Katie Fforde - Wedding Season

‘Do you?’

Sarah nodded. 'Mm. But I'm not going to sleep with you because you'll break my heart.'

‘You don't have to sleep with me, but I wouldn't break your heart at all.'

‘Wouldn't you?'

‘No, but we won't talk about that now.’

In the morning it all came back to her in terrifying detail. She realised that not only had Hugo taken most of her clothes off and tucked her into bed, but he'd left a big glass of water and bowl handy for her. Realising that he'd seen her when she was very, very drunk was more painful than the hangover.

‘Have a bacon sandwich,' he advised when he rang her a little later to see if she was all right. 'And a pint of orange juice.'

‘I'm so, so sorry,' she said, too ill to be embarrassed. Was it possible for a head actually to split open?

He laughed. 'You're a very endearing drunk, Sarah. Don't worry about it.’

When he was sure that she had what she needed to work on her hangover and had disconnected, Sarah remembered what she'd said about him breaking her heart. She also remembered him saying that he wouldn't. She hadn't believed him then and she didn't believe him now.

Bron was in her little garden, working on what she hoped was her last fake-cake, thinking that at least she was very quick at creating flowers in icing so when she came to do the real cake, in a couple of days' time, she should be an expert at it. She needed to be as Carrie's wedding was mere days away now.

‘Hi,' said a female voice. 'Am I disturbing you? I've come over to see how you're getting on, and to make a hair appointment, if I may.’

She looked up to see Vanessa.

‘My goodness!' Vanessa went on, gesturing towards what Bron was doing. 'Look at that! It's fantastic!’

Bron was pleased. 'It's the last. I'm hoping I won't need to do any more. Do you like them?'

‘They're beautiful! Could I commission you to do one for me?'

‘Of course. You might be able to have one of these when the wedding's over. I don't know what Carrie will want to do with them.'

‘To be honest, I'd rather have one without crystals,' said Vanessa.

‘Mm, I know what you mean, but I think as Carrie's dress is covered in them, the crystals are necessary. Can I get you a cup of coffee or anything?' asked Bron.

‘Yes, but I'll make it. What would you like?'

‘I've only got instant, I'm afraid,' said Bron, suddenly a little daunted by the thought of her landlady making her own coffee.

‘That's fine. Too much of the other stuff gives me the jitters.’

Bron laughed and started another flower. Now she was doing the top of the sphere, she had to stand on a box to work. She wondered why, if she wanted her hair doing, Vanessa hadn't just rung up to make an appointment. Did she have another reason for calling or was she just being friendly? When Vanessa came out a few minutes later with two steaming mugs and settled herself on the bench beside Bron, Bron soon realised that she definitely had something else to talk about. Once they'd fixed a time for Bron to do Vanessa's hair the following week and Vanessa had grilled her on Carrie's wedding preparations and said she couldn't wait for the next issue of Celeb to come out – shemade it her business to keep up with all the gossip -she turned to Bron and said firmly, 'Now tell me, how are you and James getting on?’

Bron swallowed a big gulp of coffee. 'Well, we don't see much of each other, we're both very busy-'

‘I wondered,' Vanessa interrupted her. 'I noticed him helping you with your cakes.' She gave Bron a piercing glance. Had her landlady been spying on her? Knowing Vanessa, she wouldn't put it past her.

‘I think he's very attractive – not that I go for younger men – but he is good-looking, I've always thought,' Vanessa went on.

‘Yes, he is, very good-looking.' Bron was wary.

‘But you don't fancy him? No chemistry? I mean, it either works for you or it doesn't.’

Bron couldn't quite believe her landlady's audacity, then she laughed.

‘Oh, am I being too blunt? If you don't fancy him-''It's not that.' Bron blushed.

‘Ah, so you do like him?' Vanessa was obviously determined to find out. 'I was only saying to Donald the other night what a good pair you'd make. He told me not to interfere of course, but… Anyway, if you do fancy him, then what's the problem?’

Bron wondered if she should match Vanessa's frankness. Probably Vanessa would only prise it out of her eventually; she was like a terrier with a bone. Vanessa gave her an encouraging smile. Bron looked down at her coffee. Perhaps it would help if she confided in someone like Vanessa, it was sort of like confiding in her mother. 'I don't think he fancies me. I thought I'd given him enough hints. I've invited him to meals, given him cake, got him to come round to Elsa's with these' – she indicated the fake-cakes -'so he could see how nice my friends are, but nothing.' She sighed. 'If he fancied me, he'd have made a move by now, surely. We do get on well, but I think he just sees me as a friend.'

‘Nonsense! Of course he fancies you. Lovely girl like you, right next door. He is a man, after all.'

‘But as you said, if there's no chemistry..

Vanessa sipped her coffee and then shook her head. 'I'm sure it's not that.' She thought for a moment and then patted Bron's hand. 'It's possible he thinks it's too soon for you after…?' She paused.

‘Roger.'

‘Right. Well, no man wants to be a rebound. Too much pride. And although I don't know all the details, I got the impression he'd come out of a relationship that ended badly for him when he first came here, a couple of years ago. He probably didn't want you to rebound on him and break his heart all over again.'

‘Do you really think so?' Bron said quietly, realising there might be some truth in Vanessa's words. It was very soon after Roger and he might well think she was a complete slapper for even thinking about someone else so soon. He was probably trying to let her down gently. How embarrassing.

Vanessa warmed to her theme. 'I do. He's quite sensitive, you know.' She paused. 'So what are we going to do about it?'

‘About what?' Bron was puzzled.

Vanessa made a gesture that indicated Bron had missed something very simple. 'You must be proactive, darling! You must do something to make it happen. Good God! If women waited for men to get things going, the population would have died out millennia ago!'

‘Oh. Do you think so?'

‘It's a fact. Now, what are we going to do about that silly man not taking advantage of what's under his nose?’

Bron shrugged. 'He's being incredibly helpful. He made all the bases for these.' She indicated her tree. 'And he's made the framework for the real cake.'

‘You don't need a helpmate – although a man who's practical is a bonus…' Vanessa said, going off on another tangent. 'Mm, let me see… I know – you need to get him to the wedding. Why don't you ask him to drive you over? After all, you'll need help with those trees. You wouldn't get more than a couple in your little car.'

‘But he'd have to take time off work.' Bron began to feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe Vanessa was right, and he just needed a little more prodding.

‘That's easy. I can help you there. He's got loads of holiday owing him. Tell you what, I'll suggest he takes you. He can say no if he really doesn't want to, but I think he just needs a bit of a push. How long are you staying over at the house where the wedding is?'

‘A couple of days. I don't really think I can transport the cake iced and it's going to take a while to do.' She took another sip of coffee. 'Although I am very good at these flowers now, it will be a bit different on the actual cake. And then when the cake's done, I have to do Carrie's hair and make-up. There are bridesmaids too, although they're little ones, so I won't need to do too much with them.'