Never a Perfect Moment

by Cathy Cole

  Polly felt gratified. “That’s OK,” she said. “It’s what friends are for.”

  “That’s my point.” Eve looked uncomfortable. “I’ve never been a very good friend. I had no idea what it felt like until today, having people staring and whispering bad things about you. It’s never happened to me before. I’ve seen it happen to others, though. I’ve made it happen to others.” Eve paused. “I’ve really tortured people in the past, haven’t I?”

  There was no point in beating about the bush. “Yes,” said Polly simply.

  Eve made a face. “Tell it to me straight, why don’t you?” she said with an awkward laugh. “Well, all that’s about to change. I’m not going to bully anyone for being different, ever again. I don’t want anyone to feel how I felt today.”

  “Was it really bad?” Polly asked. “You seemed really cool about it.”

  “I hope I never go through anything like that, ever again.”

  Polly was moved by the pain in Eve’s eyes. The Ice Queen was melting.

  “It probably isn’t over yet,” she said, pressing Eve’s hand. “It’ll take a while for people to stop talking. But you’ve made a really good start. It’s going to improve from now on.”

  “Thank you,” said Eve quietly. “I’ll hold on to that thought.”

  They got ready for bed. Eve took almost half an hour in the bathroom, but Polly found that she didn’t mind tonight. Eve had really opened up to her, and Polly realized what a rare thing that was. Polly felt confident that Eve meant every word she’d said. She was going to change, and become a better person.

  If someone like Eve could change, maybe Polly could too. Be more confident, less prone to worrying about things.

  Maybe she and Ollie needn’t be such a hopeless match after all.

  TEN

  Saturday was bright and warm.

  A perfect day for a wedding, Polly thought.

  Leaving Eve watching TV, she got her things together and headed out into the sunshine. She and Lila were working for Mr Gupta today, waitressing at a big wedding reception in the grounds of Heartwell Manor. Rhi would be there too, as a wedding singer. She had a great voice, and got plenty of singing work at weekends for all the weddings that Heartside Bay was famous for. Polly wondered briefly if Eve had ever had a job. No way, she thought. Why would she, when her father was so rich?

  “Ready to dress up?” Polly asked when Lila opened the front door at her first knock.

  Liila pushed her glossy brown hair out of her eyes and looked eagerly at the bag over Polly’s arm. “Are those our outfits?”

  The theme for today’s wedding was The Great Gatsby. Polly adored the twenties style: flapper dresses, feathered headbands, long jangly beads. She had worked hard on three perfect dresses for her, Lila and Rhi to wear.

  “Polly, it’s gorgeous,” Lila gasped as Polly carefully took her dress out of its bag. “How do you do it?”

  Polly felt pleased. “It wasn’t difficult,” she said as Lila took off her clothes and wriggled into the pale green shift dress with its feathered fringe, twirling ecstatically in front of her bedroom mirror. “I bought the feathered fringing at the haberdasher and just stitched it on. There’s a headband to match, look. And—”

  She opened her coat so Lila could see the matching silver feathery dress she was wearing.

  “I’ve made Rhi a red dress with black bead fringing sewn around the neckline,” Polly went on, “with an adorable little close-fitting hat. Red looks so great on her.”

  “She’ll love it,” said Lila, gazing at the red dress with awe.

  They agreed to fix their hair and make-up at Heartwell Manor. Mr Gupta wanted them to be there for three o’clock, and time was running out.

  The marquee looked decadent. The walls were swathed in pale green silk, with silver chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Tables were laid with silvery tablecloths, and a pyramid of champagne flutes stood in the centre of the room.

  Rhi was there already, looking nervous and talking to Brody the guitar player and the rest of the band. Her wild, cloudy curls had been tamed so that they lay slicked to her head in a twenties style. Brody Baxter scrubbed up well, Polly realized, in a black tuxedo and a bow tie. His long blond hair was as wild and surfy as ever though.

  “I’m so terrified,” Rhi whimpered when she saw Polly and Lila.

  “You are going to be incredible,” Lila assured her.

  “And you’ll look incredible too,” Brody said with a whistle as Polly handed Rhi her black and red dress.

  Rhi vanished behind a curtain to change.

  “Quickly now,” Mr Gupta urged Polly and Lila, rushing past in his white tuxedo. “Canapés on the silver trays. Champagne will be poured when the brides arrive.”

  “Brides, as in plural?” said Polly, turning to Lila in surprise.

  “Sounds that way.” Lila had already put her headband on and was halfway through her make-up. “Hurry up, Polly, the guests will be here in a minute.”

  Polly barely had time to put on her own headband and lay the canapés in neat rows on the trays when the sound of popping champagne bottles filtered through the curtains separating the wedding party from the catering area. The brides and their guests had arrived.

  As Polly moved through the happy chattering crowd with her silver tray, the band began to play.

  Polly looked up to the stage and watched as Rhi, glittering in her red and black dress, began to sing, her eyes closed as she swayed back and forth.

  Brody was at the piano; the other members of the band on drums and sax. Rhi leaned on the piano as she sang classic twenties songs, smiling into Brody’s eyes as if no one else was in the room. Their connection was almost visible, a shining thread holding them together.

  Rhi and Brody would make such a great couple, Polly thought, gazing dreamily at the stage. What would it take to convince Rhi that Brody was a far better fit for her than Max?

  The brides looked incredible as they moved among their guests, talking and laughing in matching gauzy golden gowns. The food was disappearing fast.

  “More food,” Mr Gupta urged. “Quickly, Polly!”

  Polly realized there was only one canapé left on her tray. She hurried back to the catering area to collect some more.

  “How did I sound?” said Rhi, snapping off her mic as he put her head through the catering curtain during a break in the music.

  “As great as I said you would,” said Lila. “You should totally date Brody.”

  Rhi flushed. “I’m going out with Max!”

  Polly rushed in. “Lila’s right, Rhi. Brody is perfect for you. Just looking at you both on the stage … there’s a kind of magic about it. You should give him a chance!”

  Rhi squirmed. “Brody and I have started writing songs together,” she said shyly. “I want to have a collection of original tracks to send to a record producer really soon. But any connection that we have is only through our music. He’d never like someone like me. Besides,” she added as Lila and Polly started protesting, “I wouldn’t want to risk our working relationship by … turning it into something else.”

  Polly opened her mouth to argue. Mr Gupta put his head around the curtain.

  “What is this dawdling?” he demanded. “Where are my canapés?”

  Polly grabbed her tray and hurried back out among the guests.

  Polly stifled a yawn as she cleared away the plates from the tables. The reception would continue into the morning hours, but her and Lila’s food service duties were done. Polly was looking forward to going home and putting her feet up. Maybe Eve had talked to her mother by now, and would be back home. Polly hoped so.

  She had been discreetly checking her phone throughout the wedding reception for any missed calls from Ollie. Nothing. Whatever Eve said, Polly was convinced that he wouldn’t call again. It’s for the best, she reminded herself.
We would never have worked out.

  Lila was clearing tables a short distance away.

  Polly wished she could talk to Lila about Ollie. But how could she? It would be far too weird to ask advice from Ollie’s former girlfriend.

  “Psst!”

  Polly glanced round in surprise. Eve was smiling at her through the tent flaps.

  “Hey,” Eve whispered. “We thought we’d sneak in. I could use some fun.”

  Polly glanced around. No one was watching. “It’s a private wedding party, Eve,” she said a little reluctantly. “Who are you with?”

  Eve grinned. She tugged back the marquee flap a little further – to reveal Ollie and Josh.

  Colour whooshed into Polly’s cheeks. Ollie was looking right at her. Eve had brought him here. For her. She put down the dirty plates she was holding in case she dropped them.

  Eve slipped through the tent flaps, tugging Ollie and Josh with her. She smoothed down the pretty pale blue dress she was wearing. “I hope this is Gatsby enough,” she said, giggling. “I have the most divine dress at home but of course I couldn’t sneak back and fetch it.”

  “I hope they had hoodies in the twenties,” said Josh, tweaking his sweatshirt. “Nice party,” he added, looking at the dance floor in admiration.

  “Rhi sounds fantastic,” said Ollie, looking at where Rhi was still singing on the stage with Brody.

  “I don’t know what the brides will say to gatecrashers,” said Lila, appearing behind Polly.

  Eve looked shocked. “Brides?” she said. “This … this is a gay wedding?”

  She looked at the two golden brides dancing with each other in the middle of the floor, their heads on each other’s shoulders. They looked so in love.

  “Well, this is awkward,” said Ollie, loudly.

  Eve paled. Polly had spent the whole wedding wanting Ollie to get in touch. Now all she wanted to do was kick him for being an insensitive idiot. Eve was clearly uncomfortable enough, did Ollie really have to point it out to everyone? Once again, the question raised its head. How could she ever go out with someone like Ollie?

  “Do you want to go home, Eve?” she said stiffly. “Our shift is almost over.”

  Eve was watching the brides as they danced. “Are their parents here?” she asked.

  Lila pointed to a table of older people, all sitting together and talking over bottles of wine. Eve sat down at the nearest table. She looked almost winded.

  “Maybe there’s hope for me yet,” she said.

  Brody broke into a rousing tune that saw a surge of people heading for the dance floor.

  “Catchy,” said Josh. Polly saw his eyes flicker towards Lila.

  Polly chanced a glance at Ollie, and saw that he was looking at her steadily. “Dance?” he said.

  Polly took his hand and followed him to the dance floor in a daze. This was unexpected. Was he giving her another chance? What would happen now?

  Rhi had joined in on the song. She sang with Brody, their feet tapping the stage in rhythm.

  It was impossible to resist the Charleston beat. Josh had joined them now, and Lila too. Polly threw herself into the music, whirling under Ollie’s arms and stamping her feet with the rest of the room.

  “Wow,” said Eve breathlessly as the song came to an end and the room broke into cheers. “I am so having a twenties theme for my next party. Who’s coming?”

  “Me!” Ollie said, laughing.

  “Fine, twist my arm,” said Josh.

  The tempo changed. Brody and Rhi segued into a slow song that had couples moving closer together on the dance floor.

  “Nothing like a song about broken hearts to get the party going,” said Josh.

  Ollie was about to pull Polly towards him. But she didn’t know what to say to him – should she apologize for turning him away last night? Or wait for him to say something? Polly’s hands were sweaty. Desperate for a distraction, she grabbed Josh’s hand instead.

  “Ask Lila to dance,” she said in a low voice.

  “I don’t know where she is,” said Josh, blushing.

  “She’s right here… ” Polly’s voice trailed away. Lila had been dancing beside her just a moment ago, but now she’d gone.

  “There!” Polly pointed towards a pale green feathery headdress across the dance floor. She gave Josh a little push in the small of the back, propelling him across the marquee to where Lila was standing by the bar. “Go on! What have you got to lose?”

  “Fine,” Josh sighed. “I’ll ask her. Wish me luck.”

  You won’t need luck.

  The words died before they reached Polly’s lips as the people on the dance floor shifted and they could see Lila more clearly. Leaning across the bar, oblivious to the fact she was being watched, Lila was kissing the bartender.

  “Right,” said Josh, turning back around. In an agony of embarrassment, Polly caught him by the arm.

  “Don’t think badly of Lila, Josh. She’s still grieving about Ryan. She’s confused… ”

  Josh shook her hand off. “Maybe Lila isn’t the girl I thought she was.”

  Lila pulled back from the bartender, laughing. She stopped abruptly as she saw Josh’s back disappearing through the crowd. As Polly caught her eye, she looked furious.

  Polly had a horrible feeling she had just put her nose where it wasn’t wanted.

  ELEVEN

  There was a burst of applause. People in the room were standing up around their tables, clapping hard as Rhi and Brody took their final bows, smiling and waving, and prepared to leave the stage.

  When Polly looked back at the bar, Lila and the bartender had disappeared.

  “Lila?”

  Polly pushed through the guests, hunting for Lila’s distinctive feathered headpiece.

  I practically ordered Josh to find Lila, she thought in an agony of shame. Now Josh is embarrassed and Lila’s mad with me. She’d pushed Josh and Lila further apart than ever.

  When would she learn to stop meddling in other people’s lives?

  The disco had started up again, a thumping tune that cleared the tables and got everyone on the dance floor. Polly spotted Eve dancing by the stage, surrounded by girls.

  “Polly!” Eve waved. “Come and meet my new friends Pip, Louise and Nan.”

  Pip and Louise were both blonde and small and looked like they were an item. Very tall and striking and apparently on her own, raven-haired Nan was wearing a slim red column dress that made her skin look like beautiful marble.

  “We love your dress,” said Pip, stroking the feathers on Polly’s hemline enviously.

  “Gorgeous,” Louise agreed.

  “Dance with us,” Eve coaxed, holding out her hands to Polly.

  Nan was looking at Polly in a distinctly unwelcoming way.

  Oh my gosh, Polly realized. Nan thinks I’m with Eve! If she hadn’t been so worried about Lila, it would have been funny.

  “Thanks, but I have to go and find Ollie,” she said.

  “Don’t chase him, Polly,” Eve said, twirling around her. Nan seemed to relax at the word “him”. “If he’s keen, he’ll come to you. Take it from me, I’m an expert.”

  Another tune burst from the decks. With a shout of happy recognition, the energy in the marquee went up several degrees. As Eve whirled away into the heart of the dance floor, Polly felt a hand slip into hers.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” said Ollie, pulling her close. “I thought I’d lost you.” He looked questioningly at her and she willed him silently not to bring up last night.

  “Dance?” he asked, for the second time.

  Polly sighed in relief and smiled her assent. She wasn’t quite ready to talk about her conflicted feelings with Ollie yet, but she could at least dance with him. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing that Ollie didn’t overthink everything the way she did.

&n
bsp; Ollie was an enthusiastic dancer. Polly found it hard not to giggle as he bounced around the floor, punching the air and singing along to the words.

  “Channelling Tigger?” she teased.

  “Cheeky,” said Ollie. “Come here.”

  He reached out his arms. Polly had dreamed about a moment just like this.

  A movement over Ollie’s shoulder distracted her. A face was peeking through by the tent flaps.

  Max.

  Polly hunted for Rhi in the crowd. There she was, over by the edge of the stage, standing close to Brody. Very close to Brody. Brody had his arm loosely around Rhi’s waist, and was whispering something in her ear that was making her laugh. If they could be left alone for just a short while longer, Polly felt confident Rhi and Brody could get it together. At last, Rhi would have a boyfriend that she deserved.

  Max can’t see Rhi with Brody, Polly thought. It’ll ruin everything.

  Polly looked at Ollie, standing there with his arms reaching towards her. She sighed.

  “Just give me a second,” she said. “OK?”

  Polly’s eyes were trained on Max as she bore down on him.

  “Hi, Max!” she said brightly, making sure that she was standing directly between Max and any view he might have of Rhi and Brody together by the stage. “What are you doing here?”

  “Looking for Rhi,” said Max, peering over Polly’s shoulder. “She said she’d be finished with this by eleven. Have you seen her?”

  Polly seized Max by the arm and marched him out of the tent. “Sorry, she already left.”

  Max frowned. “But she said—”

  “You know how these things go,” Polly prattled on a little nervously. She prayed that Rhi and Brody weren’t about to appear through the tent flaps hand in hand. “She sang a great set, but she was pretty tired when it was over. She, uh, said to tell you she’d see you tomorrow.”

  Max’s eyes were fixed on two girls kissing in the shadows outside the marquee. “Is this, like, a lesbian wedding or something?”

  “Yes,” said Polly. When would Max get the hint? “See you tomorrow, OK?”