Logan 02 Three Minutes to Happiness

by Sally Clements

  They stopped at traffic lights. A group of teenagers on the sidewalk stared. “This is embarrassing.”

  “Could be worse. We could be Wookie and Ewok.”

  The lights changed. “True.”

  The party was in full swing when they arrived. The front door was open, and people seemed to be everywhere. “Finn!” Dracula waved from across the room, and floated over, his cape billowing behind him. “You made it.” His fangs almost popped out when he smiled. “Darned teeth.” The stranger pressed them back into place with a long black-painted fingernail. “Princess.” He bowed low.

  “Dad, this is Val. Val, my dad, Dermot.”

  “Come on in. Let me get your coat.” The fingernails on his outstretched hands wiggled. “You better take it off, God knows how women manage with these things. I can’t even pick up a beer in them.”

  Val slipped off her coat. Finn took it from her. “I’ll hang it up. Be back in a minute.”

  Dermot smiled. “Let’s get you a drink.”

  By the time Finn rejoined them, Val was clutching an earthenware goblet of mulled wine, and surrounded by people, all of whom seemed to have the surname Logan. She’d been introduced to so many, it was impossible to keep the names straight in her head, but at least she seemed to have got his brothers’ straight. There was Matthew, as tall as Finn and just as good looking, who made a very dashing pirate, with his pirate queen, April, at his side. Nick, who had explained that he was Brookbridge’s resident vet, and despite his mother’s suggestion he dress as a dog, wore a tight green suit and clutched a bow and arrow. And Amy. She’d obviously learned from last year. No Wonder Woman this year. Instead, she was swathed head to toe in fake fur, with a pair of floppy ears atop her hennaed hair. “I almost gave Ma a heart attack when I told her I was coming as a bunny girl,” she’d teased when they met.

  Val liked them all instantly.

  “So everyone made it,” Finn said to his brothers and sisters. “Except Adam, and I guess he’s excused.”

  “He’s coming for Christmas,” Amy said. “I wish he didn’t live so far away.”

  “Our brother Adam lives in New York,” Matthew explained. “We don’t get to see him often, although I caught up with him a while ago when I was on a business trip.”

  “How’s he doing?” Finn asked.

  A look passed between the brothers. There was obviously more to Finn’s question than a casual inquiry.

  “He’s...” Matthew frowned. “He’s still hung up on Stacey. When I arrived he confessed he had tickets to her concert so we went. He didn’t want her to know he was there, so we left straight after.”

  “Still?” Amy crossed her arms. “I wish he’d just...” She smiled apologetically at Val. “I’m sorry, we’re being rude. It’s just we don’t get to see each other apart from Ma’s parties, there’s a lot to catch up on.”

  Finn was looking across the room. “Maybe we should talk about something else, Ma’s on her way over.”

  It was easy to see where the Logan children got their good looks. The woman crossing the room to them smiled and touched the arms of people as she passed. Her dark hair was piled up in a loose arrangement with chopsticks through it, a few curling tendrils softening the look. She wore pale make-up and her mouth was painted scarlet to match her kimono.

  When she reached them, she opened her arms wide, and enveloped Finn in a bone-breaking hug. After a moment, she pulled back and examined Finn. “I like this look on you.” Her mouth curved into a smile. “Way better than the banana suit.”

  “Glad you approve, Ma. You look great too.” He touched Val’s arm, and she stepped closer. “I brought a princess too. This is Val.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Val. I’m Ellie.” There was such warmth in her smile, Val felt instantly at ease. “I’m so glad Finn brought you. It’s about time he found himself a princess.” She glanced at Finn. “Have you known each other long?”

  “Not very,” Val said. “I…”

  “You’ll have to tell me all about it,” Ellie said. “Finn tells me absolutely nothing, you know. How did you meet?”

  “Oh, Ma,” Finn protested.

  “I was pitching for a commission from Finn’s company.”

  “You’re an architect?”

  “No, a photographer. Finn needed some pictures done.”

  “So you—”

  “Ma. Enough of the third degree.” Finn’s arm slid around Val’s waist. “The way we met isn’t important.”

  “You can’t blame me for asking.” Ellie leaned close to Val. “You’re the first girl he’s brought home for years. It’s natural for a mother to want to get to know her son’s girlfriend better.” She looked at Finn, as though silently daring him to deny that Val was his girlfriend.

  Finn laughed. “Oh, Ma. I can see there’s no way you’re just going to ease your way into this, is there? Okay, here’s the deal. Yes, Val is my girlfriend. We’ve been seeing each other for a while, and we’re very happy together. Enough?”

  Ellie grinned. “Enough.” She winked. “For now, anyway.”

  Someone called her name. She turned, and waved. “I better go circulate. Finn, Sorcha was asking if you’d arrived yet. You should go and say hello.” She patted Val’s arm. “I’ll see you later.”

  After she had gone, Finn turned to Val. “I better go and find Sorcha. Steven is here too, somewhere, I’m sure he’d appreciate seeing a friendly face. Coming?”

  Music swelled in the room, and around them, couples started to dance. There was a touch on her arm. “Val—can I have a quick word?” April said.

  “Sure.” Val turned to Finn. “You go, I’ll see you in a minute, for a dance.”

  Finn’s eyebrows rose. “I’m—”

  “I know. You’re a terrible dancer. I’ll take my chances.”

  Finn kissed her quickly on the mouth, then disappeared into the crowd.

  “I wanted to ask you about photography,” April said. “We’re getting married next month, and I hadn’t even thought about getting a photographer.” She took Val’s arm. “Let’s go into the kitchen, I can’t hear anything over this.” The thump of bass increased, and the dancing became more frenetic. Matthew and Amy were waving their arms above their heads, and stamping on the ground as though they were pressing grapes or something. April smiled. “What they lack in finesse they make up for in enthusiasm.”

  There was a large pot-bellied stove in the kitchen, with two comfortable armchairs nearby. “Ellie and Dermot spend most of their time in this room,” April said. “Especially in the winter.”

  “I can see why—it’s cozy.” Val rearranged the cushion, placing it behind the curve of her back. “So, you’re getting married soon. There’s so much to do, isn’t there?” She thought back to her own wedding. The dress. The cake. The feeling that they would be together forever.

  Val’s fingers tightened around her wineglass.

  “There really is. You won’t believe how much.”

  “I would. I’ve been there.”

  April’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry. Finn didn’t say you…”

  “I was married. It didn’t work out. I’m divorced.”

  “I’m sorry, that must have been hard.” There was no judgment in April’s frank gaze.

  “It was a couple of years ago. I married very young. Looking back on it, it was a mistake. But at the time it seemed like a good idea.” She didn’t want to talk about her past any more. “Tell me about your wedding. I guess Ma is delighted.”

  April winced. “Actually, no. Don’t get me wrong. She’s lovely, and she is happy for me and Matthew, but she wants the whole big white wedding thing, and we don’t.” Her voice lowered. “I don’t know if Finn told you, but Matthew was engaged to my sister once, a long time ago, and neither of us want to reopen that particular can of worms. We live in London, and it makes sense for us to marry there instead of here. We had planned a registry office wedding, with just the two of us. Ma has worn us down though. We’
ve compromised to an extent by agreeing to immediate family only, and a small gathering in a hotel afterwards. I just hadn’t thought about the photographs.” She frowned. “I don’t know any photographers and the wedding is in three weeks – I should have booked someone before now.” She chewed her lip. “I don’t suppose you could do them?”

  Another commission. Warmth filled Val from the inside out. “I’m sure I can. I’m leaving the country for a few days, but I can email you some samples of my work and prices in the morning.”

  *****

  “Who’s in charge of the music?” Finn asked Steven as yet another disco classic blared from the speakers.

  “Your father, apparently.” Steven shook his head as though unable to believe what he was seeing. “They’re really going for it, aren’t they?”

  Everywhere Finn looked, there were family and friends going all out shaking their stuff. Sorcha was dancing with her uncle. Both had their arms raised high over their heads as they stepped back and forth. “I think they’re doing one particular dance. Look, it seems to be step up, step back, step left… Ah no, Dad has gone right… There’s going to be an accident.”

  “Is everyone here a Logan?” Steven was beginning to look nervous.

  “No, only about half of them. The rest are neighbors and friends. They both have a lot of friends. Ma’s parties are always popular. Once she’s decided to have a party, she invites everyone she comes in contact with. As a result they’re always packed out.” He swallowed a mouthful of orange juice. Nodded at a familiar face. “Hi, Pat. Long time no see.”

  The air-guitar playing guy shouted something in answer, but the music was so loud Finn couldn’t hear it.

  “Pat is the postman,” he said to Steven.

  “What?” Steven shouted. “I can’t…”

  “Pat.” Finn pointed. “Postman.”

  “Oh. Right.” Steven smiled obligingly, but still looked confused. He probably hadn’t heard. There was no point in shouting banalities at Steven again, so Finn gave up.

  He scanned faces, looking for Val, then spotted her at the far corner of the room, near the door, deep in conversation with April.

  “You brought Val?” Steven shouted.

  “Yes.” Finn shouted back, waving his arm to catch her attention. She grinned, and started weaving through the gyrating masses to him.

  Steven cupped his mouth and leaned close, as though the combination would make his words easier to hear. “So you’ve changed your opinion on monogamy?”

  She looked unbelievably cute with the braids twisted into circles covering each ear. The thigh-high split revealed a flash of leg with every step. Her gaze didn’t waver from his for a second. They were in a room full of people, but no-one existed apart from Val.

  The thought of being with any other woman was impossible. “I…”

  “What?” Steven pushed his upturned palms up as if opening an invisible sash window.

  Val was halfway across the room. Finn turned, cupped his mouth, leaned close to Steven, and bellowed, “I LOVE HER!”

  Unfortunately, at exactly the same moment that the words left Finn’s mouth, Finn’s father decided that disco was dead, and ejected the CD. At the sudden lack of music, everyone stopped. Everything stopped. Except Finn’s words.

  The collective intake of breath was audible. Ellie had tears in her eyes, and her hand over her mouth in the way she did when she saw something that affected her so much she couldn’t speak.

  Val didn’t move. She didn’t smile, just stared at him.

  Everyone was looking at him, waiting to hear what other gems would tumble from his lips. There was no going back now. Finn breathed in. “Well, it’s true, I do,” he said.

  The room burst into life as everyone applauded. “I do,” he mouthed to Val, taking a step forward.

  With a horrified gasp, Val spun away, and ran for the door.

  *****

  Val’s heart hammered. Her breathing was rapid, and raw panic flooded her with adrenaline. There were people everywhere. People staring, and stepping back as she pushed through the crowd into the relative safety of the hall. She had to get out of there. Couldn’t bear one more minute in this house. She jerked open the front door, and collided with a hard chest.

  “Val…what?” Nick Logan grasped her upper arms, steadying her. He must have been outside—must have missed his brother’s declaration.

  “I have to leave.” The words tumbled out. “I don’t have a car—I have to get out of here. Can you take me? Please?”

  Nick’s gaze flicked from hers to a spot behind her shoulder. “Finn.”

  Val shook her head. “No. I need to go, I…”

  “Val.” Finn’s voice. She hadn’t been quick enough. He was there, and turning her into his arms. “We need to talk.”

  “I want to go.” Val gripped Nick’s arm. “Nick can take me to the taxi-rank.” She gazed into Nick’s confused face, willing him to agree, not to leave her here with Finn. “Please, Finn, just let me go.”

  Nick bent low, and spoke softly. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, Val. But I think you should talk to Finn first. If you still want to go after that, I’ll be right outside.” He smiled. “Okay?”

  Nick must be an excellent vet. He had the knack of calming anyone or anything with his softly spoken words.

  She didn’t want to face Finn. Didn’t want to spend any time with him, but there was no getting away until she had so she straightened her spine, and nodded.

  “Just outside,” Nick said again, pushing open the front door and sitting on a wooden rocker in the porch.

  “Val.”

  She looked up. There was an expression on Finn’s face. One she’d never seen before. Confusion, regret—no, more than that—devastation.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean you to hear, I didn’t mean to make you feel pressured. Steven asked me, and the words just…” He shrugged. “They just came out.” He stroked her hair. “I meant them. I can’t call them back.”

  She couldn’t answer. Couldn’t give him what he so clearly wanted. Couldn’t give her heart to someone, risk her heart, not again.

  “Just say something,” Finn said. “Anything.”

  “I don’t love you.” She saw his eyes change. The light in them dimmed.

  Finn’s jaw clenched and his hand dropped from her hair. “You don’t mean that.”

  “I do mean it. I don’t want to hurt you. I care about you, but…” She had to convince him, had to be clear. “I don’t love you, Finn. I will never love you. We were only ever going to be temporary, were never going to be more.”

  He grasped her arms. “I’m not going to let you just walk away—”

  The ache in her heart was almost more than she could bear. “You have to.” She pressed her lips together. “There’s nothing more. I can’t see you any more, Finn. It’s over.”

  “Let me drive you home, you’re upset, we can talk in the car.”

  “No.” Val took a step back, feeling the invisible thread that tied her to him grow taut, then break. “Nick will take me.” Words weren’t enough, would never convey the overwhelming emotions inside. “I’m sorry.”

  One last look. Then she turned and walked away from him. Every step almost impossible, but vital to her survival. Without him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Val was so exhausted, she slept on the plane. Nick had insisted on driving her all the way home the previous night, and to her never ending gratitude, hadn’t questioned her about Finn. Instead, he steered the conversation into calmer waters, telling her stories about his patients and their owners that normally would have had her in stitches.

  She’d been barely able to summon a smile, and was sure by the time he pulled up outside her house he was delighted to see the back of her.

  She’d emailed the promised files and quotes to April before starting to pack. She’d said she would photograph the wedding, and couldn’t—wouldn’t—let her personal feelings get in the way of that. April h
ad left securing a photographer late, and with Christmas just around the corner it wouldn’t be fair to pull out now. Whether April and Matthew still wanted her was another matter.

  As Val stepped out of the aircraft, the heat of Gran Canaria surrounded her instantly. She breathed in the balmy air, and blinked in the sunlight, then crossed the tarmac to the terminal building to collect her bags. She plastered a smile on her face as she came out of arrivals, determined to hide her misery from her hosts.

  “Val!” Her mother’s voice rang out.

  Val looked around, and saw Belle dipping under the barrier and rushing toward her.

  “Darling, I’m so glad you’re here.” Belle enfolded her in a hug, so warm and welcoming that Val had to blink back the tears that pricked her eyes. “Let me look at you!” Belle pulled back, and stared at Val.

  She looked wonderful, way younger than her forty-seven years. She’d let her hair grow since Val had seen her last, into a longer sun-bleached style that flattered her. She wore a casual cotton top and tight jeans. A pretty pink pearl necklace hung around her neck, and a large diamond glittered in the ring on her finger.

  A tiny frown creased between her eyebrows. “You look…” Her head tilted to the side, considering. “Are you alright, darling?”

  Val nodded. “Just tired.”

  Belle looked as though she didn’t believe Val’s explanation for a minute, but didn’t push. Instead, she looked behind her to the man who had stepped around the barrier and walked up to them.

  “Darling, this is Raoul.” Her smile lit her up from the inside.

  The man who’d proposed to her mother was not as Val had expected. He was younger than Belle, but not the drop dead gorgeous type Belle normally went for. Instead, he looked serious, studious, and nervous.

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Val,” he said. “Let me take your bag.”