Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hayley
H ayley shut the door behind her, and let out a long, slow breath. Thank god for the peace and quiet. The Harrington’s house had several spare bedrooms, and this one was all hers. She couldn’t stay for long, but she needed a moment. The muffled sounds of the wedding reception downstairs were a constant reminder of what she was missing. Hopefully no one was missing her.
Just ten minutes and she’d be fine. Once she’d collected her thoughts, she moved towards the mirror and peered at her reflection. Come on, Hayley! Why the long face? This wasn’t her at all and to come over so sullen on Finlay’s wedding day was beyond cruel. No matter what Oliver may or may not have done to cause this pain.
Oliver! That bastard . How could he? How dare he! Why did he think it was ok to confess that he loved her only to inform her he never wanted to be with her?
‘Well, screw you,’ she told her reflection. Her dark eyes were tinged with a hint of red. So? People cried at weddings. She could pass it off as that. Or better still, cover it up. She took a steadying breath, and opened her make-up bag, locating the magic veil tube. This stuff worked wonders. She blinked a little and dabbed away the remaining tears. That man didn’t deserve them. He was selfish. All he cared about was himself. His heart was so well protected no one would ever get to it. He’d die alone, never knowing what it was like to have loved and been loved in return. Maybe when he was a lonely old man, he’d look back and wish he’d done things differently, but there was no telling him that now. He’d made up his mind.
She ran the veil pen under her eyes and patted it on with her fingertip. The result was instant. She reapplied a little eyeliner and touched up her mascara. No one would ever know anything was wrong.
‘Hayley,’ someone said with an accompanying knock on the door. ‘Are you in there?’
Shit. Genevieve.
‘Just coming. I need to fix my make-up. Have I missed anything?’
Genevieve opened the door. ‘No, you haven’t missed anything.’ She slumped onto the end of the bed. ‘It’s nice and quiet up here. Can you sort this curl before the photos? It’s escaping a bit.’
‘Sure. No problem.’ Hayley got her hair bag and re-pinned the curl, though it was only a tiny bit loose.
‘Is everything ok?’ Genevieve said. ‘You’re very quiet. Is this really hard for you? I mean me getting married first and to your brother…’
‘No, no, none of that. I don’t mind that you’re getting married first and I’m delighted it’s to Finlay.’ She closed her eyes for a second. ‘Listen, I don’t want to spoil your day by making this about me. Let’s go down and get the pictures taken.’
‘Hang on. What do you mean by making this about you? Has something happened? Because if it has, I insist you tell me. I’m still your friend, wedding day or not.’
‘I’m just annoyed with Oliver, but don’t worry. He’ll be back in London before we know it and then we’ll never see him again… And… oh god, I hate him.’ She got to her feet and balled her fists.
‘Bloody hell. What’s he done that’s this bad?’
‘You won’t even believe me if I tell you, so let’s just forget about it and go back downstairs.’
Genevieve stood up. ‘I will believe you. Now tell me.’
‘Fine. Here’s the short version. We’ve been seeing each other on and off since we started as best man and bridesmaid.’
‘What?’
‘Yes. Nothing serious… Well, you know. But anyway, he decided today to tell me that…’ She looked away. ‘I can’t say it. It sounds so stupid.’
‘Just say it. What did he tell you? I’m freaking out here.’
‘He said he loved me, but he didn’t want to see me again because he’s terrified of getting into a relationship in case he loses me.’ Hayley covered her mouth, willing the tears not to make a reappearance.
‘Bloody hell.’ Genevieve let out a low whistle. ‘Ok. That’s unexpected. And how do you feel about him?’
‘I hate him.’
‘Really? It doesn’t look like that to me.’
Finlay’s voice accompanied another knock on the door, ‘Hayley, are you in there? Have you seen Genevieve?’
‘We’re both here.’ Genevieve opened the door.
‘Are you coming?’ he asked. ‘Did you get your hair fixed?’
‘Yes. It’s done. Listen, come in here a minute.’ Genevieve pulled Finlay in the door.
‘What’s going on?’
‘Can I tell him?’ Genevieve said.
‘Please, no.’ Hayley let out a groan. ‘Can we just go and get the photos done?’
‘Tell me what?’
‘Fine, tell him, but I don’t want to listen. I’ll see you downstairs.’ Hayley left the room and almost put her fingers in her ears and la-la-la-ed. How cringy. What would Finlay make of it all?
She spotted Cressida and joined her and her partner, Tina, with their tiny baby, Alexander. ‘Genevieve’s just coming,’ Hayley said. ‘I was fixing a loose curl.’
A few minutes later, Genevieve and Finlay came in and people cheered, clapped and wolf whistled. Everyone crowded around them, chatting and offering congratulations.
Hayley made her way forward until she was close to them. Where was Oliver? Conspicuous by his absence. Well, should she be surprised?
‘That was an interesting story Genevieve told me up there,’ Finlay muttered in Hayley’s ear and she exhaled sharply. ‘What are you going to do about it?’
‘Nothing. What can I do? He’s a pig-headed, arrogant, self-loving—’
‘Actually, he’s just a very lonely, very unhappy man, who’s never really got over the trauma in his past. He thinks love is the last thing he needs, but actually it’s the only thing he needs.’ Finlay put his arm around her shoulder.
‘Ha.’ She almost spat the word. ‘And you think I’m going to give it to him after what he said to me?’
‘That’s not up to me,’ Finlay said. ‘But I’m pretty sure you’re the only woman he’s ever said those three little words to. And if you feel the same, you’ve got to convince him.’
‘No way. That’s his problem, not mine.’
‘Suit yourself. But he doesn’t know how to change. You, on the other hand… Well, you’re the mistress when it comes to people.’
She gave him a sharp look. ‘I’ve already tried. I’m not his therapist.’
‘But you’re probably the only person apart from me that he’s ever really talked to.’ He let out a sigh. ‘I know it shouldn’t all fall on you, but if it’s important to you, please try. He told me some stuff when we were decorating the church and I guess now he was talking about you. I don’t think his life is working out for him, but it’s got nothing to do with his career. That’s what he’ll say it is, but he’s lonely. Now he’s found someone he cares about, and he doesn’t know what to do.’
‘But what’s the point if he just keeps saying no?’
Finlay kissed the top of her head. ‘Yeah. You’re right. Maybe it’s just not meant to be.’
‘Where’s Oliver?’ Genevieve asked. ‘We need him for the photos. And I don’t see my mum and dad either. Or yours.’
‘I saw Dad a minute ago.’ Hayley glanced around. ‘With Liz.’ She was hard to miss in the garish leopard print dress she’d teamed with a fuchsia hat and shoes. ‘Hang on. I’ll ask Mum if she’s seen them, and I’ll start rounding people up.’
She made her way over to her mum, who had opted for a more subdued and sensible look in her lilac dress and matching jacket.
‘Have you seen Dad and Liz?’ Hayley asked. ‘We need them for the photos.’
‘She’s about somewhere terrorising the men. I saw Marcus Bowman practically running away from her.’
Hayley covered her mouth to stopper a laugh. ‘She’s some woman.’
‘I’m more worried about Oliver though.’
‘Why?’ Hayley furrowed her brow.
‘I saw him leaving, and he’s never come back in. He didn’t look good. Do you know if he’s ill or something?’
‘Um… no. But.’ She scanned around the crowd. ‘Which way did he go?’
‘Into the garden. I hope he’s ok. Should I go and look for him?’
‘I’ll go.’ With a deep breath, she flicked her hair over her shoulders and headed outside.