A Vintage Wedding (47 page)

The fragrance of the spring flowers was lovely. The five jam jars on each table looked so extravagant. And although the Flower Guild had said there wasn’t time to decorate the marquee itself very much, they had found time to wind swathes of net and ivy and narcissi from the centre, covering the supporting struts. The roof was tented with net and tiny lights that gave the impression of being in a fairy palace.

The man responsible came up to Rachel. ‘I’m Jim. Is this OK for you?’

Rachel had to take a couple of seconds to make sure she wasn’t going to cry before she could answer. ‘It’s sensational!’

Jim nodded. ‘That’s what we like to hear.’ He looked around. ‘I am pleased. As you know we had very little time but the pea lights and net work very well.’

‘It’s just so pretty,’ said Rachel, sighing. Then she frowned, aware that her rigid standards seemed to have been melted by some flowers, some fairy lights and a bit of tulle. ‘Now, I must check the cake is OK.’

‘Bit late now if it’s not,’ said Jim, who was fatherly and, Rachel decided, one of those people who always made you feel everything was going to be OK.

‘I need to check anyway,’ said Rachel.

Again, fresh flowers were the theme. Three tiers of white cake (which theoretically exactly matched the tulle of Helena’s dress) were separated by layers of flowers, white freesias, narcissi and very pale primroses. It was a classic design: slightly old-fashioned, but perfect. There was a ribbon effect, with bows to mirror the design of the dresses with their Degas embellishments. Rachel sighed with satisfaction. Vivien might have selected one of the most expensive wedding-cake producers available but the effect was stunning.

‘So what do you think?’ asked Jim, obviously taking a personal interest.

‘I think it’s lovely. And the colour is perfect. The cake designer had a sample of the fabric. We didn’t have much time, as you know. But I love it. She’s done an absolutely amazing job.’

‘It’s one of the nicest cakes I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a few.’ He smiled. ‘It’s going to be a terrific wedding.’

Rachel suddenly noticed something she hadn’t been expecting. ‘Why is there a stage? We’re not having live music.’

‘Oh? Are you sure?’

‘Well, yes! This was all arranged at very short notice. We barely had time to make a tape and it’s only got their first dance on it, plus a few of their favourite songs.’ Beth had done her best with everyone’s iPods, including her mother’s, and thought all bases were covered.

Possibly sensing Rachel’s concern, Jim shrugged. ‘Ah well. No extra cost anyway.’

‘That’s OK then. Maybe we should get the happy couple to go up there to do their first dance?’

He inclined his head in agreement. ‘Slightly depends on what sort of dance they’re planning to do. Are they doing the full
Strictly
thing? Or just hanging on to each other for dear life?’

‘I’m not sure. They did skip off at the last minute, telling us it was so they could practise, but who knows? Maybe they just practised hanging on! It’s a shame as Helena’s dress lends itself to dancing.’

‘There are steps to the side of the stage so she could get up and down easily enough.’

Rachel checked the steps and then had a final wander round, tweaking some tulle, sniffing some flowers, generally feeling very satisfied.

She went outside to find Angus and the children. He was invited to the wedding as there was plenty of room – not all Vivien’s extensive guest list could manage to come after the change of date. She wanted to make sure the childminding facilities were adequate. There weren’t many children coming but Rachel wanted them to be safe and happy. With Lindy’s help, Beth had arranged for a couple of local mothers to bring toys and be on hand to feed and entertain the younger contingent. Vivien had not been keen on the idea of children rushing around enjoying themselves.

Then she looked at her watch and realised she had to make herself tidy. She wanted to be there when the first guests arrived, to help hand out the champagne.

Beth stood at the back of the tent, sipping a glass of water. She felt tired, not only from running around being a bridesmaid and generally helpful, but tired of being cheerful. She wanted to go home and hide under her duvet, possibly eating chocolate, and get over her broken heart.

It wasn’t really broken, she realised that. She and Finn hadn’t had a relationship, really. He’d been kind to her and, of course, she had a major crush on him, but it was silly to think her heart was involved. And yet it was. She’d driven back through the lanes, late that night, thinking he hated her. It had been so bleak, so soul-destroying. She’d set out full of optimism, full of the conviction she was doing a good thing. She was helping Finn and his band.

And when she’d got there it had all been thrown back at her. Finn didn’t want the band to play for Mickey Wilson, however influential he was. Raff’s mate would have been fine, but he wasn’t so important. But he didn’t think they were ready for someone so influential. So instead of helping him, she’d actually made the band argue and him hate her. She thought again. No, he probably didn’t hate her, that would imply he cared and he blatantly didn’t care about her personally. She was just an irritant. She was wondering if her mother and sister would ever speak to her again if she sloped off before the end when Rachel and Raff came up.

‘Hey, Beth! Come and dance!’ said Rachel, who seemed very bubbly. Raff had changed out of his Mr Darcy outfit but still looked gorgeous in trousers and a shirt, with quite a lot of buttons undone.

Raff took her by the hand and together they went nearer the front, by the stage. ‘Have a dance. Who chose this dreadful music?’ He smiled.

Beth found herself smiling back. ‘You know I did the tape. And it’s grand music.’

‘Dance to it, then.’

Beth noticed that Rachel looked radiant. Love would do that to you, she realised. And maybe one day it would do it to her.

And there was Lindy, dancing with Angus, looking like love’s young dream. Beth hated herself for the pang of jealousy she felt for her friends. They deserved happiness and lovely boyfriends. She decided it wasn’t jealousy; it was just that it highlighted her own loneliness.

She’d been quite cut up about Charlie. It had been a shock seeing in him the cupboard with the fat bridesmaid. But she had forgotten about him quite quickly after she met Finn.

Lindy and Angus moved so the five of them were together now. It was kind of them, thought Beth, but really she wished they’d just let her be miserable on her own.

Her sister was gazing up into her new husband’s eyes as they dragged each other around the floor, and her parents were also dancing, looking at each other almost as if it were their wedding day and they were newly in love.

Then suddenly Rachel grabbed her hand and pulled her in tight, as if she were a child who might run into the road. Someone turned the music off. Beth assumed it must be Raff, since he had disappeared, but as Rachel wasn’t rushing off to do anything about the absence of music she must know about it.

Raff appeared on stage. He tapped the microphone and then spoke. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, as if this wedding wasn’t special enough already, it’s about to get more special. A wonderful new band – fresh from its very first, very successful performance in the village hall tonight – has chosen to perform for you all and I know sometime soon, when you can’t switch on your telly without seeing them on it, you will all be able to say, “I heard them before they were anyone, and I didn’t even have to go to Glastonbury to do it!” I give you – Finn and the McCools!’

Now Beth understood why Rachel was clutching her so tightly. Rachel knew she’d be out of there so quickly no one would see her move if she weren’t virtually handcuffed to her friend. As there was absolutely nothing else she could do, Beth had to stay put. If she’d gone to see them in the hall she could have stayed out of sight. No chance of that here. And a part of her was thrilled. From what Raff had said the gig had gone well. She really hoped so, and that something good had come out of her meddling.

It took a while for the audience to get quiet so they could begin. The wedding guests might well all have been paid-up members of the Finn and the McCools’ fan club judging by the reception they gave them.

At last, after a bit of fiddling about with amps and instruments, the music began.

Beth was concentrating so hard on not crying or giggling hysterically or generally making a public spectacle of herself that to begin with she didn’t really hear the music. She glanced across at Helena and got the impression she’d had something to do with this. Then she relaxed and began to hear what the rest of the wedding guests were hearing.

They were loving it. The band had that sort of raw, skilful, poetic raunchiness that got hold of your insides and either twisted them or made them melt. And however much you didn’t want to, you found yourself moving to it.

‘They are good, aren’t they?’ shouted Rachel.

Beth nodded. ‘Thank God, they are! Did you know they were coming?’

Rachel shook her head. ‘Only about half an hour ago. Helena told me. Raff had asked her if it was OK. She was delighted, of course.’

‘So I should hope!’

‘And they’re perfect for a wedding, even though they must be exhausted after their gig,’ Rachel went on. ‘Sad they probably won’t do any more weddings after this or—’ She stopped. ‘Look at Helena and Jeff. They’re really getting into it!’

For a couple who’d basically copped out of the first dance in spite of apparently going away to practise they were really giving it some. Beth remembered Helena saying that before they went travelling they’d gone to a couple of jive classes. They must have remembered more than they thought they would.

The crowd seemed relieved when the band brought the tempo right down. They’d all been dancing with enthusiasm but now needed a bit of a break. Finn took hold of the microphone. ‘Just to give you all a little rest we’re going to sing a new song for you. It’s a slow one so make sure you’re dancing with the right partner.’

Tears sprung into Beth’s eyes. She had no partner, not even the wrong one. She wanted to escape but she was hemmed in by people. Pushing and saying ‘excuse me’ wasn’t the way to keep people from looking at her. She was right in the middle of the crowd; she’d just have to stay there and cope as best she could.

The song started with a few bars of fiddle from someone at the back. Finn kept the microphone and started singing. He was looking out at the crowd of wedding guests, his expression wistful. Beth could hear sighs from all around her. ‘Putting him on my To Do list right now,’ said one of Helena’s bawdier friends.

Beth looked at her feet. It seemed safest.

At first she wasn’t really listening. She didn’t want to hear Finn’s voice being plaintive, singing a song that might well be a ‘first dance’ song in the future. She just didn’t want to cry. And then she heard the chorus. ‘Hey, Beth!’

Her eyes flew to the stage. She’d heard that line before but she hadn’t realised it was a song; she’d thought it had been Finn talking to her. And maybe it still was Finn talking to her!

Before she had time to properly listen to the words or work out what the song was about, Finn got rid of the microphone and left the band to carry on without him. He jumped off the stage. Terrified and confused, Beth stared down at her feet again. She knew he was coming in her direction and was trusting in the old trick: if she couldn’t see him he couldn’t see her.

‘Hey, Beth!’ he said and her eyes flew open. He was standing there, a rueful smile in his eyes and a hopeful smile on his lips. ‘I’ve been a monster. I never meant to hurt you. Of all the people in the world I wouldn’t want to hurt it’s you. I care about you. Forgive me. Dance with me.’ Then he swept her into his arms and off her feet and held her so tightly she couldn’t breathe.

Either he didn’t trust her not to run away or didn’t think she was a very good dancer but he held on to her as he swayed to the music. ‘Dearest girl,’ he breathed into her ear. ‘I’m so, so sorry.’

Beth became aware of the people looking at them, and at first she was embarrassed. Then she began to smile. She was in the arms of one of the most attractive men on the planet.

‘Let’s go somewhere we can talk,’ he said, still holding her.

He put his arm round her, clamping her to his side, weaving through the wedding guests and out of the marquee. Beth was aware of clapping and it made her giggle.

‘We need to go where we won’t be disturbed,’ he said when they were outside.

‘This is where Angus lives. I don’t know it at all.’

‘It’s all right. I know where. Over there. There’s a tree house. Raff said something about it. There are lights.’

‘But doesn’t the band need you?’

‘Not just now it doesn’t. Although of course I might live to regret those casual words. Mickey might sign up the band without me. Though he liked us well enough.’

‘Let’s go back then,’ said Beth, thrilled to hear that their future was assured but suddenly worried in case it all went wrong now.

‘Bollocks to going back. Now I’ve got you I’m not going to let you go until I’ve apologised.’