Happy Ever After

by Kitty Wilson

  Had they been discussing her? How was the best way to find out? She started to carefully phrase a sentence in her head that would get a straight answer without putting either of them off. It’s not always about you, you know pinged into her head. Bloody hell. That Alice and her evening visits and peppy texts had a lot to answer for.

  Her train of thought was interrupted by her mobile trilling from her bag. She considered, just for a second, ignoring it and having dinner with her family. But her compulsion, the person she was, couldn’t let it go entirely. She’d just have a quick look and see who it was.

  Bugger. Angelina. She couldn’t leave that. She’d been chasing her for weeks. There were so many issues she didn’t know where to start; some input from the woman herself would be Very Helpful Indeed at this point.

  ‘Darling, how are you?’

  ‘Yes, yes, great thanks. And you?’ Marion walked out of the kitchen, away from the smells of star anise and lemon, away from her husband and oldest child, just for a minute, into the living room as Richard called for the two younger sons to come down the stairs and eat. An odd feeling, as if she was on a piece of elastic, washed over her – her whole body was trying to ping back into the kitchen.

  But business had to come first. What if Richard suddenly stopped being reasonable about everything and cut her off without a penny? She needed business to come first. Just until she had a squirrel fund entirely of her own making, to support herself and the boys.

  ‘All good, having a fab time. People really do love Chase over here you know, it’s like he’s some kind of god. We had paparazzi scale the walls and fall into the swimming pool, hilarious.’ Angelina babbled on, failing to ask, as ever, how things were.

  As fond as Marion was of Chase, she couldn’t help but remember Richard saying that Chase’s self-positivity movement had done a lot of good but also smacked, just a teeny bit, of being a cult.

  ‘Anyway, I’m not calling about that; Chase may be popular but he can also be an arse. Tell me, how is all the prep going?’ Marion knew Angelina was referring to the fact that Chase had put his foot down, a rare but immovable occurrence, and insisted that not only should they let Matt get married in peace but that he was not prepared to tie the knot this summer, saying it was impractical. The woman had been spitting blood such was her fury when she rang her friend to tell her all of this a few weeks ago.

  Marion had been split when she heard this news. She had been dropping hints – they hadn’t been subtle ones – to every customer she had booked about her best friends Angelina Masters and Chase Cooper and how their wedding would be the height of summer sophistication, happening in Penmenna and organized solely by her. It would look pretty bloody bad if the wedding was shifted until next year.

  On the flip side, she was getting closer to Rosy as they collaborated on cakes, shoes, hair, cars, everything. Which had led to her priorities changing. Having been forced to marry Richard in a ceremony designed by his mother, she had found herself wanting to make sure Rosy and Matt got the wedding of their dreams, with a couple of cute surprises thrown in. Chase’s insistence that a double wedding was totally off the table made that much more achievable without Marion having to shoulder the blame.

  Luckily Angelina’s determination ‘not to have my entire summer ruined’ meant that Marion had been able to persuade Angelina to throw a huge party the weekend after her brother got married and had suggested using it to celebrate her engagement. Angelina was keen on the party but was being particularly diva-ish, constantly bleating that she wanted it as celebratory as possible but failing to give any further detail. She had however been pin-sharp in making Marion promise she’d oversee her wedding as well.

  ‘Um, yes, that was why I left all the messages.’ Marion answered Angelina’s question and realized her tone was a little passive-aggressive so quickly changed it up. ‘But you are always so busy, the price of being so terribly popular, no doubt.’ And she tinkled down the phone.

  The real Marion wanted to tell her that she was utterly unreliable, over-indulged and had zero awareness of others, but that would not be sensible.

  ‘Oh, I really am,’ Angelina replied, with no trace of irony.

  ‘Quite. Things are going well, holding the party on your beach is a beautiful idea, very wedding-y. I would have loved that for my own wedding, so Cornish but desperately chic Cornish, polo-on-the-beach Cornish rather than Redruth Cornish. We’ve got three domes booked from Aidan’s dad from school so even if the weather is vile, it is all covered. I’m so excited; I don’t think you could have chosen a better location and obviously the beach will be immaculate.’

  She wasn’t sure how Jenny and Serena would feel about removing seaweed and making sure all visible stones were attractive ones but when she had planned it she’d assumed they’d be bored the first week of the holidays and would be grateful for something to do. Now though an annoying little voice in the back of her head was saying that she couldn’t expect people to help for free and she may need to offer payment. That voice was dammed irritating and getting louder and louder as the weeks progressed.

  Marion continued her rapturous self-praise. So far she had had to make every decision for this party, which ensured it would be marvellous but she was concerned it had very little of Chase and Angelina in it. ‘The food has been tasted, such a shame you couldn’t be here for that, and is going to be absolutely divine. Food of the gods; I have never tasted anything so… well, words don’t describe it, but you won’t be disappointed.’

  ‘Fabulous, I knew I could trust you. You have such brilliant taste. You’re my friend after all.’ Angelina cackled and Marion thought she may well scream if she had to listen to that joke one more time.

  ‘Excellent. The caterer is organized and booked, flowers and large plants done, thank you for choosing those, I would have picked that line as well and the plants are going to give us a structure, change the space completely. Exquisite. The one thing I am worried about, Angelina’ – Marion took a deep breath and prepared herself – ‘is that I’m having very few RSVPs back. And those that I do are saying they’d love to come but there simply wasn’t enough notice.’

  It was bad enough that she couldn’t describe the event as the wedding of the year any more; having it as an engagement party was a barely acceptable substitution. A deserted engagement party, however, was not. It would not look good in promotional photographs and Marion needed to sort this out.

  ‘Ah, okay. Yes, Chase did say that, it’s why he wanted to move the date. I tell you what, let’s keep everything as it is and I’ll take over the guest list; don’t you worry about it. Just trust in your taste and make it the best party you could possibly imagine, the most romantic, the most me, the most you.’

  That sounded fishy. She had expected a full-on toy-out-of-pram level tantrum when she mentioned the paucity of attendees. The one thing that Angelina needed was attention from everyone and the more the better. Even one guest not going to her party should be enough to warrant a struggle the Gallagher brothers would be proud of.

  ‘Are you sure? The guest list is often one of the most stressful bits. That is what I’m here for.’

  ‘Absolutely fine. Although I’ve had an idea. An insurance so to speak.’ Angelina’s voice was a little high-pitched, strangled almost. ‘How about you invite everyone you know and love’ – that was a fairly small list – ‘and get as many people as you can there, just in case.’

  ‘That sounds bizarre. Why would you want my friends at your party?’

  ‘Volume, darling, volume. We want crowds so big they dwarf a presidential inauguration.’ Angelina added, ‘You forget I’m practically American now; size is everything. Don’t believe what anyone else has to say.’

  ‘I think that maybe if getting guests in time is a problem…’ Marion tentatively prepared to suggest moving the date again. Honestly, she’d be beating Alice into heaven at this rate, the pearly gates ushering her in with a triumphant chorus of trumpeting angels.

&
nbsp; ‘Oh my God! Marion! I thought you were supposed to be working for me…’ The snap was fierce.

  ‘I am. And with your best int—’

  ‘Shut up, you stupid woman. I’m not paying you to ignore me.’ Wow, that was bold, even for Angelina. ‘Just do as you’re told and do it when you’re told. It’s really not that hard. I swear, staff!’ And with a huff so loud the big bad wolf would have been impressed, Angelina slammed the phone down.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Richard was back in school again after the Easter holidays and as much as he loved his boys he was relieved to have a bit of peace again. Bounding up the steps into school, he realized he had missed it. He wasn’t sure if it was the sense of community it exuded, or the sound of the children laughing from behind closed doors as they learnt, or the enthusiasm with which they bombed around the playgrounds in all weathers, hair flying behind them as they ran, bounced, skipped, jumped and ka-powed that made him love it so. He could understand why Marion had been happy to be involved for so many years. It represented a very different childhood to the one she’d had, and it must be a constant source of pride to her as she watched the children here being so carefree.

  The PTA were meeting to outline their plans for the term, just to make sure everyone knew where they were going – aware that the quiz night and, to a lesser degree, the Easter egg hunt had been a bit of a wake-up call as to how events panned out without Marion’s iron fist and death glares. Nothing had burnt to the ground but neither had they been stress-free affairs that any member of the team particularly wanted to repeat.

  The May Fayre took place on the Friday of the last day of half term and as the biggest fundraising event of the year no one wanted to mess that up. It needed to run as smoothly as ever. And that was another of the things that Richard loved about this school. Yes, the PTA had a fair amount of in-fighting – probably less since his wife had distanced herself – and bickering about really petty stuff, but these parents turned up week in, week out to make sure their child’s school was the best it could be. You didn’t get that level of commitment in the City for anything that wasn’t tied to a financial reward. Or, his recent experiences had taught him, a sexual one.

  Shaking that memory off quickly, he headed to the staffroom to make a cup of coffee, only to find Alice doing exactly the same.

  ‘Oh fab, I wanted to catch you.’ She smiled over the coffee cups at him. He only knew Alice from around the school and that she was dating Dan, but had always been struck by her thoughtful manner, the way she considered everyone’s opinions and every outcome before making her decision. He also knew that Marion occasionally, increasingly more so these days, had kind words for her. Rare and worthy praise indeed.

  ‘Okay, anything I should be worried about?’ he asked, very worried indeed. He hoped the May Fayre wasn’t going to be a repeat of the Easter bunny fiasco and she was priming him to take on a role no one else wanted.

  ‘Possibly.’ She grinned at him and raised her eyebrows before casting a covert look around the staffroom and then guiding him by his elbow out of the communal space and towards the stockroom.

  Oh dear, oh dear, what could she possibly have to say that couldn’t be said by the kettle? This was not the impression he had of Alice at all. What on earth did she want him for?

  He watched as she closed the door forcefully, but not before whipping her head around to check that no one had seen them. Door shut, she rounded on him and grinned again. He counselled himself not to judge until she had spoken.

  ‘Nothing to panic about, honestly, Richard, you look terrified. It’s just that we need to keep this on the downlow.’

  ‘Keep what?’

  ‘Good question. You see at the moment I’m looking for men. And a little bird told me that you have an exceptionally good…’ Jesus Christ, was nowhere safe in this world? Was this what it had been like for women for centuries, with men pulling them into cupboards as if it were perfectly acceptable to think ‘no’ meant ‘try harder’? His heart was pounding; he was all hot and bothered. What on earth was he going to do?

  The door was pulled open and a triumphant ‘Aha!’ came booming into the room, swiftly followed by Serena, who he thought was alright despite Marion despising her in the run-up to Christmas. He trusted his wife’s judgement though so was always a bit cautious around her – but today she was clearly going to be his rescuer.

  ‘I saw you two run off and I thought what a wonderful opportunity to talk about—’

  ‘Serena, I thought you agreed that maybe it was not appropriate to—’

  ‘I changed my mind. I can’t stop thinking about it. It would be a way of making amends, to myself largely. Please let me.’

  Huh, maybe not his rescuer. This was insane. And rather frightening.

  ‘Richard, stop looking so scared, honestly.’ Alice turned her attention back to him. ‘I only wanted to talk to you about your voice and singing in the community choir.’

  He felt his shoulders relax. The choir, of course. Thank goodness.

  ‘And I wanted to talk to you about Claudia,’ Serena chipped in, despite a fairly pointed look from Alice.

  Gulp.

  ‘Right, to be clear you’ve dragged me into the cupboard because you want me to become part of your choir.’

  ‘Yes, exactly that. Marion mentioned in passing that you sang and did so well. We are preparing some songs for Rosy’s wedding, but in secret, hence the stationery cupboard. Obviously it means we can’t ask Matt and Chase is overseas for most of the summer so we’re down two male voices and you can tell that the harmonies are lacking. So, it’s my mission to find a new male member.’

  Serena sniggered.

  ‘Oops, not like that obviously. Serena!’ Alice shot her friend a look and he couldn’t help but laugh. Marion would have snorted at that.

  ‘I’m very happy to come along to rehearsal one day and see how it goes, but I’ll have to fit it around me looking after the boys and Marion’s work and so on.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Alice, ‘I’m sure if you wanted to you could bring the boys along. Always good to have new voices. Annie and Ethel are helping me out with organizing it all and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind…’ She said this last bit as if she were talking to herself but out loud, and lacking a little conviction, her final sentence trailing off as if she doubted it.

  ‘Okay, brilliant, thank you.’ He turned to Serena. ‘And what did you want to ask me about Claudia? I don’t know how to make it clearer short of hiring a sky writer but I didn’t sleep with Claudia, have never slept with her and never want to, and haven’t seen her since I left London. How do you know her?’

  Serena sank down onto the little grey safety step stool.

  ‘Did Marion not tell you?’ she asked.

  This phrase filled him anew with dread.

  ‘Did Marion tell me what?’ he asked, knowing he was scrunching his face up with nerves as he spoke. He didn’t think they had any secrets but then he had thought his marriage was as secure as a marriage could be.

  ‘Um…’ Serena looked up and then back and forth from Alice to Richard. ‘About the letters and things before Christmas?’

  ‘Nope.’

  She took a deep breath and then… whoosh, words spewed from her mouth at great speed. ‘Okay, please don’t hate me, I hate myself for this enough as it is. I’ve been friends with Claudia since the year dot, you don’t need to know all the details but I’ve felt beholden to her and her family since I was very little. I knew she was madly in love with you…’

  ‘She was?’ Richard couldn’t help but ask, surprised. She had tied herself to his bed and everything but he hadn’t read love into that.

  ‘Yes, besotted. She wanted a man to treat her as well as you did Marion. She decided instead of finding one of her own she’d go straight to the source and fixed it in her head that you were the one she wanted. Honestly, she did not stop going on about it. I moved to Penmenna, nothing short of coincidence, and she started hasslin
g me to help her. I refused time and time again but she hit me with the big guns, talked of how her family had practically brought me up and I wouldn’t be anyone without their intervention, all pretty true as it goes but not kind to mention it; anyway, I caved. And I am so sorry. She got me to post poisonous little notes through your front door saying you were always away for a reason, that you were emotionally invested elsewhere, that sort of thing. It was an attempt to sow discord and drama in your relationship. I am so, so sorry.’ She took a huge gulp of air and there were tears glinting in the corners of her eyes.

  Richard believed her; her tone, her face, her body language were all riddled with mortification. He almost felt sorry for her until he remembered how odd Marion had been at Christmas, how they had squabbled time and time again and he hadn’t really known why. Now it all made sense; now he could see how she had misread the situation between Claudia and himself – she had been set up for it. Months of being told he was being unfaithful and never ever breathing a word of her fears to him.

  It all made so much more sense. Maybe he should have been crosser at Serena, but her words smacked of utter truth. He could well imagine how single-minded Claudia had been in getting her own way. He wanted to call Marion, reach out and talk to her about this. About how sorry he was that she had gone through that on her own, had lies fed through her door making her safe place, the place they had worked so hard to make their home, their sanctuary, invaded by mistruth and deceit. And to not feel able to talk to him about it…

  ‘Okay, so what was it you wanted to tell me about Claudia today, based on the fact that you thought I already knew all of that?’ he asked, worried about what else there was to come out. His tone may have been a little snippy but the fact that he hadn’t known, had let Marion down so monumentally without even realizing, was stinging hard.