The Wedding Invite (Lakeview) (Lakeview Contemporary Romance Book 6) (27 page)

T
hat night
, Nicola and Ken arrived at Laura’s at quarter to eight, Ken clutching a bottle of wine and a multi-pack of Pringles.

“
Ken,
” Laura eyed him when they joined her in the kitchen. “You brought crisps?”

“What? I just thought we might be hungry later, that’s all.” He winked at Neil who was trying his best to stifle a grin.

“Thanks a million. And here’s me slaving over a hot stove all day.”

“I know,” Nicola teased. “That’s exactly why we brought the crisps.”

“Seriously, Laura, don’t mind us – the food smells great,” Ken said, sniffing the air approvingly. “When do we eat?”

“Not until Helen and the Famous Paul get here, I’m afraid,” Laura answered. “But I told Helen dinner was at eight, so I’m sure they won’t be too much longer.”

“Is Kerry coming too?” Nicola asked.

“No, one of Helen’s neighbours is looking after her tonight.” To Laura’s relief, that same neighbour had also been obliging enough to collect Kerry from school the last few days, leaving her free to prepare for the exhibition. She couldn’t help wondering whether or not this poor woman knew what she was getting herself into by being roped into doing one of Helen’s ‘favours’.

“Oh, so we’re not the only misfortunates at her beck and call then,” Nicola said, her tone disapproving, as she removed her jacket. “Still, I can’t wait to get a look at this Paul. Things must be pretty serious there – when was the last time Helen introduced us to one of her playthings?”

“
Play
things?” Ken repeated sardonically. “That’s what we’re reduced to these days, is it? God be with the days when ye women couldn’t do a thing without us. Now we’re practically redundant.”

“Not quite,” Laura said, face red as she struggled with a large pot of steaming vegetables. “Neil, is there any chance you could pour some wine for our guests, please? I have my hands full here,” she added pointedly. Still wound up from her conversation with Cathy earlier, and unused to cooking for more than two people, Laura couldn’t keep the frustration out of her tone.

“Oh, sorry, love, we’d better get out of your way,” Neil said, having earlier picked up on his wife’s unusually low spirits. “Guys, I’ll open a bottle and we’ll leave the missus alone to get on with the important stuff.” He gave Laura an encouraging wink and, bottle in hand, led the others through to the dining-room.

“You OK?” Nicola asked.

Laura looked around and almost automatically felt guilty. She was sure Nicola had followed the others into the living-room.

“I’m fine,” she answered shakily, “just a little hot and bothered with all this cooking.”

Nicola looked at her. “Nervous about the exhibition, huh?”

Laura smiled. “You could say that.” Nicola had a knack of hitting the nail on the head. Despite her fighting talk earlier, she
was
feeling nervous about the Crafts Exhibition. To Laura this was make or break for the business. If her designs didn’t go down well or she didn’t pick up some new customers, well … well, then it was all over. She hadn’t had to think about it that much before the wedding but now, when there was nothing else to think about …

“Oh, I’ll be fine,” she said. “After all, I’ve had plenty of time to get ready for this.”

Nicola smiled encouragingly. “It doesn’t happen overnight, you know,” she said. Laura’s stomach gave a nervous flip. Sometimes Nicola was too damn perceptive for her own good. She had obviously seen through Laura’s false bravado these last few months – she had known that all wasn’t well. Yet, Nicola had never pushed it, had never said a thing because she knew that Laura wouldn’t want to admit it out loud that the business might be a failure. She suddenly felt very grateful to her friend.

“I know that,” she said, “and I always told myself that I’d give it a shot, and if it didn’t take off, well … at least I tried.” She gave a watery smile. “But nobody told me it would be this hard to admit defeat.”

“Hey, what’s all this ‘admitting defeat’ business?” Nicola said cheerfully. “It hasn’t been all that long – you have to give it time.”

Laura looked at her. “I think you and I both know that maybe I didn’t think this through properly. Helen was right – I’m just not the right type of person for this kind of thing.”

“Laura,” Nicola put a hand on her arm, “please don’t tell me you’re thinking of throwing in the towel – not after everything you’ve done.”

“But that’s exactly it. I haven’t done
anything
. A few orders a week from the internet and the odd bit of interest from the shops – it’s hardly setting the business world on fire, is it?”

“It’s something,” Nicola countered, “not to mention something to be proud of. Don’t lose faith in your abilities, Laura, and don’t write yourself off just yet.”

“I suppose I’ll just have to see how the exhibition goes.” Suddenly, Laura didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

“It’ll be fine. To be honest, I think part of the problem is publicity. Your product is great – you just haven’t had enough exposure.”

“Thanks, Nic,” Laura smiled.

“Um, Laura?” Nicola sniffed the air, and gestured towards the oven. “I think your roasties might be ready.”

“Oh no!” Laura opened the oven door and a thick blanket of smoke rushed out. She looked at Nicola in dismay, her cheeks reddening with annoyance. “Nicola, I think now would be a good time to join the others,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Yes, Mammy.” Nicola sped off, anxious to make a quick exit.

“And Nicola?” Laura called.

“Yes?”

“Do you think Sour Cream & Onion Pringles would make a decent substitute for roast potatoes?”

“With lamb?” Nicola grinned. “They’ll be absolutely perfect.”

“Good, and I hope Helen and this Paul guy won’t be too much longer,” Laura said, taking a fistful of crisps and trying to calm herself. “I’m absolutely starving.”

An hour and a quarter later, they were still waiting, Ken and Neil having hungrily demolished the crisps between them.

“I’ve tried Helen’s mobile and there’s no signal,” Laura said, trying to suppress her annoyance. The lamb would be like rubber at this stage.

“They’re probably just running late,” Neil said, his tone soothing.

“If they’re running late, the least she could have done is phoned,” Nicola said, her irritation palpable. “But of course that would mean Helen thinking about someone other than herself, wouldn’t it?”

“She’ll be here,” Ken said, giving his girlfriend a warning look. “There’s no point in our –”

A loud shrill of the doorbell cut short the remainder of his sentence.

“That’s them,” Laura said, getting to her feet. “Neil, can you get that, and I’ll get the starters?”

“Sure.” Neil hopped up to answer the door.

Seconds later, Helen joined Laura in the kitchen. Laura thought she looked amazing, with her blonde hair swinging freely around her shoulders, and dressed in a stunning black beaded dress, the material clinging faintly to her curves – what few there were.

“Hi,” Helen said happily, moving forward to give her a hug. “Everything nearly ready here? I’m famished.”

Laura was taken aback at this casual greeting and barely returned it. She had expected an apology, or at the very least some kind of excuse as to why Helen was over an hour late. “What kept you?” she asked. “And where’s Paul?”

Helen beamed. “Outside showing Neil his new Audi. The two of them seem to have hit it off already, thank goodness.”

Laura bit her tongue. “Well, go on in and join the others. Dinner might not be great after being kept this long,” she added pointedly, “but I know they’re all so hungry they won’t care –”

“What?” Helen interjected, her eyes wide with alarm. “What others?”

“Well, Ken and Nicola of course,” Laura said, puzzled.

“
What
? You didn’t tell me
they
were coming. I thought it was just the four of us – you, Neil, me and Paul.”

“What’s the problem? Did you and Nicola have an argument or something?” Laura asked, puzzled.

“No, nothing like that – it’s just …” Helen bit her lip and looked decidedly panicked.

“What is it, Helen?”

She took a deep breath. “It’s just … I kinda haven’t yet told Paul about Kerry, and I was hoping you and Neil might do me a favour by not mentioning her tonight.”

“
What?”

Helen grimaced. “I know I know, it’s stupid. It’s just we haven’t been going out very long and the subject never came up and –”

“The subject never came up? Helen, she’s your daughter,” Laura was incredulous. “That’s so unfair. To Kerry
and
to Paul. And he was bound to find out sooner or later. What did you think would happen then?”

“Laura, I thought I’d cross that bridge when I came to it –”

“That’s crazy.”

“I know, I know. It’s high time I told him but I’m just not ready yet. I really thought it would be just you and Neil tonight and I was so sure you would …”

“Help keep it a secret for you?” Laura finished, shaking her head in wonder at Helen’s unbelievable silliness, not to mention downright cheek at expecting her to lie on her behalf. She shook her head. “Look, Helen, you’d better take him aside now and let him know, otherwise –”

“But I can’t just drop it on him all of a sudden!” Helen cried, and then her voice dropped sharply to a whisper, as she remembered that the others were in the next room. “Not when we’re in company – it wouldn’t be fair.”

“But you must. What about Nicola and Ken? And Neil? They’re bound to talk about Kerry tonight.”

“Oh, what will I do? Should I talk to Nicola . . . ask her not to . . . ?”

“Sooner you than me. You can imagine how Nicola would react to that. But go ahead – ”

She stopped dead, as just then the door to the dining-room opened. Helen had her back to the doorway and appeared not to notice.

“Do you need help with anything here, Laura?” Nicola asked easily, and Helen nearly jumped ten feet off the ground.

“Nicola – hi.” she said, her tone high-pitched.

“I see you’ve finally decided to honour us with your presence then.”

Helen smiled warily. “Um, yes, Paul was working late and …” she trailed off as they heard voices in the hallway and footsteps approach the kitchen.

“Laura’s just in here,” they heard Neil say, and Laura felt her breath catch as, just behind Neil, the most stunning man she had ever seen entered the room. Long hair, sculpted cheekbones, piercing slate-grey eyes – lucky old Helen.

“Hey” Paul said in a distinct American twang. “Glad you guys didn’t start the party without us!”

Nice, Laura thought. No apology, no excuse, just ‘Hey!’

“This is my good friend Laura –” A clearly flustered Helen made the introductions, glancing meaningfully at Laura as she did so. “And this is Nicola.”

“Hello, Paul. Nice to meet you,” Laura said, smiling warmly at him.

“Good to be here, Laura.” He grinned back at Laura, his smile faltering as he turned to Nicola who gave him a curt nod.

“Glad you could make it –” Laura said, and couldn’t help adding, “eventually.”

“Paul was working late,” Helen offered quickly, by way of explanation. “So, by the time he got to my place, and then of course our little detour …”

“I got a bit lost on the way,” Paul admitted bashfully.

“In the metropolis that is Ballinteer?” Neil asked, winking at Laura.

“Well, I tried to give him directions but you know what men are like,” Helen batted her eyelids playfully at the two men present.

“Hey” Neil piped up, rising to her bait. “I’ll have you know that men are proven to be much better orienteers … orientators … what’s the right word again, Paul?”

“Exactly my point,” Helen jibed. “You know what men are like.” She ducked giddily as Neil aimed a tea towel at her.

“Can everyone go inside and sit down now?” Laura said testily, deliberately refusing to make eye contact with Helen though she could feel her anxious gaze fixed on her. At Laura’s words, Nicola had promptly headed back to the dining-room, thereby robbing Helen of any chance to have a private word with her. Out of the corner of her eye, Laura saw Neil put a friendly arm around Helen’s shoulders and usher her out of the kitchen in Paul’s wake.

Laura was now seriously annoyed. Not only had Helen landed her in another dreadful situation, but she was sick to the teeth of her friend’s incessant flirting with her husband. It was the same every time Helen called to pick up Kerry. Laura knew that her friend just couldn’t help herself – get her within two yards of a man and she was batting her eyelids as if she was in a sandstorm, and wiggling her backside like Kylie Minogue – even in her present state of tension.

After taking a minute to try and calm herself, Laura began carrying the first course into the dining-room.

”So, are you a farmer or a forester or something, Paul?” Nicola was asking.

Paul looked at Nicola as if she was on drugs or something. “No why?”

“Well, seeing as you were working late, I suppose I just wondered why you couldn’t get to a phone.”

Ken nudged her chair beneath the table, and Helen shot her a venomous look.

“Paul misheard the time. He thought I said dinner was at
nine
o’clock.”

Paul gave Helen a quick glance, which suggested he thought anything but.

“Well, look, we’re all here now, anyway,” Laura said, trying to relieve the obvious tension. “Now get stuck in before it all goes cold.”

“Great,” Paul rubbed his hands together. “I’m starving, haven’t eaten a thing all day and I’ll tell you this, I have one hell of an appetite.” He winked at Helen.

“Good thing we waited for you then, isn’t it?” Nicola said sweetly enough but, to anyone who knew her, her voice was tinged with sarcasm.

Laura rolled her eyes. It was going to be a long night.

N
icola sat
and watched the gorgeous Paul wolf down his lamb as if he had never eaten before in his life. Ass. What did Helen see in him? OK, that was fairly obvious: he was bloody fantastic-looking. But still. He was as artificial as you could get. And where did he think he was going with the American accent? All ‘hey’ and ‘wow’ and ‘guys’ this, ‘guys’ that.

“So, Paul, where are you from?” she asked innocently.

He wiped the side of his mouth with a napkin. “Cork.”

“Oh.”

Helen shot Nicola another look, knowing exactly what she was getting at. “Paul spends a lot of time abroad on business,” she explained.

“What you do?” Ken asked him.

Paul looked pleased to be asked. “I’m an investment advisor – pensions, stocks, bonds – things like that. We advise our customers on how best to invest their extra cash.”

“He’s given me fantastic advice,” Helen trilled. “Now I know exactly what to do with my money.”

“Oh, are shoes considered a valid form of investment these days?” Neil teased, and Helen made a face at him. Grinning, he got to his feet. “I’ll get some more wine, will I?”

“I’ll get dessert.” Laura shuffled out to the kitchen with him, leaving the others alone at the table.

Nicola thought it odd that, despite her earlier enthusiasm about her new man, Helen seemed rather tense and uncomfortable at the table tonight. Every time Paul opened his mouth to say something, Nicola noticed that her friend’s eyes kept darting here and there as if she was afraid he might not make a good impression on everyone. And any time the others opened their mouths, Helen all but started, as if nervous of what they might say. She supposed she might have been a bit unfair to her, really – it had evidently taken a lot for Helen to work up the courage to introduce him to her friends and, looking at her now, it was obvious she was anxious they all get along. For her friend’s sake, she should try and get on with him.

“So, you two have been seeing one another for a while now?” Nicola injected some enthusiasm into her voice.

“Yes, and she’s one hell of a babe.” Paul looked at Helen with real devotion, something Nicola hadn’t seen anyone other than Kerry do in a long, long time. Yes, men loved Helen; men had
always
loved Helen but usually didn’t have a hope once her friend decided they weren’t up to standard.

Might Paul actually be the right one for Helen, the one to banish the ghost of Jamie for good? For her friend’s sake, Nicola hoped so. It would be terrific if Helen could finally find someone for her and Kerry to love.

Speaking of which …

“So have you met Kerry?” she asked Paul, just as Laura and Neil returned from the kitchen. Laura’s eyes widened, and she shot a look at Helen who, horrified, was sitting ram-rod straight in her chair, her eyes meeting Laura’s for support, inspiration, anything.

Paul looked blankly at Nicola. “Kerry?”

She watched him curiously. “Well, of course, Helen’s –”

“
Dog,
” Helen cried out.

Paul turned to her, his mouth full. “What?”

“My dog,” she said again, and Nicola stared at her, shocked. “Kerry’s my dog, a Kerry Blue, lovely little thing, I’ve had her for years.” Helen gave an apparently carefree little laugh but her eyes told a different story. “Oh right.” Paul laughed too. “You never mentioned a dog before.”

Nicola turned resolutely towards the kitchen, her mouth set in a thin angry line. “Helen?” she barked. “Let’s get the coffees and give Laura a little break.”

She heard Ken and Neil engage Paul in mindless chatter, anything it seemed to relieve the tension. But apparently Paul had noticed nothing amiss.

Alone with Nicola in the kitchen, Helen was shamefaced. “Look, he doesn’t know, I haven’t got around to it yet.” She studied a piece of carrot that had fallen on the ground. “I didn’t expect you and Ken to be here this evening and –”

“You haven’t got
round
to it yet?” Nicola repeated. “Helen what the hell does that mean? You’ve been going out with this man what, nearly four months, and you’ve just told him that your daughter –” Helen winced, and looked back towards the dining-room, presumably hoping that Paul couldn’t hear, “yes, your
daughter,
Helen, is a – a
dog
. What the hell were you thinking?”

“Nicola, please, I know, I’m sorry – it was the first thing I could thing of –”

“First thing you could think of? Helen, why should you
have
to think of anything? Why didn’t you tell him the truth? That Kerry is a sweet, loving child, the most important thing in your life, the most precious thing in all of our lives.”

And it was true. Kerry was the child that Nicola had never had, that she might never have and she loved that little girl with all her heart. And as far as she knew, Laura felt the same. The two of them had been there for Helen and for Kerry through thick and thin, and Nicola knew that if she had to, she would fight to the death for Kerry. If she felt this way, then how could the child’s mother, her own
mother,
deny her like that?

“Nicola, please, I know it was awful! And I really didn’t mean for this to happen but I wasn’t prepared for … I just …” Helen shook her head sadly. “I know it was stupid and I feel so guilty about not telling him, really I do.” Her eyes brimmed with tears. “But you don’t understand, you don’t know how it is. You don’t know what it’s like trying to find someone, someone decent and nice and – and I’m just afraid that if I tell him about Kerry it’ll all be ruined. Men run a mile when they hear about Kerry. I don’t want that to happen this time. You don’t understand – I really
like
Paul.”

At this Nicola felt a familiar rage rise within her, something she hadn’t felt in a long, long time. She took a deep breath, and struggled to remember every piece of advice she had ever heard about anger management. She began to count to twenty but didn’t even reach five.
‘I really like Paul.’

Her face hard, Nicola looked one of her oldest friends straight in the eye.

“Helen, you are a selfish cow.” She spoke slowly, pronouncing each word clearly and precisely.

“What?” Helen stared at her, dazed. “What did you call me?”

“I called you a selfish cow.” She couldn’t believe Helen’s selfishness, her callousness, her blatant cruelty towards her own child. Kerry adored Helen, looked up to her, would do anything for her.

Helen’s back straightened. “Nicola, you’re my friend. I know you’re angry but believe me that is the one reason – the
only
reason I am taking this from you.”

“The
only
reason?” Nicola went on. “The only reason, huh?”

“Yes.” Helen amazingly seemed to be keeping her calm.

The two woman glared at one another, barely noticing as Laura quietly entered the room.

“Are you sure it’s the only reason, Helen?” Nicola went on. “Because I’m such a good friend? Or is because I know what you’re really like?”

“Girls, don’t …” Laura was soothing.

Helen frowned. “What I’m really like? What is that supposed to mean?”

“You know damn well what I’m talking about and don’t pretend that you don’t.”

“Nicola, I don’t know where all of this is coming from but –”

“No, of course you don’t, Helen. You don’t know where this is coming from because you’re so consumed in your own little life, you’re so immersed in what’s happening with
you,
that you don’t know or
care
what’s going on around you, do you?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking
not
just about denying your own child in front of your new – new boyfriend, but denying on her on a regular basis. If you’re not dumping her on me, you’re dumping her on Laura, who goodness knows has had enough to contend with these last few months between planning a wedding and setting up a new business without having to look after a four-year-old.”

“Helen, it’s OK, I don’t mind having Kerry –” Laura began.

“But you don’t care about what Laura has to contend with, do you, Helen?” Nicola went on as though Laura hadn’t spoken. “As long as she serves your purpose, you don’t give a damn. And she’s just too nice and too
loyal
a friend to tell you to stuff it. She’s too good to you and you and I both know you don’t deserve that.”

“Anything else?” Helen said, her hand on her hip.

“Well, now that you say it, yes there is. Kerry needs her mother’s attention, she needs you to help her with her speech, she needs you to listen to her. You know that – the speech therapist has advised what you need to do. But you don’t give a hoot about that, do you? You don’t believe in helping people, you’d just prefer to bury your head in the sand and pretend it isn’t happening.”

Helen’s expression would have been same had Nicola slapped her across the face.

“That’s not true … I try my best, you have no idea how hard I try but it just doesn’t work –”

“It
is
true!” Nicola spoke over her. “That’s what you always do. You’re not there for Kerry, for your friends – anyone. Helen, we’ve all done our best for you over the years, and you’ve never been there for any of us. Quite the bloody opposite.”

“Oh, I get it now,” Helen began, her eyes hardening. “Now I know
exactly
what you’re getting at. It’s all coming out now, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it certainly is.” Nicola felt like she was on a runaway train. She was on dangerous ground but couldn’t stop herself – she just wanted to catch the silly wagon and shake her.

“Nicola, please calm down,” Laura beseeched.

“No, Laura, let her speak, let good old Nicola get it over and done with,” Helen interjected, glaring at Nicola. “So come on then, while you’re at it, why not get it
all
off your chest, why not have a good old dig at me – you haven’t done it for ages so go on.” Now Helen was in full flight, her voice high and artificial. “I know you’re dying to bring it up, you’ve been dying to bring it up again for years so why the hell don’t you?”

“Helen,
please
!” Laura implored.

“Alright then, seeing as you asked me, seeing as you seem to take some kind of sick pleasure in hearing it, then I
will
tell you straight out. Do you think I’m stupid? I
saw
you with Neil earlier and you just can’t help yourself, can you? Old habits die hard!”

Helen clapped her hands in fake applause and the two women stared angrily at one another. “That must have felt really good, did it, Nicola? All the old resentment coming home to roost. Just because I didn’t drop everything and come running when you wanted me to. Just because I made a mistake – a
single,
stupid mistake – something that could happen to anyone. Just because I wasn’t a candidate for best friend of the century. Then again,” she added bitterly, “I couldn’t possibly beat good old Laura for that particular prize.”

“Don’t be so bloody stupid.”

“For goodness sake,
will you two stop it!
”

In shock, the two women spun around to see Laura standing there, tears in her eyes.

“This is my home,” she pleaded, her hands held out in front of her. “This is my home.”

For a long, long moment a tension-filled hush descended on the kitchen.

Then Helen looked at Laura and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, Laura, I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, we didn’t mean … you don’t know what we were – ”

“What you were talking about?” Laura finished for her, her expression hard. “Of course I know what you were talking about, Helen. I’ve always known.”