Chapter 19
19
Carole checked herself out in the mirror and decided she didn’t look too bad at all. Actually, she looked pretty good, even if she did say so herself.
The blush pink tea dress she was wearing shouldn’t have worked—pink wasn’t really her colour—and yet it did work, thanks to the asymmetric swirls in complementary colours of deep rose and frothy candyfloss that stretched across the dress from the waist and melted into the skirt in a way that flattered her curves while adding style and sophistication to the look.
She wore silver kitten heels, silver hoop earrings, a simple bangle on her wrist and a heart-shaped pendant at her neck. Instead of the curls she’d teased into her hair for her cousin’s wedding, she’d opted for a sleeker style with plain silver combs scooping her hair up and away from her face.
The dress had been one of her sister’s brilliant finds online. Last Sunday after dinner at their parents’ house, Carole and Jane had indulged in some clothes browsing on the sofa, and when Jane had found the dress on a preloved site, she’d insisted that Carole buy it and wear it to the wedding she was going to with Tom.
Carole had resisted at first, reminding Jane that she’d been the one who’d convinced her to wear something she already owned when they’d gone to their cousin’s wedding, and also explaining that she’d found a smart teal sheath dress while unpacking the last of her clothing boxes and which she’d forgotten she even owned and which she’d decided would do the job just fine.
But Jane had insisted that the blush pink tea dress was too gorgeous not to buy, especially considering the price it was going for. Before Carole could stop her, Jane had one-click purchased the dress. When it was delivered a few days later, Carole couldn’t help but fall in love with it.
The dress was stylish and beautiful, but also romantic and just ever so slightly dreamy. It would be perfect for dancing at the reception, with its soft skirt designed for swirling.
The thought of dancing again with Tom made her stomach perform a daft little somersault.
Her hectic work week, combined with the fact that she hadn’t set eyes on Tom since their dessert swap across the garden fence, meant it had been easy not to think too much about him. Now that their second wedding plus-one arrangement was about to begin, her stupid crush was roaring back in wicked triumph.
She shook her head at herself in the mirror.
“What is wrong with you?” she hissed at her reflection.
There was no answer—which was probably just as well, because if her reflection was talking back at her, then she had more serious problems to worry about than a stupid crush.
Still, the crush was a big problem, just the same.
Last night, when Tom had texted about the wedding arrangements for the day, she’d been on the cusp of falling into a lengthy message exchange with him. Or at least, that’s what she’d wanted to happen. She’d had to remind herself that Tom had just got home from his work trip and was probably shattered from all the meetings and the long drive.
He’d just wanted to check their departure time, not kick off an endless message exchange. Carole had forced herself to delete a stupidly long text she’d been about to send, containing mindless conversational bits and pieces that Tom probably couldn’t care less about, and send a thumbs-up emoji instead.
That had brought the messaging to an end, proving that Tom had only wanted to confirm their arrangements before collapsing onto the sofa or into bed or just getting on with minding his own business without being badgered by the crazy crush lady next-door.
“You’re deranged,” Carole told her reflection in the mirror.
Deciding she’d done quite enough posing and pouting in front of the mirror, she sprayed some styling product into her hair to keep the silver combs in place and grabbed the small silver clutch bag she’d already packed with cosmetic essentials. Her phone pinged with a message from Tom, saying their taxi would be there any minute.
She’d assumed she would drive them to the wedding, as per their agreement and the fact that Tom had taken on driving duties for her cousin’s wedding. But while swapping more messages earlier that morning to confirm all was still well their arrangements, Tom had insisted that a taxi made sense this time around. The wedding and reception were both being held in the same hotel, which was located just a few miles outside of Hamblehurst anyway.
If they travelled by taxi, they could both enjoy a few glasses of wine with dinner, Tom had said, and Carole hadn’t found any reason to object to that, so long as they shared the taxi costs.
Carole stepped outside her house at the same moment as Tom stepped out of his. They shared an amused laugh at their departure synchronisation.
“Carole, you look fantastic,” Tom said.
“Thanks. So do you. Oh, and I, er, love your tie.”
She quirked an eyebrow as she said it. Tom’s tie was hard to miss, featuring a design of brightly coloured cartoon-style hearts against an electric blue background. Fun though it was, it struck her as an odd choice to pair with the sleek dark grey suit he wore, and which looked just as designer-y and expensive as the one he’d worn to the last wedding they’d gone to.
Tom let out a resigned laugh and ran a hand down the tie. “Evie picked it out for me to wear today. Believe me, I tried to steer her towards something else, but her heart was set on this one and no amount of persuading could convince her otherwise.”
The look on his face combined with his explanation about the hideous tie made something melt inside Carole’s heart. That he’d wear the dreadful item just to please the little girl he obviously loved so much was…
… sweet? Touching? Enough to make a woman turn to jelly? All of the above?
“I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see you wearing it,” Carole said.
“As will everyone else who finds themselves blinded by the technicolour brilliance of this garment.”
Carole laughed. By now, they’d made their way to the street and towards the taxi that was pulling up. Once they’d climbed inside, they set off.
“So, you had a busy week at work?” Carole asked.
“Hectic but productive. Hopefully the new clients I visited up in Cambridge will sign contracts with us early next week and then I can breathe a sigh of relief. How was your week?”
“The same, hectic but productive. The days flew by. I’m looking forward to some time spent relaxing this weekend.”
“Me too. But don’t relax too much. Remember, you’re coming along as my human shield in case Lucy’s mad work colleague tries to latch onto me.”
Tom laughed as he said it, obviously joking at the crude characterisation, but it was a reminder that that was in fact the entire basis of their arrangement. Tom had been her human shield against her encounter with Steven Weaver at the last wedding, and she was Tom’s human shield against the woman who might want to slobber all over him at this one.
This was a mutually beneficial arrangement, nothing more. It was a helpful way of defusing the stupid crush she’d developed, for sure.
“You were an excellent wingman last time, and I’ll return the favour this time,” Carole said, with a smile she hoped looked amused.
The journey from Foxglove Street to the hotel just north of Hamblehurst took only a few minutes. The hotel was a large and contemporary building, sleekly modern and with four floors plus two wings on either side, and as they passed by Carole could see that these incorporated the restaurant and function spaces.
The taxi pulled up outside the main doors, where a large sign festooned with flowers welcomed guests to the wedding celebrations. They’d only just climbed out of the vehicle when a torrent of excited shouts and shrieks hit them from the front of the building.
Carole turned to see a whirlwind descend the stone steps and streak towards Tom.
“Tom! You’re here!” Evie yelled as she hurled herself into his arms.
With a grunt of surprised laughter, Tom caught the little girl and scooped her up and spun her around. “Evie! Look at you in your pretty dress. You look wonderful.”
After hugging him and planting a kiss on his cheek, Evie wriggled to the ground where she began twirling to show off the gorgeous bridesmaid dress she wore. It was every little girl’s dream, a confection of lavender satin and frilly underskirt and with a swirl of sweet flowers embroidered across the bodice.
“It’s my very own princess dress!” Evie exclaimed, still spinning so fast Carole wondered how she could stay upright. “I love it!”
Evie’s delight was infectious, and Carole couldn’t help laughing alongside Tom.
“Well, if anyone has the right to wear a princess dress, it’s you, sweetheart,” Tom said. “But I think you should stop spinning or you’ll wreck your lovely hairstyle and then your mother will be upset.”
Evie came to an abrupt halt, staggering a little against the momentum she’d worked up. Her hands flew to her hair and a shocked look filled her face.
“Are my curls and clasps still okay?” she asked, patting at her head.
“They’re fine,” Tom reassured her. “But they won’t be if you keep that up, and you want to look your very best for when it’s time for your mum to walk down the aisle, don’t you?”
Evie nodded, then seemed to notice Carole for the first time. A bright smile lit up her face. “Hello, I’m Evie. Are you Carole? Tom told me he was bringing you. I love your dress!”
With a bashful smile, Evie reached out and ran her hands over the soft folds of Carole’s dress.
“I love your dress too, Evie,” Carole said, charmed by the little girl. “Are you excited about being a bridesmaid?”
“I’m sooo excited! Do you want to see the bouquet of flowers I get to carry? Come on and I’ll show you.”
Evie grabbed Carole’s hand and began dragging her inside the hotel. With a laugh over her shoulder, she turned to see Tom trailing in their wake.
“She’s a handful,” he whispered in Carole’s ear once he’d caught up with them. His proximity sent a delicious shiver down her skin and it took her a moment to form a coherent response.
“An adorable handful,” Carole whispered back. “And freakishly strong, too. I think my arm’s in danger of being popped out at the shoulder!”
“Evie let’s slow down a little,” Tom said, laughing. “No running inside, remember?”
Evie slowed to a fast walk, still tugging Carole’s hand. They were crossing the hotel lobby now. The space was large and glassy, with reception desks on one side and a stylish bar spreading out on the other. There were plenty of wedding guests mingling and wandering around, and Carole saw Tom raise his hand in greeting to a few people as they passed, but Evie’s determination to show off her bridesmaid’s flower bouquet meant they were whisked through the lobby crowds towards a corridor that led off to the right.
Evie opened a door and hauled Carole into the room behind her. Carole’s eyes widened when she realised the room was a special suite filled with bridesmaids and several guests and various bits of wedding paraphernalia.
“I want to show Tom and Carole my bridesmaid bouquet,” Evie announced to the assembled guests in the room before releasing Carole’s hand and hurrying towards an array of floral bouquets laid out in containers on a tabletop.
All eyes swung in their direction. Carole felt embarrassed for bursting into the private room, albeit unwittingly. Tom stepped into the room behind her.
“Sorry, we didn’t mean to crash in here like this,” he said.
An older woman in a pale lemon skirt suit approached them, all smiles.
“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “Evie is beside herself with excitement about her flower bouquet. You’re not the first person she’s dragged in here today.”
“Good to see you, Kathleen,” Tom said, embracing the woman before turning to Carole. “Carole, this is Lucy’s mother, Kathleen. Kathleen, this is Carole, my wedding date.”
“So lovely to meet you,” Kathleen said, shaking her hand warmly.
“You too. You must be very excited about being the mother of the bride today.”
“I’m beyond excited,” Kathleen replied, her eyes bright. “If we could just find a way to calm this one down,”—she gestured to Evie, who was lifting a bouquet of flowers from the selection on the table—“before she literally explodes, then I’d feel a lot better.”
Tom and Carole laughed as Evie rushed back to them bearing a sweet arrangement of pink roses and white daisies in a perfectly designed bouquet.
“Look! Isn’t it pretty?”
Evie waved the bouquet around like a magic wand.
“It’s gorgeous,” Carole agreed. “I love the daisies.”
“Me too,” Evie grinned. “Daisies are my favourite.”
A man detached from the small crowd of guests talking amongst themselves and joined them by the door.
“Tom, great to see you,” he said, extending a hand.
“Martin, how are you feeling, mate?” Tom replied, grinning as he shook the man’s hand.
“Excited. Nervous. And like I might pass out,” Martin laughed.
“You’ll be fine,” Tom reassured him, then made introductions again. “Carole, this is Martin, the very lucky groom. Tom, this is my date, Carole.”
There was more handshaking and exchanging of pleasantries.
“So, are you ready to get married?” Tom asked, clapping a hand on the man’s shoulder.
“I can’t wait. I mean, I’m scared witless, obviously, but I can’t wait to see Lucy walking down that aisle.”
Carole couldn’t miss the bright excitement in the man’s eyes. She also couldn’t help but notice the genuine warmth the two men seemed to have for one another. Listening as Tom chatted with Martin and Kathleen, it struck her as remarkable that, despite no longer being in a relationship with his ex, he continued to be a welcome part of her family.
That said something about the man.
Once Evie was persuaded to return her bridesmaid bouquet to the table along with the other floral arrangements, Tom said they’d leave them all in peace to get on with their final arrangements before the ceremony began at one o’clock. Kathleen hugged Carole like an old friend before hurrying off, saying she needed to return to her daughter in the bridal suite upstairs as she’d only come down to the prep room to collect a few things. Martin said he needed to go and check in with the wedding celebrant, who’d just arrived.
Back out in the corridor, Martin gave Tom directions to the function room where the wedding ceremony would take place. While the two men spoke, Carole watched in amusement as Evie grabbed a hand of each man in hers and swung their arms to and fro. The excitement of the day was clearly getting the better of her.
Watching Tom indulge the little girl’s mad arm-swinging antics alongside Martin made Carole’s heart squeeze.
It was a sweet scene, and she couldn’t help pulling out her camera and snapping a quick shot of the two handsome men holding hands with the gorgeous little flower girl who stood between them, swinging their arms back and forth and grinning with delight.
Caught in the busy, happy moment, none of them noticed her taking the photo. Carole would share it later with Tom and she knew it would make him smile.
At last, they all went their separate ways. Evie skipped off with Martin, waving madly. Tom steered Carole back towards the lobby and the suite where Martin said the wedding ceremony would take place.
The function room was already filling up with wedding guests, and when Carole checked the time, she realised it was less than half an hour until the ceremony would begin. The room was bright and lovely, with banks of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sunlit gardens outside. Rows of silver-lacquered chairs filled the room, decorated with lavender ribbons on the backs, and beautiful floral arrangements in a palette of pink, lavender and white framed the front of the room where the ceremony would be conducted. Soft romantic pop music played from the house system as guests mingled before taking their seats.
“This room is beautiful,” Carole commented. “So lovely and bright with all this sunlight coming in. It’s the perfect place for a wedding.”
“Lucy deserves to have a great day,” Tom said. “I know she and Martin have put a tonne of work into the arrangements. I hope it all goes to plan.”
“I’m sure it will.”
They found seats in a row near the middle of the bride’s side of the room. Once they were seated, Carole pulled out her phone and showed Tom the photo she’d snapped a few moments ago in the lobby.
“That’s a great shot, Carole,” he said, laughing in surprise as he studied the image. “Look at the expression on Evie’s face. Pure bliss!”
“She’s a lucky little girl to have two wonderful men in her life.”
“No, I’m the lucky one.” Tom’s expression turned wistful before he added. “Will you send this to me?”
“Of course. I’m sure I’ll take a few more throughout the day, so I’ll send them through in a batch later.”
“Thanks.”
Tucking her phone away, Carole leaned closer and lower her voice. “Any sign of what’s-her-name, the woman I’m here to shield you against?”
Tom laughed softly. “Not yet. I’ll keep you posted.”
Carole was about to say something more, but a couple of wedding guests appeared at the end of the row where they were sitting and caught Tom’s attention to say hello and thus began a new round of greetings and introductions. The genuine warmth with which Tom was welcomed by just about everyone he met continued to strike Carole as utterly remarkable.
She had to remind herself that this was Tom’s ex-girlfriend’s wedding they were at. Lucy hadn’t just been a casual girlfriend, either—they’d been in a relationship for years. And yet, despite that relationship ending, they’d remained friends and Tom continued to be an obviously much-loved part of Evie’s life.
Even the groom, Martin, had welcomed Tom with open arms.
As she watched Tom chat with the wedding guests who’d stopped to say hello, and then another set who arrived and pulled Tom into warm hugs the moment they saw him, Carole realised just how special the man was.
And how easy it would be to fall for him… and keep falling.