Breaking All the Rules

by Rachael Richey

  “Does it have to be tonight?” The words were out before Kate could stop them, and she bit her lip in annoyance.

  “Yes, it does.” Helen looked at her in surprise. “It’s been arranged for weeks. It really is the last chance for all of us to get together before the wedding. I’m doing a roast.”

  Kate glanced at the clock. “Mum, it’s gone six now. How can you do a roast in that time?”

  “Don’t be silly Kate, we’re not eating at seven. We’ll be talking for about an hour, I’m sure. You know how Janice goes on. Anyway, I did all the veg before I went out.” She nodded towards several large covered pans that were already on the stove. “And the turkey has been on for hours.”

  “Surely there isn’t that much left to talk about, is there?” Kate was aware she sounded like a petulant child, and kicked at the skirting board crossly. “We’ve done nothing but talk weddings for months.”

  “There’s a lot of organisation to a wedding.” Helen frowned severely at her. “You’ll find out soon enough when your first daughter gets married. It’s a stressful time.”

  “Well, you should have just let us go away and do it on our own then. That’s what I wanted.”

  “Now you know you don’t mean that. And think about poor Richard. How would he have felt? He’s invited a lot of influential people to the wedding. It could be very useful for him.”

  Kate sighed. “I guess. Well, Jen should be here any minute. I’ll get rid of her by seven, if you insist.”

  “If you would. I don’t know what’s wrong with you tonight, Kate. Is it your time of the month?”

  “Mum! No, it’s not. Not that I’d tell you if it was. I’m just tired, and to be honest, getting fed up with wedding stuff. I just wish it was all over.”

  “Well, only four weeks to go now.” Helen beamed at her. “Then you’ve got that lovely honeymoon to look forward to.”

  As Kate opened her mouth to reply, there was a tap on the back door, and a voice called, “It’s only me. Can I come in?”

  “Yes Jenny, come on in,” Helen called back. “I’ve just boiled the kettle. Would you like a cuppa?”

  “No, Mum, of course she wouldn’t. She’s not one of your friends. We’ll go to my room.” Kate caught her friend by the wrist and propelled her across the kitchen and upstairs to her bedroom. She slammed the door shut behind them and sat down on the bed. “Richard and his parents are coming at seven. You have to be gone by then.”

  “Okay.” Jenny stared at her in surprise. “We’d better be quick then. Pity. I would have liked a cup of tea. What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell Sam about the wedding?”

  “There was no chance.” Kate looked down at her hands, her fingers picking at a loose thread in her bedspread.

  “Weren’t you wearing your ring?”

  “I was buttering scones in a field, Jen. Of course I wasn’t wearing it! Richard’s so bloody precious about how expensive it was, I don’t even wear it to work in case I lose it.”

  “But you told him about the Hen Party?”

  “I just said I was going to one. He didn’t ask whose it was.”

  “Kate, why didn’t you tell him? Do you still like him?” Jenny sat down next to her, concern in her eyes.

  “No, of course not.” Kate bounced angrily on the bed. “No. No. I haven’t seen him for years. How could I still like him? He went travelling without me.”

  Jenny surveyed her friend silently for a moment, her blue eyes speculative. “You know why he went travelling.”

  “He still should have taken me. It was all planned.”

  “No, he shouldn’t.” Jenny shook her head decisively. “He needed to get away on his own. You know that better than anyone. You weren’t even his girlfriend.” She paused and brushed her long blonde hair back from her face. “The question is, why is he back now, and why do you care?”

  “He’s back to settle down and get a job.” Kate shrugged. “That’s what he told me. And I don’t care. I was just surprised to see him.”

  “Yeah, you care. Even I care, and I wasn’t madly in love with him in sixth form! Sam Somerville has that effect on people.”

  Kate flopped back on the bed and covered her face with her arm. “Oh, God, Jen, what am I going to do? I’m going out for a drink with him on Thursday, and I’ll have to tell him I’m getting married.”

  “Of course you will. D’you want me to come with you?”

  Kate moved her arm off her face and raised an eyebrow. “No. Certainly not. I finally get a date with Sam Somerville, and I’m not going to share it with you, even if you are my best friend. It’ll probably be the last time I can go on a date with anyone who’s not Richard.”

  Jenny lay down on her stomach next to Kate and grinned. “And aren’t you the tiniest bit concerned as to why that matters?”

  “Nope. Everyone should have a final fling.”

  “Kate, you won’t do anything silly, will you? Nothing you’ll regret.”

  “Jen, I haven’t done anything I’d regret for years.” Kate sat up and groaned. “My life is so boring and predictable. I never do anything wrong, or silly, or dangerous.” She pulled her knees up to her chest and linked her arms around them. “Or maybe I have been doing things I’ll regret for years. Maybe my whole life is wrong. Maybe I’m living the wrong life. It certainly feels like it sometimes.”

  Jenny stared at her in amazement. “Kate! Seriously? How can you say that? You’re engaged to a gorgeous, successful man, you have a good job, you’re pretty… How can that be wrong? Please tell me you’re not still yearning for Sam?”

  “I don’t know!” Kate buried her face in her knees. “No, of course not. I’m marrying Richard. I love Richard.”

  “Yes, you do,” Jenny replied briskly, getting to her feet. “You love Richard, and in four weeks’ time you’re marrying him. Tonight he’s coming over for dinner, and you’re going to be nice to him.”

  “I’m always nice to him.” Kate reluctantly allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. “Well, mostly, anyway. I really do love him; of course I do. He’s very nice to me.”

  “Well, that’s not a good reason to love someone.” Jenny frowned at her. “But I think you really do love him, so get out there and let him know. And forget about Sam Somerville. It’s not going to do you any good to get hung up on him again. You know that.”

  Kate nodded slowly and turned to her wardrobe to find something more suitable to wear for dinner with her prospective in-laws. “I know. And he never really liked me anyway.”

  “He liked you as a friend. A best friend, even. But Kate?” Jenny caught her arm. “You must stay away from him. You do know that, don’t you?”

  “Rather hard when he’s back in the village.” Kate was wriggling out of her jeans. “But I’ll do my best. Now what should I wear for Richard’s parents? Does this look boring enough?” She pulled out a blue flowered dress and waved it at Jenny.

  “That’s nice. It suits you. But it’s not boring. You must stop saying Richard’s boring.”

  “No, not him. But his parents are. It’s okay; I’m not marrying them.” She tossed her top into the corner of the room and pulled the blue dress over her head. “Bloody good job, his mum drives me crazy. She’s so stupid. Beats me how she managed to have such an intelligent son.”

  “Right. I’ll leave you to it.” Jenny grinned at her. “Behave yourself tonight, and just look forward to the Hen on Friday. It’s going to be awesome.”

  Kate squirmed round in an attempt to zip up her dress and peered suspiciously at her friend. “What d’you mean? What have you got planned? I’m trusting you, Jen. You’re my chief bridesmaid. I don’t want to end up half naked and chained to some railings.”

  “Honestly, Kate, what do you think I am?” Jenny tossed her hair back. “That’s the sort of stupid thing men do. No, ours will be much more classy.”

  “Hmm. Hope so.” Kate pulled open her wardrobe again and flung her discarded clothes inside. “I wish my sister wasn’t comi
ng, though.”

  “Kate, she’s a bridesmaid, and your sister. Of course she has to come.”

  “I didn’t want her as a bridesmaid. Mum said I had to.” Kate pushed Jenny towards the door. “You know we don’t get on.”

  “Is she coming tonight?”

  “Oh, God, I hope not! Mum didn’t say. I doubt it. She’s usually out on the town on a Sunday night, with her friends.” Kate glanced at Jenny. “Which is probably what I should be doing. Not sorting out the transport for a wedding.”

  “It’s your wedding.” Jenny gave her a little push. “Stop being negative. You love Richard. Now go and be nice.”

  Chapter 3

  “Don’t you agree, Kate?”

  Kate looked up with a start as she heard her name. Richard’s mother, Janice, was staring at her with her delicately drawn-on eyebrows raised.

  “Kate. Did you hear what Janice said?” Helen frowned at her daughter and leaned over to tap her on the knee.

  “Sorry, Janice. Just lost concentration there for a moment.” Kate mustered a weary smile. “What did you say?”

  “I asked if you were happy if the cars go back as soon as everyone has been dropped off at the church. That would be best, don’t you agree?”

  Kate stared at her in non-comprehension. “What else would they do?” she asked in surprise. “Wait around while we get married, and then do what? Drive you and Martin and Mum and Dad a hundred yards along the road to the reception? That’s just stupid. Of course they should go away.”

  “Kate, that was a bit rude,” Helen rebuked her and turned to their guests with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Janice. I’m sure you understand she’s been under a lot of pressure these last few weeks.”

  “Of course.” Janice smiled sweetly at Kate. “I remember just what I was like when I was planning my wedding to Martin. I couldn’t think straight for months. It was all so exciting. Nothing else matters when you’re getting married, does it?”

  Kate glanced at her with barely concealed dislike, then turned to her father. “Can I have more wine, Dad?”

  He leaned forward and topped up her glass, giving her a sympathetic wink as he did so. Kate smiled back and took a long slurp of her wine. Her dad was the only one who understood just how tedious she found all the wedding stuff. He knew she would much rather have had a quiet little family affair—or, even better, run off and told no one. As he’d pointed out to her more than once, that would also have made it much easier on his pocket.

  “Another one, Kate? We haven’t eaten yet.” Helen pursed her lips in annoyance. “In fact, I think the roast will be nearly ready by now. Would you all like to go into the dining room?” She got to her feet and brushed some imaginary crumbs off her skirt. “Come and give me a hand, Kate.”

  Reluctantly Kate got to her feet and followed her mother into the kitchen. The heat from the cooker hit her like a wall, and she recoiled slightly. “Mum, it’s far too hot for a roast. What were you thinking?” she muttered crossly, getting the plates out of the cupboard with a clatter. “We should have had salad or something.”

  “Nonsense, darling. Everyone likes a roast.”

  “Except Cousin Emil. He only eats nuts.”

  “What’s that, darling?” Helen was bending down in front of the oven, her face flushed from the heat.

  “Nothing.” Kate watched as her mother placed the enormous turkey on a large oval serving plate. It looked big enough to feed at least twelve, and she began to feel a bit sick at the thought of eating anything.

  “Take this in and give it to your father to carve.” Helen handed her the plate. “Tell them the veggies are just coming. Then come back for the potatoes.”

  With a sigh Kate carried the steaming hot plate through into the dining room and plonked it in front of her father.

  “That looks lovely,” Janice enthused. “Doesn’t it, Martin? Isn’t Helen wonderful with her cooking?”

  “It’s only a bloody turkey,” Kate muttered half to herself as she headed back to the kitchen. “Anyone can cook a bloody turkey.”

  “Try and cheer up, darling.” Helen handed her two dishes of roast potatoes. “You’re like a bear with a sore head tonight. Are you sure it’s not your time of the month?”

  “No, it’s not,” Kate snapped, snatching the dishes and stomping back into the dining room. She slammed them down on the waiting table mats, then went and retrieved her wine from the living room. She knocked it back in one go and stood for a moment with her eyes closed. She really needed to keep it together. It wasn’t fair to her parents, or to Richard.

  She took a deep breath, walked back into the dining room, and slid into her seat next to her fiancé. Richard reached for her hand under the table. Kate took it and gave it a squeeze, glancing up at him with a small smile.

  “Sorry,” she mouthed, feeling suddenly very guilty about her bad mood. He really was very good-looking. Thick light brown hair cut stylishly short, kind green eyes, and a very nice figure. His work as a lawyer necessitated him wearing a suit much of the time, but tonight he was more casually attired in cream chinos and a dark blue shirt, open at the neck. He smiled at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners, reminding her again that he was nearly thirty.

  Leaning towards her, he put his lips to her ear. “Let’s go for a walk after dinner. Get away from the parents for a bit.”

  Kate nodded and smiled her gratitude. He really was very caring. She must let him know how much she loved him. He smelled nice, too. She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent, reminding herself how she liked to smell it when they made love. They really needed to do that more. Then maybe it would be easier for her to remember why she was marrying him.

  She abruptly let go of his hand and picked up her knife and fork. She was marrying him because she loved him. That was why. And she loved him because he was a lovely person. And he’d asked her.

  “Cabbage, love?”

  Kate took a spoonful of the soggy green leaves her mother was holding in front of her, and slopped them onto her plate. She really wasn’t hungry, but she knew just how upset her mother would be if she didn’t eat a huge plateful. With a sigh she reached for the gravy boat and poured a large quantity all over her turkey. She stared down at her plate. That hadn’t helped. Now it looked as if she had even more food.

  “You are a marvellous cook, Helen.” Janice waved her fork in the air, and a tiny particle of potato wafted over and landed next to Kate. “I just don’t know how you do it. You just conjure up these wonderful meals at a moment’s notice.”

  “Well, thank you, Janice”—Helen smiled politely—“but I did know you were coming. It was hardly a moment’s notice.”

  “But with all the other things you do, I just don’t know how you find the time, or energy.” Janice sighed dramatically and took a delicate mouthful of cabbage. “I could never do what you do. Kate, I hope you appreciate what a wonderful person your mother is.”

  Kate shoved a large forkful of turkey into her mouth so she didn’t need to reply, and nodded briefly. The woman was so stupid. And to think she was about to become her mother-in-law. Well, she certainly wasn’t going to move in with them when she was old and incontinent. She was going into a home, whatever Richard thought of it.

  “She’s organized this wedding almost single-handedly,” Janice went on, waving her fork in the air again. “You really owe her a lot, Kate. You’d never be in this situation without her.”

  Kate tried hard to swallow her turkey, at the same time forcing herself to keep staring at her plate so as not to show her feelings. She was aware of Richard stirring beside her.

  “She knows that, Mum,” he said quickly. “But Kate has done a lot of the wedding preparations herself, you know.”

  “Well, I know she’s done some of it.” Janice sniffed and speared a carrot. “I’m just saying how wonderful Helen has been…”

  “I’m sorry, I feel sick…” Kate pushed her chair back with a clatter and hurried out of the room towards the stairs. Fully a
ware of five pairs of eyes following her, she took the stairs two at a time and burst into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She leaned back against it and closed her eyes. It was partly true that she felt sick. The large mouthful of turkey was having a problem going down her throat, but the truth was, if she’d stayed there any longer she might well have done Janice some damage. The woman was just too infuriating! She made it perfectly clear that Kate wasn’t good enough for her precious son, yet at the same time making out Kate’s mother was some sort of domestic goddess. Which she really wasn’t, as the dry turkey and soggy cabbage demonstrated.

  Kate leant forward and spat the rest of the chewed turkey into the toilet, then wiped her mouth and pressed the flush. She stared at herself in the mirror. God, she looked a mess. It was surprising Richard even wanted to marry her. Maybe he’d change his mind. She closed her eyes and leant against the washbasin. Would she even care if he did? Yesterday she would have done. Wouldn’t she?

  “Kate?” A tentative tap on the door accompanied her mother’s voice. “Kate, are you all right? Let me in.”

  “I’m fine, Mum.” Kate sighed but made no move to open the door. “I’ll be back down in a minute.”

  “No, let me in, Kate.” Helen tapped again, this time more loudly. “I need to talk to you.”

  Muttering under her breath, Kate reluctantly unlocked the door and sat down on the edge of the bath. Helen came in and closed the door behind her. She surveyed her daughter severely.

  “Really, darling, you can’t just run off like that. It was very rude. Imagine how Janice and Martin felt.”

  “A lot better than if I’d thrown up on the table.”

  “You really felt sick?” Helen peered more closely at her. “Why?”

  “Oh, I just put too much turkey in my mouth.” Kate shrugged. “It was very dry.”

  “Hmm. That doesn’t sound very convincing.” Helen sat down on the edge of the bath next to her. “You can tell me, darling. It would certainly explain your bad mood.”