Chapter Twenty-Six
Oliver
O liver’s lip twitched as he watched Genevieve and Finlay crack up laughing. They’d returned to the church for a brief rehearsal. Neither the bride nor groom seemed able to keep it together. Maybe it was nerves or just Finlay’s jokey personality, but they just kept laughing, then hugging. The minister seemed to be enjoying the fun and insisted it would all go fine the next day.
‘What’s got into them?’ Hayley whispered.
‘I hope the rest of their marriage is this happy,’ Oliver said.
‘I just love them,’ Hayley’s mum said from her seat behind. She’d turned up to help decorate the church and been present for the rehearsal, but Hayley’s dad hadn’t. No one seemed bothered though.
‘This is where the best man hands over the ring,’ the minister said.
Oliver stepped forward and handed over the box. Finlay grinned and nodded. His expression said, I knew you wouldn’t let me down.
It wasn’t Oliver’s way to make a joke out of something like this, like ninety per cent of best men would. He wouldn’t pretend to have lost or forgotten the ring. He’d been given a job to do and do it he would. No nonsense.
When the rehearsal was done, they hung about outside chatting. The bridal party was meeting in the afternoon for a rundown of the following day’s events with Genevieve’s family. Her parents owned Greenacres, a large eco-mansion just outside the town, and were hosting the reception there in marquees. Oliver listened rather than joining in the chat, hyperaware of Hayley’s proximity. He ran his hand around his perfectly shaven jaw. She’d come home with him yesterday after they’d decorated the church and worked her magic on him again, shaving him and trimming his hair. Then they’d spent the night together, making love, and Jesus, it had been good.
This couldn’t go on, but how could he let go?
Finlay was coming over to stay that night with Oliver, and Hayley was staying with the Harringtons. Probably for the best, but the ache in Oliver’s chest intensified at the thought.
‘Do you know how to get there?’ Finlay said and Oliver tuned back into the conversation.
‘To Greenacres?’
‘Yes.’
‘You showed it to me on a cycle run once, remember?’
‘So I did. Good. Well, let’s meet there about two, ok?’
‘Sure.’ Oliver wanted to turn to Hayley and work out what she was doing, but she had already turned to Genevieve and they were deep in conversation. He could do this on his own. He’d had enough practise.
Greenacres was a stunning, purpose-built eco-house in extensive grounds. Oliver wandered around like a spare part, his mind rewinding to the dinner party at Nimbus 9 in London when he’d gone along with Hayley and felt on top of the world. Without her, something was missing. He wanted her by his side. When she was there talking to people, it was easier and a lot pleasanter.
Why the hell was he letting this happen? His career had always been the most important thing to him. Why all the doubt? Surely this infatuation would die eventually. Just like the initial passion in a relationship fizzled out, and either expired or evolved. He wouldn’t feel this way about Hayley forever and once he was back in London, he could distance himself from these complicated emotions.
Or could he? The niggles he’d discussed with Finlay the day before hadn’t gone away. What if his friend was right? Was Hayley the missing piece? Did his job never feel quite right because he was missing a special person in his life?
Hayley’s laughter drew his attention, and he spotted her near the wall of glass doors, chatting with a small group of people. One of them was a tall and very handsome young man. Hayley seemed to know him and looked like she was almost swooning in his presence. Oliver ground his teeth. What else could he do? If he didn’t want Hayley, he had to accept that other men would. How was she even single? She was so perfect he couldn’t see her staying that way long. He moved towards the buffet table, not because he was hungry, but he couldn’t bear to watch Hayley with anyone else.
‘Christ on a bike.’ Finlay came up behind him. ‘I really could do with just having the wedding now.’ He loaded his plate with food. ‘Honestly, all this stuff is nice, but I just want to get married.’
‘Not long to wait,’ Oliver said. ‘Who are all these people?’ He frowned towards the man Hayley was talking to.
‘Genevieve’s relatives. Some of them are staying here. That’s Cressida, her sister, over there with her partner, Tina, and their baby. They’re talking to her cousins, who I can’t remember all the names of. Don’t tell her I said that. I’m pretending I know who everyone is. That’s some other cousins chatting with Hayley, names of Lucy and Erica…’ He pulled a face. ‘I think. And the guy is Genevieve’s brother, Rafe.’
Oliver picked up some crisps and nibbled them. ‘And is he a single man in possession of a good fortune who happens to be in want of a wife?’
Finlay sniggered. ‘Definitely the first two, but I’m not sure about the third. He’s divorced and I don’t think he’s in any rush to go down that path again.’
‘Ha. You see what I mean?’ Oliver pointed a crisp at Finlay.
‘About what?’
‘About how common divorce is. You sure you want to go through with this?’
‘Shut it,’ Finlay said. ‘Stop being a wedding-Scrooge.’
‘Is that even a thing?’
‘It is now.’
Oliver continued to watch Hayley chatting to Rafe. He may not be a man looking for a wife, but he struck Oliver as someone who wouldn’t mind a hookup. He definitely seemed to be putting on the charm. Oliver crunched hard on a crisp, half wondering if he was really much different. In his head, he was busy telling Hayley to watch out; it was obvious the guy was after nothing but a fling. But Hayley could work that out for herself. She had with him.
Christ, she deserved better.
‘Are you ok?’ Finlay frowned.
‘Fine. Why?’
‘You’re giving Rafe the evils. Is it because he didn’t use you as his divorce lawyer? In his defence, he doesn’t live here anymore, so he probably used someone in Glasgow. And I think it was a while ago.’
‘Nope. I wasn’t thinking about that at all. I wasn’t even looking at him… Not intentionally. Something else caught my eye. I was just thinking, that’s all.’
‘Penny for them.’
‘No, really. I don’t want to share.’
‘Ok, mate.’ Finlay clapped him on the back. ‘Let’s join the others.’
Oliver followed Finlay, who unfortunately was making a beeline for Rafe Harrington and Hayley. She beamed at them as they joined the group.
‘This is going to be a stunning venue tomorrow,’ she said. ‘And it’s so exciting that it’s also the place Finlay proposed.’
‘It certainly is,’ Finlay said with a wry smirk. The story was the stuff of legend now. Somehow, it had worked out for them, but it was such a wild story, Oliver wasn’t sure how it hadn’t ended in disaster.
‘Are you the best man?’ Rafe asked Oliver.
‘I am. Oliver Wright.’ He put out his hand.
Rafe shook it. ‘Rafe Harrington, brother of the bride.’
‘Oliver’s not just the best man.’ Hayley said. ‘He’s also Mr Wright. Sometimes known as Mr Always Right.’
Rafe, Finlay, and the cousins laughed. Oliver frowned at Hayley. She pulled an all-innocent face.
‘Whereas Hayley is sometimes known as Miss McBride, though Miss McBridesmaid is more apt.’ Oliver raised an eyebrow.
Hayley shook her head, still smiling, but a flash of irritation sparked in her eyes. She slow clapped. ‘It wasn’t funny the first time, and this time isn’t any better.’
‘How many times have you pulled the always Wright joke? I suppose you think it just gets funnier and funnier.’
‘Which, of course, it does. Never gets old.’
Rafe chuckled and gave Finlay a funny look. ‘You picked a right pair for the best man and chief bridesmaid. Have these two been this in love from the start?’
He was clearly being ironic, but the phrase shut Hayley up and Oliver’s jaw stiffened.
‘Oh, god yes.’ Finlay continued the sardonic tone. ‘It’ll be them announcing their engagement next.’
‘Good luck with that.’ Rafe toasted Oliver, then Hayley. ‘You’re a lawyer, aren’t you?’
Oliver nodded.
‘Hopefully you specialise in divorce, because it looks like you’ll need it.’
‘Actually, I do.’
‘Ah, ok.’ Rafe half laughed and took a sip of his drink.
‘But we’re not getting married,’ Hayley said. ‘There’s no chance of that, is there, Oliver?’
‘None.’
They locked eyes with each other, and, for a moment, that urge to take her in his arms returned. He almost didn’t care people were watching.
Understanding crackled along an invisible wire. The attraction and desire hadn’t gone anywhere but it wouldn’t be going further.
Finlay went to Oliver’s house that evening after the party. Oliver was glad to be away from so many people, but missed Hayley already. He and Finlay had both eaten enough at the buffet to not want dinner, though he’d bought pizzas just in case.
‘Beer?’ He opened the fridge and took out a bottle.
‘Yeah, but not too much. I don’t want to be the groom with a hangover. My reputation is already thin after how we got engaged in the first place.’ Finlay took the bottle from Oliver and searched the drawer for the bottle opener. Once he’d cracked open the bottle, he passed it to him.
Oliver held it up. ‘To the groom to be.’
‘Thanks.’ Finlay took a drink. ‘I hope your speech isn’t going to be all doom and gloom and about divorce tomorrow.’
Oliver gave him a small smile. ‘I’m not that cruel.’
‘Thank god.’
They headed into the living area.
‘This is the kind of house I need,’ Finlay said. ‘I love my riverside apartment, but if we have kids, it won’t really be practical. When you sell this place, I might buy it.’
‘I could do you an inside deal. We could cut out the middleman if you’re serious.’
‘Obviously I’d have to speak to Genevieve, but it’s definitely the type of place we want.’ He looked around like he was already imagining it being filled with his children. ‘Are the neighbours nice?’
‘Yeah.’ Oliver gave a little shrug. ‘I don’t really know them, but they seem pleasant enough.’
‘Perfect.’ Finlay lounged back, adjusting the purple cushions, then sat up again and pulled something out from behind him. ‘Nice scarf. Is this yours?’ He held up some scrunched up grey fabric with white flowers on it.
The heat drained from Oliver’s face. That was Hayley’s scarf. Shit, shit, shit. ‘Erm…’
‘It looks like Hayley’s.’ Finlay held it to his nose. ‘Smells like hers too.’
‘What? You just smelt that?’
‘Yeah. Remember, we used to do that at school. We always knew whose jumper was whose.’
‘I’m not sure sniffing people’s clothes was ever my thing.’
‘This is definitely Hayley’s perfume. What’s it doing here?’
‘No idea.’ Oliver gave a nonchalant shrug. He hated lying, but the truth involved admitting the scarf had been wrenched off, along with several other items of clothing, and thrown aside to allow for a passionate encounter last night. He was pretty sure Finlay didn’t want to hear about that.
Finlay tilted his head and gave Oliver a look laden with scepticism. ‘Seriously? Come on. Has she been here?’
‘Yeah.’ Why did he keep shrugging like a teenager with a nervous tick? ‘She’s been here.’
‘Why?’
‘To tell me stuff about the wedding.’
Finlay raised an eyebrow. ‘That she couldn’t tell you over the phone? And that involved coming in here and taking off her scarf.’
‘It was a warm day. You know what she’s like.’ Oliver was decidedly warm himself. ‘She likes to chat.’
‘Yeah, that’s true. I just didn’t imagine her wanting to come round and chat with you. You’re not exactly her favourite person.’
‘True.’ He’d never be that now. No matter how much they desired each other, he wouldn’t ever be the man she wanted… or needed.
Finlay tossed the scarf at him and laughed. ‘You had me going for a minute.’
Oliver lifted it to move it to the side, and he caught the scent of her perfume too. So many memories flooded his brain. All of them made him want to smile, but also cry at the pain of not being able to repeat them. He didn’t put the scarf down immediately and as he held it, staring at his minimalistic living room, a vision of his own started in his mind. It wasn’t Finlay’s children playing in the house, it was his. They were jumping on the sofas, making cushion forts and causing mayhem. A baby bounced in a little seat. Noise and chaos ruled, but also happiness and love. A home his mum would approve of. One she’d have loved to have visited as a grandmother. Why shouldn’t that life be his? Maybe this time, instead of running from the fear, he had to face it head on.
‘Are you sure you’re ok?’ Finlay was looking at him with concern in his eyes. ‘You seem totally distracted. You’ve been like that all afternoon. Has your office been hassling you to get back?’
‘My boss definitely thinks being off for a week is too long with the current caseload.’ Oliver laid the scarf aside, grateful for the change of subject.
The longer he could keep Finlay away from chatting about Hayley, the better.
Finlay wanted to go to bed early, but not too early in case he couldn’t sleep. Oliver was happy to go along with whatever he decided. This was his wedding, after all.
Eventually, they went upstairs at ten. Finlay man-hugged Oliver and together they stood in an embrace at the top of the stairs for a long moment.
‘Thanks for choosing me,’ Oliver said. ‘I know I haven’t always been enthusiastic, but I’m truly honoured to do this for you. You helped me through dark times and you’ve always been there for me when I had no one else.’
‘Nae bother, mate.’ Finlay clapped his back, his voice cracking a little. ‘I’ll never see you stuck. Remember that. No matter what changes in our lives, I’ll always be here for you.’
Oliver tightened his embrace for a moment, then let go. ‘Thanks. Now bugger off to bed and get some sleep.’
Finlay laughed and saluted. ‘On it, mate.’