‘How dare I? Because I love Lily. Truly love her with all my heart and soul. I’m sorry, Ben, but I know you don’t. Not in the way this amazing, wonderful woman deserves to be loved. And if you, Jade, or anyone else tries to stand in my way, you’d better watch out.’
Lily stares at him. Her face has turned as pale as her dress as Harry faces down Jade. She seems genuinely shocked at his words.
‘Don’t you talk to my daughter like that, you bitch!’ Lily’s mum weighs in, followed by her father. Then Ben’s parents muscle through and start shouting at Lily’s lot.
‘Will you all calm down! This isn’t helping anyone,’ Cal orders, but everyone ignores him.
‘Wait!’ The falconer hurries up to us, with Boris on her arm and the rings in her other outstretched hand. ‘I’ve got him down and the rings. Everything’s going to be all right. You can carry on with the ceremony!’
‘Carry on?’ Ben snaps. ‘This whole thing has turned into a joke. You’ve made us a laughing stock, Lily.’
Lily stares at the rings and at Ben. ‘I’m sorry I’ve humiliated you in public but it was better that I ended things now.’
Ben snorts in contempt.
‘You can’t do this to us!’ Jade wails and takes a step towards Lily again but Harry moves between them like a huge granite wall.
‘I told you to leave her alone, Jade. I meant it.’
Jade shoots him a poisonous look but stays where she is.
‘Lily, I can’t keep it hidden any longer. This business with the rings was a sign. A sign that I should tell you how I really feel. How you know I really feel.’
‘Oh for fuck’s sake!’ Ben sneers.
Bewildered, Lily looks from Harry to each face around her. Then she takes Harry’s large hand in hers and glances up at him. ‘No one knows how I really feel, Harry. How could they, because I don’t know myself.’
With a sad smile, she turns away and walks off towards the copse.
‘Wait, Lily! Come back!’ her mum shouts.
‘Lily!’ Harry calls and starts to follow her.
I grab his arm. ‘Stop. Let her go!’ I say. ‘Leave her for now. Everyone leave her be, please.’
‘I can’t leave her. I need to go to her,’ says Harry.
‘In a little while, mate.’ Cal is here now, his hand on Harry’s arm. ‘Give her some space. That’s what she needs more than anything.’
‘I’m outta here before I vomit,’ says Ben to his best man. ‘Come on, mate.’
‘Wait, Ben!’ Jade screeches. ‘We can smooth things over.’
Ben snorts and turns on his heel with his best man in tow.
Jade gives Addison a push. ‘Don’t just stand there, you wimp. Get after him and sort things out.’
But Addison is frozen to the spot, watching hopelessly as Ben and his celebrity mate thump off. There’s weeping and wailing behind me from the mothers and ranting from Jade who’s being unsuccessfully soothed by Addison. Lily’s bridesmaids are talking to each other frantically, debating what to do. The guests at the back of the glade are straining to hear what’s happening while some have already got their phones out, tweeting and texting the gossip to the world. Rachel holds her hands up in sheer amazement and Ben and his best man stride off out of view. The Grapevine! photographer follows them, snapping away.
Louie has started yapping, furiously. He leaps out of Lily’s mum’s arms and dashes towards Harry.
Rachel joins me and Cal while Jade and Addison argue with the two feuding families. ‘Oh hell. Of all the problems I’d anticipated, I never expected this. I’d better let the caterers and suppliers know what’s happened,’ she says. ‘And try and think of what to do next.’
‘I’ll find Lily in a few minutes,’ I say. ‘Can you try and calm the parents down and persuade them to let her have some time alone?’
Rachel eyes the rowing families with horror. ‘I’ll do my best.’
‘Maybe leave it a few minutes to let them simmer down,’ says Cal.
Rachel nods. ‘Good idea. I’ll see to the caterers first.’
She hurries off to the tepee. Cal hugs me. ‘Oh my God, has there ever been a bigger wedding disaster in the history of wedding disasters?’
‘It’s not our fault,’ Cal says. ‘For once in our lives, it’s not our fault or Kilhallon’s … but it’s definitely going to make headlines, that’s for sure. I bet Mawgan’s dancing for joy.’
‘She’s been very quiet so far. In fact, where is she?’
We both scan the bridesmaids’ seats. Lily’s so-called mates are both on their phones but there’s no sign of Mawgan. Anyone would think she’d melted away.
‘Jesus, I knew she was up to something,’ says Cal.
Harry’s sitting on a log, cradling Louie who licks his face. Everyone else has forgotten him.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. ‘I’ll try to find Lily and speak to Harry. He looks completely lost, although Louie’s obviously decided who he wants Lily to be with.’
‘I’ll try to find Ben,’ Cal says.
Polly arrives and plants her hands on her hips. ‘Well, that was a turn-up for the books. I thought you said that Harry had a boyfriend? Well, it’s probably for the best. I never took to that Ben. Now, what I want to know is, who’s going to eat all that food?’
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
I didn’t need the text from Nina to tell me where Lily might have gone. I tried Poldark Cottage first but could tell by the ranting coming from inside that Jade had got there first and hadn’t got hold of Lily. I’m honestly on the verge of getting that woman escorted from Kilhallon land. However, I could hear Lily’s mum and dad blaming Jade for pressurising Lily as I slunk away.
Holding up the hem of my dress, I run down to Demelza’s. To my enormous relief, Lily’s sitting on a stool in the staff kitchen, still in her wedding dress, sipping from a bottle of water. Nina shrugs in despair behind her back and then leaves us.
Her first words are: ‘Where’s Louie? I wish I’d brought him with me but I wasn’t thinking straight.’
‘Relax. Harry’s got him.’
She heaves a huge sigh. ‘Thank God for that. I’m so sorry to have brought all this trouble to your door but Demelza’s was the only place I thought I’d be safe. I know I don’t deserve to be safe because I’ve hurt Ben and my parents so much – and embarrassed my family and friends.’
‘You did what you had to. You couldn’t go through with it if it felt so wrong. That would have been hurting Ben even more.’
‘I hope he’ll be OK. I think he knew how I felt. I knew how he felt and he didn’t want to do this either.’
‘Then why did you? Did Jade and Addison bully you into it?’
‘Yes. No. No, that’s a cop-out. Jade did pressure us both, it’s true. Almost as soon as we started seeing each other, she sensed the opportunity for us to become a fairy-tale couple. She knew we’d be in the media even more as a couple, rather than on our own. I liked Ben, he’s fun sometimes and he’s gorgeous and … he liked me and we had some great times but I’m not sure it was ever love. Actually, I know it wasn’t. I know what love is and I don’t feel it for Ben.’
‘Do you feel it for Harry?’
‘Yes. Yes, I probably do, but I’ve been hiding the fact so long, from everyone around me and from him and myself, that I’m not sure. I feel exhausted with the whole business of the wedding and trying to convince myself it was what I wanted. I should have ended this long ago and never left it until the last minute. It was humiliating for Ben. I need to see him but I can’t face him. Will you see how he is? Will you let me know?’
‘Cal’s gone to find him. Can I let your parents know you’re OK?’
‘In a minute. Let me have some time first then I’ll face them.’
‘And Harry?’ I ask.
‘I’d like to see him first. He’s not gay, you know. Giles is gay but he’s Harry’s best friend, not his partner. They served in Afghanistan together and Giles was given a medica
l discharge because he has PTSD. Harry invited him to flat share and because there have never been any girlfriends around, people just assumed. People assume a lot when they have no idea what’s going on under the surface. They have no idea about the real problems. It suited me to let Ben and Jade think Harry was gay. It threw them off the scent. It was easier for me so they couldn’t guess he’d fallen in love with me – and that I love him too.’
‘Lily!’
The back door of the cafe bursts open and Harry rushes in, carrying Louie.
Nina throws up her hands in despair. ‘Sorry, I couldn’t keep him out!’
Louie leaps out of Harry’s arms and onto Lily who manages to catch him. He barks joyfully and starts licking her to death. Harry stands back, unsure of what to do.
‘Lily? Will you ever forgive me for what I’ve just done?’
‘What’s there to forgive? I’m the one who threw the bombshell into the wedding.’
‘And I’m so glad you did but I shouldn’t have blurted out how I felt in front of everyone, but you must have guessed’— he kneels at her feet —‘how I still feel about you now.’
Lily holds the wriggling Louie away from her face. ‘I had my suspicions but I was in denial and overwhelmed by dealing with my feelings – or lack of them – for Ben. Poor Ben, but I had to be honest with him for everyone’s sakes.’
‘You’re not angry with me, then? When you ran away I thought I’d blown it with you.’
Lily pats his head, just as if he’s a big shaggy version of Louie. ‘I could never be angry with you, but I’m not sure I’m ready to start another relationship right now. I want to talk to you, properly, but I need to get away and have some time to myself first.’
‘I understand. I can be patient. I’ve waited so long already.’ Harry stands up. ‘Whatever you want, I’ll do as you ask.’
Lily turns to me. ‘Is there any way we can get out of here unnoticed?’
‘Over the moor?’ Harry cuts in. ‘I can have one of the guys bring his car to the end of that track by Gwennap’s farm. There’s an old bridleway that leads into his yard that we can reach via the coastal path and through the heather.’
‘That’s right,’ I say. ‘I walk Mitch up there sometimes.’
‘I checked out the whole area before the wedding,’ says Harry. ‘But you’d attract less attention if you got out of this dress. I’m sorry.’ He turns to me. ‘Is there anything you can lend her?’
‘I’ve a spare uniform in the locker in case someone has an accident. Will that do?’
‘Great,’ says Harry. ‘We need to go now before someone finds you. It’s only a matter of time.’
In the staffroom, Lily strips off her wedding dress and hands it to me. ‘Here, find a good home for this.’
‘I can’t do that. It’s yours and it must have cost thousands.’
‘I don’t want to be reminded of today. Auction it for charity if you don’t want it yourself. It’ll be worth ten times more now.’
‘Thanks.’
She pulls on chef’s whites and a Demelza’s apron and tucks her hair under one of Jez’s spare chef’s caps. Then she borrows some cleanser and washes the make-up from her face. You could almost imagine she was an ordinary mortal.
‘The shoes will have to stay,’ she says, pointing to her satin ballet pumps ‘but I don’t think anyone will notice.’
‘You’ll never get over the moor in those. Here, borrow these. They’ll be a bit too big but they’re better than your pumps.’
I pull off my flats and hand them to her.
‘Thank you, Demi. For the wonderful wedding, even though it never happened. For being kind and for making Demelza’s a place I felt safe for a little while at least. And for making me realise that I didn’t love Ben enough to spend the rest of my life with him and that it was cruel to even think I did. And for making me realise I should go all out for what I know is my dream, whatever the cost.’
‘But I never meant to do all that …’ I protest.
Harry speaks into his radio and then turns to us. ‘Lily. We need to leave. The car’s waiting.’
Lily hugs me. ‘I know, but don’t feel bad. It’s wrong of me to run away like this but I can’t face everyone yet. I promise I’ll phone my parents once we’re away from Kilhallon and I’ll speak to Ben if he’ll let me. Please tell me how he is.’
‘I’ll try, but I daren’t let on I helped you.’
‘No, I wouldn’t put you in that position. Can you and the staff pretend you haven’t seen me? I’ll be eternally grateful,’ she asks.
‘I’m sure they can. Good luck.’
Harry checks outside the back door and they slip out. ‘Keep walking as far as the engine house,’ he says. ‘Then take the right turn by the signpost. I’ll be nearby.’
And they’re gone. There are a few wedding guests with children on the cafe terrace at the front. One of the new staff is serving them afternoon tea as they gossip about the wedding that never was. I close the door. The rest of the staff stare at me, waiting for an explanation. Jez throws a cloth on the counter top. ‘Will someone please tell us what the hell is going on?’
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Cal
I know I promised Demi I’d find Ben Trevone but I’m pretty sure he’ll have legged it by now. The way he took off out of that wedding glade, he’s bound to have got the hell away from Kilhallon and I don’t blame him. I don’t like the guy myself – he’s a tosser and definitely doesn’t deserve Lily Craig. However, being jilted by your fiancée at the altar is going to sting, especially when it looks like she might end up with a guy you thought was your friend – or in Ben’s case, his employee.
I’ve sort of been in Ben’s position myself with Isla. Luckily for me, I never actually made it to the altar with her, but I know how it feels when the woman you love, or thought you loved, decides she wants to be with someone else.
Now I know that’s a good thing or I’d never have found Demi and I’ve come to believe I’d never have been the man I am if I had married Isla. Maybe I’d have always been restless and unfulfilled and wondering what else there was in the world: Demi has made me see that I have to carry on fighting for what I believe in.
I hope she’s managed to find Lily and look after her.
Most of the guests have stayed down in the glade, consoling themselves with the champagne that Rachel’s arranged for the caterers to serve. A few have wandered back to their cars but most have decided to hang around for the free booze and epic gossip.
But wait … that is a turn-up, as Polly would say. Trevone is still here, or at least his car is. I recognise his BMW SUV parked outside the rear of the farmhouse, next to a Merc limo which belongs to the Cades. Demi told me that Mawgan had arranged for Ben’s parents to travel here in style with her.
I approach Kilhallon House and hear voices in the kitchen. I stop outside. I recognise them: Ben’s transatlantic Cornish twang and Mawgan Cade’s voice, though I can only catch snatches of the words. What the hell are they doing in Kilhallon House?
The back door is open a few inches. Ben and Mawgan are talking in the kitchen.
Or rather Mawgan’s talking. Ben’s not saying much. I peer around the crack in the door and listen in.
‘Ben. This must have come as such a shock. How could Lily be so cruel? You must be devastated.’ Mawgan of course. What did I expect?
‘I’m OK.’
‘You need someone who appreciates you. Lily’s out of her mind.’
Ben grunts. ‘Yeah, maybe. Then again she’s done me a favour. I wish it hadn’t been in front of all those people but I don’t regret it.’
‘You’re so brave, Ben … Do you really mean that you didn’t want to marry Lily?’
‘Yes and no. Shit, Mawgan, I don’t know but the more I think about it, the more I feel as if she handed me my life back. I’m free to do what I want now. You’re a free agent, Mawgs. You must understand what I’m trying to say?’
‘Yes. I do
. I understand exactly what you mean. Oh, Ben, I knew from the first moment I saw you at Kilhallon that we were meant to be together.’
Before I even have time to think: Jesus, did I really hear Mawgan make a move on Ben minutes after he’s been jilted at the altar, there’s a strangled cry, the harsh scrape of a chair and an almighty crash.
‘Get off me!’
I shove the door open. There’s a chair on the floor surrounded by smashed crockery. Ben is backed against the scullery door, with Mawgan snogging him for all she’s worth. His hands are in the air and then on her arms.
‘This is what you really want,’ she purrs.
Ben takes a gulp of air. ‘Mawgs. No, you’ve got the wrong idea. I like you as a friend. We’ve had a laugh and I’m grateful for the sympathy but I don’t want this.’
‘What the hell’s going on here?’
Mawgan turns round. Ben’s shoulders slump in relief. Taking his chance, he slips past Mawgan.
Her eyes shoot daggers. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘It is my house, if you hadn’t noticed.’
‘Do you mind? You’ve interrupted a private moment.’
‘No, you haven’t,’ says Ben, edging away. His face is white and he holds up his hands in naked terror as Mawgan, a foot shorter than him, faces up to him. So this is the big brave star of Knife Edge, is it? I don’t know who I feel most sorry for, him or her. Then again, they both deserve each other.
‘I think there’s been a misunderstanding, Mawgs. I don’t want anyone. I …’
Mawgan is about to do one of two things. Leap on me or Ben and rip us both to pieces – or cry. Frankly, I could handle the first far more easily.
‘I bet you’re laughing at me, aren’t you?’ she says, but I’m not sure which of us she means.
‘I don’t think today’s been very funny,’ I say.
Ben takes a step forward. Bold move. Ouch. ‘Mawgan, wait … I still want us to be mates. Just not … anything else.’
She narrows her eyes. Ben will be toast if he actually tries to touch her.
‘I thought … you led me on. You made me think that I was special. You asked me to be bridesmaid and you took me out for champagne and told me not to tell Lily. You told me I could come to Hollywood any time.’
Confetti at the Cornish Café Page 25