Chapter 30
30
‘Mione, it isn’t a real wedding, you know. I don’t need a bouquet or a lucky horseshoe,’ Kate spoke as she and Hermione walked around Highbridge mall.
‘Of course you need a bouquet, all the other brides will have one and anyway, that’s already arranged. It’s being delivered to the hotel tomorrow afternoon.’
‘Good God,’ Kate exclaimed.
‘Right, we need to find earrings and something for your hair, maybe a fascinator,’ Hermione said, diving into a jewellery shop.
‘What on earth is a fascinator?’ Kate shrieked, following her friend.
‘Something pretty to wear in your hair to spruce it up a bit, sweetie.’
‘Spruce it up?’
‘Well, it’s a bit plain, isn’t it? We need something floral, perhaps an orchid or how about a gerbera? Aren’t they your favourite flowers?’
‘Yes, they are,’ Kate answered.
‘I never knew; Joel told me.’
‘Hmm, it seems he knows almost everything about me,’ Kate replied.
‘Which is a good thing, seeing as you have a relationship contest to win tomorrow. So, how’s it been having Joel in your bed? Not that it’s for the first time,’ Hermione asked as she looked at earrings on the counter.
‘At first, it was strange, but now it just feels normal – which is really weird,’ Kate said, admiring the bracelets.
‘Nice weird?’
‘Well, it’s nice to have someone to hold when he isn’t writhing around and having nightmares, but – he hasn’t – you know – tried to, you know – at all.’
‘And that’s what you expected, did you? With him being injured and everything and having been kept at arm’s length while you still hold a torch for your ex-husband.’
‘No, of course not, but it’s like he doesn’t feel that way any more. Like it’s just platonic again and the night we had together never happened.’
‘Maybe he’s just keeping his distance until you decide what you want. You can’t possibly blame him for that,’ Hermione said, beckoning a sales assistant.
‘No, I know, maybe,’ Kate answered with a nod.
‘So how was his lunch with Marina? She sounded a bit full-on from what Philip told me.’
‘He didn’t say much about it but she’s coming to the show tomorrow. Probably going to be dressed up to the nines and covered in make-up and fake tan,’ Kate moaned.
‘Philip said Joel used to date her.’
‘He told me. I like those earrings,’ Kate said, pointing at some small silver and diamanté ones and changing the subject.
‘Too small. They would never show up on camera. Can we have a look at these and these?’ Hermione told the shop assistant, pointing at the ones she was interested in.
‘I hope none of this is going to cost too much; I am on a budget,’ Kate reminded .
‘She’s single,’ Hermione said, looking at her watch.
‘Who?’
‘Marina. Philip says she’s single and apparently, she’s thinking of turning down the overseas jobs and staying in England. She might even be buying a flat in Highbridge; her mother isn’t very well and she wants to be close,’ Hermione informed.
‘It sounds like Philip spent more time talking to her than Joel.’
‘I think Philip was eavesdropping, actually. They were supposed to be playing darts but Marina just wouldn’t stop talking.’
‘Here we are, madam,’ the sales assistant spoke as she got the earrings out for Hermione.
‘So, which do you think, sweetie? The gold or the silver?’
‘What colour’s my bouquet?’
‘Yellow and white.’
‘Gold then I think.’
‘We’ll take these and that bangle,’ Hermione said, pointing at something else on display.
‘That will be forty-nine, ninety-nine, please.’
‘Fifty quid!’ Kate exclaimed.
‘It is for your wedding.’
‘Oh! Is it really? When is it?’ the sales assistant asked, getting gooey eyed.
‘Tomorrow,’ Kate answered.
‘God, tomorrow! You must have so much to organise.’
‘Not really, it’s all been taken out of her hands. We’ve got the dress, the flowers and a seven-foot dove as a bridesmaid,’ Hermione informed her.
‘Don’t ask,’ Kate spoke, seeing the lack of understanding written all over the cashier’s face.
Hermione smiled and picked up the bag from the counter .
‘Come on, let’s go and eat, I’m starving,’ Hermione said, linking arms with Kate and hastening her out of the shop.
‘Eat? You didn’t say anything about eating? It’s lasagne tonight, Joel’s cooking, with garlic bread and everything.’
‘Oh come on, just a small Chinese. I can’t remember the last time I had a meal out and we’ve done so well with the jewellery. We’ll manage a hairpiece in no time, come on,’ Hermione begged, pulling at Kate’s arm.
‘A Chinese? Oh I don’t know, I?—’
‘Call it a pre-wedding treat from me. I can’t believe you don’t fancy some prawn crackers and a bit of foo yung at least.’
‘It doesn’t sound like I have much choice,’ Kate answered.
‘Good, come on then, we’ll go to that new place, that’s nearest,’ Hermione said, hurrying along the mall.
‘I’ve heard it’s really expensive.’
‘Ah, who cares, like I said, my treat,’ Hermione said.
Within a few minutes, they had reached the new Oriental Palace restaurant.
‘Right then, here we are,’ Hermione spoke, looking at Kate.
‘Yes, here we are. It looks busy, maybe they don’t have a free table,’ Kate said as she looked inside.
‘Well, let’s go in and ask,’ Hermione said and she pushed open the large, glass door, leading the way.
They entered the restaurant and stood by the bar, surveying the other tables and waiting for someone to come to their assistance. It wasn’t long before Kate noticed a familiar diner.
‘Oh, God, it’s Matthew – with her, Amanda,’ Kate stated, swallowing the shock and disappointment.
‘What? Where?’ Hermione questioned .
‘There, just over there,’ Kate said, tears beginning to fill her eyes.
‘I thought he was so in love with you, he had left her.’
‘That’s what he told me at the hospital, in between unconsciousness. He said he had never loved anyone like he loved me.’
‘Well, he was drunk and apparently suicidal,’ Hermione replied.
‘But he’s with her, look at him, laughing and holding her hand. He sent me flowers, he came to my work and he said he wanted to start again,’ Kate said tears spilling out of her eyes.
‘Lying bastard. I’m going to tell him just what I think of him,’ Hermione said, preparing to approach the table.
‘No, no don’t,’ Kate said, wiping at her eyes with her fingers.
‘Why? After everything he’s done?’
‘ I’m going to tell him what I think of him,’ Kate said, sniffing her tears away.
‘Maybe we should just leave,’ Hermione suggested.
‘No, I won’t be a minute,’ Kate spoke and she took a deep breath and strode towards the table where Matthew and Amanda were sitting.
Amanda looked up first and then Matthew paled as he saw Kate stood in front of him.
‘Oh great, what do you want? Shouldn’t you be elbow deep in nappy changing or something?’ Amanda questioned with a frustrated sigh.
‘I can’t believe you’re still together actually because Matthew told me you had split up,’ Kate spoke calmly, her eyes not leaving her ex-husband.
‘Kate…’ Matthew began.
‘What’s she talking about, Matt? ’
‘He told me you were over when he was begging me to give him another chance. What was it you said? “Amanda means nothing to me”,’ Kate continued.
‘I didn’t say that. Amanda, I did not say that.’
‘He said he still loved me and he wanted to be a proper family. And he sent me flowers, dozens of bouquets of flowers and he tried to see me at work, called himself Bruce Carmichael so I wouldn’t know it was him,’ Kate carried on.
‘That’s my dad’s name,’ Amanda stated, going pale.
‘Amanda, this isn’t true. I was just trying to make amends a little bit for being a bit harsh over Bethan. I mean she is mine; I shouldn’t have denied it, she even looks like me. You got the wrong end of the stick, Kate. I’m sorry if there was any misinterpretation,’ Matthew spoke.
‘You said you wanted nothing to do with the brat,’ Amanda said, her tone wild.
‘Amanda, this is all nonsense; she’s making it up. Nothing’s changed, you’re the one I want to be with,’ Matthew insisted.
‘If I were you, I would get out while you can. He’s a compulsive liar and an accomplished one. The only person he cares about is himself,’ Kate said sternly.
‘How could you? You sent her flowers and used my dad’s name as an alias!’ Amanda said, close to tears as she stood up.
‘Amanda, don’t go. Come on, don’t listen to her, you know what she’s like. Amanda!’ Matthew called as Amanda threw down her napkin and rushed for the door of the restaurant.
Matthew reached into his pocket for his wallet.
‘Well thank you, thank you very much,’ he said, throwing his napkin down in frustration.
‘That’s Joel’s,’ Kate stated, wide-eyed, staring at the wallet in her ex-husband’s hand .
‘What?’ Matthew said.
‘That’s Joel’s wallet! That’s his wallet, the one that was taken when he was mugged. It was you!’ Kate exclaimed in horror, snatching it from Matthew’s hands.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Give me the wallet; I need to pay for all this extortionate food,’ Matthew blasted, indicating the meals on the tables.
‘You arranged for a group of thugs to beat him up! You could have killed him!’ Kate screamed as Hermione hurried to her side.
‘You’re mistaken; give me the wallet back,’ Matthew demanded.
‘No,’ Kate said and she opened it up and tipped the contents right into the middle of the shredded beef and hoisin sauce.
‘Stay away from me Matthew and stay away from Bethan,’ Kate spoke, shaking.
‘I’ll be speaking to my solicitor about proper access.’
‘You do whatever you think you have to do.’
‘She’s my daughter.’
‘Yes, she is. But I’m not your wife, not any more,’ Kate answered, swallowing a lump in her throat.
She took one last look at him and then turned and bolted for the door.
‘You come near Kate again and you’ll have me to deal with,’ Hermione threatened, narrowing her eyes at Matthew as he desperately tried to wipe sauce off his credit cards.
‘I know all about you. What are you going to do? Put a hex on me?’ Matthew asked with a chuckle.
Hermione picked up one of his cards and held it out to him.
‘Yours, I believe,’ she remarked, making him look up .
Matthew went to reach for it and as he did, Hermione jerked her knee up and landed a direct hit in his nether regions, making him audibly yelp in pain.
‘That’s the thing about the mystics – they can help but sometimes, brute force is the only real remedy,’ Hermione ended, straightening her coat.
Outside, the tears were falling from Kate’s face as she looked at the leather wallet in her hands. She ran her fingers over the smooth front and felt like a complete fool. Why had she let Matthew take her in again?
‘Are you OK?’ Hermione asked, arriving at her side.
‘He got people to attack Joel. This is his wallet,’ Kate spoke, holding it up for Hermione to see.
‘I know.’
‘He told me he wanted to start again, he told me he loved me and he loved Bethan and he wanted to be a family again.’
‘I know, sweetie,’ Hermione said, feeling her friend’s pain.
‘He’s made an idiot out of me,’ Kate continued.
‘No! You are not an idiot, Kate because you didn’t fall for it,’ Hermione insisted.
‘Maybe not externally but perhaps I had – in here,’ Kate admitted, touching her chest.
‘Leopards can’t change their spots sweetie, no matter how hard they try. Matthew hasn’t changed. He never wanted to start again; he was just concerned about his finances and he saw a way to stop you getting ruthless about it. He was your Achilles heel and he exploited that. He’s a liar and a cheat and a self-centred excuse for a man. He was that person when he left you and he’s still that person now,’ Hermione stated.
‘I know. ’
‘Sometimes, things don’t turn out the way we want them to but that isn’t your fault.’
‘I know.’
‘Then why do you feel so much responsibility for what he did to you?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘You’re a wonderful person, Kate. A good friend, an exceptional mother and a bright, intelligent, young woman with her whole life in front of her. You need to move on from Matthew and do it with a fresh outlook and no turning back. What’s done is done,’ Hermione spoke, making Kate look at her.
‘I’ve been so stupid, hanging on to some ridiculous idea that we could be a happy family again – even when he said all those horrid things about Bethan. Still I thought he would change his mind and come back.’
‘You deserve so much better.’
‘Like Joel, you mean?’
‘Well, he wouldn’t be a bad start.’
‘I’ve not been entirely honest with him about how I feel,’ Kate answered, rubbing at her eyes.
‘What did I say about letting go and having a fresh outlook? Give him a chance; after all, you already know he’s good in bed.’
‘Mione! I never said that!’
‘You didn’t need to, sweetie.’