Nineteen
‘You don’t think it’s the menopause, do you?’ Lucy said as the three of us, namely me, Lucy, and Noelle sat around the dining room table, just as we had the other night, only this time without the men.
We were expecting Adele to join us, as I’d invited her to Far Cottage for drinks, a takeaway, and to discuss her wedding, but she was already five minutes late.
So while we waited, we exchanged ideas on why we thought Adele might be behaving as she was.
‘She’s only in her early forties,’ Noelle said. ‘Isn’t it a bit early for that?’
‘Not necessarily,’ I said. ‘Some women go through it very early. And for some, it’s horrendous, so I suppose it could be that.’
‘Unless she’s keeping something from us,’ Noelle added. ‘Something truly dreadful. Like a serious illness, or …. or worse.’
‘Do you think it could be that?’ Lucy queried. ‘Perhaps she’s having a breakdown or something. Didn’t Marcus say her emotions are constantly up and down?’
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘But other things can cause that to happen, not just a breakdown. Like the menopause, as you said. Or depression. Or lots of other things. Oh. And I suppose she could be pregnant.’
We all looked at one another.
‘Could it be that?’ Lucy asked after a moment.
‘It could, I suppose,’ said Noelle. ‘But she would’ve said something to me if that was the case. I’m fairly sure of that. Plus she’d be thrilled.’
‘Unless she doesn’t know,’ I said. ‘You do hear of women who have no idea they’re pregnant, until a baby pops out. Not often, I know. But it does happen.’
‘Wait,’ said Lucy. ‘She’s on her way up the path.’
‘Well,’ I said. ‘There’s only one way to find out. Let’s ask her outright.’
‘Let her have a drink and some food first,’ Lucy said.
‘No drink if she’s pregnant,’ said Noelle.
I raised my brows. ‘Are you going to be the one to tell her that?’
Noelle shook her head. ‘You’re the wedding planner. This is down to you.’
‘Hello!’ Adele called out from the hall. ‘It’s only me. Is it okay to come in?’
We all looked at one another and shook our heads.
‘Of course,’ I yelled. ‘It’s your house. Plus we invited you. We’re in the dining room.’
She popped her head around the door and gave us a sheepish smile.
‘I’m so sorry I’m late. I … I couldn’t find a thing to wear.’ Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them back. ‘Nothing seems to fit these days. Marcus says I should go on a spending spree and buy myself some new clothes. But I can’t do that. Especially not with this … with this … w … wedding.’ The flood gates opened.
Lucy jumped up and got a box of tissues from the kitchen and Noelle sat Adele down and wrapped her arms around her.
‘I’ll make us all a lovely cup of tea,’ I said.
If we all had tea, Adele wouldn’t want wine. I thought that was best, just in case. I didn’t think for a minute that Adele was pregnant. And yet, why not? She and Marcus were only in their early forties and they obviously had sex like everyone else on the planet. Well, not me, lately, But I was hoping that was about to change. Or at least it might in two or three weeks.
But did they even want children? Had they discussed it?
I tried to dismiss it from my mind but for some reason, while I was in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil it got me thinking.
What about me? What did I want? I knew Lucy wanted the whole marriage and kids thing. She always had. But me? It hadn’t been something I’d given much thought.
Did Jasper want kids?
I tutted at my own behaviour. I’d known the guy a couple of days and I was already thinking about us having a family.
Honestly. Was there something in the water in Fairlight Bay and Midwinter? Did everyone come here, fall madly in love with someone, and live happily ever after?
Marcus and Cara hadn’t.
‘Are you going to China for that tea?’ Lucy’s sarcasm brought me to my senses.
‘Yeah. Shanghai,’ I yelled back. ‘And I’ll pick up that dress while I’m here.’
‘If only,’ Lucy laughed.
I made a pot, poured milk into a jug, and added the sugar bowl to the tray of cups and saucers, and then I carried it all into the dining room.
‘Ooh,’ Lucy said. ‘How very posh. It’s usually mugs.’
‘This is a special occasion,’ I said. ‘It’s not every day we all get to sit around a table and plan a wonderful wedding.’
Adele, who seemed to have regained her composure while I’d been in the kitchen, burst into tears once again.
‘Biscuits,’ I said. ‘We need biscuits.’
‘No!’ Adele sobbed. ‘I’m already the size of a house. Please don’t tempt me with biscuits. I know that’s selfish of me to stop you having them, but if I see them, I’ll eat them, and I really must stop.’
I placed the tray on the table and sat down beside her, taking one of her hands in mine.
‘Okay. I’m going to say something you might not like but I’m an honest and straightforward person, so here it is. Firstly, Adele, you are not the size of even a doll’s house, so stop this nonsense now. Secondly, if you want to have a biscuit, have one. We can all go for a walk later and burn the calories off. Thirdly, I know we’ve only just met recently, but I think you’re lovely, kind, and caring. Not to mention exceedingly pretty. Not so much right now, because your eyes are red from crying, but the other day, I told Lucy that I could see why Marcus was so proud to have you by his side. Not just for your pretty face, your lovely hair, and that gorgeous smile, but also because you’re a very special woman and everybody likes you.’
‘Not … not everybody,’ she said, as a small smile crept across her mouth. ‘That woman the–’
‘Forget that bloody woman,’ I told her. ‘What you need to understand about women like that is they’re the ones we should all feel sorry for. She said all those things to hurt you because she’s hurting inside. She’s unhappy, and nasty, and she’s clearly jealous of you. She’s a bully, Adele. And bullies are the biggest cowards on the planet. They try to bring others down to their sad and pathetic level. Don’t let a woman like that win. Don’t let her make you think things that are complete and utter rubbish. The only person who can control your life and your happiness is you, Adele. The only people’s opinions of you that matter are your own, your friends, and the people you love. Don’t let anyone take that from you. Right. We’ll drink this tea – and if you want a biscuit, have one, but if not then we won’t either. We’ll stick together like women should and like good friends do. Okay? And then we’ll have a good, long chat, and you can tell us how you really feel about Marcus, and about this wedding. And what you want to do. If you want to go ahead with it, then we need to sort a few things out. Like flowers, whether you want a church or not, the guest list, what food you’d like, and … well, that’s enough for now.’
They were all staring at me and no one said a word. So I poured the tea and waited, and finally Adele responded.
‘I … I love Marcus, more than anyone in the world. But sometimes love doesn’t work out, does it? I thought we had a fairytale romance, but fairytales aren’t real. I know he cares about me a lot, but is that enough? And what if someone better comes along? For him, obviously. Not for me.’
I’d heard enough. ‘Stop right there. You’re blind, Adele. Marcus doesn’t care about you – he adores you. Everyone in this room can see that apart from you. He asked you to move in with him. He asked you to marry him. He’s paying for this wedding. Bloody hell, Adele, he’s even paying me to make sure you have the best day of your life. Do you honestly believe that he would do all those things if all he wanted was some female to live with him to keep him company? He just took you to a Spa so that you could be pampered and relax. Believe me, Adele, if you don’t marry him there’ll be a queue of women lining up to do so. But do you know what? The only woman he wants is you. You, Adele. Not some thin super model. Not his ex-wife. Not Noelle. Not Lucy. Not me. You. You say you love him more than anyone in the world. But do you? If you genuinely did, you’d believe what he says. You’d stop hurting him with all your doubts. You’d do anything to make him happy. He’s doing everything he can to do that for you. I have no idea what’s going on with you, Adele, but if you need help, get it. If you’re ill, see a doctor, and then talk to Marcus. If you’re pregnant, congratulations, and again, tell Marcus.’
‘Pregnant!’
It was probably just as well that she stopped me, because I’d possibly said some things I shouldn’t. And perhaps I might’ve been a bit unkind. But I believe that there are times when we sometimes need to give tough love, providing it’s given with the best intentions, as mine was.
Yet out of everything I’d said, she’d picked up on that?
‘Pregnant?’ she repeated. And then shot a look at each of us. ‘Do you … do you think I could be? I … I haven’t had a period for a while. But they’ve never been that regular. The last one was … two weeks before Valentine’s Day. Is there any chance that…? No. I wouldn’t be that lucky. Would I?’
Lucy and Noelle were both glowering at me. Tough love obviously wouldn’t have been their choice. But now they looked equally concerned. Which was understandable. I’d just got Adele’s hopes up without realising that she’d clearly love it if that were true. And if she wasn’t, I’d have broken a lot more than her nose. I’d have broken her heart.
‘There’s only one way to find out,’ I said. ‘Noelle? Can we take your car and go to the supermarket to buy a test?’
‘Erm. Yes. Of course. If that’s really what Adele wants to do.’
‘I think it is,’ she said, looking determined and hopeful for the first time since that woman verbally assaulted her outside of Fairlight Bakes.
‘Why don’t you all stay here?’ Noelle said. ‘It only needs one of us to go and buy it. And please don’t get your hopes up too high, Adele. Just in case.’
‘No. Of course I won’t,’ said Adele, looking as if she might be about to burst with excitement. ‘And you’re right. We don’t all need to go. But may I come with you, Noelle? I … feel a little fidgety now. And I think the fresh air might do me good as I’ve been crying.’
‘You’re welcome to come,’ said Noelle, with a smile for Adele, but she shot a none too happy glance in my direction as they walked towards the door.
‘Was this a good idea?’ Lucy asked me, as we watched them walk to Noelle’s car. ‘What if she’s not?’
‘Then we’ll find out what else is going on with her and deal with that. And we can, at least, tick one thing off the list.’
‘You’ve got a list about the things that might be making Adele behave like this?’
‘Of course not,’ I said.
That wasn’t strictly true. Shortly before Lucy and Noelle arrived, I had been searching the internet for information about the things that made women seem crazy, and scribbling a few notes.
Not that I thought Adele was crazy. But it always helps to have as much information as you can when dealing with any unusual situation.
‘Why don’t I believe you?’ Lucy asked, giving me a quizzical look.
‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘Why don’t you? Ooh! While they’re gone, why don’t we have a quick glass of wine? We won’t be able to have one if it turns out Adele is pregnant.’
‘Do you really think she could be?’
‘She and Marcus do have sex, don’t they? So yes, of course she could be.’
‘Unless they’re using contraception.’
‘Surely she would’ve said if they were. But even then, people still get pregnant. It’s not one hundred per cent reliable, remember.’
‘I know,’ Lucy said, ‘but I really hope it is. As much as I’d love to start a family, now is definitely not the right time. We’re both far too busy for that. But Sam and I haven’t been able to keep our hands off one another since we met up again in February.’
I snorted a laugh and then tutted. ‘Didn’t your mum ever tell you, Lucy? It’s not hands you need to worry about. It’s what men keep in their trousers, or more precisely, don’t keep in their trousers, that makes babies.’
‘Really?’ Lucy laughed too. ‘Sam keeps his mobile phone, his wallet, his bike keys, house keys, and showroom keys, and sometimes a hanky or a tissue in his trousers. Which one of those makes babies?’
‘I don’t know,’ I said, giggling like a five-year-old. ‘Because us single girls don’t have sex. Obviously.’
‘Oh shut up and get the wine,’ Lucy laughed. ‘All I can think about now is getting home, taking off Sam’s trousers, and making mad, passionate love to him all night.’
‘And all I can think about is how fast a certain person’s nose might take to heal.’