What Happens Next
The room is jam-packed with friends, family and colleagues of the bride and groom, who are currently enjoying their first dance as husband and wife while everybody gathers around the dance floor in the hotel’s opulent function room, oohing and aahing and wiping away tears of happiness. The wedding singer is crooning Elvis’s ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love With You’, and although he’s probably sung it a million and one times, he’s putting his all into that song to make it special for Clara and Graham, so that every time they hear that song from this day forward, they will have fond memories of their first dance together at their wedding.
‘Look at my baby. She looks like a princess.’ Mum sniffles into the tissue she’s had permanently pressed to her face since the moment she woke this morning. She’d sobbed her way through the ceremony, so much so that Dad had been forced to shush her as she was drowning out the vows. ‘Doesn’t she make a lovely bride?’
I nod in agreement and give Mum a gentle pat on the arm. Clara and I have never got along and the past seven months of wedding planning and Bridezilla moments have really soured our already dubious relationship, but even I wouldn’t be churlish enough to diss a bride on her wedding day. And she actually does look very pretty. Even Graham’s scrubbed up well in his suit.
Mum leans in close to murmur in my ear. ‘It’ll be you next, love.’ Which only makes Mum sniffle some more. She replaces the tissue with a fresh one from one of the many packs she has tucked in her handbag.
But it won’t be me next. I know this and although I’m desperate to marry the man I love, I am happy to say that the next in line for exchanging their vows are my very best friends, Lauren and Ryan. Lauren doesn’t know it yet but Ryan is planning to propose when they go on holiday to Thailand next week. I’ve helped him to choose the ring and I know that he’s going to get down on one knee while they take a moonlit stroll along the beach. It’s going to be so romantic and I know, without a doubt, what the answer will be. Lauren and Ryan have been smitten with each other for the past seven months and I know that Ryan is The One for Lauren, not only because she’s told me several gazillion times, but mainly because if she can put up with Eleanor’s constant interference, then it must be true love.
And speaking of true love…
‘Would you like to dance?’ Adam takes hold of my hand and leads me onto the dance floor, which is quickly filling up with couples as Clara and Graham’s first dance comes to an end. Adam places his hands around my waist while I loop my arms around his shoulders and together we sway to the music. We had a bit of a rocky start, but Adam and I are in a good place now. There are no lies or secrets, from each other or anybody else. The whole office knows about our relationship (and how it almost came to an end, thanks to Katey-Louise’s big gob) but Neville doesn’t care as long as it doesn’t interfere with our work.
The office is a much more pleasant place to be now. And not just because I get to spend all day with Adam. No, the main reason is Katey-Louise – or rather her absence. Yes, Katey-Louise has left Brinkley’s and is currently pursuing a brand new career. One that she is actually good at. Five months ago, Katey-Louise won a prestigious beauty blogger award and since then she has been catapulted into fame, with a regular beauty spot on This Morning and a magazine column where she tests new products and gives advice to the masses. There is also talk of hair product sponsorship and a new ‘Katey-Louise’ brand. The office is much quieter without Katey-Louise and I like it that way.
The rest of the office is pretty much the same. Jasper barely makes a sound, apart from a few weeks ago when he won a game of Minesweeper and roared so loudly at his success that Denise threw a cup of coffee down her blouse in fright. Denise and Neville still plod along, barking out their orders (Neville) and sneaking off to the development kitchen at every opportunity (Denise). The only difference is Barbara, Katey-Louise’s replacement, who is bloody good at her job.
‘Aww, look.’ I point out another love-sick puppy across the dance floor. Justin is entwined with his girlfriend, trying his best not to look awkward or tread on her feet. Emily has done wonders for Justin and has made him a much more pleasant human being. When Mum found out about Justin’s seedy knicker-selling racket, she went ballistic and grounded Justin for a week. When he was let off for good behaviour after two measly days, he returned to form and emptied my underwear drawer. But then he met Emily and his muckiness seemed to disappear overnight. He no longer steals or sells knickers (to the dismay of his sicko mates) or attempts to clear a room with his farts. He occasionally even uses manners. Emily is a miracle I will be eternally grateful for.
‘Uncle Adam, Uncle Adam.’ Isaac is tugging on Adam’s jacket as he hops up and down.
‘What is it, matey?’ Adam scoops up his nephew and holds him aloft.
‘Luke is starving. He wants something to eat.’
Luke has followed his brother to the dance floor so I pick him up and place him on my hip. ‘You’re in luck. The buffet has just opened.’ Adam and I look at each other, challenge sparking in both pairs of eyes.
‘Race you.’ Adam nestles Isaac on his hip. ‘Ready, steady… Go!’
Adam and I tear off across the room, dodging people and stray chairs, a whooping and giggling child clinging to us as we race towards the buffet table. Adam and Isaac arrive at the end of the long queue first, high-fiving each other in victory. Adam leans towards me and kisses me briefly and I’m amazed once again at how lucky I am. What Adam and I have is special. It’s meaningful but so full of fun and laughter and not at all like what I had with Ben. I have to admit that when Ben and Eden announced the arrival of their son Thomas, I felt a little twinge of jealousy – hey, I’m only human – but I wouldn’t trade what Adam and I have for anything.
‘Do you have to kiss all the time?’ Isaac asks. He looks like he’s being put off his food by our display of affection.
‘Sorry.’ I pull the corners of my mouth down to show how contrite I am, but the truth is I’m unbelievably happy. Happier than I’ve ever been and every day feels like a jubilant musical number complete with joyous choreography. If my life was a musical, it would have just won a Tony award.
‘Delilah?’
I shake my head to dislodge the acceptance speech I was just imagining giving to my adoring fans. There is now a sizeable gap between me and Adam but I’ve been too wrapped up in my musical daydream to notice the movement of the queue. Not even Luke’s tugging of my hand has shaken me from my reverie.
‘I hope you thanked me in your speech,’ Adam whispers in my ear. He clearly knows me too well. I could tell a little fib and pretend I don’t know what he’s talking about, but we all know how much trouble my fibs have landed me in already.
‘You were at the very top of my list.’