Her sister heard the sigh. ‘You’ll find someone. There is someone out there for you …’ She paused. ‘Even if you have got short hair.’
Beth shoved her. ‘Get outa here!’ Then she stopped laughing. ‘Hey, if you push off now, when are we going to have your hen do?’
‘You know what? I’ve been thinking about that.’
‘And? What do you want to do? Clubbing? A spa? It could only be just for a night. It’s going to be a struggle fitting it in anyway.’
‘What I want to do is wait till I’ve had the baby.’
‘What?’
‘It’s not as crazy as it sounds, Beth. Currently, I can’t drink, I can’t even have some of the spa treatments – I’ve looked it up – and I thought: why not do it properly? Go away for a weekend somewhere, but when I can drink and have all the massages and things.’ She made a face. ‘I also get quite tired sometimes.’
Beth, who had been worrying about organising her sister’s hen do, was relieved and a bit disappointed. ‘You don’t think you’ll miss the baby if you leave it for a weekend?’
Helena shrugged. ‘If I do, we’ll take a house somewhere near a spa and leave the baby with Jeff. But now? I’m not really up for it.’
‘I was hoping for a spa. I was waiting for you to suggest it,’ said Beth. She and Rachel had been redoing bits of painting in the hall and she had a stiff back.
‘But when could we have gone? No, this way is better. I’m sure it is.’
‘You’re probably right.’
Helena got out her phone to check the time. ‘I’d better go! Mum’s running me to the station and you know how she has to be there half an hour early.’
Beth laughed, suddenly feeling a rush of love for her slightly crazy sister. ‘OK, madam, you go and practise your Argentine Tango with Jeff.’
Beth was alone in the pub a little later when the phone rang. For a moment her heart leapt because she thought it was Finn – he hadn’t said he would call but she was ever hopeful. Then she realised it was an older voice and the accent was more Glaswegian than Irish.
‘My name is Mickey Wilson,’ the voice said. ‘I just wondered if you could give Finn a message for me?’
‘I’m not sure when he’ll be in again,’ said Beth, just managing not to say ‘when I’ll see him again’.
‘He’ll be there for the gig?’
‘Yes. On Saturday.’ The day that was to have been Helena’s wedding day had her mother, or the vicar, not muddled the dates.
‘That’s right. But can you tell him I can’t be there for Saturday as I’m off to the States for a few weeks? It’s a shame. I was really looking forward to checking out the band. I didn’t want him to think I just hadn’t turned up.’
Beth felt her mouth go dry. ‘Are you Raff’s friend?’
‘Er, no.’
Beth cleared her throat. ‘Then could I have your name again please?’
‘Mickey Wilson. I’m a manager. I was going to check out the band, but my plans changed. With that line-up I think they could be great and I’d like to take them on but obviously I’ve got to hear them first.’
‘But you won’t be able to be there now?’
‘That’s it. I tried to get in touch with him myself but I get put straight to voicemail, which is why I’m ringing the pub. Tell him I’m really sorry. I hate to think I might miss a great new act. But I dare say I’ll catch up with them sooner or later.’
Beth licked her lips. ‘Listen, sorry if this is out of order – it’s not really my business – but if I could get the band to play on Friday instead, would you come?’
‘I would indeed. I’m really disappointed I can’t see them. I think they could make all our fortunes.’ He gave a regretful chuckle. ‘I hate to see that pass me by.’
‘OK. Leave it with me. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure the gig is on Friday.’ Beth hoped Sukey would understand and forgive her for not doing her shifts at the pub and for having to set up a bar in the hall for Friday and not Saturday. She didn’t even dare think about whether or not there’d be licensing issues.
‘Well, that’s grand,’ he said. ‘I’d be delighted if you could do that. Goodbye now.’
Sukey came in just as Beth was putting the phone down. ‘What’s up, kid?’
‘It’s the gig! Apparently a manager was coming to see them. Mickey Wilson.’
‘Oh God, I’ve heard of him!’ said Sukey. ‘Rock royalty. He could really help them break out.’
‘Well! We need to tell Finn and the others that they have to play on Friday, not Saturday, or he can’t see them. He’s going to the States!’
‘Oh, well, that is a bit of a shame. But I don’t see Vivien liking her wedding guests put into rows so they can hear a full set of Finn and the McCools.’
Beth’s hand shot to her mouth. ‘Holy hell! The wedding! How could I forget about the bloody wedding.’
Sukey gave a knowing shrug. ‘Divided loyalties?’
‘There is a way round this. There is. I’ve just got to think of it. Oh. Change the wedding venue. Easy.’
‘Have you gone mad? Change the venue for a big wedding, less than a week to go? Honey! I’m on your side here, I think it would be amazing if Finn’s band got heard by Mickey Wilson. He’s a starmaker. But move the venue for your sister’s wedding? Not a snowflake in hell’s chance.’
Beth gripped Sukey’s hands. ‘If I can find a new venue, can you make sure we get punters for the band?’
‘That’s not the hard part here. Twitter, Facebook, the band’s on those, we can get the word out. I’ll sort that. No worries. But you find another venue? Really? Less than a week to the big day? Your mother’s practically had one heart attack over getting the date wrong already. Do you really want to change the venue on her too?’
Beth bit her lip. ‘If you tell anyone I said this I will kill you. But I actually think Finn’s gig is more important. It’s not like the wedding won’t happen, it just won’t happen in the hall. After all, it’s the ceremony that’s important – not the bash. As long as they end up married …’
‘Well, you’ve convinced me,’ said Sukey. ‘But have you convinced yourself? And yes, you can go off now. I’ll be fine.’ She smiled. ‘So what are you going to do first? Find a new venue or tell Finn?’
Beth gulped. ‘I’ll ask Rachel and Lindy what they think and then find Finn. Do you happen to know where he is?’
Sukey stopped smiling encouragingly. She sighed. ‘I can’t lie to you, I do know but – he’s not easy to get hold of at the moment.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean he’s not answering his phone and they’re not answering the house phone.’
‘I gathered that from Mickey Wilson. But you know where he is?’ Why was Sukey being so secretive and odd?
‘Yes, but he made me swear I wouldn’t tell anyone though he felt someone ought to know in case of emergencies. They’re in a barn practising and they’re dead scared of news of their relaunch coming out too soon. If they’re not good enough they’ll cancel. I think they’re being a bit diva-ish, to be honest. But I’ve already had journalists calling to see if the rumours of the band re-forming are true. God knows how they ever heard of my little pub, but they did.’
‘But this is really important, Sukey. Surely you could tell me?’ She pulled out the pad and pen she kept permanently in her back pocket.
Sukey scratched her ear, and then said, ‘I have to really, don’t I? But if you can convince Finn you discovered the address during a Tarot reading, I would be very grateful.’
Beth nodded and at last Sukey accepted she was breaking her promise to Finn for a very good reason. She took the pad and began writing. ‘It’s about thirty miles away but not hard to find, I don’t think. At least the village isn’t. Good luck when you get there though. It’s probably one of those places where a huge area is all covered by one postcode.’
Beth smiled. ‘Not a problem. The van doesn’t have satnav anyway.’
‘OK,’ said Sukey. ‘You’ll just have to do your best. Finn’s mobile and the house number are down there. You might be lucky and get an answer. But I doubt it.’
Beth checked her watch. It was just after four. With luck Lindy would be back from picking the boys up and if she wasn’t in she’d try Rachel. She wanted to see Lindy first because she lived nearer and was more likely to know of other venues.
What she hadn’t reckoned on was Vivien being there. Poor Lindy!
‘Darling! I just came round to check on the dress. I’ve got a little bit of decoration I picked up in an antique shop. I think it’ll look lovely!’
Lindy gave Beth a smile that said, ‘Thank God you’re here!’ and ‘Can you take her away, please?’
‘I think it might look a bit much on top of the basque, which is already quite elaborate,’ said Lindy quickly, trying to shoo her hungry boys out of the sitting room. ‘Beth!’ she whispered urgently as she got to the door. ‘Be an angel and give them a drink. They can have chocolate biscuits as it’s a special day. But not in here, obviously.’
‘God, I’m so sorry she’s descended on you. What a nightmare.’ Beth paused. ‘The day is special why?’ she whispered back.
‘Because your mother is here, I’ve got both boys for once and they’re starving. They could go into meltdown at any moment. And … I’ve got to take them to see their dad tomorrow.’
Beth put a sympathetic hand on Lindy’s. ‘Say no more. Come on boys. Tell me where the KitKats are!’ A chocolate fix might be just what she needed too.
She had just worked out what sort of drinks the boys liked and was reaching for the biscuit tin when there was a yell from the next room; something had seriously upset Vivien – again.
Confident it wasn’t anything Lindy had said, although she might be put out having her beautiful creation added to by random antique jewellery, Beth said, ‘Stay here, boys, I have to check out what’s up next door.’
‘We are not changing the venue!’ Vivien screamed into the phone as if to someone both foreign and deaf. She slammed down the phone as Beth appeared.
‘I don’t know what’s got into Sukey,’ said Vivien. ‘She seems to be having some sort of turn. She thinks we want to change the wedding venue. Has she gone raving mad?’
‘Um, no, Mum,’ said Beth. She put her hand on her mother’s arm, hoping it would be soothing. ‘I was just about to tell you: we are changing the venue. But don’t worry, it’ll be fine!’
Lindy had thrust her hands into her hair and appeared to be attempting to pull it out. ‘We’re changing the venue? Since when?’
Now Beth had two near-hysterical women on her hands. ‘Since – since a little while ago.’
‘Why?’ said Lindy, who at least had stopped pulling her hair.
‘The thing is, Finn’s band … A big agent – manager – impresario – was going to see them. But now he can’t come on the Saturday, so they need the hall on the Friday. It’s really important that he’s there.’ It sounded pathetic to her own ears; she wasn’t surprised her mother didn’t take it well.
‘Nothing, NOTHING is as important as your sister’s wedding!’
‘I know, Mum,’ said Beth soothingly. ‘But it’s the ceremony that’s important, not the party! We can have that anywhere!’
‘I have to say, Beth,’ said Lindy. ‘We’ve all worked very hard raising money and decorating so Helena can have her wedding in the hall.’
‘But she doesn’t
have
to have it there. It’s going to be a fabulous wedding. It can be fabulous in a marquee. They’re lovely,’ said Beth with a mixture of desperation and pleading. If she had to convince Lindy as well as her mother, it was going to be tough. ‘Some marquees can be made to look like ballrooms.’
This penetrated Vivien’s anquish. ‘A marquee?’ she said. ‘Um, that could work, I suppose. Actually I quite fancy that idea. The hall is definitely a bit – rustic. But what about the weather?’
‘No need to worry about that. They’d put down covered walkways. It will be fine! Don’t you remember Samantha Edwards’ wedding? That was in a marquee in the middle of winter. It was brilliant!’
Vivien began to nod and Beth felt that maybe, just maybe, she’d been won over. ‘It was a nice wedding. She married a very rich man.’
‘We’d have to find somewhere to put it, of course,’ said Beth, encouraged by her mother’s reaction.
‘Oh!’ said Lindy. ‘I think I know somewhere.’
‘We need to make sure we can hire a marquee at such short notice,’ said Vivien warningly. ‘If we can’t, that hall is mine!’ She paused. ‘I mean Helena’s.’
‘I’ll be online researching in a second,’ said Beth. ‘I know I’ll find something amazing. Mum? Maybe you should go back to the pub? Lindy will be wanting to feed her boys, get them to bed.’
‘Oh, very well. But, Beth, you know me. I won’t be fobbed off. If it’s not a nice marquee in a lovely venue, convenient to the church – oh my God! I forgot. I must give my choir directions or they won’t know where to come. I must fly. Can’t stay here chatting.’ And she was gone.
‘Oh God, Lind, I am so sorry about my mother.’
‘Actually, this time it’s you making life difficult!’
But Lindy smiled as she said it and Beth didn’t feel too bad.
‘I know, I’m sorry. But why do you think Sukey told Mum about changing the venue?’
Lindy shrugged. ‘Vivien answered the phone. I expect the shock of hearing her voice made Sukey blurt it out by mistake.’
‘I’d better get back and start looking for a marquee.’
‘Why don’t you ask Rachel? Raff will know of someone,’ said Lindy. ‘Sure to. It’s just the sort of connection he’d have. And I’ll go and ask Angus if we can use his field. We will need to hire it though. He needs every penny he can get to restore his house.’
Just for a second Beth wondered if there was something in Lindy’s expression that meant she cared more about Angus than she’d let on, but she was too busy to think about that now. She was on a mission. ‘Of course. We can sort that. Now, can I have the van?’
‘So what’s your plan, Beth? Why do you need the van?’
‘I’m going to find Finn and the band and tell them they have to change the date of their gig.’
‘Beth to the rescue. OK.’
Beth suddenly frowned. ‘But you’ll need it, though, won’t you? If you’re going to Angus’s to see if he’s got anywhere suitable and ask him if you can use it?’
‘Not till tomorrow. And don’t worry. Edward is going to pick the boys up. I’ll get a lift with them and I’ll get back from there somehow. I can always borrow one of my parents’ cars if desperate. You can have the van but I’m afraid it needs diesel.’