Page 78 of The Wedding Cake Wish
He gives me an odd look. ‘I’d like to talk to you as well.’
‘Well, of course you can. Come and join us at our table. Youand Amelia.’ I look around, hoping she’s gone home. ‘Where...?’
‘Touching up her lipstick.’
‘Right, well, let’s sit down.’
I walk a little unsteadily over to Madison and Jack, myheart battering my ribs like a storm in the North Sea. And Hudson follows,sitting down beside me.
‘Ah, there you are, Huddie!’
I turn and there’s Amelia, arriving in a cloud of newlyapplied perfume. ‘Oh, do you mind if I squeeze in between you two? I’d like tocatch up with Rubes.’
I grit my teeth as Hudson does the gentlemanly thing andmoves over so Amelia can sit in between us.
‘Hi, there! Really good to see you again,’ she says, andthen promptly turns away and devotes all her attention to Hudson instead.
I sit there, feeling worse than I have all day. I reallythought I’d get a chance to chat to Hudson here, but Amelia seems determinedthat won’t happen.
Why can’t he see through her?
‘I’m going up to the buffet,’ says Hudson. He looks aroundAmelia, directly at me. ‘Coming with me?’
I’m about to join him, when of course Amelia gets in aheadof me, standing up with a little tinkling laugh. ‘You read my mind, Huddie.Let’s go.’
He nods, his eyes catching mine, and he walks away.
Amelia hangs back. ‘Lovely wedding, isn’t it?’
I force a smile. ‘It is. You look nice.’
‘Oh, this old thing? Chanel.’ She smiles. Then her eyessweep over my own outfit. ‘I do hope Fen appreciates the effort you made.’
I frown, not understanding.
She shrugs. ‘Well, you’ve obviously gone for the rustic lookto match the forest wedding venue,’ she says, and she walks off to join Hudson.
I stare after her as she goes up to him, touching hisshoulder and smiling up into his eyes. And something inside me caves in.
I can’t take any more.
I need to get out of here...
*****
I rush for the door and walk outside into the stillOctober night.
It’s cool and I shiver, rubbing my arms. Walking over to abeautiful old oak tree near the main entrance, I stand under its shelteringboughs, staring up at the moon.
It’s time I accepted that whatever was between Hudson and I– friendship? Maybe even a little attraction at one time? – is now a thing of thepast. Our investigating days are probably over as well. Amelia will see tothat.
Tears prick my lids.
The headlights of a car appear in the drive and I watch themsadly, thinking that I’ll probably miss that more than anything. Solvingmysteries together, Hudson and me. The fun we had along the way...
A woman with blonde hair is getting out of the car.
It’s Kat, Amelia’s friend.
