“No. I can’t prove it,” said Holly. “It’s my word against his. The lottery organisers said that ownership of a ticket or numbers was almost impossible to prove, even though the numbers are all my family birthdays. And I gave him the money to pay for the ticket. Anyway, it doesn’t matter anymore. Being found and being alive, with you, is all I want.”
“And all I want is to be with you. You can’t get the money back. It’s all gone, apparently. He can’t even pay for a lawyer. He’s in custody, awaiting trial. So dearest Holly, put it all behind you and I know you’ll have a wonderful life.”
“I have some good news for you,” she said, hoping he would think it was good news. “Zoe has given me a whole week off. She’s having the studios redecorated. We’re getting a new image. So I’m free to see some more of Barbados.”
“That’s perfect. We’ll have a whole week together.” She could hear the relief in his voice. “We’ll explore Barbados, learn more of the history, find some unknown hurricane stories and research the musical background.”
Holly laughed. “So we’ll still be working?”
“You know I never stop.”
“I’ll bring a notebook.”
“Bring two.”
*
The hairdresser had arrived, the manicurist had arrived, Madame Latisse had arrived. The first floor of Tiger Bay Plantation House was buzzing with frantic activity in order to get one bride ready for her big day. The mercury was already climbing towards ninety.
Holly let Lily do what she liked with her mass of tawny hair. The result was enchanting. Lily plaited some of the hair with white beads which swung as Holly moved. She twirled other strands into curls and fastened them with white gardenias from the garden. It was an exotic look which went perfectly with the simple elegance of the dress.
“Wow, I love it,” Holly said, looking at the new woman who stared back in the mirror. “Is that really me? You’re an expert, Lily. You should be doing wedding hair for a living.”
Lily was beaming. She’d spent a lot of time wondering what to do to please Miss Holly. And this mixture of Bajan bead culture and flowers seemed to work.
“Thank you, Miss Holly. May I take some photographs? I would like to show people.”
“Of course, take as many as you want.”
Danielle was trying to have everything done at once. Despite the weeks of preparation, the last few hours seemed to be the worst. She changed her mind again about what shoes she was wearing. Madame Latisse refused to alter the hem line.
“You ask the impossible,” she said, throwing her hands up into the air. “The dress is perfect. No more alterations, please. My work is finished.”
The last hook and eye fastening the tight bodice of the wedding dress refused to meet. Madame Latisse was struggling to complete the fastening. “You have put on weight,” she muttered.
“I have not,” said Danielle indignantly. “Your seamstress has made a mistake. It’s not my fault.”
“Hold your breath for a moment. There, it is done. Voila.”
Danielle was twenty minutes late when she eventually emerged from her bedroom and tried to walk down the stairs in the dress and the train. It needed both Holly and Lily to negotiate the billowing train, to stop it from catching on the stair treads.
“You’d better help me down the path to the beach,” said Holly to Lily. “All those stones and bushes. It’ll get torn to pieces.”
Lily’s eyes lit up. She tore off her apron and flung it towards the kitchen. “Yes, Miss Holly. I’ll help you. Too much train for one bridesmaid.”
Holly had wondered what she would wear on her feet, but Madame Latisse had heard some version of events and produced a pair of white ballet pumps, hand sewn with pearls and with an especially soft sole.
“How can I ever thank you,” Holly said, smiling. “You are so kind.”
“You one brave, thin lady.”
Holly only had a spare hand for the train. She’d been given a posy of small white roses to carry. Danielle was carrying a bouquet of huge white roses. There was a gasp from the assembled guests on the patio. Danielle did look amazing, and the dress was magnificent. The Hello! Photographers were prancing around, taking dozens of shots. The Barbados newspapers had also sent their social photographer.
Of course, two bridesmaids, one in white and one in black, was a little unusual, but then this was an unusual wedding, though few of the guests realized how unusual.
Lily was elated. This was going to be her happiest day ever.
The Calypso band on the beach began playing a suitably rhythmic tune, although Holly did not recognise it. She was too preoccupied trying to keep the precious train from damage.
Lily was having the time of her life, playing the part of an extra bridesmaid with perfect decorum. They kept the billowing net off the sand and from catching on the matting.
When they reached the bower, now adorned with fresh gold ribbon, Holly went forward to take Danielle’s roses.
Barry and Luke were both waiting in the bower, standing in the right places, Holly hoped. She could not bear it if Danielle had changed her mind again. But no, Barry was in the centre wearing a white and gold waistcoat under the grey morning coat, and Luke was standing at his side, also in grey but no waistcoat.
Then Holly noticed the two witnesses. A tall Bajan youth, so incredibly handsome, he was breath-taking. And beside him, a willowy girl, with great dark eyes and skin that glowed. They were the pastor’s teenage son and daughter. And they looked about the same age. Maybe they were twins.
Suddenly Holly realised that here were her two new faces for Zoe. She did not have to look any further. They were perfect. She was so entranced by them, she almost forgot to take the roses from Danielle.
Holly took the roses and moved back. She nodded to Lily, hoping she would understand and wait. Lily was bright with excitement. She was now at the wedding itself, in the gold decorated arbour. This was the best day of her whole life.
The wedding service went smoothly due to the experience of the pastor. He was used to nervous brides and grooms. He got the names right although he was not stupid and did look at Luke with askance.
“I was just standing in before,” said Luke in a low voice. “A slight hic-cup.”
So Danielle married her Barry. The procession returned to the house, two bridesmaids carrying the train. The girl witness carried Holly’s roses so that she had two hands free.
“Thank you. Please don’t go away,” said Holly quickly. “I want to speak to you and your brother. It’s quite important. I have an idea which I think you will like.”
“That sounds interesting,” they both said. “We have to wait for our father before we can leave. So no hurry.”
Hello! Magazine made a big story about the bridesmaids, one elegant in white, the other in a plain black dress. They thought it sent a social message but they were not sure what the message was.
The reception was in full swing. Lily donned her crumpled apron and joined in serving the champagne and the food. There were so many guests milling around that Danielle eventually asked Holly to unhook her train so that she could move more easily. She hung it on a nearby bush. She still looked wonderful and was obviously happy. Holly made sure the net wouldn’t be damaged. She knew Madame Latisse wanted to show it in her shop window.
The guests were a little confused. Many of them congratulated Luke as if he was still the groom. He accepted the congratulations and did not explain. He made a best man speech with his usual eloquence and charm.
Many of the guests were still unsure whether he was the groom or the best man. Still, it didn’t matter. The champagne was excellent.
Hello! Took all the right pictures since they were unaware of there being a different groom. They thought a black and a white bridesmaid was a great new angle for a story.
Holly found the twins waiting on the fringe of the crowd. They were drinking juice and nibbling crisps, listening to pop music. Typical teenagers. Holly expl
ained her job, and that she was searching for two new faces for the modelling agency. They looked at each other, both interested.
“It would mean you travelling to London occasionally but it can be arranged.” Holly’s business cards were upstairs in her bedroom with her camera. She asked them to wait while she took some photos before they left.
The tall youth shrugged his shoulders. “It’s no problem. We both have places at universities in London starting after this summer term. We shall be travelling to London to find student accommodation. So we could come to your modelling agency without problem.”
“It would be good to earn some money,” said his sister. “The student grant is not enough to keep us. Father is having to pay out a lot.”
“What are you studying?”
“I shall be taking accountancy and business studies. My sister is studying media. Both important for jobs back here in Barbados.”
They would be students, based in London, keen to work. It could not be better. “Are you twins?” Holly asked.
They nodded. “We are the Pastor twins. Tabitha and Tomas.”
*
It was almost an anticlimax when Danielle and Barry drove off in the open white car to the airport to catch a plane to the Seychelles. Holly saw Luke talking to both of them, looking quite serious. She wondered what he was saying to them. Danielle flung her arms round his neck and hugged him before getting into the car.
It seemed he had forgiven them, given them his blessing.
The guests were drifting around, eating the last of the food, drinking the last of the champagne. Holly sat in the shade, feeling totally exhausted. She longed to get out of the white dress and put on her own clothes. It didn’t really belong to her. It was some other person.
She had not even noticed what Danielle was wearing as a going-away outfit. Something glamorous. Her mind was already miles away. She had taken lots of photographs of the Pastor twins. She knew Zoe would be pleased.
Luke came and sat at her table. He had two glasses of iced orange juice. He handed one to her.
“This must have been very difficult for you,” said Holly. “You’ve survived the ordeal. You did want to marry Danielle, didn’t you? I mean, originally you wanted to marry her.”
Luke sipped his drink, his granite grey eyes less bright. “Yes, I did genuinely want to marry Danielle. But now that I have had time to think about it, what I really wanted more than anything was a home. And I thought Danielle would be a happy, bubbly sort of person to come home to. I’ve been living out of a suitcase for years, and a roof and a front door of my own seemed a luxury. Five star hotels soon lose their attraction when you are in them all the time.”
“So you wanted a home and Danielle wanted a family,” said Holly slowly. “Not exactly head over heels in love then?”
“I did all that head over heels stuff years ago,” said Luke. “And it didn’t work out. It took a long time to get over.”
Luke was looking at her intently. Holly felt her heart pounding.
“I know what you mean,” she said. “I fell head over heels in love with a very special man, years ago. And that didn’t work out. He left me at Heathrow Airport, of all places. I’ve never got over it.”
Luke leaned forward and took Holly’s hand. He took it to his lips and kissed each finger lightly. “That man you fell in love with was a stupid fool. He knows that now. He’s here now, hoping that you will give him a second chance.”
Holly nodded, unable to find the right words. She would give Luke a dozen chances if he needed them. It was enough to be in his company and for him to be looking at her with warmth in his eyes.
“Is the best man allowed to kiss the bridesmaid? I do believe it is a traditional part of the wedding ceremony.”
He was smiling at her and pulled her over towards him. Holly found herself in his arms and his mouth touched hers lightly, then he began kissing her with a growing passion. His hands went into her hair, so that she was closer to him.
“Mr Luke, sir,” said Lily crossly. “You am mussing up Miss Holly’s hair and I done spent hours on it.” Her good English had disappeared after a tiring day.
“But she still looks beautiful, doesn’t she?” he said, reluctantly coming up for air but not letting her go.
Lily grinned. “Miss Holly am the most beautiful bridesmaid. One day she will make even more beautiful bride.”
“Lily, I think you are right.” He turned to Holly. “Don’t you agree?”
Holly was still reeling from his closeness and his kiss. It was the first time Luke had ever kissed her. It felt like the beginning of something special.
“Let’s get over this wedding first,” she said unsteadily.
*
Sadie was having a late Italian meal with Colin. He had been very busy. All that criminal Barbados stuff to finalize. Apparently he had been commended, might get a promotion.
“You know, I am bored with my job. It’s an employment agency. I spend all day telling unhappy people that there isn’t any work. Do you think Holly and Zoe would let me join their model agency, Boys & Girls Inc? I’d love doing that. What do you think?”
“Great idea. You only have to ask Holly. She’s your friend.”
“She’s more than my friend. She’s someone very special.”
*
Jake did not plan to stay long in that overcrowded and hot prison. Not his usual style. He already had a stash of sharp items hidden behind a loose tile in the showering unit. He would bide his time. He had some old scores to settle.
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