24. FINALISATION
TWENTY-FOUR
FINALISATION
Amber’s dress fitted her beautifully. As she swanned backwards and forwards in front of her mother’s full-length mirror, she said, ‘Mum, you’re a genius!’
Tess had a lump in her throat at the sight of her daughter looking so lovely. Amber’s auburn hair would be worn up, and adorned with a band of cream roses – some real, some silk – and she’d carry a posy of the real ones, all supplied and put in place by the Chelsea florist at vast expense.
‘Now, let’s have a look at your outfit again,’ Amber said.
‘Oh, my hair’s a mess and I?—’
‘Never mind your hair,’ Amber interrupted, ‘I have a great imagination.’ She stepped carefully out of the dress. ‘I’ll pop down and put on the kettle while you get into all your gear, OK?’
Tess was due to have her hair trimmed, styled, highlighted and lowlighted the day before the wedding, and now it looked messy and the colour had faded. There was nothing she could do about it at the moment, so she put on the dress, the hat and the sandals, and slung the bag over her shoulder before making her way downstairs.
Amber turned round from where she’d been gazing out of the kitchen window.
‘Mum, you look sensational !’
‘Well, not too bad, am I? It’s all cost a small fortune, but I must say you’re worth it!’
‘Seriously, you look fabulous! You’ll put the Arse in the shade without a doubt! And I don’t know why we giggled at the thought of you meeting a man. I should think they’ll be falling over themselves to be introduced!’
‘No need to go over the top, Amber. Anyway, I’m bringing a plus one.’
‘You are ?’
‘I am.’
‘Who’s this, Mum?’
‘I met him on the Greek cruise. He’s called Sanjeev. He’s Asian, tall and good-looking.’
‘Blimey, Mum, this is all a bit sudden! And what does your good-looking Asian do?’
‘He’s a doctor. An oncologist.’
Amber’s jaw dropped.
What did she expect him to be? Tess wondered. The owner of the local Indian takeaway?
‘Wow! That’s a turn-up for the books!’
‘Isn’t it just! But you’d better warn Peter and your father, because I’m not sure how that will affect the seating arrangements. ’
Amber was still staring at her mother. ‘Is this guy serious? About you, I mean?’
‘I shouldn’t think so,’ Tess replied airily. ‘We’re just good friends.’
‘But how do you feel about him ?’
‘He’s nice, but there’s no great romance or anything.’ Chance would be a fine thing, she thought.
‘Well, well!’ Amber was draining her mug of tea.
I bet she can’t wait to spread the news, Tess thought, smiling to herself.
‘You know what, Mum? I’ve done you a favour by getting married. It’s got you losing all that weight and spending some money on yourself. And you’ve obviously become more attractive to the opposite sex. So, good for you!’
For a brief moment, Tess wondered if she should tell Amber about MMM and the disastrous dates. No doubt Amber would think it hilarious, but might also judge it to be the action of a desperate woman.
‘I think that, as far as the seating’s concerned,’ Amber went on, ‘we will of course have you at the top table but, er, what’s-his-name…’
‘Sanjeev.’
‘Sanjeev can sit at the next one down with Matt and Lisa. Only because nobody knows him and, if we sat him at the top table next to you, everyone would think you were getting married to him or something.’
Or something, Tess thought.
‘Anyway, who knows if Lisa will be there? She’s already overdue,’ Amber added .
When Tess had paid her final visit to Slim Chance on the Tuesday, Judy had awarded her the coveted Gold Star Certificate in honour of attaining her target weight: eleven stone and nine pounds.
‘Tess is an example to us all,’ Judy preached to the gathered slimmers, after the applause had died down. ‘If she can do it, you can do it! Give them a few hints, Tess!’
Tess decided to be honest. She cleared her throat. ‘It helps if you have a really good reason; a target for a specific date, for instance. My target was my daughter’s wedding, which is next Saturday. Apart from obviously wanting to look good on the day, I had the added incentive of competing with my ex-husband’s new wife, who’s younger, better looking and slimmer than me.’
There were sighs of sympathy.
‘I couldn’t do anything much about being younger or better looking, but I could lose two and a half stone. And, do you know what? Everyone seems to think I appear younger and better looking as a result!’
Thunderous applause erupted.
‘But,’ continued Tess over the clapping, ‘it’s made me realise that I’ve really done this for myself, so I can hold my head up high and know I’m looking as good as I can. And I intend to stay this way; the moment I put a few pounds back on I’ll be straight back here!’
More applause, some cheering and a hug from Judy followed. They really were a very nice bunch of women. Tess laughed, gave a little bow and returned to her seat .
‘Fancy a drink?’ Shirley, who’d arrived late, asked. ‘There’s something I’d like to tell you.’
‘I’d love one,’ Tess replied. ‘And I’m desperate to know how your romance is going!’
It was another beautiful day and they sat in the garden of the Wily Fox with their glasses of wine.
‘Tell me all!’ Tess said.
‘Charlie’s asked me to marry him,’ Shirley said.
‘Oh, Shirley! How fantastic! Have you said yes?’
‘I have!’
‘Oh my God, we should be drinking champers!’
Shirley laughed. ‘Come over to my place next week and we’ll do just that!’
‘Congratulations! This is such lovely news!’
Shirley told her how Charlie had whisked her off to Paris for a weekend, then proposed to her, on bended knee, right in front of the Eiffel Tower. How could she refuse?
‘Now, how about you, Tess?’
Tess told her about the final few ‘hearts’, about the cruise and about Sanjeev.
‘He sounds really nice,’ Shirley said. ‘And who knows, maybe accompanying you to the wedding will direct his own thoughts in that direction.’
Tess shrugged. ‘I’m not honestly sure if I feel that way about him or not. But do you know what? It doesn’t matter any more. I don’t need a man in my life. I thought I did, but now I don’t. ’
Shirley arched an eyebrow. ‘These things usually happen when you aren’t looking for them.’
‘I’ll take your word for that.’
Two days to go. The wind and rain had moved on to central Europe, and there was now a heatwave: such were the vagaries of the British weather. Tomorrow Tess would get her hair done and get herself ready for the big day. For now, it was time to contact MMM again.
With reference to your email earlier this week, I concede that I did see one of those so-called ‘hearts’ on more than one occasion. However, as at least three of the six ‘hearts’ I met were plainly not checked by you, this has caused me considerable distress as well as wasting my time. I paid ￡150 because that was supposed to guarantee my contacts would be vetted . You have clearly not kept your side of this agreement and so, again, I am requesting the return of my money.
In the event that my account is not credited with this money within the next seven days, I shall send copies of all our correspondence to the national press , in an attempt to save other women from wasting their money on your less than reputable agency.
Yours sincerely,
T. Templa r
At 11p.m. on the Friday night, the telephone rang just as Tess was trying to get to sleep. Who could be ringing so late? Her heart thumping, Tess picked up the phone. Had Amber changed her mind?
‘Sanjeev!’
‘I am so sorry to phone you so late, Tess, but I have a problem,’ Sanjeev said.
‘A problem? What sort of problem?’
‘I’ve just had a call from my son in Norwich. His little girl, who’s only five, broke her arm in two places yesterday, and she’s spent all last evening in hospital having it set. Now she’s home and calling for her grandpa. I’m afraid I rather spoil her, but she’s such a lovely little girl. And now they want me to go up there tomorrow to console her, and I’m afraid I must. I’m so sorry, Tess.’
Tess was still trying to process the information. ‘ Tomorrow? Does that mean you’ll have to leave the wedding early?’
‘No, Tess, it means that I won’t be able to come at all. I’m going to drive up there first thing in the morning. I realise I’m letting you down but you can see my dilemma, can’t you?’
Tess was now wide awake. ‘I am so sorry about your poor little granddaughter. But how about coming just to the ceremony, but not the reception, or?—’
‘I’m sorry, Tess. By the time the wedding begins I shall be up there. And you did say that you were prepared to go on your own. Please try to understand. I promise to phone when I get back.’
‘But, Sanjeev, it’s only a fractured arm! I mean, it’s not life or death or anything…’
‘Perhaps not, but she’s so little and being so brave, and just wants me to be there. This is very important to me, Tess. There is no way I could enjoy the wedding knowing that she wants her grandpa so much.’
Tess could tell by the tone of his voice that he’d said his piece, made his apologies, and the matter was now closed.
She sighed. ‘Fine, Sanjeev, I hope all goes well with your granddaughter. And drive carefully.’
‘I will, and I knew you’d understand,’ he said.
Did she understand? Only to a point. Yes, of course she’d be upset if Ellie broke something, but surely a few hours or even a day wouldn’t make that much difference? Plainly, Sanjeev’s family, as well as his work, were very important to him and she’d better get used to it. She wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the wedding anyway with him being there on sufferance.
Poor Sanjeev, poor granddaughter, poor me, she thought. So, going on my own again. They’ll probably think I made him up, that he was a mere figment of my imagination, wishful thinking on my part. Poor old Mum, on her own as usual.
Sanjeev was a good man, but probably not for her. As he’d reminded her, she’d been quite prepared to go to this wedding on her own, and that’s what she was going to do – with her head, under that glorious hat, held high. Now she must try to get some sleep.