by Caragh Bell
Lydia blushed furiously and Val laughed. ‘Would you look at her big red face.’
‘Hand me the rice,’ she muttered, glaring at him.
Mathis sipped his beer happily, appearing not to notice her embarrassment. He forked up his vindaloo efficiently, pausing to grimace every now and then.
‘Zees ees vairy ’ot,’ he exclaimed, exhaling loudly and frantically swigging his beer.
‘I told you,’ said Colin.
‘Maybe eet ees too much for me.’ He placed his fork sideways on his plate. ‘I will feenish my bread.’
Lydia rubbed his thigh under the table. He reached down and stroked her wrist. She giggled and blew him a kiss.
Colin nudged Val and whispered loudly to him, ‘Beaming! She should get laid more often.’
Chapter 25
Lydia checked her Facebook when Mathis was in the shower. She scrolled down through her News Feed, reading news headlines and pressing ‘like’ when photos of Baby Seán popped up. Suddenly she noticed a notification at the bottom of the screen. A friend request. She pressed it and Luca’s profile appeared. In a flash, she remembered the first time he had sent her a request, back when they were in college together. Since then, he had clearly blocked her as she hadn’t seen anything about his life in her daily browse. A new friend request meant that he had unblocked her and wanted to reconnect. Her face broke into a smile. There was no harm in being cyber friends. No harm at all.
She pressed ‘confirm’, clicked on his profile and scanned it. As usual, there was nothing posted by him – just photos that others had uploaded. A beautiful blonde girl featured in nearly all of them; her beautiful face was smiling and radiant. Lydia peered closer. She was tagged as Charlotte du Maurier. Her eyes widened. This was the girl Luca loved; she was his bride-to-be. They looked great together: like a model couple.
Lydia studied her. She really was a classic beauty. She zoomed in and searched for an imperfection, but failed to find it. Why would Luca give her a second thought when he was engaged to Helen of Troy?
She exited out of the app gloomily. Snooping never ended well. Looking at his profile had aroused mixed emotions, an ambivalence that messed with her mind. On one hand, it was exciting to peek at his life, to see photos of him and keep track of his activities. On the other hand, it exposed her to his new life that was light years away from her. He was successful and happy now, a far cry from the laid-back student she knew all those years ago. Charlotte looked like the complete package; she had a good job with the face of an angel. She felt slightly comforted by the fact that she knew what she looked like now. If she had been confronted with beauty like that without warning at the wedding, she would have fallen over. She had always had a vain hope that the American girl was frumpy-looking with mousy-brown hair and huge glasses. The real Charlotte was the absolute antithesis of that.
‘Leed!’ called Mathis from the bathroom. ‘What ees zees condeetioner? I no understand.’
‘Après-shampooing,’ she called back.
‘Merci, ma belle.’ He whistled Maroon 5 loudly.
Lydia placed the steaming polystyrene cup in front of Chloe.
‘Okay, a cappuccino with two sugars and chocolate sprinkles.’
Chloe looked up from filing her nails. ‘I said one sugar, Lydia. Will you ever get it right?’
‘No, I’m pretty sure you said two.’ Lydia pulled out her notepad, flustered. ‘I took a note of it after messing up last time.’
‘I said one.’ Her tone was final. ‘Just try harder.’
Lydia backed away and turned the corner into Colin’s cubicle. She stuck out her tongue at the partition wall and giggled. ‘What a bitch!’ she mouthed.
Colin nodded fervently in agreement. ‘Hence her nickname.’
He typed at lightning speed, his curls falling into his eyes every now and then. ‘I need to get my fringe cut,’ he complained, swatting his hair away. ‘It’s driving me crackers.’
Lydia placed his latte on the desk. ‘I’m meeting Mat for lunch – do you want to join?’
He frowned and deleted a whole paragraph. ‘No, you’re okay,’ he said, biting his lip in concentration. ‘I have a deadline to meet and I can’t seem to crack it.’
‘What’s the subject matter?’
‘Socks and sandals. Can they ever go together?’
Lydia smiled. ‘I’m pretty sure they can never be merged.’
‘Like, duh?’ Colin looked at her as if she were crazy. ‘My job is to look at both sides of the story. I don’t want to alienate those poor misfortunates who wear woolly socks and Jesus sandals in July.’
‘Remember Uncle Pat?’
Colin took a sip of his coffee. ‘He’s exactly what I’m talking about. Clueless.’
Joe appeared, a pen between his teeth. ‘Hi, you two. Suze is having a cardiac arrest at reception.’
‘Why?’ asked Colin, copying and pasting a paragraph onto the screen.
‘There’s a French hottie asking for Lydia.’
‘What?’ She glanced at the clock. ‘He’s early. I told him one o’clock.’
‘Suze doesn’t mind. She’s perfectly scintillating.’ Joe raised an eyebrow. ‘His photos don’t do him justice, Lyd. You’re a dark horse.’
She blushed. ‘He’s really nice…’
‘Nice? He’s a bit more than that.’ Joe sighed. ‘Why are all the gorgeous ones straight?’
‘I’m not,’ said Colin, exiting out of his article. ‘Now, I may join you after all. I have writer’s block.’
‘Please do,’ said Lydia. ‘We’re heading to the Farmgate Café if you want to join us, Joe.’
‘I brought my lunch in today,’ he said regretfully. ‘It would be a shame to waste it.’
‘Leed!’
She turned around to see Mathis heading in the direction of Colin’s cubicle. His muscular torso was accentuated by a tight blue T-shirt and his narrow hips were adorned with faded blue jeans. Suze was in hot pursuit, her bangles jangling in excitement. Chloe, alerted by all the commotion, leaned backwards on her chair with her mouth open, gaping as he walked past.
Mathis pulled Lydia into his arms and kissed her full on the lips.
‘Sacré bleu!’ commented Joe drily.
‘Are you ready, Leed?’ he asked, squeezing her. ‘I am very ’angry.’
‘Hungry,’ she corrected. ‘I’ll be about twenty minutes.’
Joe held out his hand enthusiastically. ‘Hi, I’m Joe. I mean, je m’appelle Joe. I work in design.’
‘Salut, Joe,’ greeted Mathis, smiling broadly. ‘Enchanté.’
Joe melted. ‘Did you hear the way he said my name? My word!’
Colin grabbed his jacket. ‘Come on, Chris, let’s hit the road. Lyd can meet us at the café.’
‘You are sure?’ He looked at her quizzically. ‘I can wait ’ere if you want.’
‘No, no. Meet me there. I have a few bits to do here.’ She ushered him along. ‘See you later.’
‘Bye!’ Mathis waved at the office.
‘I’ll see you out,’ gushed Suze, taking his arm. ‘You might get lost.’
Mathis watched her get dressed. Her clothes were strewn over chairs and dressers; her shoes were thrown all over the floor. She clipped her bra closed and pulled a black camisole top over her head.
‘I’m so late,’ she wailed. ‘That bloody alarm never works.’
‘Relaxe-toi,’ he soothed. ‘You ’ave lots of time.’
She zipped up her skirt and shoved her foot into a platform wedge sandal. Frantically, she looked around the messy room for the other shoe, but couldn’t see it.
‘Chris! Get up and find my shoe,’ she ordered, pulling coats and scarves off the armchair in the corner. ‘I am really late and I have a meeting with Adam first thing.’
Mathis swung his legs out of the bed and stretched. Totally naked, he got to his feet and started rummaging through the piles of clothes on the floor. Lydia started to empty her wardrobe, throwing boots and sandals out at
a terrific rate.
‘Leaving in five!’ called Colin from the hall. ‘Move it, Lyd!’
‘I’m coming!’ she answered. ‘Just two seconds!’ She gave Mathis a pleading look. ‘Make an effort!’
‘Lyd!’ Colin’s voice had a warning tone.
‘I can’t find my shoe!’ she cried.
Before she could register what was happening, the door swung open and Colin barged in. He stopped dead when he saw the disarray and then a naked Mathis over by the window.
‘Crikey!’ he exclaimed, his cheeks turning bright red.
Mathis smiled at him, unabashed. ‘We need to find a shoe,’ he announced pleasantly.
Colin turned around abruptly, not knowing where to look. ‘I’ll wait in the kitchen,’ he conceded in a strangled voice.
Joe gasped. ‘Naked? Totally starkers?’
Lydia giggled. ‘Colin nearly died. He was about to erupt about the mess in my room, but Mathis’s nudity put him off.’
‘LOL, as the kids would say,’ remarked Joe drily. ‘Lucky Colin. He really is a fine thing.’
Lydia groaned. ‘Not you too. I’m surrounded by his fans.’
She got up and brushed the croissant crumbs from her skirt. ‘I have to dash. Adam wants three rolls of bubble wrap ASAP.’
Joe crumpled up his coffee cup and threw it expertly into the bin on the other side of his cubicle. ‘How did the meeting go this morning?’
‘Well, I think. He’s going to pay me two hundred an article. He gets the final say. That’s it, really.’
‘Wow!’ he said, impressed. ‘That’s pretty good for a first-timer.’
‘He loved my piece on the post-pub violence and the risks we take.’ She sighed.
‘I suppose one good thing came out of your near-death experience.’
She said nothing. The only memory worth thinking about from that whole experience was watching Luca sleep, his blond lashes fanned out on his cheeks. It made her heart ache to think of him. Mathis being around was fun and a distraction, but he could never make her heart sing like Luca. She had a constant dull pain in her chest when she thought of him. It intensified at different moments, like when she saw something or heard a song that reminded her of him and their time together. The wedding was only four days away; that meant that he was on his way soon.
With her.
She bit her lip. Seeing them together was going to be tough. She would have to summon as much sang-froid as possible and save face. He must never know the depth of her feelings for him.
Ever.
Samantha held out her nails. ‘Shellac! What do you think?’
‘They are veritable talons,’ said Colin approvingly. ‘They’ll look great in the photos.’
‘It makes it really hard to type messages on my touch screen though,’ she complained. ‘I’m afraid to damage them.’
Colin flicked through a bridal magazine, sprawled out on Samantha’s bed. The rehearsal dinner was due to commence at seven. It was only the bridal party and close family.
‘What time will Lyd be here?’ he asked, staring at Posh Spice’s dress in the picture.
‘Any minute now. She’s in a strange mood. It must be because of Luca. She’s as jumpy as a cat.
‘I doubt it,’ argued Colin loyally. ‘Sure, I told you that they’re all cool now. It was all sorted in Dublin.’
‘I know Lydia,’ retorted Samantha. ‘I know that she’ll be all nervous. Especially about meeting Charlotte.’ She admired her nails again. ‘My ring looks so great now.’
Colin nodded in agreement. ‘The diamond is so sparkly. You were so right to go with the solitaire.’
The doorbell rang loudly.
‘I’ll get it,’ announced Colin, jumping to his feet. ‘It’s probably Lyd and Mathis.’
‘I like him,’ observed Samantha. ‘He’s a decent guy.’
Colin paused at the door way of the bedroom. ‘I agree. He’s perfect for her but she can’t see it.’ He sighed. ‘Sometimes I’d love to shake her!’
She nodded in agreement. ‘I know. She drives me mad too, but I still love her to bits.’
‘Get your jacket. I’ll let Lyd in and then I’ll get Craig out of the bathroom.’ Colin skipped away. ‘Hurry! You mustn’t be late to your own dinner party.’
Chapter 26
They arrived at Jacob’s on the Mall, a well-known local restaurant. The hostess greeted them with a big smile.
‘You’re the bride-to-be, I take it?’ she asked, taking Samantha’s jacket.
She beamed radiantly. ‘Yes, that’s me.’
Craig held out his hand. ‘I’m the groom-to-be,’ he added, shaking her hand. ‘I need some attention too.’
She laughed. ‘Follow me.’
There were two long tables in the centre of the restaurant. Her parents were already there. Mark looked handsome in a grey suit and Sandra was as elegant as always in a dark-green silk dress.
‘Sam!’ called Sandra, gesturing for her to join them. ‘Come and join us.’
Craig’s parents were sitting opposite them. Michael and Anthea Dillon were in their fifties. He was a solicitor and she was a retired nurse. Their only son was their pride and joy; luckily they adored Samantha. She was a kind and attentive daughter-in-law and made an effort to ring and text all the time. She kept them in the loop.
Anthea Dillon knew the story. A daughter is yours for life; a son is yours until he gets a wife. She had been terrified that Craig would distance himself from them now that he was engaged. It had turned out to be the opposite. Samantha made it her business to call over and include them. For that, she was grateful.
‘Oh darling, your nails are amazing!’ Sandra held up her daughter’s hand to get a better look. ‘The colour is fabulous.’
Anthea nodded in agreement. ‘They’ll look great in the photos.’
‘That’s what Colin said,’ added Samantha happily. ‘I’m so excited!’
Craig sidled into the seat next to her and kissed her head. ‘Doesn’t she look beautiful? This is her second last night as a Fitzgerald.’
Sandra’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Our little girl.’
Mark grasped her hand in comfort.
‘Ah, come on,’ interrupted Samantha scornfully. ‘I’ve been living with him for years.’
‘Still, it’s a big step,’ argued Anthea. ‘It makes it official.’
‘You’ll be Samantha Dillon,’ sniffed Sandra.
Samantha raised her eyes to heaven. ‘You’re all too emotional for this stage of the evening. At least have some wine first.’
As if on cue, the waitress poured some wine and replaced the empty water jug.
‘A toast!’ announced Mark, raising his glass. ‘To the happy couple!’
‘Should we wait until the rest of the party arrive?’ Sandra pulled his arm back down.
‘Not at all. We can toast all over again. It’s an excuse to drink more wine.’ He grinned and winked at his daughter.
They heard Colin before they saw him. ‘So I said back off Chloe and she did. I’m doing this assertiveness class? It’s so cool. I’m a real baddass now…’
‘Has Val arrived yet?’ enquired Craig, pulling a seat out for him.
‘He’s en route. He was delayed at the theatre.’ Colin flopped down next to the groom. ‘Pour me a glass of vino fast, Craig. I’m in dire need of a drink after the day I’ve had.’
‘What happened?’ asked Anthea, wide-eyed. ‘Nothing bad, I hope?’
Colin’s chest puffed out. ‘Well, it was a close one, to be honest. Chloe, this girl at work? Well, she’s a total bitch and…’
Samantha zoned out. She looked around for Lydia but couldn’t see her. They had been tagging along behind them on the walk down. Then Mathis had called after them that Lydia needed to go to the bank to get some cash. That was ages ago. Where could she be?
Suddenly, she saw a blond head appearing at the doorway.
Luca.
She stared at him impassively. He looked as good
as ever. His tall frame dwarfed everyone else, his flawless bone structure visible under the restaurant lights. His grey suit looked expensive and it clung to him like a glove. She could definitely see the appeal of him; she could see why women fell at his feet. Yet something about him made her uneasy. Something she couldn’t put her finger on. Maybe she resented how he had affected Lydia. Her life had been a mess since meeting him. Even though she knew it had been a two-way thing, she suspected that if Lydia Kelly had never met Luca Jacob, she would be settled and married by now.
Charlotte followed closely behind him. Her willowy frame was accentuated by a long twenties-style dress, complimented by long beads. Her blond hair was tied in a knot at the nape of her neck and her blue eyes were circled with black kohl. She looked stunning. Lydia would be intimidated; there was no doubt about that.
She sipped her wine. Her best friend had been acting weird all week. She hadn’t once mentioned Luca’s name, but she knew he was the reason. Even though Mathis was around, it made no difference. She was on a strange kind of high, floating around like she was on another planet. What would she do when she finally was introduced to Charlotte?