by Caragh Bell
‘Then why is he drinking so much whiskey?’ Charlotte pointed to the three empty glasses on the table. ‘I sure couldn’t if I were that sick.’
Colin opened his mouth and shut it again. He looked at Laura helplessly, so she activated her phone. ‘I must show you this clip I found on YouTube,’ she said. ‘It’s a hoot.’
‘Show me!’ Colin jumped up in over-the-top excitement. ‘Is it the one with the Japanese guys and the binoculars?’
‘No, not that one. Here, let me show you …’
Charlotte narrowed her eyes. Did they think she was dumb? She decided to let it go. In a matter of hours, they would be gone. Back to New York … back to reality…
Luca filled up Lydia’s glass.
‘Are you nervous about waltzing around the dance floor later?’ he asked, grinning. ‘You and me, we’ve got to put on a show.’
She grimaced. ‘I hate waltzing. It’s so hard to keep in time.’
‘Look, we just move around counting ‘one, two, three’, that’s what Craig said.’
She smiled. ‘One, two, three? I wish it were that simple.’
‘I’ll hold you and everything will be fine.’
She said nothing. The first dance was causing her some degree of stress; there was no denying that. The fact that her partner was Luca exacerbated it all.
‘So, you’re a waitress, am I right?’ He looked at her expectantly.
‘No, not anymore. I worked in a restaurant in Paris. That’s where I met Mat. He’s a chef.’
‘So, what do you do now?’ he continued. ‘Come on, Lyd. You are making things hard here. Lighten up.’
‘You’re so nosy!’
‘Humour me.’ He smiled his heart-breaking smile. ‘I’m interested in what you’re doing.’
‘I work for a magazine: I’m the one who runs around making people’s lives easier. I get coffees, run errands and am a general dogsbody.’
He looked horrified. ‘That sucks.’
She bristled. ‘Hey, it’s a job, okay? It’s an honest job.’
She sipped her wine and pouted. Just because she wasn’t a fancy lawyer like Charlotte. It made her feel small. She loathed how people judged you by your career.
‘Look, Lyd. You know me. I don’t care what you do for a living. I’m just pissed for you because I know that isn’t what you want to do.’
‘How do you know that?’ she demanded.
‘Because you’re smart. I used to love listening to you talk about art and literature.’
She smiled suddenly. ‘Did you ever go to see Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” in New York? Remember, I was telling you about it and you said you’d seen his other one – Starry Night over the Rhône – in Paris?’
‘Not yet,’ he said quietly.
‘Oh Luca, if I lived in New York, I would be there every second weekend.’ She looked wistful for a moment. ‘I’ll get there someday, I suppose.’
‘I guess.’ He forced himself to stay quiet. He was this close to telling her that when he’d imagined going to see that painting, she was with him.
She poured some water into a tumbler. ‘Look, I’m not such a sad case. I forgot to mention that I write columns for the magazine too.’
‘You write?’ He perked up. ‘What kind of stuff?’
‘About life. General stuff.’
‘Life?’
She looked embarrassed. ‘About love and heartbreak. About babies and marriage. About street violence after pubs.’
He laughed. ‘So, pretty much your own life, huh?’
‘To a degree. Baby Seán is my baby source and, well, Sam has been my wedding muse.’
‘Come on, let’s move from here.’ Luca grabbed his glass. ‘I’ll get us drinks at the bar.’
She shook her head. ‘You’d better go talk to your fiancée,’ she said firmly. ‘She’s probably bored off her head, being forced to talk to people she doesn’t know.’
She thought his face fell for a moment, but a second later thought she must have imagined it as he glanced over in Charlotte’s direction and smiled.
‘Sure, you got it. Later.’ He got up and ambled off.
Lydia took a deep breath. She had survived dinner. She could almost relax.
‘Molly Kelly, you snake!’ Colin looked affronted. ‘How the hell did you win?’
‘It was Luca. He thanked everyone down to the chambermaid. I owe him.’ She beamed happily.
‘So what are you going to do with your winnings?’ asked Ollie, innocently. ‘My beautiful baby sister … my favourite sibling …’
Molly paused. ‘Well, there was a coat in Debenhams that I wanted …’
Ollie snorted.
‘But, on second thoughts, I decided to get in a round for the table instead.’
Lots of cheering ensued. Charlotte declined a drink, but everyone else was delighted.
‘Mol, you’re a legend,’ said Colin. ‘I’d like a vod and ton.’
‘Coming right up,’ she answered, pocketing the cash from the glass. ‘Laura? Tyler?’
They were talking and didn’t respond.
‘Hello?’ she shouted, stamping her feet. ‘Drinks?’
Tyler turned around. ‘You okay, beautiful?’
‘I’m buying drinks. What would you like?’ Molly raised her eyes to heaven.
‘I guess a couple of beers would be cool.’ He looked at Laura for confirmation. She smiled and nodded. ‘Two beers then,’ he affirmed.
‘Okay,’ said Molly, mentally reciting the list of drinks required.
The barman winked at her when she tottered up, brandishing her cash. For one moment she regretted her generosity; she should have retained her windfall and gone clubbing downtown. Then the barman smiled at her and she forgot everything.
‘Back so soon?’ he drawled. ‘You must be having fun by now.’
Molly looked at him from under her lashes. ‘Things just got a lot better,’ she purred. ‘I won the sweepstake at the table.’
‘Are you rich now?’ He wiped a glass clean with a checked cloth. She noticed his biceps flexing as he worked.
‘Not for long. I have to get a round of drinks.’
‘Generous and gorgeous. What a combination!’
She tittered and began to name out the list of drinks she required. He set to work immediately, expertly filling glass after glass. He really was cute.
‘So, are you local?’ she queried, tossing her curls.
He plonked two pints of beer on the counter. ‘Yeah. I’m from Bishopstown. I go to college here.’
‘No way! Me too.’ She giggled. ‘Let me guess, you’re an engineer.’
‘How did you guess?’ He looked impressed.
‘Every guy I know does engineering. It’s the degree du jour.’She looked around the bar. ‘Would you have a tray handy? I’ll never manage all these glasses alone. ‘
He produced a round one. ‘I’ll escort you back. You could fall over in those heels.’
‘You’re too kind.’ She winked at him. ‘Can I get you something? You might as well benefit from my winnings too.’
‘Some other time,’ he said meaningfully. ‘When I don’t have to work.’
‘Okay, Mr Engineer. Let’s get going.’
They retired to the bar while the hotel staff cleared the dance floor for the band. Lydia ordered a vodka and soda with a dash of lime. She sipped it slowly, luxuriating in its freshness. Colin took the barstool next to her and nudged her in the ribs.
‘Mathis is in a bad way.’
Lydia said nothing, she just sipped her drink again.
‘Lydia, you have to talk to him.’
She placed her glass on a coaster and sighed loudly. ‘What do you mean?’
He nudged her again, harder this time, so she turned to face him.
‘You’ve ignored him all day. You’ve been flirting shamelessly with Luca and you need to talk to Mathis. It’s the least you owe him.’
‘I was not –’ she protested.
‘Save
it.’ He cut her off. ‘Just find him and sort it out.’
She scowled and drained her drink. ‘Fine. Jeez! You’re always lecturing me.’ She flounced off.
Colin watched her go with mixed emotions. She was so different when Luca was around. She seemed to morph into a cold, unfeeling bitch with zero scruples. It knifed him in the heart to admit it, but he wanted to shake her. Mathis was such a nice guy; he was worth a million of Luca. Yet he could see her being drawn to the latter like a moth to a flame. It worried him; it made him nervous. When Luca and Lydia crossed paths, destruction tended to follow.
Chapter 32
Samantha attached the hoop on the underside of her skirt to her wrist, in preparation for dancing. The lead singer of the band was beckoning at her to get ready. Craig counted ‘one, two, three’ under his breath. He dreaded dancing for an audience.
The lead singer tapped the microphone. ‘Testing, one, two!’ Samantha had emailed him with all the information: the names of the wedding party, how Craig had proposed and what they did for a living. He would include these personal touches throughout the night – people loved that.
‘Right, folks, it’s that time of the evening!’ He smiled broadly. ‘It’s time for Mr and Mrs Dillon to take to the floor for their first dance as husband and wife!’
Everyone started to cheer. Craig felt his stomach somersault. This was it.
He took Samantha’s hand and led her onto the dance floor. His hand felt clammy. Everyone was watching his every move. The band started to play ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perry: Samantha’s favourite song. She forced him to look into her eyes.
‘You’ll be fine,’ she whispered. ‘Just grab my waist and go for it.’
He clamped his hand onto the bodice of her gown and started to move.
‘Keep looking at me,’ she commanded. ‘Don’t look at the crowd.’
One, two, three … One, two, three …
He did as he was told and found that by concentrating on her, his fears disappeared. Her eyes were warm and her natural sense of rhythm guided them along.
‘Aren’t they doing well?’ said the lead singer. ‘Now, can we have the bridesmaid Lydia and the best man Luca on the floor?’
Lydia downed her vodka as a blush rose to her cheeks. Luca grinned and held out his hand.
‘We’re up,’ he said laughing. ‘I promise not to trample on your toes.’
His arm encircled her waist and they started to dance like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Looking shyly into his eyes as they floated around the dance floor, she felt like she would burst. It was like something out of a fairy tale. Her beautiful dress, his dashing suit, the romantic music, the chandelier … She wanted it to go on forever. She didn’t want midnight to strike.
‘Mark and Sandra to the floor, please!’ The lead singer gestured to Sam’s parents. ‘And Michael and Anthea. Join your children on their happy day!’
Luca and Lydia didn’t even notice the floor fill up. They were so engrossed in each other, nothing existed but them. Lydia didn’t see Mathis’s dark expression as he watched her dance. Luca didn’t see Charlotte’s troubled face as she studied their movements.
Colin grabbed Val. ‘Let’s get out there and show them how it’s done!’
Val tried to pull away. ‘Colin, I’m a terrible dancer. Remember how we met?’
‘You must practise,’ he insisted. ‘We might have our own first dance to do someday.’ He held up both hands with both sets of fingers crossed.
Val groaned and followed him out on to the dance floor. Soon the small area was packed with couples, waltzing around in time to the music. Disco lights created multi-coloured laser beams around the dance floor.
Lydia could feel the heat from his body. His blue eyes were warm as they danced and her heart sank to her feet when the song ended. Everyone clapped and Luca let her go. Her skin burned where he had touched it.
She hoped that he hadn’t noticed how jolted she was. That was the last thing she wanted. Three vodkas and lots of wine on, she wasn’t as discreet as she normally would be.
‘So, I’ve got to take Charlotte for a dance and then –’ he began.
‘Of course, of course,’ she cut him off. ‘I’ve monopolised enough of your time already. I should find Mathis.’
She half-smiled and darted away.
She searched the room for Mathis, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Molly thumped her back and smiled. ‘You were so good, sis. A real natural.’
‘Thanks, Mol. Have you seen Mat?’
Molly sighed. ‘I wish. He is easily the hottest guy at this wedding. Although, that barman isn’t bad …’
Lydia left her in mid-sentence. She could see Laura at the bar with a guy. With Tyler Trenton. She was laughing and he was sipping a pint. They looked like they were having fun. She made her way over to them.
‘Hey, Laura,’ she began.
‘Lydia,’ her friend cut her off. ‘Did you know that Tyler here was near Ground Zero when the towers went down?’
‘No, no, I didn’t,’ she answered hurriedly. ‘Have you seen Mat? He’s disappeared.’
Laura squinted. ‘I think that may be him out in the garden area. He’s been smoking rather a lot today.’
Lydia followed her gaze and sure enough he was out in the flower garden, smoking a cigarette.
Colin called out as she passed, but she ignored him. She needed to touch base with her boyfriend. He had been miserable all day and she was wholly responsible.
‘Mat!’ she exclaimed as she appeared through the French windows. ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere.’
He scowled. ‘I theenk not, Leed.’ He blew a giant smoke ring and stared stonily ahead.
‘Mat – please listen. I’ve been really busy all day and –’
‘Stop!’ He threw his cigarette on the ground and stamped on it. ‘Stop zees bullsheet!’
She closed her mouth in shock.
‘You ’ave been flirting with zat Luca all day and I am seek of eet!’
‘Mat, keep your voice down,’ she said in alarm. ‘Someone might hear you.’
‘Je m’en fiche,’ he spat. ‘I don’t geeve a sheet! You made sex with ’im before.’
‘What?’ She started to get angry. ‘What are you talking about?’
His dark eyes glowered at her. ‘I saw the picture he drew of you.’
‘The picture?’ she echoed, confused. ‘What picture?’ Then it dawned. ‘Were you snooping through my stuff?’
‘Snooping? I don’t understand.’ He glared at her.
‘How did you see that picture?’ she demanded, her hands on her hips.
He pulled out another cigarette and lit it with a shaky hand. ‘I find eet een your book of Proust.’
She bit her lip. There was no denying it. She could see the drawing as clear as day. He must have seen the signature too. She took a deep breath.
‘Mathis,’ she said gently. ‘That was a long time ago. Things are different now.’
He shook his head sadly. ‘I know zat you lie. I see zee way you look at ’im. I see zee way you are with ’im. I will nevair be zat guy.’
She tugged his sleeve. ‘I really like you. Please don’t do this. Let’s go back inside and dance.’
‘You treat me like sheet,’ he continued. ‘You don’t love me.’
She remained silent. It was true. She didn’t love him like that. When it came down to it, she wasn’t in love with him and never would be.
The moonlight shone on the flowerbed and illuminated the roses. The garden reminded her of a scene from Romeo and Juliet, with just as much tragedy.
‘Do you love ’im?’ he asked simply, dragging on his cigarette.
There was a pause. Lydia felt her heart thump loudly in her chest. He deserved the truth.
‘Yes,’ she said quietly.
‘You know it is impossible now, oui?’ he continued. ‘You and me?
‘Yes,’ she repeated.
>
‘Zen, I leave tomorrow.’
‘Okay.’
She could hear the band playing ‘Fly Me to The Moon’. Suddenly the door opened and Ollie appeared with a bottle of beer in his hand.
‘Ted, thank Christ. Mum is having a canary. She wants a family photo and Sarah only has a ten-minute window because Baby Seán is due a feed …’
Lydia and Mathis stared at each other.
‘Ted?’ Ollie repeated. ‘Did you hear me?’
She tore her eyes away and walked over to her brother at the doorway. ‘I’m here, I’m here. Just lead the way.’
She looked back at Mathis, who was brooding.
‘See you later,’ she said lamely.
He didn’t even respond.
Charlotte rested her head on Luca’s chest as they danced slowly to the beat of the music. He kissed her head absentmindedly every few minutes, but she could tell that he was a million miles away. She was still feeling exhausted; the day had been so long.