Gypsy Wedding (26 page)

‘What’s the matter, Vick? To be honest I wasn’t really expecting to hear from you again.’ Even over the airwaves his voice sounded a bit cool. ‘Does your fiancé,’ he sounded as if he were spitting the word, ‘know you’re calling?’

‘Jordan … Jordan, please don’t be like that. I’m sorry, I really am.’

‘Really? Sorry for the way we parted? It wasn’t how I’d planned it you know. That poxy handshake, was that all our friendship meant?’

‘Yes, I am
really
sorry. What happened between us never should have done. I was as much at fault as you – more so, as I should never have let you kiss me. And I didn’t know how to handle it. I’m sorry if I hurt you but I thought it’d be easier if I just kept right away from you from then on. But I couldn’t go without saying goodbye – and you wanted more than that. And I … I …’

‘Leave it,’ said Jordan. ‘Just forget it. So why the call? You want something from me, is that it? Got a use for me?’

‘Don’t, Jordan, I don’t know who else I can ask. You’re my one and only hope.’ Jordan didn’t say anything so Vicky ploughed on. ‘Look, I’ve really screwed up. I’ve had a row with Kelly and I need to apologise.’

‘So go ahead and do it. All you have to do is say how sorry you are, maybe grovel a bit. Now if that’s all the advice you need—’

‘No! You don’t understand. She won’t answer my calls. If I knew where she lived I’d go and see her …’

‘Really? I thought you lot had rules about that sort of thing. You see, since I found out about you I’ve been reading up about travellers. Can’t think why – some random idea that I might find out what made you tick, I suppose. So now I know how strict the rules are for you traveller girls.’

‘You’re right about the rules. And they’re really tough, but I’d be prepared to break them for Kelly.’

‘You wouldn’t break them for me. I’ll be straight with you, Vicky, I really fancied you and I thought you had something, something special. Despite the rules I thought you had the brains to try to break out, be different,
do
something. And I could have helped you if you’d let me. But hey, you blew me out, so why should I care any more?’

‘I’m sorry Jordan, really, but you’re a boy and I couldn’t cut myself off from my family. Because that’s what would have happened if my folks had found out about you and me. No ifs or buts. I didn’t have the courage to risk it. I’m engaged, remember. It wouldn’t matter how much I like you, there are some rules I really can’t break.’ She let the silence hang for a few seconds. ‘But Kelly isn’t a boy. And she was my friend.’

‘Okay, okay. So why are you calling me?’

‘I’d like you to go and see Kel for me, or phone her. Tell her I’m so, so sorry. Tell her I couldn’t bear it if we don’t make up. Tell her … I don’t know. Just tell her I couldn’t bear it if she didn’t come to my wedding, that it would ruin my day.’

‘Anything else?’

‘I think that’s enough.’

‘I’ll see what I can do. I can’t think why, though, given the way you treated me.’

‘I don’t deserve your friendship, Jordan. I’m so sorry.’

‘As I said, I’ll see what I can do. I’ll be in touch.’

Vicky put her phone down in her lap. So it wasn’t just Kelly she’d completely pissed off, it was Jordan too. She was the worst friend in the world.

‘And just who is Jordan?’ said Liam.

Vicky jumped so much she actually left the bed and her phone spun off her lap and onto the floor, skittering away from her. Liam picked it up. With his face set like stone he handed it back. ‘You haven’t answered the question. Who is Jordan?’

‘A friend from college.’

‘A friend, I see.’ He sighed. ‘A boyfriend?’

‘What do you take me for?’

‘“I don’t deserve your friendship, Jordan. I’m so sorry,”’ mimicked Liam. ‘I don’t know, Vicky. I really don’t know what I should take you for.’

‘Don’t, Liam.’ Tears started to run down Vicky’s cheeks. ‘He was just a guy at college. He stopped some people from bullying me. He looked out for me because he’s a nice guy but that was all there was.’

‘So why are you phoning him? I don’t get it.’

‘Because I want him to tell Kelly I’m sorry. She won’t take calls from me and I don’t want to stop being friends with her. I thought he could be a go-between.’

‘But I told you what I thought. Didn’t I just tell you to forget her? Didn’t I say that once we’re wed she won’t be welcome?’

‘But she’s
my friend
, Liam.’

‘Correction.
Was
your friend.’

‘You can’t tell me who I can and can’t be friends with.’

‘Not yet I can’t but you wait till June.’

‘But there’s no reason for you to be like this about Kelly. This stupid argument we had was just about some net petticoats. If I wasn’t so tired it would have all blown over and I wouldn’t have told you and you wouldn’t be like this.’

‘Really?’

‘Really. Please, Liam, Kelly’s my best friend and if you loved me you wouldn’t stop me from seeing her.’

‘And if you loved me you wouldn’t be so disobedient.’ He turned on his heel, leaving Vicky pale and sobbing behind him.

If she’d thought life was a complete mess before her row with Kelly, it was nothing compared to how it was right now. Liam didn’t trust her, she’d just discovered how much Jordan hated her, Kelly wasn’t speaking to her … it seemed that everyone she cared about – or
had
cared about – was against her. She couldn’t do anything right, she’d made a complete mess of everything. Even her precious bridesmaids’ dresses were ‘freaky’.

Oh God
, a thought struck her. What if Liam told her dad about her talking to Jordan on the phone?
Shit, he’ll go mental
. He’d never hit her, although he’d slapped Billy once, but there was always a first time. He had a ferocious reputation on the site for prizefighting in his youth and she knew for a fact that he’d settled a number of disputes with his fists since. The thought of the possible row to come from her father was the last straw.

She pulled up one of the bunks in the sitting room and rummaged in the space under it. She was sure there was a backpack in there that the boys had used during the brief spell they’d attended school. She found it under a pile of winter coats that were being stored until they were needed again. Not perfect and a bit dusty but it’d do.

She dashed back into her bedroom and pulled open the drawers in her chest to find a few pairs of clean pants, a couple of tops and a sweater. She stuffed everything in the bag. On top of these she flung her hairbrush, her make-up bag and her washing things. She gazed at her precious sewing box, her wedding present from Mrs Mead, but told herself no. And frankly, if she was abandoning her family and her entire way of life then what was a sewing box when everything else was taken into consideration?

She grabbed a jacket off the hook and then went to the kitchen. Her mother had a jam jar where she collected spare two-pound coins. Vicky took five. That should pay for the bus fare into town and buy her supper. Then, closing the door of the trailer behind her, she took off, trying not to think about how she would cope if neither Kelly nor Jordan wanted anything to do with her. And given how she’d behaved towards them she wouldn’t blame them one bit.

Keeping her head down, Vicky made her way towards the gates at the front of the compound. It was getting on for teatime and lots of the mothers were indoors cooking the evening meal while the kids watched TV. There were a few lads about, some dealing with their horses and some having a kick-about, but they didn’t pay any attention to Vicky as she slipped past. At the top of the park was the site manager’s trailer but either he and his wife were busy indoors or they were away for the day as there wasn’t a sign of life. Keeping a sharp eye open, Vicky scooted past and out onto the main road beyond.

She ran to the bus stop and then had a second thought. She couldn’t wait for the 68 at this one; someone from the site, returning home after a day out, might see her. She shouldered her backpack and headed along the grass verge the half-mile to the next one, keeping her collar up and her head down. As she walked a bus swooshed past. Vicky could have cried.
Shit
. If she’d risked staying put she’d have been on it. How long would it be till the next one? How long would she have to wait at the next stop, her chances of getting spotted were going up second by second?

When she got to the next shelter she studied the timetable and glanced at her watch. Twenty minutes. She have to pray she’d get lucky but at least, tucked into a corner of the wooden shelter, the chances of anyone who might know her seeing her had lessened.

She sat on the uncomfortable wooden bench and clutched her backpack on her lap, trying to slow her breathing and calm her nerves. She was scared: scared of getting caught, scared of being alone, scared that she mightn’t hear back from Jordan and scared Kelly mightn’t want anything to do with her.

What if Kelly didn’t? What then? Did she crawl home, take the row from her father, face the disapproval of the whole community? Would Liam break if off with her? Would she be disgraced? Well, she knew the answers to those questions. Shit, she’d burned her boats this time and no mistake. At the thought Vicky felt quite sick with nerves yet again. What had she done? What had possessed her?

She glanced at her watch and then hazarded a peek round the side of the shelter. She couldn’t risk missing the next bus as well. She might need to stay out of sight as much as she could but she’d have to make sure she kept a sharp eye out too.

By the time the bus arrived Vicky was shaky with fear and worry. She’d tried texting Jordan to find out if he’d had any luck with Kelly but he still hadn’t replied and when she’d phoned Kelly again she was still being directed straight to voicemail. However, she couldn’t go back to the trailer park so she had no option but to get on the bus and hope to God that when she arrived in the town centre she had either come up with a plan or that Kelly or Jordan was going to be able to bail her out. She paid her fare and went up the stairs. She didn’t want to risk someone on the pavement or in a passing vehicle recognising her. Up on the top deck she’d be pretty much invisible. The bus ground on along the road, carrying her away from her home, security and everything familiar. As the miles went under the wheels Vicky’s worries went round and round in her head.

She jumped off at the town hall and found a café. Although it was May, it wasn’t especially warm and Vicky’s jacket was only thin, besides she didn’t want to hang about on the street. Taking out her precious stash of coins she spent a few more on a big mug of tea and a muffin then took herself to the top floor to hide in a corner once again. She put her snack down on an empty table, got her phone out and tried Jordan’s number again.

She felt wobbly with relief when he answered.

‘Jordan! Did you get hold of her?’

‘Yeah.’

‘And?’

‘And what do you think? She’s completely pissed off with you.’

Vicky let out a low moan.

‘But – and you know, I have no idea why I did this, Vick, as I feel the same way as Kelly – but I persuaded her you really need a friend right now.’

Vicky felt a sob of relief well up. ‘Oh, Jordan.’

She heard a snort down the phone. ‘Ain’t I the fool? Anyway, if you ring her you can tell her yourself.’

‘Jordan, I don’t know how to thank you, really I don’t.’

‘You can thank me by not treating Kelly like that again. She’s a good friend, Vicky, she’s always stood by you, so don’t you lay into her like that again.’

‘I won’t, Jordan, I promise.’

‘Good, see you don’t.’

They said goodbye with Jordan still sounding pretty stiff and unfriendly. As Vicky stared at her mobile she wondered if she’d ever be able to do anything to make things better. But, realistically, what could she do? Not that the traveller rules that she’d been brought up to obey mattered much now. She’d cut herself loose from all that and there was no going back.

She drank her tea and took a bite of her muffin to steady herself before she hit the button to call Kelly. She answered on the second ring.

‘Vicky. Jordan said you needed to talk to me.’

‘Did he also say that I know I’ve been an arse?’

‘He said something of the sort, yes.’

‘Because I have been. A total, thoughtless cow. I should never have said those things to you.’

There was a pause. ‘And maybe I was out of order about my dress.’

‘No, it is big. You’re right. Maybe I should have told you how we like to do things.’

‘Maybe I shouldn’t be so judgemental.’

‘Oh, Kelly. I am so sorry.’

‘I am too, Vicky. I am too.’

‘Kelly, I don’t want to talk on the phone. Could we meet?’

‘Vick, I really don’t want to trek over to the trailer park again right now. I’ve not long got home.’

‘No, you don’t have to. Could you meet me in town?’

‘When?’

‘Now?’

‘Now!’

‘I’m at the Market Café.’

‘But … but …’

‘Can you get here? I’ll explain everything when I see you.’