘After you left, Mum disappeared in her car,’ he tells me.‘She was out of the door so fast I didn’t even get the chance to follow her.’
I stare at him. ‘Where did she go? Is she back?’ I glanceworriedly up the stairs.
He gives a heavy sigh. ‘Yup. She was back less than an hourlater, looking as if she’d been crying.’
My heart lurches. ‘Crying?’ This is so unlike Mum.
He nods. ‘She looked terrible. All I could get out of herbefore she retreated to her room was that she’d been to see Rachel to try andmake amends. Apparently they’d always said that if they didn’t get the gradesfor uni to study law, they’d set up a café together instead. And Mum’sobviously been stewing in her room and dreaming up some fantasy idea aboutgoing into business with Rachel and bringing the café on the Carlton Estateback to life?’
‘What?’ I stare at him, open-mouthed.
He shrugs. ‘By the sound of it, Rachel just laughed in herface and told her where to go.’
‘Right.’ I swallow hard. Mum’s desperation to make it up toRachel suggests she really is guilty and that Rory’s accusations were correct.‘Maybe she’ll talk to me? I’ll have a go.’
I walk slowly up the stairs and knock softly on Mum’s door.‘Mum, please let me in. You shouldn’t be in there on your own. We want to help.And please don’t worry about the wedding. I think...I’d liketo postpone it, okay? I need to talk to Rob first, obviously, but I think thatin the circumstances, it would be the right thing to do. Just until we’re allin a better place?’
I listen hard at the door, but there’s no reply...
