The wedding reception was well underway when Dale and Lucie entered the Grand Ballroom. As they walked in, there was a temporary lull in conversation, as all eyes turned her way, but people were obviously enjoying themselves too much to waste time on the bridesmaid who’d flashed them, and their attention was soon elsewhere.
Dale guided her to their table, and she was thankful again that he was there. She probably would have travelled out for the wedding anyway, even if he’d said he couldn’t make it, but then she’d be going through all this alone. Even after all that happened the past few days, Dale hadn’t abandoned her; he still had her back and she was indebted to him for it.
Petra and Harry entered the room to applause not long afterwards, evidently having finished with the formal wedding photographs.
The food was delicious, and as the champagne flowed and the string quartet played love songs, Lucie began to relax. She chatted to Dale and to the people at their table, most of whom she knew vaguely as friends of Harry or relatives of Petra. She tried not to look around the room in case she saw Jamie again. If she couldn’t see him, she could pretend he wasn’t there. Almost. And every time she experienced a flutter of anxiety, Dale seemed to know; he’d place his hand over hers, on the small of her back, or he’d offer his familiar cheeky wink.
The speeches were loud and rowdy. Harry’s best man made a particularly crude one about their teenage years and how experienced Harry was with both sexes – something that Petra didn’t flinch over but that had steam coming out of Joanna’s ears. Then Tania, as maid of honour, made a brief toast to Harry and Petra, but her comment about wishing them all the happiness in the world seemed somewhat disingenuous to Lucie. Tania’s body language gave her away – she didn’t look at Petra at all, just at Harry, then when she went to kiss them both, it was a quick air kiss for the bride and a lingering kiss on Harry’s cheek as she slid her hand over his chest. Lucie wasn’t certain that anyone else even noticed, but she did. The way that Tania allowed her hand to linger on Harry as she kissed him, then moved it lower, made Lucie want to shout at her to stop. There was something wrong, and she felt sure that it had more to do with alcohol induced high jinx of the upper classes.
The plates were cleared away, then the cake arrived, wheeled in on a wide trolley covered with a cream and gold cloth. It was enormous. There were five square tiers with scalloped white buttercream. On the top tier stood a bride and groom, arm in arm. Gold and cream fondant roses cascaded down the front, intertwined with silver ivy. The theme continued on the cake stand, with rose petals and ivy scattered around. The waitress who’d brought the cake in raised her hands to request silence. “This cake has many layers inside, including dark chocolate mousse, vanilla mousse and cherry mousse. Many congratulations to the bride and groom! Enjoy!”
As Petra and Harry cut the cake and posed for more photographs, gold champagne was served; something that Lucie had not seen before. The woman to her left told her that it was infused with 24 carat gold flakes and rumoured to help the drinker live a long and prosperous life. As it fizzed in her crystal glass, Lucie thought it resembled a golden snowstorm.
“You think they’re trying to tell us how rich they are?” Dale asked as he peered into his glass. “All this gold everywhere… from the trees to the glasses to the cake to the champagne. I’ve never seen so much gold. Can you imagine what my mother would say?”
Lucie smiled. Glenda would probably comment on such extravagance, but secretly enjoy the luxury. She suddenly wished that Dale’s mother and father were here too. It would be nice to see them enjoying the good food and wine, to speak to them in the familiar comfortable way that she could.
Was that a pang of homesickness for Dale’s parents?
Imagine how he must be feeling!
“Have you spoken to your mum today?”
He nodded. “Only for five minutes, though, when you were having your hair done. It was chaos back there… the boys were screaming as they got more and more wound up. My father was offering everyone eggnog or sherry, loudly, as he’d clearly been indulging in it already. Mum did say that Ieaun’s boyfriend had arrived, though, and that he seemed very nice. So that’s got to be a good thing.”
“Do you wish you were there now? Tonight?”
He shook his head. “I’m having a good time, Luce. Mostly. Besides, someone has to look after you!”
She nudged him and laughed. “For that, I’m going to make you dance with me.”
“I’ll need a few more of these before I shake my booty.” He raised an eyebrow at her.
The cake was served and Lucie ate her way through the different layers. The sponge was light; the mousse mouthwateringly fluffy. It made a perfect partner to the champagne, and she had to remind herself to take her time; she could already feel the warm buzz of two glasses and she wanted to keep a clear head. She didn’t fancy falling again and giving the guests another chance to capture her boobs on camera.
When everyone had finished, the plates were cleared again, then the lights dimmed and Harry and Petra made their way to the dance floor at the centre of the room. A full band had replaced the string quartet on the stage and a woman clad in a figure-hugging black gown and stiletto heels picked up the microphone. As Harry took Petra into his arms, the singer began to croon, her sequins sparkling under the lights…
At last…
After a few moments, other guests took to the floor. Lucie watched them, mesmerized by their slow movements, at how they moved in time with their partners as if joined by invisible string.
A hand on her arm made her jump.
It was Dale. Stood at her side. Asking her to dance.
She took his hand and walked to the dance floor.
They paused for a moment, gazing into each other’s eyes and she wondered what he was thinking, what he was feeling. After last night, he had every right to be hurt, angry, confused. She’d not yet had the chance to explain. She opened her mouth to speak, but he shook his head. “Let’s just have tonight. Everything else can wait for tomorrow.”
He took her right hand in his, placed his left hand on her back and pulled her closer. Then they moved together, in time, their knowledge of each other so perfect that they didn’t need to think. The song changed once, twice, three times… Their breath became one, their warmth melded them together and when Dale finally stood still and tilted her chin up so he could meet her eyes, it took Lucie a few seconds to emerge from the spell she’d been under.
“I have an idea.”
“You don’t want to dance anymore?” It was hard to keep the disappointment out of her tone.
“We will… later. Come with me.”
He released her then led her over to one of the tables at the edge of the room. He untied a large red heart balloon from the flower display.
“What are you doing? You can’t do that!” Lucie giggled and glanced around, worried someone would catch them.
“Of course I can.”
He stuffed the balloon under his suit jacket. “Now no one can see it anyway!”
“No, but you look really fat. Like Santa Claus.”
“Ho ho ho! Come on, Miss Quigley, there’s something we need to do.”
He led her through the hotel to the lobby then out through the front doors. A gust of ice-cold air hit them as they descended the steps’ red carpet and Lucie shivered in her thin dress. Dale noticed. He removed his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, then pulled it together at the front.
“It’s a bit slippery, so be careful.”
Lucie took his hand as they walked to the edge of the pavement and giggled at the sharpness of the Manhattan night air. “It’s freezing out here! I could lose my toes.” She wiggled them in her sandals to stop the snow sticking.
“We won’t be long. It’s just that I thought… it’s been such a busy day and I thought you might want to do something… something for your mum tonight. You know?” He stared deep into her eyes and Lucie knew that he was worrying that he’d done the wrong thing.
“It’s a lovely idea, Dale. Really. That’s what the balloon is for?”
He nodded. “You can release it for her. Let her know you’re thinking of her even though you’re in New York. I didn’t want to bring it all back, Luce, I just didn’t want you waking up tomorrow and worrying that you hadn’t done anything to mark the anniversary. I know that normally we take flowers to the grave. But this is something, right?”
She slipped her hand from his and placed it against his cheek. His skin was cool, his jaw strong to the touch. “It’s perfect, Dale.”
He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to stand in front of him. He was shivering against her. “You need your jacket back.”
“It’s fine. I’ve got you to keep me warm.”
She held the balloon out.
“Merry Christmas, Mum. Wherever you are…” Her throat tightened, as it always did whenever she tried to speak to her mother. It was a combination of grief, confusion and anger. She knew that. But she would do this now. Dale had been so thoughtful, and he was right. It was twenty years since her mother had gone. She needed to do something.
Something to finally set her heart free.
“I hope you’re happy and that you have found peace.”
She pressed a kiss to the shiny surface of the heart then gently released it. It sailed up into the sky, towards the tiny stars that twinkled high above the city; the city that thrummed with excitement, love, sadness, anger and pain. But most importantly, with life.
Lucie was alive. She felt it more than ever. Dale held her for a few minutes as they watched, until the balloon disappeared, swallowed by the Manhattan night, then she turned in his arms.
“You’re a special guy, Dale.”
“You’re a special lady. But we’ll freeze if we stay out here any longer. I think I have frostbite in my toes already.”
Lucie nodded. “You should try wearing sandals. Let’s get back inside and warm up.”
As they headed back into the wedding reception, Lucie rubbed her hands together to try to warm them. She was so focused on doing this that she didn’t initially notice the silence in the room.
All the guests were staring at the doorway next to the stage, as if waiting for something.
Then there was a long, piercing scream.
“What was that?” Lucie grabbed Dale’s arm.
Harry came flying through the door, closely followed by Petra. She was screaming and pounding on Harry’s back. Pursuing him. Her hair was now a bird’s nest, her mascara was running down her cheeks and one of her false eyelashes clung to her upper lip like a wonky moustache.
Harry turned and held his arms out, trying to fend off Petra’s blows, but she was clearly hysterical.
Why isn’t anyone doing anything?
To their side, off in the shadows, Lucie spotted Tania. She was sporting a sly grin on her flawless, aristocratic face.
Joanna and Jackson stood nearby, apparently engaged in their own argument, and Harry’s parents had retreated to stand with their family, as if involvement in this display was too far beneath them.
“I have to go to her,” Lucie said to Dale, not wanting to leave him but knowing she had to help.
“Of course.”
Lucie rushed over to Petra and when she said her name, approaching cautiously to avoid being punched, her distraught friend flung herself into her arms and sobbed with the fervor of the brokenhearted.
***
Lucie ushered Petra out of the Grand Ballroom, through a corridor and into a smaller room along the corridor. It seemed to be some sort of parlour, with two small sofas and a fireplace. From nearby she could hear the sounds of a busy kitchen, which must have been where the wedding banquet was prepared.
“Here.” Lucie helped her trembling friend to sit then scanned the room, hoping there would be some water, but she couldn’t see anything. “Are you thirsty?”
Petra nodded.
“Stay here and I’ll get something to drink. I’ll be back quickly.”
Lucie pulled the door behind her then hurried back to the reception. She located a waitress and requested water, then looked around for Dale but she couldn’t see him. She didn’t want to go looking for him because she needed to get back to Petra as soon as possible. The waitress returned with the water. Lucie glanced at Harry as she left the room, and was horrified to see him leaving through a different door with Tania in his wake.
So Tania had been right all along about Harry and Petra. But she’d clearly had her own motives for trying to keep them apart. What on earth was wrong with them? If he didn’t love Petra enough to be faithful to her, why did he propose?
Lucie pushed open the door to the room in which she’d left Petra, and almost dropped the glass of water when she saw who was trying to comfort her distraught friend.
“Jamie.” His name was like sawdust in her mouth. Her survival instinct kicked in, telling her to run, but she couldn’t exactly leave Petra right now, so she took a few steadying breaths and closed the door behind her. Besides, what could he do to her? It wasn’t as if they were alone. And he was in a wheelchair. She knew people could move quickly in them, she’d watched the paralympic athletes after all, but suspected that the bulky furniture might hinder his speed as he’d have to negotiate the chair around it all.
You’re safe. Be calm. He can’t hurt you now.
“Hi, Lucie.”
“What’re you doing in here?”
“What does it look like? I’m trying to comfort Petra.”
“I’d have thought you were the last man to have the capacity to offer a woman comfort.” The coldness in Lucie’s own voice surprised her and Jamie winced.
Petra was sobbing into a napkin, oblivious to the tension in the room.
“People change, Lucie.”
“Do they?”
He nodded. “Look at me.” He gestured at his chair then smacked his hands against the wheels. “I’ve changed a lot.”
“Just because you’re… you’re… I don’t even know what’s happened to you but it doesn’t change what you did.”
“I know and I’ve wanted to speak to you about that for years. But you never accepted my calls and I don’t know if the letters and emails I sent even got to you? Did they, Lu?”
“Don’t call me that. Ever!” she spat. She suddenly remembered the glass of water she was holding and took it to Petra before she became tempted to throw it over her ex. “Here, lovely. Drink this.”
Petra raised red eyes to the glass. She had snot smeared over her face and the strip of fake eyelashes had moved from her chin to her cleavage where it now perched like a spiky slug. “Thank you.” She sipped from the glass and Lucie tried not to notice as Petra’s snot drifted onto the surface of the water.
Lucie perched next to Petra, trying not to look at Jamie. But her eyes had a mind of their own. They crept up to look at him. Outwardly, he was still the same Jamie; his face tanned, his hair well cut, his clothes smart and trendy. But his eyes were different. They were still grey but now the grey of a stormy sky rather than the silver grey that used to remind her of the sky at dawn. She had loved to gaze into Jamie’s eyes.
Once. Upon. A. Time.
Now they made her recoil.
So different from Dale’s…
She shuddered. She didn’t even want Dale and Jamie to be in the same thought process. Dale certainly didn’t deserve that. He was a good man. Jamie was not.
“What am I going to do?” Petra wailed, dragging Lucie from her thoughts.
“What exactly happened?”
Jamie answered. “She went to find Harry because he’d been gone a while and she found him—”
“With that… slut!”
Lucie frowned. “Slut?”
“Tania,” Jamie replied.
“They were… doing it in the toilets. In the ladies’ loo! I walked into the cubicle and there she was… straddling him as he sat on the toilet. Bouncing around, her bridesmaid dress pulled down to her waist and hiked up to her thighs. She… was… screaming with pleasure.”
“Oh no!” Lucie slid her arm around Petra’s shoulders, trying to dismiss the graphic image from her mind. “What a thing to see! I’m so sorry.”
“Not your fault. I knew… he was like that.”
Lucie thought about what Tania had said to her. Could she have helped Petra avoid this if only she’d told her? But would Petra have listened? “You did?”
Petra reached out and took Jamie’s hand. Lucie flinched. She wanted to snatch her friend’s hand right back.
“Jamie knows.”
“You do?”
He hung his head. “It wasn’t my place to say anything to Petra about it but she caught him once before at a golf club dinner.”
“With Tania?”
They both shook their heads.
“With another one of his tarts,” Petra explained.
“When was this?”
Petra shrugged. “A few years back. But I suspect he’s been doing it all along and Tania’s just one in a long line.” She turned to Jamie and he blushed. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
He swallowed hard. “Don’t do this to yourself. What’s happened today is bad enough.”
“I know. But… you know what makes me really mad? He never made me scream with pleasure. Not once. Not in all the years we were together. I thought it was me… that he just didn’t fancy me as much as I did him. Perhaps it was.”
“Petra, don’t try to analyse it all,” Jamie said. “Sometimes we say and do things we later regret. Things we regret as soon as they’re done.”
“Harry didn’t look like he was filled with regret!” Petra snapped.
“Maybe not. But perhaps he just cared a lot more about himself than you. He probably cares more about himself than he ever will about anyone else.”
Petra released a long sigh and deflated on the sofa until her head rested on its back. “I can’t believe I’m married and this is my wedding night. What a let-down, eh?”
Lucie squeezed her shoulder. “You want me to try to find him. So you can talk?”
Petra shook her head. “Nothing to discuss with that creep. It’s over. I’ve given him chances and look what he did. Merry Christmas to me.”
Lucie bit hard on the inside of her cheek. Merry Christmas indeed.
“Oh, Lucie, I’m so sorry. Isn’t today the anniversary?”
Lucie nodded. “It’s okay.”
“How many years?” Petra took Lucie’s hand.
“Twenty.”
“Wow.”
“I know. Christmas Eve has always been hard because of it but I don’t know. This year, being in Manhattan, focusing on your wedding and seeing the sights and…”
“Being with Dale?”
Heat crawled up Lucie’s neck. “Yes. It’s all just helped me to deal with it. And at some point, I guess, we have to move on.”
Petra nodded. “Sure do. And you have that wonderful fiancé to help you now. He’s a good one, Lucie, I can tell.”
Lucie avoided meeting Jamie’s gaze but she felt his eyes burning into her. She wasn’t about to explain herself to him. He had no right to expect it of her. To expect anything of her in fact.
The door opened and Joanna entered, bringing with her the unpleasant combination of cigarette smoke and floral perfume. She must have just been outside to cater to her addiction then doused herself in scent to try to cover it.
“Oh, Petra!” She held open her arms.
“Mummy!” Petra stood and accepted the hug.
“Come on, my angel, let’s go to your room and get you a proper drink. Daddy will deal with everything downstairs. He’s already talking to his lawyer… at the bar I don’t doubt. He’ll make sure that cheater doesn’t get away with this.”
“I can’t believe it, Mummy.”
“I know, darling. But we’ll sort it. Mummy’s here.”
Petra allowed her mother to lead her from the room.
Lucie sat still for a moment. Everything seemed to have taken on a fuzzy haze. Was all this really happening?
“At least it brought her mother to her side,” Jamie said.
Lucie looked at him. He was right. “If this helps them to mend their relationship, then that will be a positive. But what an awful way for it to happen.”
She stood up.
“Please don’t go yet.”
“What?”
“Now you’re here, I’d really like to talk to you. About what happened.”
“Between Petra and Harry?”
“No, Lucie. Between us.”
“I… I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Please, Lucie. Just hear me out. I promise you’re safe with me.”
She eyed him for a moment, yearning to flee, yet slowly accepting that perhaps if she heard him out, she would be able to obtain some closure. If not, she wouldn’t have lost anything. Besides, if she left now, she might always be wondering what he was going to say.
She sat back down, moving as far away from him as she could so that her back was against the broad sofa arm. “Go on then. Explain.”
He nodded. “Thank you.” He took a deep breath then released it slowly. “First of all, I want to say how sorry I am.”
***
Dale kept looking at his watch. Lucie had been gone over an hour. What was an acceptable time to wait when a woman went to comfort her best friend? Perhaps it would be okay to go and find her now. He’d gathered from the others at their table that Harry had been caught with his pants down. Dale had never warmed to Harry, finding him a bit too full of himself, but for him to cheat on his new bride at his own wedding reception was something he hadn’t expected. Harry was a successful banker, a man who’d glided through his life, apparently without a care in the world. But that unfortunately made some people lack values. And now Harry hadn’t valued his fiancé. Why had he bothered proposing to her if he didn’t love her or value her? Now he’d humiliated her in front of their families and friends and for what? A quick bonk with a woman who Dale thought actually looked a bit like Petra.
He shook his head. It was very sad and he was grateful that his life had been simpler. He didn’t need to be rich or to live the city life. He loved working with plants and tending to people’s gardens rather than their finances. Plants didn’t cheat or lie. They didn’t ask for much other than feeding and watering and some sunshine. People could be so very complicated. He was also grateful for his family; loud, noisy and jostling for attention as they were, he loved them all. He couldn’t imagine any of them acting as Harry had. Hank would go ballistic if any of his sons treated a woman like that. Yes, he’d been taught values and morals and he was glad of it.
He’d try to find Lucie then see if she wanted to go back to their hotel. Lots of the guests were leaving, realizing that the party was over, so there was no point hanging around.
He checked that they hadn’t left anything on the table or chairs, but Lucie hadn’t brought a bag as she’d been a bridesmaid, which meant that all her possessions – small purse, lipstick, fold-up brush and mobile were in his jacket. He was, basically, Lucie’s makeup bag today and he didn’t mind at all. In fact, he quite liked that she had entrusted him with her things. And he’d liked the way she just slipped her hand into his jacket pocket for her lipstick or tapped his hand when she needed a tissue.
Dale said goodbye to the people at the table then left the room through the exit Lucie had taken. He walked along the corridor and saw Petra and her mother going through double doors at the end.
“Petra!” he called and she turned to him. He made an effort not to grimace at the state of her face. She was extremely puffy, red and smudged. Her tiara hung at an awkward angle reminding him of the leaning tower of Pisa.
“I’m… uh… sorry about what happened. It must have been awful.”
She nodded.
“Mummy’s got you now though.” Joanna cooed as she stroked her daughter’s messy hair. Dale watched as she wobbled on her impossibly high heels, clearly worse for drink.
“Well if there’s anything I can do…”
“Thank you. Are you looking for Lucie?” Petra asked.
“Yes. Do you know where she’s gone?”
“In there.” She pointed at a door.
“Thanks. Uh… see you soon.” Dale gave a small wave then hurried back down the corridor. What did you say to someone in these circumstances? He had no idea at all. Lucie was far better at this stuff.
He pushed the door open and Lucie turned around. She was on a small sofa and at the other end of it, in his wheelchair, was Jamie.
“You okay, Luce?” They both stared at him as if he had two heads and Lucie seemed to surface from somewhere else, as if she’d been half-asleep, when he said her name.
“Oh… yes.”
A wave of uncertainty washed over him. Why was she in this room alone with her ex?
“I was looking for you.”
“Sorry. I’m okay, though. We were just talking. Jamie was explaining a few things.” Her voice was cold, not the Lucie he knew at all. Wheelchair or not, anger for this man burned in Dale’s gut.
“Are you ready to go back to our hotel? The wedding party’s over and everyone’s leaving. No point hanging around here now.”
“Yes. Of course. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“You want me to stay?” He eyeballed Jamie, willing him to give him a reason to get between him and Lucie.
“No, it’s fine. I won’t be long.” She flashed him a small smile but her eyes were sad. Dale knew that look. It was Lucie’s thoughtful face, the one she adopted when she was weighing things up.
“Okay. As long as you’re sure.”
Jamie hadn’t taken his eyes from Dale’s face and he recognized the challenge there. For a moment, he considered accepting, fighting for Lucie and insisting she came with him, but then he remembered what had happened last night; how she’d pushed him away when they’d got closer than they had done in years. And now Jamie had reappeared. Still suave and monied, confident and arrogant. If Jamie was what Lucie wanted, then Dale had to concede. Didn’t he? Or should he put up a fight and force her to leave with him now?
“Honestly, Dale. I’m all right. I’ll see you soon.” Her words were like an icepick being driven into his heart.
He wouldn’t fight for what wasn’t his in the first place, even though his heart and body were screaming at him to stay and claim her. Not to allow this creep to win her back. To try to make her see sense.
He stood there for a moment.
Waiting.
Willing Lucie to get up and leave with him. But she didn’t; she seemed oblivious to his presence. Numb. As if she didn’t care about his feelings or hadn’t even considered how he might be hurting right now, seeing her with this other man. And after all that had happened between them since they came to New York.
Something in him was crumbling to dust.
“I’ll head on back then, Luce. See you… later.”
As he closed the door behind him, slowly, leaving the woman he loved with her ex-boyfriend, he wasn’t sure he’d see her again that night at all. Because it seemed as though she’d made her choice.
And Dale was the one leaving alone.