Twenty-Eight
The ceremony is just perfect.
It’s held down on the sand outside the restaurant. There are no chairs, but all the guests stand on either side of a red carpet that is laid on the sand for Eddie and Dexter to walk to the end of, where they then say their wedding vows in front of the celebrant. We later discover they have already had a legal ceremony a few days ago in a registry office in Penzance.
The intimate service, performed in the moonlight under the stars, is so moving that I find myself sobbing through most of it – especially when Rosie is chosen by Eddie and Dexter to throw rose petals from a little basket over the red carpet in front of them as they make their entrance.
I’m supported throughout the ceremony by Rosie, who has her basket in one hand, while her other hand tightly holds mine. And Mack on my other side, who passes me a clean white handkerchief to dab my eyes with.
When the service is over, we all head back up to the restaurant together, while Eddie and Dexter have a few more photos taken down on the sand, just the two of them.
‘Are you all right?’ Mack asks as we follow the others back up the beach.
‘Yes, sorry about that. I didn’t expect it to move me quite as much as it did, or I’d have come prepared with tissues.’
‘Keep the handkerchief,’ Mack says, looking at it covered in mascara and tears. ‘I’ve got others.’
There’s a bit of a queue as all the guests try to funnel in through the restaurant doors at the same time, so we stand back and wait.
‘So how have you been?’ I ask. ‘How’s your bar in New York?’
‘I have several now,’ Mack says without a hint of bragging in his voice. ‘We’ve expanded.’
‘How does your family like living in New York?’ I ask.
‘They don’t,’ Mack says again without any particular emotion in his voice. ‘They stayed in LA.’
‘Oh.’ I don’t really know how to respond to this. ‘Do you commute back and forth?’
Mack smiles. ‘Hardly, it’s five hours plus flight time.’
‘Really? I had no idea. Can’t you fly from London to New York in a similar amount of time?’
‘You can indeed. The US is one big country! But to answer your question, my kids come and visit – they love NY, and I go back to see them sometimes too.’
The question is hovering in the air. So Mack answers it before I have to ask it.
‘My wife and I split up a couple of years ago, just before I bought the first bar, and our divorce came through almost twelve months to the day.’
‘Oh, Mack, I’m sorry,’ I say, meaning it.
Mack shrugs. ‘It happens. I can’t say I miss my wife all that much, but I do miss my kids. The twins are a similar age to your Rosie.’ Mack looks over to where Rosie is drawing in the sand with a piece of driftwood, and then colouring her outline in by scattering rose petals over the top.
‘Samuel and Benjamin, right?’ I say, impressed not only by my own memory for once, but by Rosie’s creativity too.
‘Yes, well remembered. I take my hat off to you looking after a baby all on your own. It was hard enough with two of us.’
‘But you had two babies, so I guess that’s one each.’ I smile. ‘Makes us even, I reckon.’
‘Perhaps. I wouldn’t have fancied it all on my own, though.’
‘You do what you have to.’
‘Yes, that’s one of the reasons I moved to New York. My marriage was over, but I still needed to support my boys. When a pal of mine offered me the chance to come in with him on the purchase of a bar it was just too good an opportunity to turn down. I knew I’d be able to provide for the boys and give them a better life – and it’s proved to be true. That’s why we’ve been able to expand our brand to several bars across the city.’
‘Well done you. I’m sorry you’re not nearer your children, but you seem to be doing very well with your businesses.’
Mack nods. ‘Did you ever visit New York? I don’t suppose you remember, but we discussed you visiting the Met Museum when I was last here?’
‘I do remember. But, no, I haven’t ever got there . . . yet. There’s still time, especially now Rosie is older. I’d love to take her one day.’
‘Make sure you look me up when you do,’ Mack says, smiling. ‘It would be my pleasure to show the two of you around the city.’
‘Don’t you worry, I’ll be banging on your door the minute we get off the flight.’
‘Hey, you two!’ Eddie and Dexter are making their way past us with Rosie in tow. She’s looking up in awe at both of them as she skips along between them, holding their hands. ‘Stop whispering sweet nothings to each other and get yourselves inside. We’ve got some serious partying to do!’
I blush at Eddie’s words – even though I know he’s only joking.
‘Shall we?’ Mack asks, holding out his arm.
‘Let’s,’ I say, taking it, and we follow the three of them inside to the immediate warmth of the birthday party that’s now a wedding celebration too.
‘Can I get you two a drink?’ Mack asks as we sit back down again at the table with the others. There’s currently ten of us sitting here – Nixie seems to have deserted Rob for now and he has been joined instead by Alice, who looks like she’s hanging on every word he says.
Rob glances at us as we return to the table.
‘That would be lovely, thank you,’ I reply. ‘Rosie will probably have a Coke in a bottle if they have them, and I’ll have a gin and tonic, please.’
‘Alice, don’t bother Rob too much,’ Claire says, looking with concern across the table at her daughter.
‘I’m not bothering him, Mum. He’s telling me all about making movies – it’s incredibly interesting.’
‘She’s not bothering me in the slightest, Claire.’ Rob smiles. ‘I’m more than happy to share what little knowledge I have.’
Alice gazes at Rob in a similar way I would have gazed at my posters of Bon Jovi when I was a teenager and I have to smile.
‘Where’s Rosie?’ Mandy asks, sitting down next to me as Mack goes to get our drinks.
‘Over there with Eddie and Dexter – she seems to be taking her role as flower girl pretty seriously. She can’t leave them alone now – and they seem to be loving it.’
Eddie is currently giving Rosie a piggyback while he talks to one of his guests.
‘Good. I wanted to talk to you.’
‘Oh, yes?’
‘Are you all right?’ Mandy asks with a serious expression.
‘Yes . . . ’ I reply a little hesitantly. ‘Why?’
‘What you said before . . . you know . . . about being depressed. Are you all right now? Because I know some really good people who can help you if you’re not. I’m talking the best – Harley Street, you know? They don’t come cheap – I should know, I’ve had far too many sessions with them over the last ten years. I’ll pay for you to see them. And before you say anything, it’s a gift from me to you. It’s not charity.’
I smile at Mandy. ‘That’s really kind of you to offer, Mandy, but I’m fine right now. Really. I had some pills for a while, but now my main therapy is painting.’
‘Painting?’ Mandy screws up her nose. ‘Really?’
‘Yes, really. I’m sure you can’t imagine it ever helping you with your troubles. But I find it really helps me. Some of my stuff can be a bit dark when I’m having rough days, but for the most part I find it lightens the load, and on occasion I produce some canvases I actually quite like.’
‘Whatever works for you,’ Mandy says, nodding. ‘You’re right, it would never have been my bag when I was having therapy, but I can see it’s doing you good. You always did like a bit of art and craft.’
I feel like pointing out it was more than a bit of ‘art and craft’. I did do a degree in fine art and art history. But I choose not to.
‘But if you ever need a little more help,’ Mandy adds, ‘the offer is there, all right? You only have to ask.’
‘Sure, and thank you.’
Mandy looks over at Rob, with Alice still hanging off his every word, and laughs. ‘Who would have put money on Claire’s daughter sitting there with your Rob twenty-five years ago? She’s about the age you were when you went out with him, isn’t she?’
‘A few years older, actually. It is odd, though. How things change, eh?’
‘Just a bit. Are you all right, though, in other ways I mean? You said earlier you had to give up your job?’
‘Yes, it wasn’t really working out when I had my problems. But I have my part-time job now, and of course Rosie’s father helps out with some money, so Rosie never goes without.’
‘But do you have enough money?’ Mandy asks, as always not beating about the bush. ‘Claire said she thought you might be struggling a bit.’
‘Did she?’ I say, eyeing Claire for a moment.
‘She wasn’t saying anything wrong, Frankie. She’s just a little worried about you, that’s all. She’s your friend – we’re all your friends. If you need help—’
‘I don’t.’
‘I know. But if you do, you only have to say.’ Mandy puts her hand over mine. ‘You’ve been there for all of us at one time or another. Especially me and Claire. If there’s any way we can give you something in return, then we want
to.’
‘I know.’ I tap her hand so it’s clasped in between mine. ‘I know, and if there is anything I’ll let you know, all right?’
‘Promise?’
‘Promise.’
Mack comes over with our drinks. ‘Hey, Mandy,’ he says. putting two glasses and a glass bottle of Coke with a straw down on the table. ‘How’s things?’
‘Good, thanks, Mack. Very good, in fact. And yourself?’
‘Can’t complain,’ he says amiably. ‘It’s good to be back here again.’
‘Is it?’ Mandy looks around. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled to be here for Eddie’s fortieth and his wedding – that was one big surprise, eh?’
We both nod.
‘But I don’t think I’d be here otherwise.’
‘Really?’ I ask in surprise. ‘I love coming back here.’
‘Nah,’ Mandy says. ‘Not really my cup of tea these days. Now most of my family isn’t here there’s not really any reason for me to come back. Except for my nephew of course, he’s still living here with his grandparents. But Fisher is sixteen now, he doesn’t want to spend time with his Aunt Mandy any more.’
‘Oh Mand,’ I say putting my hand over hers again ‘That’s a shame about Fisher. But completely understandable you’d find it difficult coming home. I guess we all move on. We all change.’
‘Don’t we just?’ Mandy pulls a face. ‘Mainly in the number of wrinkles we all have! Although Rob over there is looking far too smooth for someone approaching forty – I might have to ask him where he gets his fillers done.’
‘Do you think he’s had Botox?’ I ask, surprised again.
‘Yeah, course he has. Mack will tell you – won’t you, Mack?’
‘I’m staying out of this,’ Mack says diplomatically. ‘Not my business what Rob does or doesn’t do with his face.’
‘Did I hear my name mentioned?’ Rob asks, looking across at us. ‘Do you want me to come around to that side of the table?’ He looks at us hopefully, like he’s searching for an excuse to get away from Alice for a while.
‘No . . . ’ Mandy says with a straight face. ‘I don’t think we mentioned Rob’s name, did we, Frankie?’
I shake my head solemnly. ‘No, Mandy, I don’t think we did.’
‘Mack?’ Rob asks desperately.
‘No, buddy. You’re on your own.’ Mack winks.
Rob shakes his head good-naturedly and rolls his eyes. ‘Thanks. Talk about friends helping friends. I must go and take a look at your painting, Frankie,’ he says, looking over at the gift table, where a few people are already viewing my painting. ‘It looks like it’s attracting quite a crowd.’ He makes his excuses to Alice, then comes over to me. ‘Why don’t you come and tell me all about it, Frankie? Explain where you got your inspiration from?’
‘Er . . . all right, then. See you in a bit,’ I say to Mack.
Rob and I walk across the dance floor together. Even though the DJ is doing his best to attract people onto the dance floor by playing a mixture of appropriate tunes, he’s not getting many takers just yet. But as we weave our way through the few children that are sliding around on the shiny floor, I’m very aware of many pairs of eyes upon us.
‘Do you get this all the time?’ I whisper to him as we walk.
‘Get what?’ Rob asks.
‘People staring at you wherever you go?’
Rob glances around, and everyone immediately pretends not to be watching at him. ‘Oh, that? Yeah, you sort of get used to it. I hardly notice it now, to be honest.’
I don’t know how you could ever get used to people looking at you wherever you went. It feels a bit creepy.
‘So this is the masterpiece?’ Rob says as we stand in front of my painting. The group that had been there previously moved on when they saw Rob approaching.
It’s funny – instead of people gravitating towards him, as I’d expect might happen, they actually run away, as if they can’t possibly speak to someone as famous as Rob.
‘I didn’t expect Eddie to display it for everyone to see. I just hoped he might like it, that’s all.’
Rob gazes at the painting. ‘You don’t change, do you?’
For a moment I think he’s talking about my painting, then I realise he means me.
‘Don’t I? What makes you say that?’
‘You’re still so unpretentious, so modest, so unassuming, even.’
‘Did you swallow a thesaurus?’ I ask, smiling.
‘I mean it. I spend all my time in Hollywood with people who are full of themselves. It makes a nice change to listen to someone who is actually talented but doesn’t realise it.’
‘Er . . . thanks,’ I reply, stunned by his words. I turn back to my painting. ‘It’s just a hobby, really. I enjoy it, I just don’t get all that much time to do it these days.’
‘I’d like to see some of your other paintings sometime. Maybe buy one or two. I could do with something to remind me of home.’
Rob stares at the painting again.
‘I’m surprised to hear you say that. Call St Felix home, I mean. It’s a long time since you lived here.’
‘I know. I still think of it as that, though – don’t you?’
‘Yes, very much so. Funnily enough, Rosie and I were talking about how much we’d like to come and live here again.’
‘Why don’t you, then?’ Robs asks, as if it’s the easiest thing in the world.
‘Because it’s expensive for one. Have you seen the house prices here recently?’
‘No, not really.’
Of course he hasn’t.
‘And I have Rosie to think about too,’ I add hurriedly, in case Rob thinks my lack of funds is the only reason.
‘But you just said she would like to live here?’
‘Yes . . . but there’s her school. And . . . her friends. I can’t just make her leave all that. And what about my job – I have to earn money somehow. I can’t just live on fresh air.’
Rob just looks at me, and I know he’s seeing right through all my feeble excuses.
‘If you had the money, would you move back here?’ he asks, looking me straight in the eye, so I have no choice but to tell the truth.
‘Yes, in a heartbeat,’ I answer totally honestly for the first time.
‘Then let me give you the money,’ Rob says, making me physically jump.
‘What?’
‘Let me buy a house for you here – for you and Rosie. Hollywood pays pretty well when you’re at the top of your game. We’d have to be talking millionaires’ mansions for it to put more than a small dent in my bank accounts, so I’m sure I could run to a little cottage by the sea. What do you say?’