Chapter 12 #2
I study Big Sue. Big Sue studies our faces to see how we will react.
When she is satisfied that none of us mind in the slightest, she picks up her spoon and begins twiddling with it.
‘That’s right. Well, sort of. I’m thinking of changing my stage costumes to be less eighties, blatant, sexist, rock chick, air-grab video and more reflective of me as a person.
I haven’t decided on anything yet but that’s where my head’s at.
No more fishnet stockings and bra-tops kind of thing. ’
‘Cool,’ says Tash. ‘It’s totally cool, babes. Wear what you want. You’ll always be one of the Dollz.’
‘I’ll take those Jimmy Choo thigh-high skyscrapers off your hands, hun.’ Liberty winks at her.
Liam is the first to get up and rush round the table to give her a hug. ‘Very proud of you. It’s important to be your authentic self. Especially on stage. But what does this mean for Bridgerton? Are you comfortable in the dress?’
‘Yeah. No problem. Although I might see if Cherry can work her magic.’ Big Sue accepts the hug with good grace, and we all join in the noisy chatter.
‘Of course, hun,’ says Cherry, taking a sausage roll from Clementine.
‘Four’s quite enough, Clem.’ She smiles at Big Sue while clamping a hand over Clementine’s mouth to stop her kicking off.
All I can see are Clementine’s little eyes widening in surprise.
‘I thought you two were going to announce that—’
‘No!’ barks Big Mand, slapping her hand forcefully on the table, making Peaches jump and thankfully distracting Clementine into forgetting that she was about to blow. ‘No other announcements. Nothing else happening in our world. Just the costume change.’
It’s almost as though I can read the Dollz’ minds as we stare back at her.
Nothing about an engagement?
Nothing about your romantic trip to Italy?
Nothing about you losing half your body weight?
Ged breaks the awkward silence. ‘Thanks for learning the dance routines, everyone. I thought you were all amazing and the vocals sounded positively sublime. Now, apart from Sue, is everyone else comfortable with their Bridgerton costumes?’
‘Why are you looking at me?’ asks Big Mand in a rather defensive tone.
Ged smiles at her. ‘No reason, hun. Just that yours is now three sizes too big and you kept tripping over it. Health and safety and all that.’
‘It’s all in hand. Why don’t you both come to my room after lunch and we’ll get you sorted?’ offers Cherry. ‘Dom can have the kids.’
Dom’s face visibly collapses with disappointment. ‘But I thought we were going to take them to Nice to the Christmas market and the funfair?’
‘Surely you can do that on your own, can’t you?’ she replies, taking her hand gingerly from Clementine’s mouth.
Dom swallows, obviously uncomfortable with ‘alone’ time with his own kids in an outdoors environment. He squirms in his seat.
‘We’ll come,’ says Tash. ‘We love kids, don’t we, Kev?’
Sister Kev also appears deflated. ‘Yeah. Sure. Unless… we don’t go and we leave Dom to enjoy some peace and quiet with these two little princesses while we use the spa facilities as planned.’
There’s an awkward silence while Tash stares him down. I suspect a full and frank conversation is going on through their intense eye contact and eyebrow twitching.
Meanwhile, Clementine is squealing with excitement, clapping her pudgy hands. ‘Tash, Tash, Tash!’ Peaches joins in, slapping her hands on her high-chair table.
‘Fine,’ sighs Sister Kevin, forcing a grin. ‘We’ll come too.’
Liberty is chortling away. ‘I’d come with you, but Nacho and I have plans already.’
‘Plans?’ asks Matteo. It’s the first word he’s spoken since we sat down.
‘Yes. Plans. That’s okay, isn’t it?’ There’s a touch of hostility in her tone.
‘Well,’ I say, intervening. ‘Have fun. What are you up to?’ It’s out of my mouth before I’ve had time to realise this is the worst question I could have asked.
Liberty glares at me. ‘We’re off to do a spot of sightseeing.’
Matteo speaks to Nacho in rapid Spanish and we sit transfixed as it escalates into what sounds like a heated argument. These two phenomenally handsome alpha males somehow increase in magnificence, their eyes glittering as they emit a powerful energy, neither willing to back down.
‘See what you’ve done?’ Cherry accuses Liberty.
‘Back off, girlfriend. It’s not what you think.’
Within minutes every single person around the table has an opinion on something or other and while the waiters stand gawping at the doorway, shaking their heads in disbelief at their rowdy, terrible guests, the two children are jumping in their seats with glee.
‘For fuck’s sake!’ roars Big Sue, standing up. ‘We’ll all bloody go!’
The brothers immediately stop squabbling as silence falls.
‘We’re here for Ged and Liam’s wedding, in case you’ve all forgotten,’ Big Sue says sternly. ‘It’s supposed to be a happy occasion.’
Ged nods gratefully.
‘Ged,’ she says. ‘What would you like to do this afternoon? Do you and Liam fancy a group trip into Nice to do the Christmas market and have a bit of fun? Some mulled wine? Taste some French treats?’
‘Well, actually,’ says Liam, grinning knowingly at Ged, ‘we do need to pop out to get some bits.’
‘Perfect, then. Mandeep and Cherry can either come with and do the alterations tonight or stay while we all gatecrash the Nice Christmas market.’
‘We’ll come!’ Cherry and Big Mand say in unison.
Dom sits back with a self-satisfied smile. His one-man parenting afternoon has now become a twelve-person job and, therefore, with this new and satisfying ratio of adults to children, just about manageable.