The Wedding Invite (Lakeview) (Lakeview Contemporary Romance Book 6) (11 page)

T
angerine Praline
, Cerise Au Kirsh, Gianduji or Irish Mist Truffle – which to choose? The luscious selection of handmade chocolates, the scent of which wafted heavily throughout the air, was almost sinful.

Laura eventually made her choice, and along with cup of steaming hot chocolate, she nabbed an empty table in Butlers Chocolate Cafe. She took a sip of her beverage, and shivered deliciously as the decadent, mouth-watering aroma filled her nostrils.

Pure indulgence.

Laura sat back comfortably in her seat. Nicola, who was on a diet, would murder Helen for choosing this café as a meeting-place. The three had arranged to meet up for pre-wedding shopping in the city, but the girls were so far running late. As Laura’s bridesmaid, Nicola didn’t need anything other than shoes, but Helen needed a hat, dress, bag, shoes – the works. Laura had also asked Helen to be her bridesmaid, but Helen had immediately refused, offering Kerry instead as flowergirl. She obviously had her own reasons for the refusal, and Laura didn’t mind all that much, but it would have been nice to have her two best friends with her on the day. Laura also had her younger sister, but she and Cathy had little in common, and had never been particularly close.

So today they were shopping for Helen, and if she needed something there was no stopping her until she got it – and inevitably, a whole lot more. Boy, could Helen Jackson shop. Laura had always enjoyed shopping with her; she always made it seem so exciting, and was able to hunt out these fantastic little boutiques that only a select few knew existed. And of course, she had such great taste.

Laura stared out of the window at the busy street.

“Hey, what are you dreaming about?”

She looked up to see Helen, Kerry and a smiling Nicola approach their table. Nicola had a bundle of magazines under her left arm.

“Page 22,” she said with a grin, tossing a copy of
Mode
magazine on the table, “and
now
I know what they mean about the camera adding ten pounds. I look like a whale in that one.” She gave Helen a sideways glance. “And arranging to meet in a place like this
isn’t
going to help. Oh, is that a Tangerine Praline – thanks.” Nicola winked and popped one of Laura’s chocolates into her mouth.

“Hi, Auntie Law-law,” Kerry grinned up at Laura, her wide brown eyes twinkling with fun. Her blonde curls were tied back in a high ponytail, and she looked the epitome of cute, dressed as she was in pink dungarees and a tiny denim jacket. Laura grinned back. Kerry was becoming so like Helen it was unbelievable.

Laura studied her friend enviously. How did Helen manage to look so amazing all the time? Today, she had tied her blonde hair in a casual knot, and wore a caramel belted leather jacket, knee-length denim skirt and highly fashionable, but, Laura thought, dangerously high-heeled tan and caramel suede boots. Laura wouldn’t be able to walk ten yards in those boots, and she definitely wouldn’t get very far before people started pointing and laughing at her short legs, and tree-trunk thighs. But on Helen’s slender frame and long legs, the outfit was stunning. Laura felt as she always did in Helen’s presence: dowdy and inconsequential.

Kerry held her arms out, and Laura lifted her up onto her lap. “Hi, darling. Were you and Mummy shopping today?”

Kerry nodded, looking happily at her mother.

“And what did you buy?”

The child paused and took a deep breath. “B-b-b-b …” Kerry screwed up her face, and Laura’s heart went out to her. “Baawbeee!” she finished delightedly.

“A new Barbie,” Helen clarified, sardonically, “to go with the other two hundred she has at home.”

Laura looked at her and wondered, not for the first time, why Helen was so impatient with the child. When Kerry eventually got her words out right, she looked immediately to her mother for approval – approval that was rarely forthcoming.

Helen removed her jacket and went to order coffee, while Laura and Nicola pored over the long-awaited Motiv8 feature.

“Well, what do you think?” Nicola asked with a broad grin, leaving no one in any doubts about her own opinion on the article.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Laura said. “You look wonderful in the photograph and this will be terrific publicity for the centre.”

Nicola gleefully rubbed both hands together. “I know. It worked out a lot better than I expected and luckily they didn’t use any full-length photos. I told you what that journalist said to me, didn’t I?”

Laura nodded. She knew that some people could just be thoughtless but others could be downright ignorant. Nicola was fantastic at her job and no one had any right to make her feel bad about herself.

“I hate that photograph of me in the office, but the one of reception looks great, doesn’t it?”

Laura smiled. For all her talk about the feature being more hassle than it was worth, she could see that Nicola was really pleased with the way the article had turned out, and rightly so. Things were going very well for her now – so much so that despite the initial shock of finding out about Dan’s new marriage, Nicola had apparently taken the news in her stride. She was obviously long past letting Dan’s actions get to her, Laura thought, and rightly so.

“I’m just so glad it’s over and done with,” Nicola said, referring to the article. “I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive about the whole thing, but I think it’s worked out quite well. At least now, I can concentrate on getting the client numbers up, and that should certainly help.”

“Absolutely.” Helen appeared, laden down with a tray, and looking tired and harassed-looking. “As soon as they read this, people will be clambering for membership. You and Ken will be fighting them off. Speaking of which, how
is
the gorgeous Mr Harris these days?”

Nicola beamed. “Great, he was asking about the two of you, actually – and Neil of course. We’ll have to organise a night out together soon.”

Laura smiled. Ken was such a dote and so perfect for Nicola. It was funny, she thought, remembering – for ages before he and Nicola got together,
Helen
had had her eye on him. But apparently Ken had no interest, despite Nicola’s attempts to set them up. Laura thought it was a terrible thing to be thinking, but she felt mildly gratified that not
every
man fell under Helen’s spell.

“So where will we go first today?” she asked.

“Stephen’s Green Centre maybe?” Helen suggested, looking at Nicola.

She made a face. “Too many escalators.”

“OK then, I suppose we’ll just hop in and out of the shops on Grafton St. Laura, tell us, what do you have to get?”

“Nothing really,” she answered. “I just thought I’d tag along with you two, and maybe check out some of the competition in the accessories stores.”

“Good idea.” Helen took the milk jug out of Kerry’s reach. “While you’re at it, maybe you could pitch your stuff to some of the craft shops, or the gift stores.”

Laura’s heart raced. She didn’t think she was ready for that just yet.

“Are you feeling nervous about the wedding?” Nicola asked, obviously sensing Laura’s reticence. “It’s only two months now till D-Day.”

“Stop it, it’s still ages away yet. And no, I’m not feeling the tiniest bit nervous. I love Neil and I can’t wait to marry him.”

Nicola smiled. “Good for you.”

“I’ve always thought that whole ‘Big Day’ palaver was a bit silly,” Helen said airily. “If you don’t know by now, you never will. Kerry, will you
please
stop messing with that.” She snatched the milk jug out of Kerry’s grasp.

“I thought
I
knew,” Nicola said softly, “but I was wrong, wasn’t I?”

Helen exchanged nervous looks with Laura. “I’m so sorry,” she said quickly, wiping Kerry’s wet hands with a tissue. “I didn’t mean that … I just didn’t think.”

“You made the right decision in the end, Nicola – don’t forget that,” Laura added, seeing Nicola’s troubled expression, and wondering if she might have been wrong in her earlier assessment of her friend’s reaction to the news of Dan’s new marriage.

“Did I?” she replied, with a watery smile. “I can’t help wondering that maybe we should have paid more attention to our wedding vows.”

“Nicola . . .”

“I know, I know, it was a long time ago.” She smiled but her eyes told a different story. “Sorry, Laura, I hope I’m not putting you off marriage altogether.”

“Of course not.” Laura patted her hand. “We know how hard it was for you and Dan back then.”

“For Dan?” Helen exclaimed, outraged. It was common knowledge that Helen had always thought there was nothing wrong with Dan Hunt that couldn’t be fixed with a large brick to the head.

“Forget it,” Nicola said, lightly. “It’s all over and done with now.”

She smiled, but Laura noticed her face tighten. She had definitely been wrong – the situation with Dan had affected Nicola a lot more than she had let on. There was no point in trying to discuss this when Helen was around, so Laura sat back in her chair and made a mental note to get her friend on her own, sooner rather than later.

“So how are the plans for LCD going?” Helen asked brightly, using her acronym for Laura’s business. “Did that computer guy work out?”

Laura nodded. Despite her initial misgivings about Laura’s plans, Helen had been terrific in helping her source a reliable CAD software developer. While pencil drawings would suffice for the moment, Laura eventually hoped to use 3D computer technology for her more ambitious designs.

“So, all systems go for the big launch, then?”

“Well, there’s no launch as such. I’ll be open for business next week, and everything is pretty much in place.” She beamed. “My parents are coming over tonight to see my workshop.”

“That’s great, I must come over and have a look myself. For goodness sake Kerry, can you not sit still for one second?” Helen snapped, as Kerry got out of her seat, and went towards Nicola.

“Helen, relax, she’s fine,” Nicola soothed, stroking Kerry’s silky blonde curls.

“She’s
not
fine. Kerry, I’m warning you – sit
down
.” Helen’s last sentence was uttered with such emphasis that people at the surrounding tables turned to see what the ruckus was about.

Helen stood up, and wrenched Kerry away from Nicola. “Look, you two do what you have to do, and I’ll organise to come out on my own some other time.”

“Helen, don’t be silly, she’s no trouble.” Laura was astonished. “She’s just excited to see us, that’s all.”

“I’m s-s-s-solly, Mummy.” Kerry bottom lip began to stick out, and she looked genuinely contrite. “I w-w-w-wanna go w-w-w-with you and – ”

“Forget it, missy. I told you to be good, I told you that we had a lot to do today for Auntie Laura’s wedding, and that you had to be a good girl, but did you listen? No.”

Laura gave Nicola a look of mild shock. Helen was often strict with Kerry, but this was going overboard.

“Helen, please calm down,” Nicola urged. “She’s only a child.”

But Helen couldn’t be persuaded. “I’m sorry,” she said to Laura. “I’ll ring you sometime during the week to see how you’re getting on. Maybe then we can talk in peace.” She roughly fixed a by-then tearful Kerry into her buggy, and lobbing her bag over her shoulder, walked resolutely out of the café, leaving Nicola and Laura looking at one another in shock.

“I don’t know what’s got into her lately,” said Nicola at last, “but whatever it is, she shouldn’t take it out on Kerry.”

Laura nodded. “I wouldn’t mind, but compared to some children, Kerry isn’t at all bold. In fact, for her age, she’s very well behaved. My sister’s two lads – now they’re another story altogether, constantly hanging out of her, moaning for this and that. And most of the time you can’t hear yourself for their chattering and questions.”

Nicola looked thoughtful. “Cathy’s two are about – what? Three, three and a half?”

“Three last February, why?”

“Well, when did you ever hear Kerry chattering about anything?”

“But that’s because the poor thing can’t get the words out properly.”

“And why do you suppose that is?”

Laura shrugged. “It’s just one of those things.”

“I’m not so sure about that. Look, I’m not suggesting that she’s a bad mother or anything but …”

“She doesn’t exactly encourage Kerry by the way she talks to her,” Laura finished. “I know, I’ve often thought that too.”

“But she doesn’t talk to her, she talks
at
her. It’s all ‘Kerry don’t do this, don’t do that’. She seems to be constantly chastising the child. I don’t think I’ve ever actually heard her talk
with
Kerry.”

“Yes, but you don’t know what she’s like at home. I’m sure they have lots of time together.” Although she partly agreed with Nicola, Laura didn’t want to criticise Helen too severely. “In fairness, I’m sure it’s pretty difficult bringing her up on her own. There’s no one to consult with, and no one else to share the work.”

“Laura, as single mothers go, Helen has it easier than most. She has her own apartment, an excellent salary, a reliable childminder and no shortage of friends who are only too willing to help out if needed.”

“Yes, but it’s very easy for us to talk. I know I wouldn’t like to be in Helen’s position,” she said, thinking how lonely it must be. “You said a while ago she was seeing someone – is that still on?”

Nicola shook her head. “She told me that he was good fun, but in the end they weren’t suited. Ah, she’s just too damned fussy.”

Laura looked up, surprised. “Do you think that’s it?”

“Of course! Think about it, Laura – of all the guys she’s been out with since Jamie left, every single one of them had some kind of fault. Either he was too young, too old, too short, too tall, too bald, too hairy …”

Laura laughed. “Maybe you’re right. It’ll take something special to satisfy our Helen.”

“Jimmy Choo possibly?” Nicola grinned and drained her coffee cup.

“Maybe,” Laura sat forward, her mind on something else. “Listen Nic, you haven’t really said anything since, so I don’t know if you want to talk about it but …”

“The Dan thing?”