Chapter Twenty-Eight
Oliver
P eople chatted around the church as Oliver and Finlay took their seats, their knees jutting out from beneath their kilts. Soft organ music drifted in the background and Oliver caught Finlay’s eye. They both drew in a bracing breath, and Oliver leaned over adjusted the large pin on Finlay’s shoulder that held his long tartan sash in place. They both looked the part, if nothing else. The moment was upon them. Nerves thrummed in Oliver’s gut. How the heck must Finlay feel?
‘What are we supposed to do?’ Finlay said. ‘Just sit here?’
‘Yup. Keep smiling. Not long now.’ Oliver turned around and leaned his arm along the back of the pew. At the top of the aisle near the entrance, Rafe Harrington stood handing out orders of service and chatting with new arrivals. Oliver narrowed his eyes and frowned when Hilary Harrington burst in, holding little Mitzi on a lead. Mitzi had a giant bow on her collar and was sniffing around people’s feet. Hilary seemed to be having an anxious chat with her son. What was going on? She glanced towards Finlay, caught Oliver’s eye and beckoned to him.
‘Wait here,’ Oliver said to Finlay. ‘I need to find out what’s happening.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Nothing to worry about, I’m sure, just a last-minute problem with the flower arrangements or something. Don’t worry, I’ll sort it.’ Adjusting his cuffs, he headed for the doors. He spotted Lisa close by. ‘Can you sit with Finlay for a moment?’ he asked her. ‘I need to see what’s happening here.’
‘Sure.’
He didn’t give her a chance to say more. Despite the assurances he’d just given Finlay, a tightness formed in his gut. Something wasn’t right about this.
‘There’s a problem,’ Hilary began, her expression fraught with concern. Mitzi scrabbled about at his shoes, trying to get his attention. ‘Genevieve and Geoff are here, but the car with the bridesmaids hasn’t arrived. We don’t know where they are.’
Oliver’s heart rate increased. Rationally, there was no need to panic. His mind was trained by years of navigating divorce cases, and he pushed himself to stay positive, though his brain had already leapt to the worst-case scenario. Images of accidents and irrevocable loss played inside his head even as he spoke, forcing his voice to stay calm.
‘Weren’t the two cars together?’
Hilary frowned. ‘They were, but that road is very twisty, and the driver lost sight of the other one. He thought they’d got separated and the other car would catch up when they got here, but that’s been almost ten minutes and he can’t get the other driver on the phone.’
‘I’m going to drive up there and see what’s happened.’
‘You can’t,’ Rafe said. ‘You’re the best man. You better stay here. I’ll go.’
‘We should ask Lisa if she’s had a message,’ Hilary said.
‘Do that if you want, but I’m going anyway.’ Oliver didn’t wait for anymore arguing. ‘Tell Finlay where I am, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.’
‘But—’
Whatever Rafe was about to say, Oliver didn’t hear it. He was already out and running to his car. Latecomers would probably steal the great space he had in the car park, but that didn’t matter. Getting back with Hayley was all that mattered.
As he started the engine, he reminded himself to keep breathing. His palms were clammy, and his pulse throbbed. Haunting memories threatened to overpower him, and he knew he wasn’t the best person to be doing this. Rafe would have done the job fine. But if anything had happened to Hayley, he needed to be there. Please god let nothing have happened to her.
The road seemed to go on forever until eventually Oliver rounded a corner and saw the ivory car stopped on a bad bend, leaning unhealthily to one side. He slammed the car into the side and jumped out. Where were the passengers? Well, they must be alive, at least.
He searched around, rubbing his forehead. Where were they? They couldn’t be walking as he hadn’t passed them – unless someone else had picked them up. He jumped back in his car and checked his phone. The reception was poor.
Ok. Think.
Maybe they’d gone back to the house to get Hayley’s car. He started the engine and put his foot down. As he got close to the driveway, he saw two figures walking along the side of the road – the driver and Hayley. Hayley. The tension left his shoulders, and he exhaled with a puff. Slamming on the brakes, he opened the window.
‘Hey!’
Hayley turned at the sound of his voice, and he suddenly registered that Cressida was missing.
‘What are you doing here?’ she said.
‘Looking for you and Cressida. What happened?’
‘Cressida got a lift in with some latecomers, but they only had room for one person. She was going to get someone to come for me. But why you? You’re supposed to be with Finlay.’
‘Listen, get in and let’s go. I’ll explain in the car. Do you need a lift too?’ he asked the driver.
‘No. I’m going to walk back to the house and use the Wi-Fi to call the breakdown truck.’
‘Ok.’ Oliver waited as Hayley jumped in, then he turned the car and headed back to Glenbriar. ‘As soon as you have reception, call someone and tell them I’ve picked you up, otherwise we’ll have more people out here looking for you.’
‘I still don’t get why you’re here.’
‘When the car didn’t show up, I panicked.’
‘Why?’
‘Why do you think? I care about you. I thought something awful had happened.’
‘Wow…’
‘I can’t stand the thought of losing you. That’s what’ll happen though. This is what I meant about love. Love doesn’t last. One way or another, it’ll be stolen away. How can I live like this? How can I live panicking every second I can’t see you that something terrible has happened and I’ll be left alone?’
‘Oliver… It’s ok.’ She reached out and touched his arm. ‘Nothing happened.’
‘But it could have done. What if a truck had come around that bend and crushed the car when you were in it? What if a car came off the road and hit you as you walked along the side?’
She shook her head. ‘You can’t control everything. That could happen to anyone.’
‘I know. And it has happened to me . That’s why I can’t put myself through this.’
‘Through what?’
‘Hayley… I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time. But I can’t stand it. I can’t live with that fear hanging over me all the time. It’s not about going to London or a fear of commitment. It’s the fear of losing the person I love the most in the world and I just can’t…’
Hayley shook her head and stared ahead, but whatever was on her mind, she didn’t voice it. They were close to the church now and Oliver pulled in, double parking behind someone and getting out.
‘Come on, we need to hurry. We’re cutting it neat as it is.’
Hayley teetered along behind him. As they got closer, he took her hand, worried she might fall in her heels. If she did, she couldn’t fall as hard as he’d done for her. Together, they dashed up the steps. Hilary, Rafe and Cressida were hanging about in the entrance hall with the minister.
‘There you are,’ Hilary said. ‘Goodness me, we were all getting panicky.’
‘The organist is going through the repertoire,’ the minister said. ‘If you go in, Oliver, and take your place, we’ll get started shortly.’
Oliver glanced at Hayley and realised he was still clinging to her hand. She gaped at him like she’d been stunned and still said nothing. He adjusted his kilt jacket and made his way down the aisle, aware of many eyes on him and lots of whispering.
‘Where the hell did you go?’ Finlay muttered.
‘Didn’t Rafe tell you?’
‘Yes, but why wouldn’t you let him go? I was utterly freaked out.’
‘Sorry.’ He put his hand on Finlay’s shoulder. ‘Just doing my best man duties and making sure the bridesmaids were ok.’
‘And did you find Hayley?’ Lisa asked.
‘Yes. She’s here.’
Finlay let out a sigh. ‘What is it with you and her?’
‘Nothing. Just relax. This is your day. Smile. It’s ok. Everyone is here; everyone is fine.’ The last words came out like a mantra, more to himself than Finlay.
‘I love you, son.’ Lisa leaned over and kissed Finlay, then shifted into the pew behind.
‘Your bride awaits,’ Oliver whispered.
Finlay’s lips quirked up, and Oliver grinned along. No way would he ruin his best friend’s wedding by telling him he’d fallen for his sister but was leaving her because he couldn’t bear to lose her. Even in his head the logic failed, but only someone who’d been through what he had could understand.
This was Finlay’s day and Oliver would damn well smile, even if it killed him. Plastering it onto his face, he got to his feet and Finlay did the same. The music started and the minister walked down the aisle. He shook hands with Finlay and Oliver before taking his place. When the doors opened again, Genevieve entered with Geoff to a collective gasp. She looked stunning, and Oliver saw Finlay struggling to keep his emotions in check. He was such a big softy.
When Oliver caught sight of Hayley walking behind, his heart tumbled down a flight of stairs. She was gorgeous and so poised, smiling brightly but when she caught his eye, it faded slightly and she stared forward, not maintaining eye-contact.
When he sat down, she followed, taking the space next to him, but she still didn’t look at him. How could he blame her? He hadn’t ruined Finlay’s day, but he’d probably just ruined hers.
The ceremony went without a hitch and exactly to plan. Even Mitzi sat perfectly on her ivory velvet cushion. But Oliver didn’t want to let what he’d said to Hayley spoil it. He had to make sure no one looking at photos in years to come would know the best man had done anything but behave impeccably on the big day.
Outside, he posed for a few pictures with Genevieve and Finlay and one with Hayley and Cressida. When the photographer was done, he took Hayley’s arm. ‘Can we talk?’
‘What about?’ she said, her expression cold. ‘This isn’t exactly appropriate.’
He steered her around the side of the church, where the graveyard stretched out to meet a little stream. ‘Listen, I’m sorry about what I said. Or at least how I said it. Please let’s not allow it to spoil this for Finlay and Genevieve.’
‘Who do you think you are?’ She gaped at him. ‘I have no intention of spoiling my brother’s wedding. You, on the other hand, have been indifferent to it from the start. We would have done nothing for the sten if it was left to you. You didn’t help Finlay choose an outfit or assist with any of the admin. Then, on the day, you leave him alone to come running after me. And why? To tell me you love me but never want to be with me. God only knows what’s going on in your head because I sure as hell have given up trying to understand it. So don’t you dare lecture me or try to make out that something I might do will spoil this wedding.’ She spun around and stalked off. Oliver took a deep breath and straightened the lapels of his kilt suit.
Right. That was comprehensive enough, and I probably deserved it.
His instinct was to go after her and argue his case, but he didn’t. Because she was right, and he didn’t want to make a scene.
He made his own way back to the Harrington’s house. The wedding car was no longer at the side of the road, so he assumed a breakdown truck had picked it up. Inside, people were milling about and he was a spare part again. Lots of people were surrounding Finlay and Genevieve and Oliver joined the group, pretending he had a purpose, though he didn’t know what it was.
‘We’re getting photos taken shortly,’ Genevieve said. ‘We need to go with the photographer to the garden. Has anyone seen my bridesmaids?’
A few people looked around.
Finlay caught Oliver’s eye and Oliver thought for a second Finlay was going to ask him to go and look for them, but he didn’t. He made his way over and embraced Oliver. ‘It’s finally done.’
‘Congratulations.’ Oliver clapped Finlay on the back. ‘And I apologise if I haven’t pulled my weight as best man.’
‘Nonsense. You paid for the sten. I wasn’t expecting that and I still feel bad about it. That was a lot of money.’
‘Really. I don’t mind. If it makes up for everything else.’
‘There’s nothing to make up.’ Finlay looked him up and down. ‘Why are you saying that?’
‘If you’re happy, that’s all that matters.’
His gaze swept the room, searching for Hayley. She’d vanished again, but why should that worry him? He’d done what he could to protect his heart and now he could go on living as he’d always done… Only it didn’t seem to be working that well.