Eighteen
Lucy was thrilled when I told her Jasper had kissed me, but not so much when I said it had only lasted for a matter of seconds.
‘Even so,’ she said. ‘Did he ask you out?’
‘No. He didn’t. But there were a couple of times today when I felt he might say, ‘to hell with waiting,’ swallow a packet of painkillers, and go all out on the whole contact sport thing no matter how much it hurt.’
‘Really? So it’s not all bad then?’
‘It’s bloody frustrating, that’s what it is. But I’d already told him we had to concentrate on dealing with whatever’s going on with Marcus and Adele, and that we could, effectively, continue what we’d started once that was sorted, and once we knew his nose has healed. So I guess it’s just a matter of time. Unless he meets someone else. Or changes his mind.’
Lucy laughed at that. ‘Now you’re sounding like Adele. Wait. What’s going on with Marcus and Adele?’
‘That’s the million-dollar question. And it’s why I left you those messages last night.’
She had called me earlier that morning, but I’d been in the shower at the time and she’d left a message for me saying things were a bit hectic and she’d try me again later. When I tried to call her back, it had gone straight to voicemail. But, although she’d sounded slightly stressed in the message she’d left, she hadn’t said it was anything serious, so I wasn’t overly concerned. I knew how busy she was what with the online side of the business she ran with her mum, and this being the wedding season, plus now she’d taken on Fairlight Brides, she had a lot on her plate.
She let out a long sigh. ‘Yeah. Sorry about that. We had a wedding dress go missing and it’s taken me, Mum, and Chris, until about an hour ago to find out where it was. And you’ll never guess where.’
‘Shanghai?’
‘How did you know that?’
‘Haha. Where is it?’
‘Shanghai,’ she said.
‘No, Lucy. Where?’
‘Shanghai!’ She shouted it this time.
‘Are you serious?’
‘Yes. That’s why I was so surprised when you said it. What made you think of Shanghai of all places?’
I laughed in disbelief. ‘Because of that old saying about taking a slow boat to China. Is it really in Shanghai?’
‘Yep. And the wedding’s a week on Saturday.’
‘That’s a bit late to leave getting your wedding dress, isn’t it? When I get married, I’ll order mine – designed by you, of course – months in advance, and I’ll be constantly trying it on every day until the wedding.’
‘You’re already planning your wedding to Japer then I take it?’
‘I might be.’
‘Well give me plenty of notice because I’m inundated right now. Anyway, this bride did order her dress months in advance. Except she hasn’t tried it on since, and guess what?’
‘She’s put on weight. Or lost weight.’
‘No. She’d ordered the wrong dress. She only realised last week. She said she’s certain it was the right dress when it arrived months ago and she checked it. So it’s obviously magically transformed into a dress she doesn’t like, since then. She insisted we send her another dress – the right dress, which we did. It should’ve arrived two days ago, and I’ve been chasing it up. Then yesterday afternoon the delivery company told me they’d ‘lost’ the parcel. I was on the phone virtually all afternoon trying to find out where it was, only to eventually be told they’d found it – in Shanghai. Can you believe it? It was put into the wrong consignment. That was the last one we had, so I had to search for one from somewhere else, because if we wait for the parcel to get here from Shanghai, the bride would be celebrating her first wedding anniversary. That’s a slight exaggeration, obviously, but it’d probably take weeks because it’s not just the flight time of thirteen hours from Shanghai to London, it’s the fact it’ll probably have to go through customs, as it’s now arriving from China. Anyway, I found another one, in the UK and I got them to send it out immediately via a reliable courier. I’ve just heard it’s arrived with the bride and she loves it, so it’s all sorted now, I hope. But it was one thing after another yesterday afternoon and I was up half the night. It was just as bad this morning. It’s almost two now and I haven’t had lunch. I can’t wait to get home this evening, have a long soak in the bath, and then do absolutely nothing and have an early night. Sorry. You still haven’t told me what’s going on with Marcus and Adele.’
‘Ah yes. About that. I’ve asked Adele, and also Noelle, round this evening for a takeaway and to discuss the wedding, and I hoped you’d come too.’
This time her sigh was much louder. ‘Does it have to be tonight?’
I told her about Marcus popping round the night before, and everything he’d said.
She couldn’t believe it at first. Neither had Noelle when I’d told her earlier. But Lucy sighed for a third time, and then agreed to come.
‘I’d rather it wasn’t a late night though, so promise me you’ll do everything you can to get this mess sorted out as quickly as possible.’
‘I promise. But it’s not really up to me, is it? It’s up to Adele.’
A second after I’d said goodbye to Lucy, Jasper phoned.
‘Hey you. How’re things?’ I asked. I was trying to sound friendly and cool, instead of the quivering blob of excitement just hearing his voice seemed to turn me into, but I’m not sure that was what he heard.
‘Erin? Is that you?’
‘Erm. You called me, so yes.’
‘Oh. It didn’t sound like you. I’m just calling to let you know I’ve seen Marcus. He came to my parents’ house at lunchtime, so there wasn’t anything I could do to stop him from seeing my face.’
‘But it’s such a lovely face why would you…? Oh, I see. He didn’t know, did he?’
‘Nope. I’ve been avoiding him, remember?’
‘Yes. So … how did he take it?’
‘Let’s just say he wasn’t impressed. And, oh joy of joys, he said the words every man wants to hear. That I’ll have to wear make up if it still looks like this on their wedding day, because Adele won’t want me in her wedding photos looking battered and bruised.’
‘Sorry about that. Again. But there is a plus side.’
‘Is there? What, exactly?’
‘He said there’ll be a wedding. And wedding photos. So yay!’
‘Nope. As soon as he’d said that, he added, “But there might not be a wedding, so it may be a moot point.” Then Mum and Dad asked why there wouldn’t be a wedding, and all hell broke loose. Mum told him he was being ridiculous to worry because everyone could see how much Adele loved him. Then Dad said that some women could make us men believe anything, and that if he had doubts, that was a sign he should call it off, because no one wants to see him go through another divorce. You can imagine how well that went down. Then Marcus defended Adele, as did Mum, and Dad tried to drag me into it. I said it was nothing to do with me. To which Marcus replied that I was the best man and part of that role was to ensure their wedding was the happiest day of their lives. I wasn’t in the best of moods, and I told him that he and Adele were adults and that maybe they should both start behaving like it. So, I think there may be a vacancy for the role of best man.’
‘Oh no! Was it really that bad?’
‘Worse.’
‘But … you’re still the best man, right?’
He huffed out a sigh. ‘I don’t know. I think so. Marcus did eventually calm down, and all four of us sat and discussed everything over lunch, but Dad aired his views rather strongly, and I think Marcus may have more doubts now than he did yesterday.’
‘Perfect. That’s just what we need. Oh well. At least there’s no chance of Adele’s wedding dress ending up in Shanghai.’
‘What?’
I laughed. ‘It doesn’t matter. Just something Lucy said. I’ve asked Adele to come here this evening, along with Noelle and Lucy, so I’m hoping we can put this question of whether there will or won’t be a wedding to bed by tonight. Do you think you could have another word with Marcus? Perhaps just the two of you. Or … do you know Sam Worth, or Alec Richman?’
‘Erm. No. But Dad does. He’s also an electrician. I’m back here working with him in his business. He knows Alec Richman because they’ve worked on several builds together. And Dad and Mum both know Sam Worth from the sailing club. Plus, Dad loves bikes. Motorbikes, not bicycles, in case you’re wondering. He’s often been to Sam’s showroom looking at bikes.’ He chuckled. ‘Mum won’t let him have one. She says he’s too old to be messing about on those things. Why did you ask if I knew them?’
‘Well, what’s the saying about strength in numbers? I can’t remember. It doesn’t matter. All I was thinking is that maybe, if you got together with Sam and Alec, they might help you to persuade Marcus to make up his mind.’
‘It’s worth a try.’
‘Great. I’ll get Lucy to get Sam to call you, and I’ll ask Noelle to ask Alec to do so too. Assuming you don’t mind me giving them your number.’
‘I don’t mind at all. What time are you planning to go to bed tonight?’
The question took me by surprise. I wasn’t sure if he was asking if I expected it to be a late night because we’d all be drinking and chatting. Or whether he was asking for some other reason.
Before I could respond he added, ‘I was asking because I thought we could catch up later – by phone – and see if we’d been successful.’
‘Oh I see. Yes. That’s a good idea. What time do you plan to go to bed?’
‘Around eleven-ish to eleven-thirty. Maybe midnight. You?’
‘A little earlier, I think. Between ten-thirty and eleven. But I can stay up later. It’s not a problem. I’m used to weird hours and doing shifts. Although not so much now. Let’s say we’ll speak at ten-forty-five, or we’ll send a text if we need to make it earlier or later.’
‘Sounds good to me. Good luck, tonight, Erin.’
‘Good luck to you too, Jasper.’
‘Erin?’
‘Yes, Jasper?’
‘Nothing. I just like saying your name. Goodnight, Erin.’
I’ve no doubt he heard my gasp of excitement.
Or he would have, if he hadn’t rung off.