Chapter Eight

Roxanne was lurking at the side of the church, having a cheeky vape when Freya arrived for the wedding rehearsal.

Bannerdale church was illuminated for the Christmas season, and lights glowed behind the stained-glass windows. Signs were hung on the fence inviting people to the various services to be held over the festive period. It was warm and welcoming, and felt a complete contrast to the day she’d run away from the altar all those years ago.

‘Psst!’ Roxanne beckoned her from a cloud of vapour. ‘Don’t tell anyone. Ravi thinks I’ve given up completely.’

‘Your secret’s safe with me.’

‘We’ll have to go inside shortly but I said I needed some air. Ravi’s probably guessed what I’m up to.’ She dropped the vape inside her handbag. ‘I also wanted to talk to you before we go inside. Is this the first time since … you know …’

‘No. I’ve been back for carol services and Mimi’s kids’ christenings. Haven’t been for a wedding yet. You know we never got as far as the rehearsal with Jos …’ She smiled wryly. ‘That’s one thing to be grateful for, I suppose.’

‘I do know it was a big ask, and as for the first time,’ Roxanne grinned, ‘I will always always be sorry for sticking my tongue out at you at that ridiculous mock wedding. I’m sure it didn’t help. You looked terrified.’

Freya laughed and felt her tense body relaxing. ‘I’ve forgiven you and you pulling a face wasn’t the problem. It was the pressure, the expectation.’

‘All those people in the church waiting. Even I was freaked out by that. My mum and dad had been going on and on about it for weeks, they’d flown my granny and grandad over from St Lucia to see me, you know!’

‘I never knew that!’

‘Well, it was a good excuse to get them over but I was worried I might make a fool of myself. Granny asked why I wasn’t the bride …’

Freya squeaked in horror. ‘I’d no idea. I wish you had been. You might have stuck it out, not bolted and made yourself the laughing stock.’

‘It must have been horrible for you.’

‘Everyone was relying on me, my mum, the teachers, all the kids but it wasn’t only that. It was Dad …’

‘Your dad?’ Roxanne frowned.

‘Mum kept going on about how proud he’d have been and that he’d be looking down on me. I don’t believe that now, of course, but back then, the idea creeped me out.’ She tried to laugh at herself. ‘That sounds ridiculous now.’

Roxanne’s face crumpled into sympathy. ‘Oh hun, I’m so sorry. Even though you can’t remember him, having him snatched away when you were tiny must have had some effect. I bet that stupid bloody wedding triggered you in some way. It could still be affecting you now.’

Freya decided to laugh off the comment with a shrug. ‘Possibly. Who knows and who’d ever have thought we’d turn out to be best friends after how we were at primary school?’

‘Life has a way of throwing curve balls at you, that’s for sure, but meeting you is a good one. I’m so glad Mum and Dad let me go to the village schools. I’d have hated going to one miles away in a posh uniform or even worse, a boarding school!’

Freya was pleased too. Roxanne’s parents had made a fortune with a party supplies website before moving to a big house on the edge of Bannerdale when Roxanne was a baby, but they still sent her to the local primary and high schools. They’d eventually become good mates after playing on the school netball team together.

‘We might never have been friends if they had sent you away.’ Freya linked her arm through Roxanne’s. ‘Come on, everyone’s waiting for us. They might think we’ve bunked off and gone to Raffaello’s early.’

‘Don’t give me ideas. This “wedding rehearsal dinner” thing is all a bit too American for me, but it was Ravi’s mum’s idea and they’ve travelled quite a way so the least we can do is feed them.’

They went into the church, where Ravi and both sets of parents were already chatting to the vicar. The best man, an Italian-born colleague of Ravi’s, was on duty at the hospital where they both worked so they’d have to manage without him.

Perennially cheerful, the vicar led them through the ‘processional order’, making sure everyone knew where to stand and when to sit down – and who to exit the church with. Roxanne’s cousin was doing a reading but she worked for the local radio and was on air and didn’t need to practise anyway. The whole thing was over in half an hour, and they exited the church into the chilly evening.

Roxanne and the two families drove off to the restaurant but Freya had walked from the office and after a brief chat with the vicar about the forthcoming carol concert, she set off on foot. It was raining heavily so she put up her umbrella and started off down the path but stopped.

Under the lych gate, she glimpsed Seb Marshall engaged in a heated conversation with a man in a full-length hooded coat, the kind that wild swimmers wore but had become fashionable as outdoor wear. Raised voices reached her but the drumming of rain on her brolly meant she couldn’t hear what was being said.

Seb had been several years below them at school. She remembered him as a talented musician but cheeky and gobby towards the older pupils – and some of the teachers. Nowadays, he worked at the mini-market though he used to do a few gigs in the local area too.

When she popped in for last-minute groceries and sandwiches, he was always polite enough to her but she wasn’t sure he had any idea that she’d been engaged to Travis. She didn’t know what Travis had told the rest of the family about him proposing – and her breaking it off – if anything. His older sister, Bree, still lived nearby and had a couple of young children. Freya knew her to nod to but that was about it.

A shout reached her. She wanted to be on her way to the rehearsal dinner but the pair were blocking the lych gate. Freya hung back, reluctant to get too close but also unwilling to leave Seb with this man who was pointing his finger at him.

With a shout of anger, the hooded guy stormed off, leaving Seb alone. He seemed paralysed and briefly rubbed his hand over his eyes, as if wiping away tears.

Freya hurried down the path to join him under the gateway.

‘Seb? Are you OK?’

He whipped round, face twisted in rage. He also looked terribly young and when he realised who she was, his anger softened to sullenness.

‘Me? Yeah, I’m absolutely fine and dandy.’

‘Are you sure?’ she asked gently.

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ he snapped.

‘I don’t know. I saw you with that guy and he seemed to be hassling you.’

‘Hassling me?’ Seb scoffed. ‘Thanks for your concern, but I can handle him.’

‘OK. OK.’ Still unconvinced, Freya noticed Seb’s soaking work uniform.

He exhaled and managed a very brief smile. ‘Look, thanks for asking about me but I’m fine. See ya.’

With shoulders hunched, he trudged up the street towards the centre of the village. Freya walked briskly towards the restaurant, feeling that Travis’s concerns about his brother were probably justified. Should she mention what she’d seen, though? It would only worry Travis more and cause more trouble between the brothers – and what business was it of hers?

She was still mulling it over when she walked into Raffaello’s where the fizz and banter were already flowing between the two wedding clans.