by Caragh Bell
‘Hey, anyone would have done the same thing.’ His blue eyes betrayed nothing.
‘It reminded me of skiing years ago – you know, when she got lost on the mountain and you rescued her.’
‘Yeah.’
Still no emotion. Colin stared at him. Maybe Lydia was right. Maybe he had moved on after all.
‘Well, see you later.’ Colin half-smiled.
‘Later.’
The door banged shut.
Sandra held up her debit card. ‘It’s on us!’ she mumbled incoherently. ‘I insist.’
Mark efficiently removed the offending card from her grasp. ‘I’ll take that, darling.’ He didn’t want a repeat performance of London.
Luca got to his feet. ‘I’ll just settle up and we’ll make tracks. Charlotte has jet lag.’
Lydia pretended not to notice. She felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, but she suppressed it. What did she expect? A nightcap alone? Everyone else to disappear and leave them to it? The thought of that was so appealing, she had to admit. She wanted him all to herself; it was a crazy notion but it was her true desire. If only they were on their own. If only she could spend time with him.
Life was so cruel sometimes. Whoever coined the phrase ‘You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’ was a genius. When she thought of how he had pursued her, how she had pushed him away all those times. If she could have one moment of that back … just one moment …
She watched him hand over his platinum card and help Charlotte with her shawl. She really was so pretty. She had a gracefulness about her; she resembled a tall ballerina. They looked so great together. He looked happy; he deserved to be happy.
Mathis got up as well. ‘I pay,’ he said, pulling out his wallet.
‘No, I’ll sort it,’ she protested.
‘J’insiste.’ He was already halfway to the counter.
Lydia walked outside. The street was busy with passers-by and taxis. She checked her bag for her phone and tapped her foot impatiently. What was taking so long? She was dying to take off her heels and sink into her soft mattress. She felt emotionally drained; the stress of the evening was beginning to take its toll. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder.
‘Hey, you.’
She jumped. She knew that voice. Swinging around, she was confronted with Luca.
‘I thought you had gone,’ she babbled, her head spinning.
‘Char needed the restroom, so here I am.’ Even though he was at least a foot away from her, she was sure he could hear her hammering heart.
‘How’s your head after that night?’ He looked concerned. ‘You were beat up so bad.’
‘Fine, really. I was just a bit bruised for a while.’
‘It was a crazy night.’ His blue eyes stared at her steadily.
‘Yeah, it was,’ she echoed.
The silence stretched interminably as they regarded each other. She felt herself gravitate towards him. She didn’t know if it was the alcohol or his close proximity, but something was drawing her to him. She reached up her hand and grasped his sleeve. He looked surprised but didn’t move. Her eyes met his and then …
‘Leed! I don’t ’ave a teep.’ Mathis bounded up with an outstretched hand. ‘I need some monnaie.’
Bam! The moment passed. Lydia pulled back like lightning and Luca turned towards the street.
‘Sure, I have some euros in here somewhere.’ She opened her bag and rummaged around. ‘Will four euros be okay?’
He nodded. ‘Zee others ‘’ave given somsing too.’ He smiled at Luca. ‘Did you ’ave a good night?’
Luca nodded. ‘Sure I did. I’m pretty whacked now so …’
‘Whacked?’ Mathis looked puzzled.
‘Crevé,’ explained Lydia. ‘Exhausted.’
‘Ahhh, je comprends. Well, goodnight.’ He turned on his heel and went back into the restaurant, just as Charlotte appeared.
‘Sorry to keep you waiting, hon,’ she apologised. ‘There was a line in the Ladies’ room.’
Luca grasped her hand. ‘It’s cool, let’s go.’ He seemed to be in a hurry.
Lydia shrank backwards.
‘Lydia, we must hook up! I can’t wait to see your dress at the church.’ Charlotte beamed at her, waiting for a response.
Lydia plastered a smile on her face. ‘It’ll be great fun. I can’t wait either.’ She prayed they would leave.
Luca, as if sensing her discomfort, pulled Charlotte away.
‘See you around,’ he said brusquely, hailing a taxi.
‘See you.’ She turned around and walked back towards the door of the restaurant.
And that was that.
She was heading home to West Cork in the morning, after a quick pick-up at the airport. Laura was due in at eleven from Heathrow.
Samantha wanted to leave from her family home on the wedding day. It was a tradition for the bride to leave from the house she grew up in. Lydia was looking forward to it as she wanted to get her nails done. She was yearning for a relaxation day before all the madness. The bouquets were due to be delivered early on the wedding day and she had to make sure that the hairdresser and beautician were on time.
Mathis met her in the foyer. ‘On y va?’
‘Yeah. Let’s go home.’
Chapter 27
Helen was reading the paper at the kitchen table when they arrived. The air smelt of fresh baking and a wire rack covered in scones lay tantalisingly on the counter.
‘Oh, Auntie Hel, you baked!’ Colin put his hand on his heart. ‘You’re so sweet.’
‘The kettle is boiled,’ she answered, smiling. ‘Tea or coffee?’
Mathis entered the kitchen shyly. He had never been formally introduced to the Kellys and was plainly nervous.
‘Bonjour,’ he said, giving a half-wave.
Helen looked at him, startled. With his dark looks and athletic build, he reminded her of Dominic. Even his dark eyes crinkled in the same way when he smiled.
Lydia beamed at her, waiting for a response.
‘Hello, Mathis, it’s a pleasure to meet you.’ Helen pulled herself together and shook his hand warmly. ‘We have heard a lot about you.’
‘Moi aussi,’ he said. ‘I mean, me too. Leed always talks about her famille.’
‘Hello, Helen.’ Laura strode over to her and kissed her on the cheek. ‘You’re so great to put me up.’
Helen smiled fondly at her. ‘How are you, Laura? I haven’t seen you since Dublin.’
‘Oh, I’m well. I’m back in London now so all’s good.’ She pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down.
‘I made up your bed,’ Helen added to her daughter. ‘I presume he’ll be sleeping with you?’
Lydia blushed. ‘I suppose, I mean, if you don’t mind.’
Colin made a ‘woooooo’ sound and nudged her in the ribs. ‘Living in sin, Lyd. Shocking behaviour.’
‘We should be prepared for lots of bonking then, I suppose.’ Laura grinned.
Lydia reddened. ‘Would you all just go away!’
Helen popped three tea bags in the pot. ‘Can you get the milk from the fridge?’ she asked Colin, pouring in the boiling water.
‘When are Ollie and Sarah coming home?’
‘Ollie will be here later,’ she replied. ‘Sarah is meeting us at the church tomorrow. She doesn’t want to upset Seán’s routine.’
Lydia smiled. No surprise there.
‘Oh, and Ollie is bringing Alannah too.’
‘The competition,’ chimed in Colin, plonking the milk bottle on the table. ‘So, what are we having for dinner? I bet it’s something decent as the Son of God will be here.’
‘It’s just a fish pie,’ said Helen haughtily. ‘Nothing special at all.’
Lydia made a face. Fish pie didn’t sound appealing at all. In fact, food in general was the last thing on her mind lately. She put it down to a combination of bridesmaid nerves and Luca being around.
She couldn’t stop thinking about him. He would be at the to
p of the aisle tomorrow, standing next to Craig, looking gorgeous in his morning suit. There was a sad irony in that. The fact that she would glide up the aisle to stand by him, but not in the way she wanted to.
Molly sidled up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist. ‘Hey, sis,’ she whispered in her ear. ‘Is that Mathis? Nice work.’
‘Shhhh!’ she warned her. ‘He’ll hear you and he has pretty good English.’
‘If you ever get bored, I’m available as a replacement,’ she added sizing him up. ‘He is just too cute.’
‘Back off, Mol. He’s taken.’ Colin joined the furtive conversation. ‘I’m next in line anyway.’
Lydia scowled at them. ‘Thanks for your faith in me, guys. It’s heart-warming.’
Helen handed her a cup of hot tea. ‘Have a scone, darling. You’re looking thin again.’
She nodded. ‘Okay, I’ll have a small bit.’
The scone was delicious: light and buttery with a smattering of raisins for added sweetness. Her mother was such a proficient baker; she seemed to have a magic touch when it came to anything in the kitchen. Lydia sometimes lamented the fact that she was so useless when it came to culinary things. It just it bored her senseless. And she hated chopping stuff. Especially meat.
Laura spread a thick layer of butter on her scone, accompanied by a huge dollop of blackberry jam. She took an enormous bite and groaned. ‘Blimey, Helen, this scone is divine.’
Colin giggled. ‘I love the way you say scone as in ‘gone’ and we say scone as in ‘phone’. What’s that about?’
Laura shrugged and took another bite. ‘Pronunciation aside, these are bloody delicious.’
Mathis ate a whole scone in one go and then grabbed another one.
‘Zees ees vairy good,’ he mumbled, with his mouth full. ‘We no ’ave zees en France.’
Again Helen was jolted by how similar he was to Dom. She made a mental note to ask Colin later. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Still, it unnerved her when she looked at him. It reminded her of the old days.
She had been so fond of Dominic. He was such a lovely boy. Always willing to help and always so polite. He had fitted in so easily in their home. Seán still missed him; that was no secret. They had been so close.
Her expression hardened. If only Lydia hadn’t met that American.
Lydia lay on her bed, trying to relax. It was the definitive calm before the storm; she had a busy few days ahead of her.
Adam had emailed telling her to observe and note things at the wedding. It was the perfect subject for a column: a universal event that everyone could relate to. She already had ideas for the angle she would take: always the bridesmaid, never the bride. That way it would appeal to single people too. She would address the whole idea of marriage; the entrenched social expectation that demanded monogamy and commitment in an ever-changing world. Women were no longer just the nurturers, required to stay at home and care for the house and babies. They now had careers and professional personas. For some reason, the world was mad for the ‘Big Day’. She planned to watch it all unfold and go from there. Was it all about romance or financial security? Was it a cold legal contract, disguised with a big white dress and a holiday abroad?
Suddenly her phone buzzed. She noticed an icon on the bottom of the screen symbolising that she had a message.
What does Colin want now?
She clicked on it and gasped. Luca had messaged her. His name was there, in bold print. She opened the message and a broad smile formed on her face. It simply read:
Hey U, all set for tmrw?
She typed back eagerly.
Not really. Kinda nervous. U?
She pressed send and agonised over whether he would reply. She bit her lip and urged her phone to buzz. It answered her prayers.
All cool. Have to get Craig there on time. Smile for the camera. That’s it.
She smiled.
What about your speech? she typed.
There was a long pause. Surely he was ready for that part of it.
My speech rocks.
She couldn’t think of anything witty to say. She typed something but deleted it again as it sounded lame.
She put her phone on the bedside locker and lay back on the pillows.
He had made contact. Like friends do. That’s all it was: a friendly conversation. There was no point dwelling on it. She had the wedding to think about. Her dress hung by the window, covered in a protective sheet. Her shoes lay in their box, off white pointed shoes with a slender heel. They were understated and elegant; she was looking forward to wearing them.
She needed to focus on Sam. That was her primary function over the next few days. Luca’s image floated into her mind, but she banished it immediately.
Forget him, Lyd! It’s over.
She forced herself to blank out her thoughts. She forced herself to block him from her mind.
‘Who are you texting, Jacob?’ Tyler licked the Guinness from his top lip.
They were sitting in the bar of Hayfield Manor, having a sociable pint before dinner. Charlotte had gone to the spa, so Luca had jumped at the chance to meet his buddy in the bar.
‘Nobody,’ he lied, putting his phone in his pocket.
‘Are we going to party tonight or what?’ Tyler winked at the barmaid.
‘No way. I’ve got to get Craig to bed early. I have a lot to do, man.’
His friend groaned. ‘So I fly all the way over here to go to bed? That sucks.’
‘Tomorrow will be a long day. You’ll thank me for this.’
Tyler didn’t look so sure. He beckoned at the barmaid to fill two more pints.
‘So, what do you have to do tomorrow, Luca?’
‘Get Craig to the church on time. She chose a small local chapel down near where she lives. It’s like an hour and a half away.’
‘How are we travelling?’
‘Craig’s parents are driving and so is his Aunt Betty. It’s all cool.’
‘Then we gotta come all the way back up here? That’s crazy, man.’ Tyler shook his head. ‘Do you think he’d notice if I hang out here for the day and hook up with you at the party?’
‘I think he’d notice.’ Luca smiled. ‘Anyways, you’ve got to see me in action so you can do just as good a job at my wedding.’
‘I’ll be the best goddamn best man you ever had,’ he vowed fiercely. ‘As long as the bridesmaids are still in the deal.’
‘Her friends? Sure. Her sister? No.’ His tone was firm. ‘Céline is not an option.’
‘If she’s anything like Char, it’ll be tough to stay away.’ He grinned.
They sat companionably for a few moments. There was low music in the background and an elderly couple were sitting by the window, indulging in afternoon tea. There were three plates of sandwiches, pastries and cakes arranged on a rack. The waitress was serving them tea from a china pot, using a strainer for the leaves. Luca watched the old lady add one cube of sugar to her cup and stir it gently. She reminded him of Mimi. He suddenly was punched in the gut with an indescribable feeling. Things hadn’t been the same between them since her big reveal. He couldn’t bear the thought of his beloved grandmother feeling uneasy about his choices. She knew him so well; it felt like madness to ignore her. On the other hand, Charlotte was his fiancée and he loved her. Surely Mimi should love her too? For his sake?
‘So this Lydia girl is bridesmaid, huh?’ Tyler’s voice snapped him out of his reverie.
‘Sorry, who?’
‘Lydia. That hot chick I met in Dublin.’
‘Oh yeah, she’s the only bridesmaid.’ He took an enormous gulp of his pint.
‘So, she’s pretty cute, so I was thinking that maybe I could…’
‘No.’
‘Let me finish!’
‘No.’ His tone was firm. ‘She’s off limits.’
‘Why? You’re off the market, Jacob. I’m pretty sure that there was chemistry between us that night in the bar. She thought I was funny.’
�
��No!’ he almost roared. ‘She’s off limits,’ he reiterated slowly and deliberately. ‘Don’t bring it up again.’
Tyler regarded his friend in surprise. He had never shouted at him before. It was weird to see his angry face. Maybe he was joking? He stared at him.
No, he was serious.
‘Okay, okay. Calm down, man. Jeez.’ He traced the rim of his pint with his finger. ‘I’ll find some cousin or something to hit on.’
‘You do that.’ Luca tried to smile normally, but it didn’t quite meet his eyes.
Thankfully, Charlotte joined them at that moment.
‘Hey, you guys!’ she said in her melodious voice. ‘The spa is amazing! I’m so happy I went there for the afternoon.’
Luca pulled her to him. ‘You have pink cheeks,’ he drawled, kissing her nose.
‘It was the sauna. I stayed in there way too long.’
‘Drink?’ offered Tyler, calling the barmaid again.
‘A soda, please.’ She snuggled close to Luca. ‘Lots of ice.’
‘Do you want a vodka in it?’ he asked, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
‘No way, Ty. It’s like six thirty in the evening.’ She looked at him as if he were insane. ‘Plus I want to be fresh for tomorrow.’