Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Parker
So far, so good. We’d gotten through my dad’s speech, cut the cake, and had a very public kiss.
Luckily, Tristan’s arm around my waist had compensated for my inability to hold myself upright while he kissed me.
Back in my room, I’d been leaning on my dressing table when we kissed, so I had grossly overestimated my limbs’ ability to operate normally when Tristan was so close.
My heart might still be hammering, but at least I was upright. It was all I could hope for.
“You look beautiful,” Stella said as she approached me.
Tristan and I were still holding hands, despite my Aunt Maddie only having eyes for Tristan.
She was lecturing him on the secrets of a happy marriage and he, very sensibly, wasn’t trying to make a contribution as she set out her three-thousand-point plan.
“Thanks, Stella. Honestly, I feel more than awkward.”
Maddie maneuvered between me and Tristan, breaking our physical connection.
“Well you don’t look awkward. You both look great. Like the perfect couple.”
“Tristan gets up in the morning looking great. On the other hand, I’m a magnet for spillages whenever I dress up.”
Beck came up behind Stella and wrapped his arm around her waist. “How are you getting on?” he asked.
All I could do was shrug.
“You should know Tristan wouldn’t do this thing for just anyone. That’s not to say he’s not a great guy. He is. And I know it’s an excellent charity that Tristan feels strongly about, but he must like you a lot to do this. You should know that.”
I didn’t know what to say. Was Beck disapproving of what we were doing? “It’s really good of him.”
“You’re supportive, though, right?” Stella asked her husband.
“Sure,” Beck said on a shrug. “Partly because it’s a great cause and partly because . . . Well, I hope you both keep an open mind.”
Stella laughed. I got the distinct impression I wasn’t in on the joke.
“Did I miss something?” I asked.
“It’s just that Beck and I started out pretending to be together,” Stella explained.
“You and Beck?” I glanced between them. They were both grinning.
“Yes, Stella made me pretend to be her boyfriend,” Beck explained.
“A very small price to pay for accompanying you to the wedding from hell.” Stella shook her head as if she couldn’t believe what she was about to say. “My newly ex-boyfriend’s wedding to my newly ex-best friend.” She groaned. “I have no idea how you talked me into it.”
“That sounds . . . horrible and messy and oh em gee, I can’t even imagine,” I said.
Stella laughed. “It was all those things. But out of it, I ended up with this guy, so all’s well that ends well. You never know when an awkward situation will lead to something great.”
My cheeks flushed like I had my head a foot away from a roaring fire.
When I heard my name called across the grass, I’d never been so happy to be interrupted.
It wasn’t like that between me and Tristan.
Yes, Tristan was gorgeous and I was attracted to him, but I was only human.
There wasn’t a single girl at this party who didn’t feel the same way.
I glanced away from Stella and Beck, trying to see who had called my name. Tristan’s mother, Eileen, came barreling toward us.
“Hello, you three,” she said, grinning so wide she looked like she must have a jaw ache. “How’s my lovely daughter-in-law to be?”
My stomach plummeted into the lawn. I hated lying to her, especially as she was just so happy for us.
She grabbed my hand and squeezed it between both of hers.
“I’m so happy he found you. He’s so very lucky.
And the work you do—Tristan told me about how you’re launching a program to help the families.
” She shook her head and her eyes went glassy.
Without a word, Beck smoothed his hand over her back.
“It’s wonderful,” she said, her voice shaky and weak. “It would have made such a difference.”
I was used to people being moved by the work Sunrise did.
Vulnerable, sick children fighting for their lives melted the hardest of hearts, but we weren’t discussing any details and Eileen was still moved to tears.
And then Beck was very quick to comfort her—it was almost as if he expected her to be emotional.
Maybe she was always like this. Not for the first time today, I felt like I was missing something.
“Can I get you a drink?” Stella said.
Eileen shook her head, dropped my hands, and pulled out a tissue from her bag before dabbing at her eyes.
“I’m fine, thanks.” She plastered on a grin.
“This is a joyous day. My son is getting married. You two are going to have a wonderful future together.” Her voice cracked at the end of the sentence.
She was really upset. I scanned the party, wanting to find Tristan and call him over to help comfort his mother.
I reached out for her but she lifted her hand.
“I’m sorry. It’s an emotional day. Excuse me.
” She rushed off in the direction of the luxury loos Lauren had arranged to be craned into the garden yesterday.
I turned back to Beck and Stella. “Should I go after her?”
Beck shook his head. “I don’t think so, but let’s tell—Oh, here he is.”
Tristan’s arms snaked around my waist and he pulled me toward him just like a fiancé would.
“You’re mum seems really upset,” I said.
“She got a bit overcome when she was talking about Parker’s charity,” Stella added.
Tristan nodded as if he wasn’t surprised.
“She raced off to the loo. Shall I go and check she’s okay?” I asked
Tristan pulled me closer to him. “She’ll be fine. She won’t want a fuss made. She’ll be embarrassed.”
“It’s totally understandable,” Beck said. “Big family occasions are bound to bring up memories.”
What sort of memories? Was Tristan’s mother upset about Sunrise, or was there a traumatic family party in the past no one had yet filled me in about?
Tristan cleared his throat. “Absolutely. You look like you need a drink, Parker. And you, Stella.” He craned his neck to locate a waiter before releasing me and grabbing two glasses of champagne as someone came by with a tray full.
Tristan’s eyes crinkled from his smile. He bent and placed a reassuring kiss on my head, as if to tell me that I didn’t need to worry about a thing. But it wasn’t me I was worried about.
Being with Tristan’s friends was more relaxing that it should have been, considering I was lying to everyone I loved and cared about apart from Sutton.
Lucky for me, after being introducing to Hartford, she seemed to be getting on like a house on fire with all Tristan’s friends.
Being with the group felt borderline enjoyable, probably because I wasn’t lying to any of them.
But it didn’t last long as I heard Lauren shouting my name. I turned to find her burrowing through the crowd toward us.
“She’s coming for us again. Let’s escape,” I said, pulling on Tristan’s hand. I wasn’t quite sure where I was going; I was just heading the opposite direction of Lauren’s voice.
“Where are we going?”
“Anywhere. The loo! We can lock ourselves in! I was just starting to relax. God only knows what Lauren has in store for us now.” I fixed a smile on my face at the people we passed without stopping to chat.
I caught Katie’s eye as I passed her. “Sorry, Katie. Just off to the loo! Tristan’s helping me with the buttons on my dress.
” I didn’t stop until we were upstairs and in the family bathroom.
I ushered Tristan in and shut and locked the door.
“We’re safe in here, I think.”
Tristan was chuckling.
“I have no idea why you’re laughing. We just escaped Lauren Flowers. Do you know how difficult that is to do? I might sign up for the SAS or something. I’ve clearly got skills I didn’t know I had.”
“You’re funny,” Tristan said, smiling at me and taking a seat on the side of the bath. Now we were here, what were we going to do?
“Sorry, I just couldn’t take anything else.”
“I’ve actually had more fun than expected,” he said. “I think the sweetheart table was a blessing in disguise. Took the pressure off a little.”
“I’m not sure about that. All those people staring at us? I feel like we disappointed them because we didn’t recite any Shakespearian soliloquies or break into song or something.”
“Singing is not a skill of mine. I think I would have driven everyone from the marquee. The food had them distracted mostly. I’m not sure they needed entertaining.”
I nodded. “Yeah, the food was great. Did your mum enjoy it? How is your mum? Did you catch up with her?”
“She’s fine.” He stood from the bath and pushed his hands into his pockets.
“She seemed pretty upset.”
He paused and then said finally. “We had a family member die of congenital heart disease. Mum still gets very upset . . . You know.”
“I’m sorry.” I reached for his arm and he froze.
“It’s fine.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets. “You’ve had your time-out. I think we should get back to the party. Lauren has probably found something else to focus on by now.”
I didn’t know Tristan that well but I could tell he was trying to change the subject away from one he clearly didn’t want to talk about. Maybe it wasn’t just his mother who was upset at the thought of the death of his family member.
I certainly didn’t want to upset him.
“Sure,” I said. “You’re right. Let’s go back. But if you spot Lauren, promise we’ll duck or find another hiding spot?”
He shook his head. “I never pictured my engagement party. But if I had, it absolutely wouldn’t have been anything like this.”
“I’m taking that as a compliment,” I said, unlocking the bathroom door.
“Go ahead and do that.”