Kathryn Ross - The Night Of The Wedding

She felt her body temperature increase dramatically. ‘So…so why don’t you?’ Kate angled her chin and sent him an unconsciously provocative look from glittering emerald eyes.

‘Because now’s not the time.’ He moved back from her.

About to challenge him to what exactly he meant by that, she changed her mind as he glanced at her again. Maybe some things were better left as they were.

‘And anyway, friendship seems to last longer than everything else, doesn’t it?’ Nick glanced at his watch. ‘And given the fact that we are so…opposite in every way…we are lucky to have that in spades, aren’t we?’

There was a dry irony in the last part of those words but she decided to ignore it. ‘Yes, we are. What time is it?’ she asked.

‘Almost one, we’d better try and get some sleep.’

‘Yes. I suppose we should.’

‘Will you be OK now?’

‘I’ll be fine.’ She smiled at him. ‘You’re right, I am strong and I will bounce back.’

‘Not if you don’t eat, though.’ He pointed to the food beside them on the table. ‘Try and have something.’

She nodded.

‘See you in the morning, then.’ He leaned towards her. Her heart missed a beat as he kissed her on the cheek. She could smell his cologne, feel his warmth. His hand rested lightly on her shoulder, yet she imagined she could feel it burn slightly through the shirt.

‘Sleep well,’ he said as he got to his feet.

She watched as he left the room and closed the door behind him.

Somehow she just knew that she wouldn’t get any sleep at all.

THE phone was ringing as Kate let herself into her apartment. She wondered if it was Stephen. It was almost six weeks now since he had left and she hadn’t heard a thing from him. Most of his clothes were still hanging in the wardrobes; his CDs were still beside the hi-fi. She supposed he would get in contact if only to collect them, but she wished he’d get it over with—this waiting around seemed interminable. It felt as if she were living in no man’s land; their relationship was over and yet he was still here in essence. Every time the doorbell or the phone rang her nerves seemed to go into freefall.

She put her shopping down on the kitchen counter and snatched up the receiver.

‘Hi, Kate, it’s Tanya.’

‘Oh, hi, Tanya.’ She sat down at the breakfast bar, not knowing if she felt relieved or disappointed that it wasn’t him. ‘How are you?’

‘More to the point, how are you?’ Tanya said, sympathy filling her voice and for some reason jarring on Kate. ‘I’m really sorry to hear about you and Stephen splitting up.’

‘Well, don’t be too sorry, it’s probably for the best.’ Kate tried to sound upbeat. She liked Tanya and they had been friends for a while, but she was very aware that the other woman worked with Stephen and so anything Kate said might be repeated to him.

‘So you’re really OK?’ Tanya sounded surprised.

Did she think I’d fall to pieces? Kate wondered, feeling a tinge of anger. And, if so, why hadn’t she rung before now?

‘Yes, I’m really fine. In fact I couldn’t be better,’ Kate purred, her voice exuding a glowing happiness that was completely at odds with her reflection in the mirror opposite. She looked tired, testament to the fact that she hadn’t been sleeping very well recently.

‘I’m so pleased, Kate. I’ve wanted to ring you for a while but I’ve kept putting it off. I feel a bit torn, being friends to both you and Stephen…and also with working with Natasha.’

‘There’s no need to feel awkward, Tanya,’ Kate assured her. ‘It’s all water under the bridge now and I’m happily getting on with my life.’

‘Are you seeing someone else?’

Kate hesitated, wondering how much of this conversation would go back to Stephen. ‘Well…you know, I’ve got a few irons in the fire.’ How many more clichés could she use to extract herself from this situation? she asked herself sardonically.

‘That’s great! Listen, what are you doing the weekend after next?’

‘I don’t know.’ Put on the spot, Kate blustered feebly. ‘Nothing much, just the usual—’

‘That’s brilliant, because David and I are getting married.’ Tanya’s voice resounded with happiness. ‘And I want you to come.’

Kate could feel her temperature rising. She wanted to ask if Stephen and Natasha would be there, but that would go against the relaxed ‘I’m over him’ attitude, wouldn’t it? So instead she resorted to cheerful congratulations, while trying to work out a sensible reply to the invitation. Why hadn’t she said she was busy that weekend? Why the hell hadn’t she said she was out of town, going to Paris…anything?

‘I’m so pleased for you, Tanya,’ she heard herself gush.

‘Thanks, Kate. I was worried about telling you…what with you and Stephen splitting up. You two had lived together as long as we have…and, well, I felt a bit…awkward.’

‘There’s no need,’ Kate said sincerely. ‘I really am happy for you.’

‘Yes, I should have known you would be. I’m glad you will be able to come, Kate, it means a lot to me. I’ll stick an invitation in the post for you…oh, and bring a partner if you like.’

‘Thank you.’ Kate didn’t know what else to say.

‘OK, see you soon. Bye, now.’

Tanya’s cheerful tones rang in her ears as she put the phone down. You should have just told her you were busy, that you’d forgotten some important previous engagement, Kate told herself fiercely. You don’t want to see Stephen and Natasha. It will be pure torture. On the other hand, why should she stay away? She had been Tanya’s friend before Stephen. Hell, on his request she had even pulled the strings to help him get the job there. She had nothing to be ashamed of…unlike Stephen. If he and that woman had any conscience, they would be the ones to stay away.

It crossed her mind that she could ask Nick to accompany her. That would cause a few raised eyebrows. It would also wipe that note of sympathy out of people’s voices. No one could feel sorry for her if she had a man as gorgeous as Nick on her arm. She could pretend that he was her lover, they could dance close together on the dance-floor, gaze into each other eyes. That would knock the arrogant smile off Stephen’s face. For a moment she felt a burst of happiness at the thought, then the daydream faded into reality. Stephen wouldn’t care if she were dating Prince William, and Nick wouldn’t want to pretend to be anything but her friend. It would be too embarrassing even to ask him.

Kate glanced at her watch and then got up to put the shopping away. She had better get a move on. She had invited Nick for dinner and he would be arriving in a little over an hour.

The lasagne safely in the oven and the table laid, she went to make herself presentable. She showered and changed into a pale blue skirt and matching top. Then she applied some make-up to hide the dark circles under her eyes and some brighter lipstick.

Not bad, she thought as she ran a smoothing hand over her long dark hair and stepped back to survey her appearance in the full-length mirror. She hadn’t seen Nick in a few days. He’d been to Paris on business and she had really missed him.

She didn’t think she would have been able to get through these last few weeks if it hadn’t been for Nick. Somehow being with him had made things feel better. He’d taken her out quite a bit, to the cinema and for drinks. Of course, she knew he was doing it to cheer her up, but she appreciated it…and it had worked. He had been very good company.

She felt excited at the prospect of spending the evening with him tonight; she glanced at the clock, counting the minutes until he’d arrive, and hoped his flight wasn’t delayed.