Page 79 of The Wedding Cake Wish
She spots me and walks over. ‘Ruby, isn’t it?’
I nod. ‘You’re here as Amelia’s “plus one”?’
‘Yes. I’m just back from reporting on a local footie match.I’m absolutely starving.’
‘You’re a sports reporter?’
She nods. ‘For the local news.’
‘Wow. I’ve probably seen you on TV, then?’
She shakes her head. ‘I mostly work behind the scenes. Butsometimes I get a stint in front of the camera.’
‘Impressive.’ That must be why I thought I recognised her. Imust have seen her on TV.
‘The perks are good, I must admit.’ She grins. ‘I get to goaway to lots ofreally exoticlocations like Birmingham to report onsporting events,’ she says drily.
I nod, trying to look interested. ‘I bet it’s good, though.’
‘It has its moments. Like last Christmas, I spent the wholeof the festive period – including New Year – up in Scotland, reporting from aski resort. They had record levels of snow and had an impromptu ski festival.’She grins. ‘I mean, I was only up there working for a day or two, but I managedto wangle some holiday before and afterwards, which was amazing. They reallyknow how to party up there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Amelia so drunkbefore.’
‘Amelia was up there with you?’
‘Yeah. She was in between acting jobs so she went up with mefor the whole of Christmas and New Year. We had a riotous time.’
Something is tapping at my brain, telling me to payattention...that something’s not quite making sense...
‘So Amelia was up in Scotland for Christmas? When did you goup there?’
Kat frowns, clearly puzzled by the question. ‘Erm...threedays before Christmas Day. Why?’
I shake my head. ‘Nothing.’ I smile. ‘Amelia will be pleasedto see you.’
‘I hope she’s saved me a seat,’ Kat says, walking away. ‘Seeyou soon.’
‘Yes. See you in there.’
Then she turns with a laugh, her hands flying to her face.‘What an idiot. I’ve forgotten my bag.’
She starts walking back over to her car, and as I standthere, a memory – as clear as crystal – slips fully-formed into my head.
The blonde-haired woman in the Baker Street Café saying Iwas punching above my weight...then laughing withembarrassment because she knew I’d heard her...her handsflying to her face...
That’s where I’ve seen Kat before! At the Baker StreetCafé, the day Gordon was taking his photographs! I didn’t see the girl she waswith because she was sitting with her back to us...but I betit was Amelia...
That’s so weird. Why have neither of them ever mentionedthey saw us in the café that time? Because Kat definitely saw us...
My heart is beating fast. I’m not sure what it means yet,but something’s peculiar...
I start walking slowly back to the house.
Amelia said she first met Myles on Christmas Eve. But howcould she have? When Kat’s just told me she spent all of Christmas up inScotland with her?
Why would Amelia have lied to us about when she met Myles?What could possibly be her reason?
Unless...unless she didn’t know Mylesquite as well as she’s been making out? Perhaps she met him only recently butwanted to pretend to Hudson that she’d known him longer? To play on hisheartstrings, perhaps, and elicit more sympathy?
Back in the ballroom, my table is empty, and when I lookover, I see Madison and Jack up on the dance floor, along with Hudson, Ameliaand Kat dancing as a threesome to an energetic track.
