Page 32 of Confetti and Confusion

Imogen dropped into a padded cane chair next to Millie. Every ounce of her previous vitality seemed to have seeped from her body. Her eyes were still pink from the copious tears she had shed, and her skin had taken on a translucent sheen. She let out a long, ragged sigh, and her resigned shoulders slumped into her chest.

‘Alex thought it would be a good idea for us to get away from the hotel for a while. He’s gone to the Blue Orchid with the guys, but I thought I’d find you both here. Karen and Gracie have gone on a shopping trip to Castries with a few of the other guests. Mum’s distraught, understandably, but Brad has taken her to the Sulphur Springs for a detox to soothe her nerves and I’m sure he’ll work his magic to calm her down.’

Imogen attempted a watery smile, but she couldn’t quite pull it off. She grabbed a beer mat from the table and started to pick at the edges. Millie’s heart went out to her. None of what had happened had anything to do with Imogen or Alex, they were just innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire of a toxic relationship breakdown.

‘I’m so sorry this happened, Imogen.’ Millie reached over the table and squeezed Imogen’s hand. ‘What have you and Alex decided to do about the wedding?’

‘Well, we could have had the reception out on the lawns at the front of the hotel. There’s a spectacular view of the Pitons and plenty of space for the tables. However, when the staff were escorting Fleur from the premises, she not only confessed to the destruction of the furniture and decorations in the Hummingbird Suite, but she also hinted that she may have tampered with the food in the fridges.’

‘What?’

‘She refused to elaborate, and it’s unlikely she was able to gain access to the kitchen this morning without any of the breakfast chefs seeing her, but we can’t take the risk of poisoning our guests. So…’ Imogen gulped down the gin cocktail Lottie had set in front of her and ran her tongue along her lower lip. ‘Alex and I have decided to cancel the wedding. Alex is philosophical. He says it’ll be a great dinner party story to share with our friends when we’re old and grey.’

All six women fell into a contemplative silence as they sipped their drinks and entertained their own thoughts on the fiasco that had taken place in their midst. Millie’s heart ached for Imogen and Alex whose long-awaited wedding had been so effectively destroyed, and by their very own wedding planner to boot! You couldn’t make it up. Then something occurred to her.

‘Weren’t you getting married in the gazebo in the hotel grounds?’

‘Yes, it’s a really beautiful spot.’

‘Andit’sstill there, isn’t it? Fleur didn’t set fire tothat, did she?’

‘No, the gazebo’s still standing. Why?’

Millie’s mind raced down an idea superhighway. Perhaps Imogen and Alex’s wedding could be salvaged if everyone pooled their ideas and resources.

‘So it’s really just the weddingreceptionthat’s had to be cancelled?’

‘Yes, I suppose so. But our guests have travelled thousands of miles to see us exchange our vows. We can’t have a wedding without a wedding reception.’

‘I might just have an idea.’

Chapter Seventeen

‘What sort of thing do you have in mind?’ Imogen eyes brightened. She stopped fidgeting with the beer mat and pushed herself up in her chair, leaning towards Millie with her eyebrows raised.

Millie cast a quick glance across to Ella who gave a gentle nod of agreement, followed by a beaming smile.

‘Why don’t you hold your wedding reception at the villa?’

‘At the Paradise Cookery School?’

‘Yes. I’m sure Claudia wouldn’t mind. Thirty-six guests are a little more than she would probably envisage for a cookery course, but there’s plenty of room for tables in the courtyard. We can use the kitchen to prepare the food – there’re five ovens and plenty of workspace. If Jerome is prepared to release a couple of the hotel chefs to come over to the villa to help with the preparations and the cooking, I’m sure we can sort something out.’

‘Wow! That’s a fabulous idea!’ exclaimed Harriet, clapping her hands in excitement.

‘Have our wedding reception at the Paradise Cookery School,’ murmured Imogen almost to herself as she took a few moments to allow the suggestion to sink in to her befuddled brain, a necklace of fresh tears appearing along her lower lashes. She glanced from Millie to Ella and back again, her expression morphing from dejection to excitement and new-born hope. ‘Yes. Yes! I’d love that. Actually, it’s perfect; the view is magnificent, and the photographs will be spectacular. Oh, are you sure you both want to do this?’

‘Of course, it might not be the glamorous affair you and Alex had intended…’

‘Mumintended….’

‘But I think it’ll be a wonderful day. Have your ceremony as arranged in the hotel gazebo and then bring your wedding party over here for the reception. You can use all the facilities – the pool, the veranda, the decking, the courtyard – and we’ll sort out the food.’

‘Oh, that sounds absolutely amazing! Thank you, oh, thank you so much.’ Imogen shot out of her chair and hugged Millie, then Ella, and finally Lottie for good measure. ‘I’ll call the hotel and arrange for a couple of the chefs to help you, Millie. I don’t think they’ll mind – it’s just a change of venue, after all, and as the kitchen is closed they won’t have anything else to do until it’s been commercially cleaned. Oh, I’ve got to find Alex and tell him!’

Without pausing for breath, Imogen rushed off to tell her fiancé that they were getting married after all, albeit in a scaled-down version – just as they had both secretly wanted.

‘Wait for me!’ shouted Carla, launching herself from her seat, her trusty camera swinging around her neck. Out of respect, she had abstained from taking any photographs of the marriage meltdown as Imogen certainly didn’t look her elegant best. But now she was on a mission to record the final chapters in the Caribbean fairy story. ‘I want to grab a photograph of the look on Alex’s face when you tell him! Come on, Harri. Last one to the Blue Orchid buys the Champagne!’

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