Chapter 19 #2
Matteo didn’t get a chance to go after Nacho.
Nor did we have an opportunity to talk through our own issues as Liam had a complete meltdown that their wedding is somehow cursed, with all the bad things that keep happening.
Matteo and I stayed with them, looking after Louis, while Ged talked his fiancé down from the proverbial ledge.
‘So, you will keep Birdie busy in order to buy us some time to wipe that footage before Eddie gets his hands on it, correct?’ Ged murmurs to me.
‘Yes. I’m not happy about it but I don’t see what else we can do. And I’m not sure how long I can stretch an apology out for, so you’ll need to be quick.’
Everyone takes their seats at the table. I’m hovering over by the bar so that I can pounce on Birdie as soon as she makes an appearance.
‘Have there been any new deposits?’ Liam is asking Cherry, who shakes her head.
‘She hasn’t filled her nappy, if that’s what you mean. You’d know if she did. For some reason it really carries. We nearly got chucked out the taxi on the way here. The driver almost threw up.’
Sweet Jesus.
Liam has red puffy rings around his eyes.
He looks very sad for someone on the eve of their wedding who should be filled with joy.
Fortunately, in light of all the drama, Cherry has decided to forgive him and Ged and has put their judgy attitude towards her daughters’ dietary habits to one side.
I assume she has enough on her plate with Dom.
They are clearly not speaking, and he is sitting with Sister Kevin and Nacho at the far end of the table.
It is starting to feel like a ‘them and us’ situation with spurned partners at one side and partners in a huff on the other.
It feels like the longest day in history. I must do something. But what?
The staff sweep into the room. The butler announces what is being served for the first course and they begin serving steaming-hot bowls of wild boar and herb consommé.
I give up waiting and sit down next to Matteo.
The seat on his right remains empty. We are hoping Birdie is running late.
Likewise, the seat next to Liberty is empty.
She hasn’t seen Eddie since the whole filming fiasco.
Matteo speaks in French to the butler before translating for us. ‘Apparently Birdie and Eddie have gone into Cap Ferrat for the evening. They are dining out.’
‘Thank fuck,’ exclaims Tash. ‘Get the Lovington out, Kev.’
Liberty lowers her head. ‘He’s going to find out that there’s missing footage, isn’t he? He’s going to think something is going on between… us.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Nacho says softly. ‘I will explain him that nothing happened.’ He sounds thoroughly dejected.
It seems as though he genuinely has fallen for Liberty.
It’s not hard to see why. She is wearing a simple black silk sleeveless top with low-slung slouchy jeans and black strappy sandals.
Her long curls cascade dramatically down her bare arms. Her make-up is professional level as always. She is effortlessly stylish.
She places her hand over his. ‘Thank you but it’s fine,’ she says, half-smiling.
Her eyes are pooling with tears. ‘If we’re meant to be then he’ll believe me.
If not, then…’ She leaves the sentence unfinished and picks up her spoon to take a tentative sip of the soup.
She places it back down. ‘Sorry. I’m just not hungry. I’ll see you guys later.’
Like lightning, Nacho is on his feet, pulling out her chair. They exchange a woeful look before she walks away from him. I’ve never seen them like this before. Usually, they are flirting and joking with each other and taking nothing seriously. Silently, Nacho retakes his seat.
I stealthily dig Matteo in the ribs. He puts down his spoon and dabs his lips. He says something in Spanish to Nacho. I’m relieved to see Nacho’s face soften as he nods somewhat reluctantly.
‘We’re going to catch up after the meal is finished,’ Matteo murmurs to me. ‘I hope that’s okay?’
‘Of course it is,’ I whisper back. ‘Take as much time as you need.’
‘Take all night,’ says Tash forcefully. ‘Connie is having a sleepover. And it’s going to be a messy one.’ She swigs at her wine.
Bugger.
There’s a knock on my door within minutes of Matteo leaving with our overnight bag. He’s going to drop it at the other bedroom for the night, before he meets up with Nacho and then Dom, Ged and Sister Kevin downstairs at the bar for the Last Hurrah.
I swing the door open. Liam has Louis strapped to his chest, snuggled into his pouch.
He has bags and bags of supplies. He is beaming from ear to ear as he flounces in and plonks down the doggy bed, baby blankets and toiletry bag overspilling with bottles, dummies and dog nappies. ‘Who knew babies needed so much stuff?’
‘I knew,’ says Cherry, laughing as she swoops into the room with a child on each hip. Tash and Liberty follow behind with even more bags.
There’s another knock as they settle onto the bed and the chairs and Louis rubs himself on the plush carpet.
I open the door, dreading that it might be Birdie.
None of us dared message to invite her. Matteo and I are still on tenterhooks in case Eddie shows her the footage of us all slagging her off.
It’s the butler with a trolley.