Lizzie Marshall's Wedding (22 page)

‘Hey! Don’t you start falling for the vicar, Fifi.’

She smiled at him. ‘No chance. I wonder if there’s something we can do to speed things along. I mean, if she likes him and he likes her ...’ Becky’s mind wandered. ‘You could probably find a way Max; you seem to be able to do everything else without much effort. I’d really like her to be happy. And then there’s Jess of course.’

‘Dear God. So now I’m the local matchmaker too. Okay, I’ll give it some thought.’

Becky snuggled up to him. ‘I’ll thank you in advance, if you like.’

‘Fifi Cooper, I’m beginning to think you’re addicted to sex.’

‘That’s what the vicar thinks but the truth is – I’m addicted to you, and there’s no chance of a cure.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The preparations for Lizzie’s wedding were progressing nicely. Susie had been asked to make the bride and bridesmaids’ dresses and Stephanie was organising the flowers. Jess would be doing hair and make-up for the wedding party, and the fireworks, band, cake and menus had all been agreed. The refurbishment of Beckleston Hall was way ahead of schedule – to everyone’s surprise but Max – and the pond was repaired and refilled and the ducks, returned.

‘Sometimes, I think I’m living in a fairytale,’ Becky said one evening when she and her friends were having a curry at her house. ‘Max and I have been dating for six weeks and things just seem to be getting better and better.’

‘It’s so good to see you happy,’ Susie said. ‘Life can be full of surprises can’t it?’

‘We’re all living in a fairytale,’ Jess said. ‘You only have to see the vicar to realise that. He’s gone from a buck-toothed frog to a prince and even I have to admit – albeit reluctantly – that he’s not bad looking now.’

‘That’s not very nice Jess. He was never a frog!’

‘Oh Susie, love really is blind. Anyway, my point is who would’ve believed that he could turn out to be handsome?’

‘I know!’ Becky giggled. ‘I hardly recognised him.’

‘That was a truly providential accident – or an act of God, as the vicar no doubt believes,’ Jess laughed.

‘It wasn’t funny!’ Susie said. ‘He could have been killed when he was knocked off his bike! He had to have four of his front teeth replaced and surgery to his upper jaw and nose. He was in a lot of pain.’

‘That’s true Susie. Sorry,’ Becky said suitably chastised.

Susie smiled. ‘Actually, I suppose we even have to thank Max for that. It was good of him to arrange for a friend of his to do the surgery.’

‘Too right!’ Jess said, ‘If it’d been done under the national health, I’m pretty sure the vicar would have false teeth instead of implants and there’s no way they would have done the cosmetic, rather than purely reconstructive, surgery on his jaw and nose – although, I never thought I’d see the day when a vicar had a face-lift,’

‘It wasn’t a face-lift! His jaw and nose were broken in several places and anyway, why shouldn’t he take the opportunity to improve his looks ... oh,’ Susie saw both Jess and Becky grinning at her, ‘you’re teasing me.’

 ‘To be honest,’ Becky said, ‘the vicar would have gone with the NHS but Max told him that his friend was trying out a new procedure so they’d be doing each other a favour. He also told him that there was no harm in making a slight adjustment, because vicars are red blooded males too and pretty girls like nice teeth – although I probably shouldn’t have told you that. Oh well. Even the vicar conceded that God moves in mysterious ways.’

‘Max said what?’ Susie shrieked.

Jess just laughed. ‘Good for him. Don’t get all high and mighty Susie. It’s an improvement, let’s leave it at that. Of course, the haircut I gave him is what really made the difference.’

Susie sighed deeply. ‘I hate to admit it but that’s partly true. Perhaps you should do something about your own.’

‘Meow! Actually I’m going to. I’m bored with pink and blue hair. I’m going to dye it purple and black instead.

Spring was in the air; the weather had turned unseasonably warm and the parkland of Beckleston Hall was filled with daffodils and tulips.

Lily would be five in two days time, on Saturday March the 31
^st
and Becky felt that everything seemed right with the world.

So did Max, until six o’clock that Thursday afternoon, when he got a phone call from Lizzie.

‘What do you mean the wedding’s off?’ Max couldn’t understand what Lizzie was saying; she was crying and talking at the same time and the television volume seemed rather loud. ‘I can’t hear you Lizzie. Turn down the television, try to stop crying and tell me what’s happened.’

‘He’s having an affair!’

Max almost laughed. ‘Jack! I don’t believe that for one minute. He loves you far too much and, to be honest, he’s not the two-timing type.’

‘He doesn’t and he is! All men are. Don’t forget, he was engaged when he slept with me and that’s what makes it worse Max. Guess who he’s having it with?’

Max had a dreadful feeling he knew but he still couldn’t believe it. ‘Tell me.’

‘Only Kim bloody Mentor, his ex-fiancée!’

Max slumped onto the sofa. He was in the sitting room at his mother’s and was just about to leave for Becky’s. ‘I know who she is Lizzie, although, she’s not Kim Mentor now, she’s Kim Briarstone remember, Ross’s wife but anyway, he wouldn’t. What on earth makes you think that?’

‘Because she told me!’

Max almost dropped the phone. ‘Who told you? Kim? And you believed her? When? When did she tell you?’

‘This morning and when I called Jack and asked if he’d been seeing her – he said “yes”!’

‘Okay, this is crazy. There must be some mistake. Is Jack still in town? When is he coming up to you?’

‘He’s not. I told him not to. I told him I was going away for the weekend and I wouldn’t tell him where.’

‘That wasn’t a good idea Lizzie. What did he say, exactly?’

‘He said he had been seeing her but it wasn’t like that but he was furious that I didn’t trust him because he wouldn’t be unfaithful so I reminded him that he was unfaithful – with me and ... and then he said things and I said things and ... and then I called off the wedding and slammed the phone down.’

‘Okay, well he’ll obviously come and see you and talk it out and I’m sure you’ll find it’s all a big misunderstanding. I assume you’re not really going away for the weekend. Lizzie, will you please turn the television down, it’s deafening.’

‘It’s not the television. I’m at the airport.’

‘The airport. Which airport? Where are you going?’

‘Inverness airport and I’m phoning to ask if I can come and stay with you.’

This time, Max did drop the phone. He hurriedly pulled himself together.

‘You said I could, if I ever needed to, you said you’ll always be there for me. Well I need to and I need you. Please say yes Max. Please!’

‘Where’re Jane and Iain?’ He couldn’t understand why she hadn’t gone straight to her best friend.

‘They went away this morning. It’s their wedding anniversary on the 31st, remember. They won’t be back until Sunday.’

‘So, who’s going to be looking after Alistair and the animals if you come here?’ Why he should be thinking about Lizzie’s dog at a time like this he wasn’t sure but he still couldn’t quite get his head around any of this.

‘Iain’s son Fraser. Yes or no Max? I need to know now. My flight closes in fifteen minutes.’

‘Becky, I’m really sorry but I’m going to have to cancel this evening.’

For the first time since she’d known him, Max actually looked flustered.

‘What’s happened Max? Is Margaret all right. Come in.’ She held the door open for him.

‘Actually, I can’t stop. I’m on my way to Gatwick.’ He went inside nevertheless.

‘Oh! Is everything okay? I’ve never seen you like this. You ... you look really worried.’

‘I am really worried. I’ve just had a phone call from Lizzie. She’s called off the wedding and she’s coming to stay for the weekend!’

Becky was astonished. ‘W... why?’

‘She thinks Jack is having an affair.’

‘Why?’

‘Because the woman called her and told her he was.’

‘Good grief! And ... and she believes it? Is it true?’

‘If you knew the woman and their history, you’d probably believe it too. I don’t think it is but ... I don’t know for sure.’

‘I don’t understand, this is making no sense. Why ... why is Lizzie coming to stay with you? What can you do about it?’

‘She just wants to talk to someone about it and have a shoulder to cry on.’

‘And you’re the shoulder? Doesn’t she have friends?’

‘Yeah but her best friend’s away for her anniversary so I’m the next best thing.’

‘Oh. And you’re going to pick her up from the airport? I wish you’d called me earlier, I’ve made dinner for us.’ Becky turned away and poured herself a glass of wine from the bottle she’d opened. She felt as if she’d been hit by a truck – and it was carrying several tonnes of jealousy.

‘I’ve only just found out. She called me just before the flight was leaving, only a few minutes ago. She’ll be landing in less than an hour.’

‘What? She just assumed she could call you and you’d drop everything for her. Well, obviously she was right.’

‘What? Look Becky, I’m sorry about dinner, really I am but she’s in a bit of a state and I can’t expect her to make her own way here.’

‘No. Of course not.’

‘Okay. What’s wrong? Clearly you’re upset and it’s not just about me having to miss dinner is it? You’re not having doubts about me again are you? Just because I’m doing a friend a favour.’

‘She’s not a friend Max; she’s your ex-wife. An ex-wife you spent two years trying to get back and almost as long to get over when she met someone else.’

She saw the look of disbelief on his face.

‘Look Becky, I don’t know why you’re so upset about this. She is a friend, a good friend and she really needs me at the moment. But the points you make are correct. She is my ex and I am over her. Completely. You’re my present and I love you. I’m hoping you’ll be my future too but there’s something we need to get clear here and now. I care about Lizzie and she’s asked for my help. I intend to give it. If you can’t handle that and don’t trust me, then we have a serious problem.’

‘I ... I do trust you. It’s ... it’s just so sudden that’s all. Such a surprise.’ Panic began to take hold of her.

‘Tell me about it. I dropped the phone when she said she was coming to stay.’ He took a step towards her and pulled her into his arms. ‘I’m sorry if that sounded harsh but she does need me. If you had to cancel dinner because Jess or Susie needed you, I wouldn’t mind.’

‘That’s completely different Max!’

‘Not to me it isn’t. I care about her in the same way as you care about your friends. That’s it. Just because I’m going to pick her up and just because she’s staying at my mum’s house for a few days doesn’t mean I’m going to fall back in love with her.’

‘How do you know?’

He held her slightly away from him and looked her directly in her eyes. ‘Because if I did that would mean what I feel for you isn’t real.’

‘That’s what worries me. You said you thought you loved her yet you had an affair because you didn’t love her enough – and you were married to her. We’ve only been dating for six weeks. How do I know you won’t suddenly realise that you don’t love me enough either?’

‘This is crazy. Either I love you or I don’t. And you either trust me or you don’t. Perhaps it’s time we really found out. I’ve got to go. I’m sorry Becky, truly I am. Are you going to kiss me goodbye?’

She stared at him, with tears pricking her eyes. She wanted to grab him and stop him but she knew that was insane.

‘Fine,’ he said giving her a quick peck on the cheek. ‘I’ll call you later.’ He turned and left.

She was furious. How dare he walk away from her? Then she realised what she’d done and ran after him.

They almost knocked one another over as they crashed into each other just outside the door. He’d turned round and come back.

She fell into his arms. ‘I’m sorry Max! I’m really sorry.’

He held her away from him. ‘I’m sorry too. And I do understand. You’re right, it’s different from you and Jess and Susie. If our roles were reversed and you ran off to see an ex-husband, I’d be eaten up with jealousy too, I just realised that – but I would trust you. I do have to go and get her but I don’t want to leave like this.’

‘I know. I’m being totally unreasonable. I’m ... I’m just jealous. I do trust you and you’re right, you have to go. Drive safely and ... and call me when you get a chance.’

He relaxed for the first time since Lizzie had called. ‘You don’t know how good it is to hear you say that Fifi.’ He pulled her into his arms and kissed her long and deep. ‘I should have told her to get a cab here,’ he said when he finally let her go.

Becky smiled up at him. ‘No, if she’s upset you should be with her. You were right to say you’d collect her. It’s who you are, and it’s one of the reasons I love you. You do things for people you care about. Now go. I’ll see you soon.’

Despite what she’d said, Becky spent the next hour and a half worrying. Twice the phone had rung and she’d grabbed it, without looking at the caller display, hoping it was him, then been disappointed when first Jess then Susie had called. They’d agreed, Max was right to go but they didn’t think Lizzie should have just assumed she could arrive on his doorstep, virtually unannounced and they were all beginning to feel, they might not like her after all.

Finally, he called.

‘Hi sweetheart. We’re just leaving Gatwick and should be home in about an hour. Have you had a good evening?’

His voice sounded calm but more importantly, it sounded full of love and Becky felt the tension drain from her. That, at least was the first hurdle over.

‘Not bad, all things considered but hearing from you has made it better. How’s Lizzie?’

‘Okay, I think. She wants to talk to you. I’ll pass you over.’

‘Hi Becky. Listen, I’m so sorry about this. Max just told me you had plans this evening. I’m sorry to have ruined them. He told you about Jack. I ... I was just so devastated and, I did tell you, Max was the person to have around in a crisis didn’t I? I wasn’t really thinking straight, to be honest. I just wanted to get away. But, now that I come to think about it, coming to the place where I was intending to hold my wedding, may not have been my best idea. I may go to my grandparents tomorrow. I’m in a bit of a state, emotionally, as you can imagine but I’d love to meet you. Is there any chance we could have a cup of coffee tomorrow morning, assuming I haven’t drowned in my own tears by then?’