Wildflowers (23 page)

Once I shed my paranoia that any minute all the flowers we’ve created are going to shrivel up and die in front of the guests, I start to enjoy myself.

After the second glass of champagne, a week’s worth of adrenaline is slowly dissipating and suddenly, I’m hit with this disembodied feeling as though I’m floating, even though I’m here in Roselin Castle hobnobbing with all these rich and famous people that Lulubelle keeps introducing me too.  Musicians, movie stars, directors… I’m surrounded by them everywhere I look.

I completely lose track of the time, though it’s dark by the time we’re called to dinner.  The path to the
teepee is lit by towering torches, just as Maria wanted and as we step inside, it’s magnificent, with candles and ivy and fairylights absolutely everywhere.

And
it was me who dreamed this up. I can’t help but feel quite proud.  The surreal feeling continues as I follow Lulubelle to our table, where I’m sitting between two guys from a band that everyone’s heard of.  I’m completely spoilt here, with Danny on my left and Micky on my right – and it’s clear, they both know Lulubelle.

‘How?’
I’m puzzled.

‘
Well, it kind of goes back to before Bella here packed it all in.  It’s time you came back, baby,’ Micky tells her.  ‘It’d be massive – we’re playing Glastonbury – you could like, come out on stage and surprise everyone!’

‘Oh wow – you should so do that,’ I tell her excitedly.  ‘Just imagine!  It would be so cool, Lulubelle…’

But even though she shakes her head, I see a flicker of something in her eyes.

‘So I’m guessing the band tonight might be interesting
,’ I say casually.

Danny and Micky grin at each other.  ‘Hope so
. Actually, might be
really
interesting…’

I have this feeling
then, they’re planning something. 

It’s official.  I no longer feel like a gatecrasher as in no time, Danny and Micky treat me like another old friend
, as does everyone else at our table.  I forget Auntie Gloria’s cynicism, I forget that I’m merely the florist, I drink the champagne, eat the gorgeous food and enjoy myself – but every so often, remind myself that I’m not at one of Honey’s dinner parties and must behave, though I have to say, as I look around, most of the guests are steadily getting rat-arsed.

After the speeches
, I look round to find Danny and Micky have disappeared, but not for long.  They reappear a short while later on the stage, just as the entire marquee is plunged into darkness.  Then as a myriad multicoloured fairy-lights twinkle above us all, the music starts.

The first dance is the song of Pete’s he played at the ball - Star Flight – and there’s a cheer as the bride and groom take to the floor.  Suddenly Alex is in my head
.  I can’t believe how vividly, as the music reminds me of dancing with him.  Then as it finishes, they up the tempo and suddenly everyone’s on their feet.

It’s as well I don’t have anyone to dance with
, because I’m fast running out of steam.  I’ve had about two hours sleep in as many days and it’s catching up with me.  But I don’t want to miss a second of this, especially when after several songs which end to rapturous applause, there’s a break and Danny takes the mike.

‘Thank you!’ he shouts
, to loud cheers.  ‘Thank you…’ and when the noise subsides, continues.

‘It’s a special night…’ 
More raucous cheers.  You can’t shut this lot up, it seems.  ‘And….’  He’s really winding everyone up.  ‘It’s about to get even more so, because I want to tell you a story…’

At last the cheers quieten.  ‘
Because, once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a beautiful princess… who lived in a castle and had such a magical life that everyone wanted to be her.  Anyway, something happened and the princess disappeared….’

It elicits huge cries of disappointment from the floor.

‘… and then, as if by magic, she was found again…’

He waits,
then holds up a bass guitar.

‘This is hers, by the way…’

Beside me, Lulubelle is rigid.  ‘Fuck,’ she mutters, the only time I’ve ever heard her use the word.  ‘I’ll fucking kill them…’

‘Bella?
  Bella Mac?’

If the cheers were loud before, this time they’re deafening and then it starts
, a chant, growing louder and louder.  ‘
Bella, Bella… Bella, Bella…
’

As she stands up, a spotlight finds her and I realise then it’s a set up.  It has to be, otherwise how would her old guitar be here, the spotlight ready to be trained on her…
and how did they know she’d agree?  But then, she’s grown up with all these people.  It’s not like performing to strangers and then I realise, she’s doing this for Pete.

I’m nervous for her, so nervous I’m shaking, but
I don’t need to be.  As she steps up on the stage, she looks as though she were born to be there.  Taking the guitar, she seems to morph into another being, one that belongs in this other world at which I can only wonder.

Danny and Micky appear either side
of her and the music starts up again and when Lulubelle joins in, I’m blown away.  The three of them together are just awesome and I can hardly believe that it’s my friend up there. 

Her voice brings a richness that wasn’t there before
and though she fumbles, just slightly, she’s incredible.

At the end, she smiles and it’s her who starts the next track. 
And suddenly I’m incredibly humbled.  I’m witnessing rock history here – only no-one will ever know, that Bella Mac came back, just once, to play at her father’s wedding.

At the end of this one, she calls out.  ‘I’m out of practice!  But thank you!  Dad
dy, Maria – this is for you.’

Nothing could have prepared me for what follows
.  Suddenly the band fades from the stage, leaving Lulubelle standing there alone holding Danny’s guitar.  Then she starts.  It’s the simplest rendition of Over the Rainbow I’ve ever heard.  It’s from the heart – sweet and haunting and when I see her eyes, I know she’s also singing for Cosmo.  As she finishes I can’t stop the tears streaming down my face as rapturous applause sweeps the room.

After it’s over, as the wild applause subsides, I watch Lulubelle stand there a moment longer, soaking it all up, then make her way back to our table, as friends grab her arm to reminisce about the good old days.

Eventually she makes it back though and she’s glowing.

‘Lulubelle
!  You were
AWESOME
…’  I shriek.

She
sits down, still buzzing.

‘
You should so do this again
,’ I’ve never been so excited in my life.  ‘Don’t pretend – you loved it!’

‘I did!’ 
She looks elated.  ‘It was amazing to be up there again… But it’s a one off, Frankie.  Everyone here knows Bella Mac – and away from here, with Cosmo so ill, I can’t explain but it’s different…’

I know it’s a decision she made some time ago. 

‘Maybe one day – just not yet.
  It isn’t the time.’

I hope Pete knows that she did it for him.  Then I hear his voice nearby and when I look round, he’s standing behind her, holding Maria’s hand.

‘
Babe…
Thank you…’ 
He envelopes her in the first hug in a long, long time.

‘Just returning a favour,’
she tells him, but we all know it’s not as simple as that.

‘Thank you, Lulubelle…’  Maria looks nervous – with good reason, given
what’s happened between them.  ‘It was beautiful.  It means so much…’

‘I’m really glad you liked it.’ 
Lulubelle smiles, then to my surprise she leans forward and plants a kiss on her cheek.

‘
Congratulations
…’  I hear Lulubelle say quietly to her, as the strangest emotions wash over me.

‘
Thank you
,’ she whispers. 

I was
right all along.  Weddings
are
madness – absolutely anything can happen.

After a weekend like that, my life will never be the same.  I sleep most of Sunday and on Monday, it’s business as usual.

As we drive over to Roselin Castle to clear up,
I bore Skye and Honey with all the details several times over – with the exception of Lulubelle being Bella Mac, because it’s her secret not mine and anyway, I have plenty of other stuff to tell them.

‘
I even sat with the band,’ I boast.  ‘You’d have been proud of me, Honey – I behaved impeccably.  They were
so
cool… and Maria looked out of this world.  Honestly, you wouldn’t believe it… and our flowers, of course, were just brilliant…’

I don’t hear from Josh, which surprises me.  I’m not expecting to get off scot free – but on Tuesday evening, just as I’m cooking my tea, there’s a knock on my door – quite a loud one.

When I open it,
there he is, clearly angry and it’s not a pretty sight.  I don’t invite him in.

‘Josh
… er, I wasn’t expecting you…’

‘I suppose you think that was funny,’ he snarls at me.  ‘Sending me off on a wild
bloody goose chase…’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I say coolly.

‘Maria Bristow’s wedding,’ he snaps, then stands there looking nasty.

‘Excuse me,’ I say slowly.  ‘
But you really do have a nerve.  Firstly, I wasn’t aware that her wedding was anything to do with you, Josh.  And secondly, it’s not my fault if people keep changing their minds, just because they want a tiny bit of privacy from the gutter press on one of the biggest days of their lives…’

H
is lips curl like a rotweiler’s as I say
gutter press
.  But he knows I’m right.

‘I’m in the middle of my tea – good-bye,’ I go to shut the door but he wedges his foot in the way, his face contorting into a strange expression as he struggles to control his fury.

‘You were there, weren’t you?’ he asks through gritted teeth.

‘What if I was?  It’s none of your business.’

‘If you had photos, I’d make it worth your while…’  It comes out sounding strangulated, as though it’s hurting him to ask.

‘You really are a low life,’ I say
quietly.  ‘Now go away, please.’

‘You fucked me about
, Frankie,’ he starts, this time sounding really angry.  Then he steps closer.  ‘First you lead me on, then you send me running all over the countryside… People like you really piss me off…’

Suddenly
I’m starting to feel frightened and like a dog scenting blood, he knows it.  He takes another step towards me.  But fortunately, just as he closes in for the kill, a car pulls up outside and I fear footsteps running towards us.

‘Frankie?’

I’ve
never
been so pleased to see someone in my life. 

‘Oh, er, Constable Clifton,’ I say, my voice quavering slightly.  ‘J
osh here is having a problem leaving my flat, and er, my tea’s getting cold… in fact it’ll be stone cold by now…’

Alex looks from me to J
osh and draws himself up.

‘So you’re going, are you?’
He stands there, arms folded.  ‘Don’t let me hold you up.’  Then he adds, ‘oh and I think you’ll find you’ve parked on a zig zag line so if you don’t want a ticket I’d get moving, if I were you…’

There’s a split second
stand-off, but no longer and Josh turns and stalks off.

‘
And don’t come back,’ Alex calls after him.  ‘Not unless you’re invited…’

He follows me in.

‘What was that about?’

I turn round and to my horror, I’m shaking and my eyes are full of tears.

‘He’s a journalist I know – he was sniffing around about Maria and Pete’s wedding – so I sent him on a wild goose chase to keep him out of the way.  It worked, but he’s mad at me.’

For a moment, I think he’s going to tell me off, but the corners of his lips
start to quiver and then he grins.

‘Sorry – he was a nasty piece of work but I can’t believe you’d do that!  Quite ingenious…’

‘Thank you,’ I say, reaching for a bottle of wine.  ‘Look.  I don’t usually drink in the week, but I’m sorry, I’m all shaky.  Would you like one too?’

‘I’ve got a far better idea,’ he says, his eyes holding mine.  ‘
We can get one at the pub – and some hot food…’ He glances at my congealed supper.  ‘Unless of course, you have plans…’

‘That sounds lovely,’ I say gratefully
, not wanting to be here on my own.

He drives us out into the countryside, away from Josh, away from everything, to a small pub where we find a table near the open fire.  I don’t know whether it’s the encounter with Josh, but I’m cold and light-headed and even the heat from the fire doesn’t stop me shivering.

Alex comes back with our drinks.  ‘Here – I thought this might do you good.  Brandy,’ he adds as I eye it suspiciously. 
‘Helps - when you’ve had a bit of a shock.’

I
take a sip, then order soup, because suddenly that’s all I feel like.  Alex orders fish and chips and we eat in silence, until he says ‘Frankie?  Are you okay?  Only you’re very quiet.’

‘Actually, I don’t feel very well… I think I’ll go and get some water…’

I push back my chair, but as I get up, something funny happens.  My vision goes all blurry and my legs are suddenly weak, then as the room starts spinning like a Catherine wheel, everything goes black.

I come round to the sound of a familiar, comforting voice.

‘Frankie?  Are you alright?’

Opening my eyes, I find myself sprawled on the floor, with Alex’s face above me, looking worried.

‘Hello.’  I smile weakly,
wondering what I’m doing on the floor, then try to push myself up.

‘Just stay put,’ he tells me
, holding me still.  ‘You’ve been out cold for a few minutes…and you banged your head.’

‘Did I?’ I say wondrously
, feeling my head and finding an egg shaped lump that’s just appearing.  ‘
Ouch
…’

‘Take my arm,’ Alex says, ‘and we’ll get you onto a chair.’

‘Oh, I’m fine,’ I say, trying to struggle to my feet, only it’s clear I’m not.  My legs won’t hold me for some reason so I end up putting all my weight on him.

‘Thanks.’

I sit, drinking the mug of sweet tea that’s materialised out of nowhere, feeling the light-headedness subside as I start to feel more normal again.

‘I’m so sorry,’ I say to Alex.  ‘I can’t think what came over me.’

‘You’ve been working hard, haven’t you?  And training?  Are you sleeping?’

I grimace, shaking my head and realising that I’ve done the last couple of weeks
– possibly longer - running on pure adrenaline and though I thought I was over it, only now is it catching up with me.

‘I guess
the wanker journalist was the last straw,’ he says wryly.  ‘Perhaps I better take you home.’

‘Okay,’ I say, thinking of my pyjamas and my bed and more than anything,
uninterrupted sleep.

I even doze off in his car, waking only when he pulls up at the side of the road and switches the engine off.  But only when he comes round to help me out do I realise I’ve no idea where I am.

‘I’ve brought you back to mine,’ he says apologetically.  ‘Someone should keep an eye on you, Frankie,’ he says firmly, when I open my mouth to protest.  ‘And I’ve got a day off tomorrow
.  I’ll drive you home in the morning.’

I’m too wobbly to argue, just take his arm
.