Chapter 20 #3
‘Dad!’ I yell, sprinting towards him. His face lights up as soon as he sees me and I fall into his warm embrace.
I’m so proud of the way we’ve come through the last few horrific years together and even prouder that we’ve both managed to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and forge new lives with people that make us happy.
I hug his girlfriend, Madge, who is nervously hovering off to the side.
Apart from the horrendous makeover that she has encouraged my dad to embrace (imagine shirt and tie with jeans, hummus-coloured hair dye, a brand-new collection of trainers), they are great for each other.
He shakes Matteo’s hand and I watch as Matteo kisses Madge on both cheeks.
She instantly blushes. This is the effect that he has on women and yet he appears never to notice.
While my father and Matteo launch into pleasantries, I swing my gaze around the room and spot Nacho instantly.
He’s leaning against the bar sitting on a stool, one leg propped up on the rung.
Deep in thought. He is wearing a dark blue linen suit, crisp white shirt open at the neck and white dress trainers.
‘Nacho!’ I call out, waving for him to come over. ‘Come and meet my dad and Madge.’
Nacho puts down his drink and strolls over.
I can’t read his expression as he glares blandly at Matteo.
Oh no. What with the unexpected impromptu shenanigans in the room, I didn’t even get a chance to ask Matteo if he’d had time to make peace with him last night.
Nacho forces a smile for my father and instantly shakes his hand.
When he turns to Madge, she acts like she might faint.
‘Oh my goodness,’ she says, clasping her chest. ‘Talk about gorgeous.’ This causes Nacho to momentarily relax, as for him this must be the world returning to normal. He kisses her on both cheeks.
‘Nice to meet you,’ he says, his Spanish accent adding to the glamour.
‘It’s lovely to meet you at last,’ my dad says. ‘Connie has told me so much about you.’
Nacho gives me a half-smile. ‘How was your trip to France?’ he asks my father and Madge politely.
‘Madge hates flying,’ says my dad. ‘Don’t you, love? I think we might even have to get the train back to England.’
‘I’m a nervous wreck on planes,’ says Madge. ‘Never was much good at travelling.’
Nacho frowns sympathetically. ‘So it will be very difficult for you.’
‘What do you mean?’ she asks.
Nacho frowns. ‘The second wedding? In Spain?’
‘I know nothing about a second wedding,’ says my dad.
‘Or when Connie moves to America to live with my brother. Permanently.’ He gives the last word such a gloomy emphasis.
My dad’s face drops. ‘Excuse me? Did you just say my daughter is moving to America?’ He can tell by my wide eyes and guilty face that it’s true.
I glare, annoyed, at Nacho. I mean, read the room for God’s sake. ‘Sorry, Dad. I was just waiting for the right moment to tell you.’
Matteo’s jaw falls slightly open. ‘You didn’t tell your father that we are going to live together in LA? But you promised me you would.’
‘I, erm, well, I did tell him that we would live together. I just didn’t tell him that it would be on the other side of the planet.’ My cheeks are burning. My eyeballs are stinging. The lack of sleep is massively catching up. A whole wave of exhaustion sweeps through my body.
Matteo narrows his eyes at me before turning to my father. ‘Apologies, Geoff. I thought you knew.’
‘And you’re having a second wedding?’ Dad’s voice falters. ‘When is this? Am I not invited to that one either?’
I take in my father’s stricken expression, and something inside me snaps.
‘Let’s ask Matteo,’ I reply sharply. ‘When were you going to tell me about the second wedding? When we got to the church door?’ I spin back round to face my dad.
‘A wedding that I don’t even want, by the way.
Because, apparently, his whole bloody family hates me!
And as for moving to LA?’ I face Matteo.
‘I’m not moving my entire life halfway across the planet just to sit around waiting for Birdie to click her fingers and decide when she’s done with you. ’
Matteo has a thunderous look on his face.
‘She is right,’ says Nacho. ‘Connie is your wife so why are you moving her to LA while you then go to Tokyo with Birdie?’
We all gasp as one.
‘Tokyo?’
Matteo’s jaw falls open.
‘For how long? Is that why you’ve been pushing Tokyo for our honeymoon? So that it suits your work schedule?’
He swallows. ‘It’s not how it seems.’
‘How long?’ I snap.
‘Six months,’ Nacho supplies. ‘Birdie told me earlier.’
‘Six months?’ I don’t believe it. ‘You’re leaving me for six months?’
‘No,’ says Matteo, reaching for my hand. ‘No, of course not.’
I snatch it away. ‘I have no idea what to believe any more. What is the point in being married if you never tell me the truth?’
‘I didn’t tell you because I had no intention of going.’ He looks embarrassed and annoyed in equal measure. ‘Except if you wanted to go… on honeymoon.’
‘Are you sure about that?’ I put my hand on my hip. ‘Because from where I’m standing there seem to be three people in this marriage and only one of them calling the shots. Well, I won’t put up with it any longer!’
‘And what exactly does that mean?’ Matteo’s eyes flash angrily.
I have clearly gone too far.