The Best Man

by Dianne Blacklock

  ‘Okay,’ said Liv. ‘The Opera Bar it is then, obviously.’

  ‘Yes!’ Ren agreed. ‘Then we’ll be close to The Rocks, we can probably find somewhere with live music later on.’

  ‘I know a place . . .’

  They started excitedly discussing the range of options for the night as Aiden shepherded them out onto the street. Madeleine suddenly realised that her phone was ringing, and she scrabbled in her bag for it. Just as she plucked it out and looked at the screen, it stopped ringing. It was Henry. Damn, Aiden’s call earlier had distracted her, and she’d forgotten to ring him.

  She touched Aiden’s arm to get his attention. He turned and leant in close to her. ‘Henry just rang, I have to call him back, away from the noise.’

  ‘Sure, we’ll wait for you.’

  She ducked around the corner of the building and tapped the screen to return the call.

  ‘Hi, Madeleine,’ Henry answered.

  ‘Sorry, I just missed you. I couldn’t hear the phone in the restaurant.’

  ‘You’ve left work already?’

  ‘Um, actually we left a while ago for lunch, but we’re finished now.’

  ‘Oh, do you want to ring me back when you get home?’

  She swallowed. ‘No, it’s fine. I can talk. How’s everything there?’ she added quickly.

  ‘Good, getting plenty of work done,’ he said. ‘I think I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.’

  ‘That’s great, Henry, you’ve been working so hard.’

  ‘Listen, you haven’t heard from Aiden, have you?’

  She froze. She didn’t know what to say.

  ‘Madeleine? Madeleine, are you there?’

  ‘Yes, I’m here . . . you dropped out for a moment.’

  ‘Can you hear me now?’

  ‘Yeah. What were you saying?’

  He repeated the question while she gathered her thoughts. She couldn’t speak for Aiden; she didn’t know what he wanted to tell Henry about his whereabouts.

  ‘He hasn’t been in touch with you?’ she said, avoiding an actual lie.

  ‘No, I haven’t heard a word. He said in that text message the other night that he’d see us at the end of the week, didn’t he?’

  ‘I think so,’ said Madeleine. ‘But that could mean tomorrow. I wouldn’t worry, he’s a big boy.’

  ‘Of course,’ he said. ‘Let me know if you hear from him.’

  Bugger. ‘I’ll tell him to give you a call.’ Talk about semantic gymnastics.

  ‘Do you know what time you’ll be coming home tomorrow?’ he asked tentatively.

  ‘Not sure,’ she said vaguely. ‘Depends how I get on . . .’

  ‘Well, good luck with the shopping.’

  Madeleine cringed.

  ‘Maybe you can buzz me when you’re on your way home?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘I’ll let you go, I know you’re out on the street.’

  ‘Okay, have a good night.’

  ‘You too. I love you, Madeleine.’

  ‘Love you too.’

  She hung up, feeling sick. What if Henry tried Aiden again? She had to speak to him immediately. She hurried around the corner, where only Aiden and Liv were left standing by the kerb. ‘Where is everyone?’ she asked.

  ‘Stacey and Amy had somewhere else they had to be,’ said Liv. ‘They said to say goodbye.’

  ‘And the others are already on their way down to the harbour,’ said Aiden. ‘We couldn’t all fit in one taxi.’

  ‘You should have seen the carry-on.’ Liv rolled her eyes. ‘They were all trying to angle a ride with Aiden.’

  ‘Stop it,’ he said. ‘We ready to go?’

  As Madeleine nodded, she grabbed Aiden by the arm, manoeuvring him between herself and Liv. ‘Have you had a call from Henry?’ she said close to his ear.

  ‘What? No . . . I don’t know.’

  ‘Don’t answer if he calls, okay? Not till I get a chance to talk to you.’

  Liv had managed to hail a taxi, and it pulled up in front of them.

  ‘Is everything okay?’ Aiden said, under his breath.

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  He gave her hand a squeeze. ‘Okay, don’t worry.’

  Opera Bar

  The girls were waiting eagerly when their taxi pulled up at Circular Quay. It was a perfect spring evening; when Sydney got it right, the superlatives just didn’t do it justice. As they walked along the concourse, Aiden got his first real view of the Opera House up close, and his face nearly split in two from grinning.

  ‘This is more like it,’ he sighed happily.

  So he was positively delirious when they came to the bar, which was tucked into a sweeping curve on the water’s edge, directly opposite the Harbour Bridge and in the shadow of the Opera House.

  ‘Okay, we have to get some photos of this, with everyone,’ he declared.

  ‘I think we better find a table first,’ said Madeleine. On such a gorgeous afternoon the place was humming. However, it was still relatively early, so they managed to grab one of the bench tables at the southern end, giving Aiden a panoramic view from the peaks of the Opera House sails to right across the harbour. He was clearly rapt. The girls scurried to gather up enough stools to seat them all while Aiden snapped away with the camera in his phone. Eventually he lined them all up along the stone wall edging the water, with the bridge behind them, and then he asked a waiter to take a shot so that he could be in the photo as well . . . and then he asked for one of just him and Madeleine.

  ‘Now just with me,’ Natalie blurted.

  ‘Oh, come on, we’re not going through everyone,’ Liv said, rescuing Aiden from a potentially lengthy photo shoot. ‘We’ll be here all night, and I’m thirsty.’

  ‘This round is definitely on me,’ Aiden insisted. ‘And I think it has to be champagne. Is that okay with everyone?’

  It was, and Natalie scampered after him like a puppy to help.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell us how cute he is?’ Ren demanded of Madeleine, as soon as Aiden was out of earshot.

  ‘Because he’s not.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Cute.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘He’s not sixteen,’ Liv answered for Madeleine. ‘That man is way past cute.’

  Sarah was nodding enthusiastically. ‘And it’s not just his looks, he’s so utterly charming.’

  ‘And funny,’ said Katie.

  ‘And fascinating,’ added Sarah.

  ‘And hot,’ said Ren.

  ‘And that voice!’ said Sarah.

  ‘You mean the accent?’ Katie asked.

  ‘Not just the accent, his voice comes from right down in his chest.’

  ‘I wonder what his chest is like?’ Ren mused. ‘Have you seen him without a shirt on, Mad?’

  ‘Okay, this is getting weird.’

  ‘Well, you get to live with him,’ said Katie. ‘You can at least throw us a bone.’

  ‘A boner, more like,’ Ren snorted.

  ‘That’s disgusting,’ Madeleine frowned.

  ‘And physically impossible,’ said Liv. ‘You want her to throw you his erect penis?’

  ‘I wouldn’t throw it back.’

  ‘That’s enough,’ Madeleine hissed. ‘He’ll be back any minute. Show a little respect. He’s like a brother to Henry, which makes him like a brother-in-law to me.’ Not that she thought of Aiden that way. He was nothing like her real brother-in-law, Mark. Ugh. Nothing to fantasise about there.

  And nothing to fantasise about here, either! All this talk was messing with her head. She needed a drink. It was one thing to show Aiden off, but it was quite another to have them lusting after him like a piece of meat, for anyone’s consumption.

  ‘It’s warm out here,’ she remarked, fanning herself with her hand. ‘Is anyone else warm?’

  ‘I’ll see if they have any jugs of water at the bar,’ Sarah offered, heading off in that direction.

  All three soon returned with two bottles in
ice buckets, and a tray of champagne flutes. Sarah handed Madeleine a glass of water. ‘Sorry, there weren’t any jugs.’

  Aiden lifted the first bottle out of the ice and began to fill the glasses. ‘They said they had to pop the cork behind the bar. Some health and safety issue apparently, courtesy of the fun police.’

  ‘That makes them the popping party poopers,’ Natalie giggled.

  ‘Cripes,’ Liv muttered, grabbing two full glasses from the tray and passing one to Madeleine.

  When the glasses had all been distributed, Aiden raised his. ‘This really does call for a toast.’

  ‘I think we should drink to the best man,’ Natalie gushed, and everyone readily agreed, raising their glasses and saying his name at once.

  ‘No, wait,’ Aiden spoke over the top of them. ‘Hold on a minute, I’m only here because of this beautiful woman,’ he said, putting an arm around Madeleine. ‘We should be drinking to Henry and Madeleine’s health.’

  ‘But Henry’s not here,’ said Ren.

  ‘Good point,’ said Aiden. ‘To Madeleine.’

  ‘And to Aiden.’

  ‘To Madeleine and Aiden,’ they all chorused. And Madeleine quickly downed a couple of mouthfuls of champagne to drown the guilt she was feeling. She mustn’t forget to tell Aiden about Henry’s call.

  ‘So this could be your last night out for a while, I guess?’ Liv said to her.

  ‘Especially after you give up your apartment,’ said Aiden. ‘Along with your freedom.’

  Madeleine gave him a nudge.

  ‘But isn’t your house, like, nearly on the Central Coast?’ asked Sarah. ‘What if you have to work late?’

  ‘It’s not on the Central Coast,’ Madeleine scoffed.

  ‘Yeah, it’s actually quicker to get to the Central Coast,’ Liv said, ‘with the freeway.’

  ‘Nonsense, that couldn’t be right.’ Could it? ‘Anyway, I’m going to try to avoid working long hours after we’re married.’

  ‘Oh? You are?’ said Liv, raising an eyebrow.

  Yikes, she shouldn’t have said that in front of the boss. She didn’t even think it, so why was she saying it? It wasn’t like Henry could hear her.

  ‘Well . . . I can always stay at my mum’s place if . . . when I work late,’ she said finally.

  ‘I’ve just had a brilliant idea,’ said Aiden. ‘Why don’t we make this your bachelorette party?’

  Natalie grinned. ‘We don’t call it that here.’

  ‘What do you call it?’

  ‘A hens’ night.’

  ‘Why? That’s terrible,’ Aiden said with a grimace.

  ‘I know, isn’t it?’ said Liv. ‘Men get a bucks’ night.’

  ‘We call it that too,’ said Aiden, ‘or a bachelor party. How did “hen” get partnered with “buck”?’

  ‘Buggered if I know,’ said Liv. ‘I remember when it used to be called a does’ night. I don’t know when it changed to hens’.’

  ‘But it doesn’t even make sense. Why “hen”? It’s not a baby shower.’ Aiden shook his head as though it was beyond his comprehension. ‘Well, I’m sticking with bachelorette party,’ he decided. ‘What do you say, Maddie?’

  ‘I wasn’t going to have a hens’ or a bachelorette night, or anything.’

  ‘Why not?’

  Madeleine sighed. ‘I don’t know . . . Gen is my matron of honour. She wouldn’t have time to organise it, and she probably couldn’t get a babysitter so she could come herself. It just hasn’t come up, to be honest.’

  ‘Well, it’s coming up now,’ said Aiden.

  ‘We should have organised something, Mad,’ said Liv. ‘I feel bad.’

  ‘It’s fine, I’m really not fussed,’ said Madeleine. ‘Henry’s not having a bucks’ night.’

  ‘Isn’t that up to me?’ said Aiden. ‘I’m the best man.’

  ‘He’s not going to want one,’ she said. ‘Besides, you’re probably the only person he could ask.’

  ‘So I’ll take him out for a drink,’ said Aiden. ‘But I’m your best man too, and if this is going to be your last big night out, then I’m calling it a bachelorette party. And that’s all there is to it.’

  ‘A man of action,’ said Liv, raising her glass to him. ‘I like it.’

  Aiden clinked his glass against Liv’s and took a swig of his champagne before putting it back down on the table. ‘All right,’ he said, clapping his hands together. ‘It’s too late to organise a male stripper. What else goes down at a bachelorette party?’

  ‘Interesting choice of words,’ Ren remarked.

  Aiden gave her a sideways look, more of a leer really, Madeleine noted.

  ‘I know, I know!’ said Natalie. ‘What about the game where you have to design a wedding dress out of toilet paper?’

  ‘Borrring,’ said Ren.

  ‘And I think management might take issue if we started wrapping ourselves in their toilet paper out here in full view,’ said Madeleine.

  ‘I have an idea!’ Sarah jumped off her stool and bolted off. ‘I’ll just be a sec,’ she called over her shoulder.

  She came strolling back a few minutes later, her arms crossed in front of her and a conspiratorial grin on her face. At the table she pulled out a large scrunched wad of toilet paper she had tucked under her arm.

  ‘I’m not going to wear a toilet paper wedding dress,’ Madeleine said flatly.

  ‘No,’ said Sarah. ‘Just a veil!’

  ‘Yes!’ Katie jumped off her stool to come around behind Madeleine. ‘Who’s got bobby pins?’

  ‘No, wait,’ Madeleine protested as they all started searching in their handbags. ‘I don’t want to go round with toilet paper on my head.’ That made Aiden laugh. ‘I’m not even wearing a veil at the wedding.’

  ‘You’re not?’ said Aiden. ‘But Lucy and I both thought the veil was perfect.’

  ‘What?’ said Liv, looking confused.

  ‘I was lucky enough to accompany Maddie to her fitting the other day,’ Aiden explained.

  Madeleine could feel them all gaping at her, especially Liv. ‘M-my sister couldn’t make it,’ she stammered, ‘and it was my final fitting, so . . .’

  ‘Well, aren’t you a gorgeous best man going with her?’ Natalie gushed.

  ‘What’s the dress like?’ Sarah gasped, her eyes wide.

  ‘My lips are sealed,’ said Aiden. ‘Except to say that she looks amazing. Especially with the veil,’ he added.

  ‘Enough about the veil,’ said Madeleine. ‘I didn’t say I’d wear it.’

  ‘Well brides always wear veils on their hens’ night,’ said Katie. ‘Haven’t you ever noticed them?’

  ‘Yes, and they look tacky, and they’re not even made of toilet paper!’

  ‘Settle down.’ Sarah patted her on the shoulder. ‘Promise we won’t make you look stupid.’

  As far as toilet paper veils went, Madeleine supposed they could have done worse. Between them, Sarah and Katie fashioned a rosette for a headpiece, with a few lengths flowing down her back.

  ‘Now that’s a bride.’ Aiden raised his glass when they were finished. ‘To Madeleine.’

  She felt people staring. She took a sip from her glass, and then another, more of a gulp really. It was excellent champagne; she almost smacked her lips. She hated to think what Aiden must have paid for it.

  ‘All right, so now we need a wedding-related game,’ he said.

  ‘I’ve got one!’ said Ren. ‘We did this at my friend’s hens’ night.’

  Aiden winced. ‘I wish you’d stop calling it that.’

  ‘Anyway,’ Ren went on, ‘there was a game show like this on the telly, yonks ago. You ask the bride questions about the groom to see how well she knows him.’

  ‘That’s The Newlywed Game,’ said Aiden. ‘We had it in the States as well.’

  ‘We would have got it from you.’

  ‘How are we going to play it here?’ Liv asked. ‘With no groom?’

  ‘We ask Madeleine questions about Henry,’ Ren exp
lained, ‘and if she gets them right –’

  ‘But wait, we don’t really know Henry,’ said Natalie, ‘so how will we know if she’s getting them right?’

  ‘You could trust me?’ Madeleine suggested.

  They ignored that.

  ‘Aiden could speak for Henry,’ said Liv. ‘You’ve known him the longest, right?’

  ‘Sure,’ he said. ‘I can do that.’

  ‘And if Mad gets the answer wrong, she has to drink a shot,’ said Ren.

  ‘Hold on a minute,’ said Madeleine. ‘You didn’t say anything about making it a drinking game.’

  ‘Why not? You’re not driving,’ Aiden said. ‘And it’s not much of a game if there are no stakes involved.’

  Madeleine didn’t know, shots might be taking things too far.

  ‘Look,’ said Aiden, ‘this will be entirely based on you answering a series of questions about Henry, so how can you lose? You know everything about him, you live with him.’

  That was the thing, Madeleine felt like she didn’t know everything about Henry at all, but she could hardly say that out loud. Everyone was watching her, waiting, coaxing. She finally caved to the pressure.

  ‘Okay,’ she relented.

  ‘That’s the spirit,’ said Aiden.

  The girls started establishing the rules and the way the game would be played. They set Madeleine and Aiden up on stools on one side of the table, while the rest of them sat facing them like a panel. They would ask the questions in an orderly fashion, one at a time. Aiden had the last word on whether an answer was acceptable, and no further discussion would be entered into. They were about to begin when Aiden reminded them that they didn’t have any shots to drink.

  ‘You go with Aiden, Mad,’ said Ren. ‘We need to organise our questions.’

  As soon as they were alone, Madeleine grabbed Aiden’s arm. ‘I haven’t told you about Henry’s call,’ she said.

  ‘Oh yeah, what was that about?’

  ‘He asked if I’d heard from you,’ she explained. ‘And I kind of avoided telling him.’

  ‘Okay . . .’

  ‘It was just that we’d already been talking for a few minutes, then he asked if I’d heard from you, and if I suddenly said you were with me . . . I don’t know.’ She gave up. She didn’t really know how to explain herself.