Kilgorm, Annie informs me in a practiced speech, was a small market village that now relies on visitors to the nearby medieval castle and local hotel. It is a community steeped in history, its inhabitants proud and close-knit.
It’s also freaking adorable.
I gawk as we drive past the brightly colored terraced buildings and neat village square. Faded bunting stretches above our heads, crisscrossing the roads while carefully maintained flowerboxes dot the narrow sidewalk. I feel like I’m in a tourist advert.
“That man is smoking a pipe,” I say loudly as we pass an elderly man in a flat cap, sitting comfortably on a bench outside a B&B.
“Isn’t it cute?” Annie waves at someone who recognizes her. “Paul hates it when I tell him it’s cute, but it is. That’s his uncle’s pub,” she adds, nodding to a cheery red-painted building on our left. I open the window as we pass a local school, listening to the shrieks of children as I spot two churches, three more pubs and…
“Oh my God.”
Annie speeds up as we reach a small general store but not quick enough for me to miss the giant poster of her and Paul in the window, accompanied by a hand-painted sign saying congratulations!
“I told them to take that down,” she mutters as I twist to face her.
“You’re famous.”
Annie squirms in her seat. “It’s Paul’s great-uncle’s store. It’s a real family occasion around here.” She glances at me as we zoom out of the village, back into the countryside. “Stop it.”
“I didn’t say anything,” I say, innocently, thinking about how the most important thing I’ll ever do is go back and take a million photos to embarrass her with.
“They’re excited,” Annie continues and I squint as the dappled tree cover gives way to bright sunshine once again.
“Is that Paul?” I ask, pointing to a figure up ahead.
Annie’s mood lifts as she catches sight of him. She beeps the horn and he turns, waving when he sees us. Oh, he’s handsome. I’d forgotten how handsome he is. Objectively so, of course. I’ve never felt anything for Paul other than sisterly love. He makes it simple. He’s easy to get along with, especially compared to Annie’s previous boyfriends, smug artistic types who only wanted to debate dead male artists. Paul remains a breath of fresh air. It helps that he’s crazy about her too.
“Has he been working out?” I murmur as we pull up beside him.
“Don’t say anything. He’s becoming the kind of person who thinks an interesting conversation is how many pushups he’s done.”
I gaze at the broad shoulders under his T-shirt. “Is the answer a million?”
Annie whacks my knee as he sticks his head through the car window to kiss her. “What did I tell you about picking up hitchhikers?” he says jokingly as his eyes flick to me. “Hiya, Sarah. Join the mile-high club?”
“I watched a documentary about sea lions and fell asleep.”
“Thrilling.”
“Get in,” Annie says, unlocking the back door.
“And here I thought I was going to have to walk a whole five minutes,” he grumbles good-naturedly as we take off again. “I see you haven’t crashed the car yet,” he adds and I laugh as Annie glares at him.
“Sarah bought tourist crap,” she says by way of retaliation.
“I supported the local economy,” I correct, seeing Paul’s faux disappointment.
“It’s not a leprechaun hat, is it?”
“There were these lovely shamrock earrings…”
“You know those things are made in China?”
“I don’t care! I’m on vacation. And I… Oh wow.”
For the second time in two minutes I’m speechless, although this time it’s more out of awe. My mouth drops open as the hotel comes into view over the crest of the hill. “Annie?”
“Don’t,” Annie mutters. She’s almost blushing. “I know.”
“Not this again,” Paul says. “It’s not that big.”
“It’s huge,” I say. “It’s beautiful.”
I lean forward to get a better look. It’s not that the pictures didn’t do it justice, but things are supposed to be more disappointing in real life. This place looks straight out of a storybook. The elegant brick façade at the front, covered in red and green vine leaves. The large windows, glinting in the sunshine, and the thick white columns by the entrance. It’s like a building frozen in time.
“It must take a fortune to run this place,” I say as we park by the other cars around the side.
Paul takes out our luggage as Annie stretches. “I’d wager ninety percent of the village has worked here at some point,” he says as we make our way up the large, stone steps. “It’s almost a rite of passage. My brother and I used to work in the bar. Mam was front of house back in the day.”
“So it runs in the family.”
“The help side of it, yes. It’s not exactly Downton Abbey but I saved up enough to get started in life. I owe this place a lot.”
“He’s obsessed with the storytelling,” Annie says. “I told him it doesn’t matter to me where the ceremony is, but he can’t wait to tell the grandkids about how we got married where he grew up.”
“It’s important,” Paul insists. “This is where I got my first paycheck.”
“And where you lost your virginity,” Annie says tartly. “Are you going to tell Sarah about that too?”
“Please do,” I say as Paul’s smile drops.
“He was seventeen,” Annie says in a stage whisper, linking her elbow with mine. “And she was twenty.”
I gasp. “An older woman?”
“I’m not listening to either of you,” Paul says.
“Did she seduce you on the stairwell?” I ask as we head through the door. “Or was it by the fountain?”
“She was a guest at the hotel and it lasted two minutes.”
He ignores us as we burst out laughing, but his mood doesn’t last long. The way he keeps looking at Annie as if he can’t believe she’s here with him, makes me think she isn’t exaggerating about how much this place means to him.
The lobby is grand, most of it taken up with a large, carpeted staircase. Lavish paintings of who I guess to be the original owners take up the walls, along with landscape drawings of the village and grounds. The place looks almost untouched if it weren’t for the new computers at the desk and the reams of tourist brochures next to them.
“I’m showing Sarah the ballroom,” Annie announces, like a child wanting to show off her new toy. “Paul, can you check her in?”
She doesn’t wait for him to answer as she grabs my arm and tows me across the lobby, down a wide hallway to a large, echoing room with views over the gardens.
“Okay,” I say, gazing at the gilded ceilings. “So this is not terrible.”
“Mom says it’s like a palace.” She spins gracefully in the middle of the room, her arms held aloft. “We’re having the wedding dinner in here.”
“How are your folks feeling?”
“I think they’re more nervous than me. Dad especially. But he’s enjoying the trip. Paul’s brother Declan set up a tour of the coast for them. All the beauty spots.”
I gaze up at the chandelier overhead. “And how are you affording all of this?”
“Savings mostly.”
I am immediately skeptical. Neither of them has this much money to splurge, especially after living in London. With a move back to New York in a few short months’ I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re broke by Christmas. But I don’t push it. Annie’s gone oddly quiet in the last minute, disappearing into one of her moods.
“Soraya wants to do a video call,” I say as she drifts over to the windows. “Every night by the sounds of it. And FYI she’s fully planning on asking you to live-stream the ceremony.” I’m the only one from our New York friend group making the trip to the wedding; the others weren’t able to get out of work. Maybe that’s one upside to not getting the promotion.
“I think she went a little over the
top with her gifts,” I continue when Annie doesn’t answer. “So at least there’s that.” Silence. “Annie?”
“I need you to do me a favor tonight,” she says, turning to face me.
I hesitate. “A ‘do my hair for me’ favor or ‘help me hide a body’ favor?”
“I need you to help Paul’s family fall in love with me.”
Oh boy. “Unless weddings are very different over here, I’m pretty sure you only need Paul to be in love with you.”
“I’m serious,” she groans. “I’ve only met a few of them before and they’re coming from all over the country. I feel like I’m completely outnumbered.”
“Outnumbered? It’s a dinner not a battlefield.”
“I know that,” she says, her voice climbing higher. “But first impressions are important and—”
“Okay,” I say quickly, grasping her hands. “Okay. I will impress. I am great at impressing.” I’d laugh at her if she didn’t look so panicked. “This is supposed to be fun!”
“I know. And it is. It’s just…” She blows out a breath, gazing around the room that a few seconds ago had brought her so much joy. “A lot.”
“I get that. And it’s stressful meeting people. It’s stressful getting married. But the organizing is done. The booking and the decisions and the headaches are done. This is the happiest day… hell, week of your life and you, Annie Dunmore, are going to enjoy it. I’m going to make you enjoy it.”
She sighs, unsure. “Why does that sound like a threat?”
“Because it is.”
But even as she smiles, I know I mean it. I am the maid of honor after all. I have to make sure she has a good time.
I have to make sure nothing goes wrong.
4
Annie ends the hotel tour by bringing me to my room before she heads off to find Paul. If I’m honest, I’m relieved to have some alone time, especially when I finally get the key card to work. Annie put me in a fancy suite across the hall from her and while I’d initially protested, I am now very glad she didn’t listen to me.
A four-poster bed takes up most of room, along with a fireplace, a beige love seat and a large closet. A low coffee table is topped with sunflowers and a glossy booklet detailing the history of the hotel and the area. The main attraction, however, besides the balcony overlooking the forest, is the standalone bathtub next to the windows, situated on its own little platform.
“Ridiculous,” I mutter, testing the faucets to make sure the thing is real.
I unpack and shower (in the adjoining bathroom and not the tub) but my power nap turns into an all-afternoon nap and I wake groggily a few hours later only to stub my toe on the nightstand when I try to get up.
Drinks. Dinner.
I go back and forth on my outfit. I’m not sure how fancy I’m supposed to be. I settle on heels, a fitted dress and my dressing-up jewelry. I go light on the makeup and dry my hair before curling the ends so it looks like I made an effort. I’m a natural mousy brown in the winter but tend to splurge on expensive highlights in the summer and I’m pleased with the caramel shimmer I see as I shake it out.
By the time I’m done, I’m running later than I’d like, so I’m relieved when I meet Paul in the hallway, hurriedly pulling on a dinner jacket.
“Thank God,” he says when he spots me. “It’s much better if I’m late with someone.”
“Don’t tell me you were worried about your outfit too.”
“Work stuff,” he grimaces as we head to the elevator. “Say nothing to Annie. I’m supposed to be on vacation.”
The lobby is full of voices from the nearby banquet room and I try to ignore the sudden bout of butterflies inside.
“A drinks reception,” Paul says. “Even though we’d all be happier in the pub.” His eyes slide to me. “I would say you can escape whenever you want to, but I’ve never known you to be the shy type.”
I smile at the vote of confidence. “I can handle myself,” I say. “Plus, I was promised at least two attractive cousins.”
“Two is it? Do they know this?”
“It will be a wonderful surprise.”
We enter the room, where two dozen or so people have already gathered, mingling over drinks. The only people I recognize are Annie’s parents who stand shyly by the wall, holding small plates of canapés. I know a few of her London friends are coming over for the day of the ceremony but even with them here, I’ll be her only other guest who predates Paul. Another party is planned next year for the American side of the family and, while I didn’t think anything of it when she told me, looking around at all the people now, I begin to understand Annie’s nerves.
I gaze out at the room as Paul plucks two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. Maybe I should have had him draw up a cheat sheet. “Alright,” I say as I take my first sip of the night. “Where do we start?”
“My Aunt Moira and Uncle Padraig,” he says, directing my attention to the couple nearest us. “Their children, all five of them, will be arriving over the next day or two. Their eldest, Connor, is also a groomsman and possibly very interested if you need a distraction,” he adds, grinning at me. “He’ll be here tomorrow. Uncle Harry runs the village pub we’ll be frequenting it a lot over the next few days. He’s talking to Annie’s parents, who you know. There’s my grandmother Jackie, if you could compliment the haircut?”
“On it.”
“My godfather Peter, cousin Sally… and then there’s my brother.” He says the last bit as if it’s a surprise and I turn to see Annie talking to a dark-haired man with his back to me. “Who I didn’t know had arrived.”
I take a sip of my drink, trying to remember all the names and faces as I follow him across the room. “Paul?”
“Sarah?”
“You wouldn’t by any chance have a recent picture of Connor, would you?”
Annie looks up at his laughter and we reach them just as his brother turns, a wide smile on his face.
And that’s when everything goes to hell.
My glass slips from my grasp as our eyes lock, crashing to the floor in a delicate shatter that has Paul throwing out his arm to stop me from stepping on it.
“Careful! You okay?”
I don’t answer him, too distracted by the person in front of me.
The man from the other night. My one-night stand.
For one flicker of a second, he’s as surprised as I am, but he masks it much quicker. I meanwhile don’t know whether I’m on some kind of terrible prank show or if the world really is falling out from under me.
“Not to worry,” a cheerful waitress says as she hurries to my side. “Happens all the time.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Paul says seeing as I’ve lost the ability to speak.
A million alarm bells go off in my head. All I want to do is grab Paul’s arm and march us out of the room so we can start this over again.
“Mind your step now,” the waitress says, gesturing us in a wide circle around the broken pieces. “I’ll get you another one,” she adds, mistaking the expression on my face.
I drag my gaze to her and nod numbly as Paul breaks from my side. “Who’s this stranger?” he asks, oblivious to my inner panic. The two brothers embrace as Annie pulls me further away from the glass.
“You look lovely,” she whispers.
The not-quite-a-stranger doesn’t take his eyes off me, staring over Paul’s shoulder with an expression I can’t decipher.
“Sarah,” Paul says as they break apart. “This is my brother, Declan. Declan, this is Sarah, Annie’s best friend and maid of honor.”
They all look my way and I feel like I’m in one of those dreams where you’re naked in public. A long second passes before I remember they’re all waiting for me.
“Nice to meet you,” I choke out, trying to communicate telepathically with him. Please go along with it. Please. I stick out my hand, less for a handshake and more in a silent plea. He grasps it without hesitation, his grip strong, and for a moment I thin
k he’s going to play ball.
And then he smiles.
I know instantly I’m in trouble.
“Likewise,” he says. “Sarah, is it?” He’s still shaking my hand. I pull it from him, wiping my palm nervously on my dress. He doesn’t miss the movement. “Have we met?”
Shut up shut up shut up.
“I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure?” His smile widens at the warning on my face. “You look very familiar.”
“Just got one of those faces.”
“It’s possible,” Annie says, oblivious. “Declan’s in New York at the moment. He—”
“There you are!”
We all turn as an attractive older woman hurries over. She’s tiny, barely reaching my shoulder, with an elegant bob cut and an expensive-looking pink shawl draped around her shoulders.
“My mother,” Paul explains as she reaches us.
“I was wondering if you’d fallen asleep,” she chides, kissing Paul on the cheek before her warm gaze turns to me. “You must be Sarah. Annie’s told me so much about you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Murphy.”
“Mary, please.” She looks me up and down and then nods as if satisfied with what she sees. “You’ve met everyone?”
Paul shoots me an apologetic smile. “We only just arrived, Mam.”
“Then you need to get mingling,” she says. “Both you and Annie. I’m sure Declan can look after Sarah.”
Declan’s eyes flick toward me but Mary continues before either of us can respond.
“It will be good for you to get to know each other. I’ve sat you two together for dinner so you can talk.”
Annie frowns. “I thought I put Sarah with me.”
“I made some seating adjustments,” Mary says with a dismissive hand. “Just for tonight.”
One Night Only: An absolutely hilarious and uplifting romantic comedy Page 3