Lizzie Marshall's Wedding (31 page)

He rocked her in his arms until her sobbing ceased and he heard a little giggle.

‘She deserved it Max. Okay. I ... I think I feel a little better now. God! I need a drink. My legs feel like jelly. I’m not sure I can walk.’

Without a word he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the ballroom.

Despite telling Max she felt better she was still shaking and the only thing that seemed to calm her frayed nerves was champagne. She drank rather a lot because her nerves were very frayed and then she drank some more, just because she could. By nine-thirty p.m., when the fireworks began and they all moved to the terrace to watch the display, she was ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ with every firework.

Max asked Jess and Susie to keep an eye on her whilst he took Lily up to bed. They had let her watch the fireworks but she was half asleep in Max’s arms before they had finished.

‘We nearly died!’ Becky said when Max had gone. She didn’t see Lizzie standing behind her talking to Jane. ‘That Kim woman came here with a gun and threatened to kill us all. Well, Jack and Phil and Ross and Max and me. Then Max threw her in the pond as calmly as you like and says everything is fine and I’m being silly for thinking we almost died! Can you believe it? Nothing worries Max!’

‘What are you talking about Becky? Lizzie said, then to Jess. ‘Is she drunk?’

Jess nodded. ‘Yeah. Ignore her.’ She’d heard a vague rumour herself but she didn’t want Lizzie to worry.

‘That’s right! Ignore me. Max ignored me when I thought he was dead. Just ignore me. I need a drink.’

‘What is she talking about?’

‘I’m talking about Kim! She came here with a gun. Just before the ceremony. A gun! To shoot us.’

‘Jack! Is this true?’ Lizzie called to her husband who was chatting to Iain a few tables away.

‘Is what true darling?’ he said joining them and slipping his arm around his wife’s waist.

‘That Kim was here – and she had a gun!’

His eyes shot to Becky who was leaning against the table with two of her fingers pointed at Jack like a gun.

She made “pow, pow” noises then flopped onto a chair.

‘Um,’ he hesitated. ‘She was very drunk and it wasn’t a real gun. She just wanted to scare us. Max got the gun and then he threw her in the pond to sober her up. She’s upstairs now I think, sleeping it off.’

‘That woman is under the same roof as me on my wedding day!’

‘Ross is with her. There’s ... there’s nothing to worry about, honestly Lizzie.’

‘Oh really! Max! I want a word with you.’ She saw him returning and headed in his direction.

‘Oops!’ Becky said and poured herself some more champagne.

Whatever Max said to Lizzie must have placated her because thirty minutes later she looked perfectly happy, dancing in her husband’s arms. Max on the other hand, did not.

‘I think you’ve had quite enough of that for tonight,’ he said, taking Becky’s glass away from her and sitting down beside her. ‘Maybe you should go and lie down.’

‘I don’t want to lie down. I want to dance.’ She pulled him to his feet and dragged him to the floor where she fell into his arms and he effectively carried her around for a few minutes.

‘Okay, you’ve danced. Why don’t we go and sit down now or better still, why don’t we go and get some fresh air?’

‘Okay,’ she said allowing him to lead her out onto the terrace.

‘I wish you hadn’t said anything to Lizzie,’ he said after a few seconds, ‘it would have been better if she hadn’t found out about today until they were on their honeymoon at least. You obviously had too much champagne. I know you wouldn’t have upset her on purpose.’

‘Obviously!’ she snapped. She was being told off and she didn’t like it. ‘I need a drink.’

‘You’ve had several. Let’s sit out here for a while.’

‘I want to dance.’

‘We have danced. Now let’s sit.’ He led her to a chair and sat her down then sat down next to her.

‘You’re cross,’ she said glancing at him from under her lashes.

‘I’m not cross.’ He didn’t look at her but stared out at the night sky.

She sat in silence for a few seconds then as several guests tumbled out onto the terrace she saw her chance, jumped up and ran back inside to the middle of the dance floor. She began whirling around then as the music took her she stepped onto a chair and climbed onto a table. She kicked off her shoes and began gyrating to the beat. Several of the guests gathered round and applauded her.

Max got to her just as she toppled over and he caught her in his arms. ‘Okay,’ he said, ‘I think someone needs to sober up a bit.’ He carried her towards the door.

‘Help me!’ she shrieked at the top of her lungs. ‘He’s going to throw me in the pond!’

She struggled but he held her firm and people stepped aside to let him pass.

She realised her attempts to free herself were futile so she gave in and pleaded with him instead. ‘Please don’t throw me in the pond Max. I promise I’ll be good.’

‘I’m not going to throw you in the pond,’ he said, ‘I’m taking you up to bed.’

‘That’s nice,’ she said snuggling up against him then seeing Ben step aside, she called out to him, ‘Max is taking me to bed now vicar and we’re going to have hot sex. Lots and lots of hot sex, because he’s a sex god!’

‘Okay, thank you,’ Max said in a voice as smooth as silk.

That was the last thing she heard as she sank into a champagne induced oblivion.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Shafts of sunlight pierced Becky’s eyes like red hot pokers and the distance gurgle of laughter from beyond the window sounded like Niagara Falls. She lifted her head an inch from the pillow but it was too heavy so she let it drop back down.

She tentatively opened her eyes and the walls of the Yellow Room were like sheets of bright sunlight. She slowly turned her head and buried it in the pillow.

The knock on the door was a procession of drums and she managed a faint ‘Argh!’ before wrapping her pillow around her ears.

Jess and Susie poked their heads round the door and came in. ‘Morning Dancing Queen,’ they sang out in unison.

She managed to drag a hand from the pillow and hold it in the air in a “stop” gesture.

‘We come bearing gifts,’ Jess said dropping onto the bed and yanking the pillow away.

Becky could smell the coffee and she turned gingerly. ‘I ... I can’t move,’ she said, ‘will you help me sit up?’

They helped her then Jess passed her the coffee and Susie handed her the headache pills.

‘Industrial strength.’

‘I need the entire factory this morning. God, I must have had a lot to drink last night. I feel like death warmed over.’

She saw Jess and Susie exchange looks. ‘What?’ she said.

‘You don’t remember anything?’ Susie asked.

Becky tried to shake her head and realised it wasn’t a wise move. ‘No. Oh God. Did I do something embarrassing?’

‘Well,’ Jess said, ‘let’s just say you’ve given everyone a great deal to talk about. Where shall we start? Telling Lizzie there was nearly a massacre at her wedding. Dancing on the table to “Do you think I’m sexy?”

‘I think everyone did,’ Susie said nodding.

‘I think so too. Or telling everyone that Max was going to throw you in the pond. Of course, when I say “telling” what I actually mean is screaming at the top of your lungs.’

‘No,’ Susie said, ‘it has to be when you again shouted at the top of your lungs to Ben and everyone within a five mile radius that Max was taking you to bed to have lots and lots of hot sex because he is a sex god. Did we miss anything Jess?’

‘No. I think that just about covers it.’

Becky had gradually been slipping down in the bed. Each thing they said flashed before her eyes as she saw herself doing all of them, one by one, in minute detail. And then she suddenly realised, she’d woken up alone.

‘Max!’ she said in a strangled voice.

‘He’s outside playing with Lily.’

‘Oh my God! How am I ever going to face him again? How am I going to face anyone?’ she let out a little sob. ‘Oh! What must Margaret think? And Lizzie and Jack. I ruined their wedding. And Ben! Oh Susie I’m so sorry. And ... and everyone heard it? Definitely?’

‘If the stunned silence was anything to go by, I’d say yes,’ Jess said.

‘Don’t worry Becky. Everyone laughed about it afterwards.

‘I bet they did. Oh hell! I can’t go to the wedding brunch. I just can’t. I’ll die from embarrassment.’

‘No one dies from embarrassment. Anyway, you can’t, not go. That would be worse,’ Jess said.

‘You could say I’m ill – which is true actually, I feel sick.’

‘No way honey. You’re getting out of this bed and into that shower and you’re going to face everyone.’

‘Is ... is Max really cross? Have ... have I ruined everything? Is ... is he going to dump me?’

‘No, no, and I doubt it very much,’ Jess said. ‘He seems in a very good mood and he’s been chatting to Ben without the slightest hint of embarrassment so I don’t think he’s cross.

‘Then ... why isn’t he here?’

‘Because he thought you’d need a bit of a lie-in and he didn’t want Lily to wake you up,’ Susie said.’

‘Oh,’ Becky whimpered.

‘Don’t be pathetic Becky Cooper. You’ve faced almost certain death at gunpoint, danced on tables, exposed your sex life to the world, after accusing your boyfriend of trying to drown you; you can handle this.’

‘I’m glad you find it so amusing, Jess.’

‘Oh I do. And not just me either. I think I can safely say the entire village will have heard about it by now. Now get up and get in the shower.’

Becky didn’t know how she managed to stand up let alone get showered and dressed but she did. She heard the door open just as she was bending down to tighten the buckle of her sandals and thought Jess and Susie had come back for her.

‘For heaven’s sake can’t you leave me in peace for five minutes!’ she snapped. ‘I’m coming!’

‘It’s a good thing the vicar didn’t hear you say that,’ Max drawled.

Becky’s head shot up. He was leaning against the doorframe, his arms folded in front of him and his legs crossed casually at his ankles. His blond hair was dishevelled and his face was tanned from the sun. Little flecks of gold dust danced in his green eyes and his generous mouth was curved into a grin.

‘Max!’ she shrieked. Inwardly praying that he still loved her just a little bit.

‘The very same,’ he said still leaning against the frame, ‘and no longer just a demigod but also a sex god now it seems – at least, that’s what the entire village of Beckleston is saying this morning – or words to that effect.’

She lowered her head in shame but couldn’t find the words to apologise.

‘And for someone who told me they never dance on tables, your performance was extremely, shall we say, professional – until you fell off, that is.’

‘Okay Max. I get it. I behaved appallingly. I embarrassed you, the vicar, your mum, everyone it seems and I ruined Lizzie and Jack’s wedding. I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say.’ She stood up straight even though she felt as if she were on board a ship. ‘I’ll make sure there are no problems with the wedding brunch and then I’ll leave.’

She was trying to be brave. He clearly didn’t love her anymore. She’d humiliated and disappointed him and he was angry. He had every right to be.

She headed towards the door but he barred her way.

‘Leave?’ he repeated. ‘Why would you want to leave?’

‘Because you’re clearly disgusted and ... and cross – and you have every right to be, I’m not suggesting you don’t. All I can say in my defence is that the incident with the gun scared the life out of me and I had a few drinks to calm my nerves and then I had a few more. I’ve never behaved like that in my life and ... what’s the point? You obviously don’t love me anymore after what I did –’

She was in his arms before she had even seen him move and he was kissing her passionately.

‘More hot sex Max?’ Phil said as he approached the open doorway from his room along the hall.

Max lifted his head but still held her firmly in his arms. He grinned at Phil. ‘I hope so,’ he said, ‘tell the vicar we may be some time will you?’

‘Sure thing,’ Phil said grinning, ‘morning Becky.’

‘Now, where were we?’Max said.

‘Wait! Aren’t ... aren’t you angry with me?’

‘Do I look angry with you?’ he leant forward.

‘Hold on. I told Lizzie about Kim. I got drunk. I danced on the table. I ... I told everyone about our ... sex life – again. I ... what else did I do?’

Max grinned. ‘Wasn’t that enough for you?’

‘Yes! I mean no! I mean. I didn’t mean to do any of it. I really didn’t. So ...  you’re not angry? Not even a little bit?’

His lips brushed hers. ‘No. Not even a little bit.’

‘But just now, you were leaning against the door as if ...’

‘As if ...? he prompted.

She shook her head. ‘I don’t know.’

‘I was leaning against the door thinking how incredibly beautiful you are and trying to stop myself from ravaging you because, unfortunately, we need to be downstairs in fifteen minutes and what I had in mind will take a lot, lot longer than that.’

‘Oh!’ she said raising her eyes to his.

‘Oh indeed.’

‘You’re really not angry? You ... you still love me?’

He lifted her chin with his fingers. ‘Why would I be angry? My girlfriend loves me so much that she is willing to throw herself in front of what she believes is a loaded gun to save me, she dances like a professional and she has the entire village convinced I’m a sex god. On the whole, I’d say I’m a lucky man. Now come along Fifi, your public awaits.’

She hadn’t expected to be tarred and feathered exactly but she had expected at least someone to say something unpleasant – which she would have understood. She deserved it after her behaviour. Margaret should be just a little bit annoyed that her son’s girlfriend behaved so badly and in front of so many people too. Lizzie and Jack should be cross that she’d made a spectacle of herself on their big day. The vicar should be shocked, at the very least. She took a deep breath and with her hand in Max’s, she stepped out onto the terrace where everyone had congregated for coffee and biscuits.