Читать книгу Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow - Jessica Redland - Страница 11

Present Day

After the group photographs outside the church were complete, there was time to mingle while Chloe and James had some photos taken at the other end of the churchyard in front of a beautiful willow tree.

Surveying the guests, I spotted Hannah sitting on a shady bench. She was eight months’ pregnant and probably relieved at the opportunity to escape the sunshine and rest her feet.

I waved then picked up my skirts and started to make my way towards her when a cold hand on my arm froze me to the spot. Spindly fingers. Lily of the Valley eau de toilette. I shuddered.

‘Great-Aunt Agnes.’ Smile. Be nice. ‘How lovely to see you.’

‘And you, my dear,’ she said through gritted teeth. Such a lie.

‘Lovely service,’ I said when she showed no sign of moving away.

‘Indeed. It’s so wonderful to see our little Chloe so happy. But I’m somewhat confused. Wasn’t that young man your boyfriend, dear?’

And there it was. The jugular. ‘Yes, he was, but it was never serious. James and Chloe make a much better couple than James and I ever did.’

‘Yes, well, I suppose beautiful people do tend to gravitate towards each other.’

Ouch!

She patted my arm again, making the hairs stand on end. ‘Still, there’s plenty more fish in the sea, as they say. I’m sure you’ll find someone more on your level eventually.’ I swear she was chuckling to herself when she sidled away.

‘Who was that?’ Hannah asked when I flung myself down beside her and released an exasperated growl.

‘My Great-Aunt Agnes,’ I muttered, curling my lip up and exaggerating a shudder.

‘Oh. I wondered if it might be her. I take it from your reaction that she was being her usual delightful self?’

‘Of course. Straight in there with a comment about James being my ex and out of my league.’

Hannah winced. ‘I hope you ignored her.’

‘If only. She always seems to have some killer insult which she hurls at me like a grenade before walking off leaving me picking up the pieces. I wish I could think of a good comeback but I always go blank.’

‘You don’t need one. Rise above it. If she gets her kicks out of making other people feel small, that’s her problem, not yours. She’s clearly full of crap.’

‘I know she is, but she manages to get to me every time. It probably wouldn’t bother me if she was like that with everyone but she isn’t. Chloe’s always been the golden girl and I’ve been the one she can’t stand but I don’t know why.’

‘Families, eh?’ She rubbed her hands in circular motions over her baby bump as she rolled her eyes. ‘So, how are you holding up?’

‘I’m good. It was a lovely service.’

‘It was, but that’s not what I asked you.’ Her tone softened and she gave me a sympathetic look. ‘Your heart was breaking all the way through it, wasn’t it?’

I looked down and brushed some imaginary fluff off my dress. ‘I’m fine. It’s ancient history and, like I said to you before, it was never serious anyway.’

Hannah linked her arm through mine and gently pulled me to her side. ‘Don’t insult our friendship by pretending you were never in love with him and, if I’m not mistaken, still are.’

I relaxed against her and sighed. ‘I’ve just had this conversation with my dad. Is it that obvious?’

‘Only to the people who love you as much as we do. I was never convinced by that friends having a bit of fun crap but you were so adamant that’s all it was that I thought it was maybe just wishful thinking on my part, wanting to keep you together as this happy couple we could double-date with. Then I saw you watching them saying their vows earlier and I knew. I’m so sorry it didn’t work out.’

I pressed my fingers to my lips and shook my head. ‘Do you think Chloe knows?’

‘No. Don’t panic. I think she’s so smitten with James that she wouldn’t notice if you grew horns and danced the fandango.’

‘She sent me a “HOT TIP” this morning. Look.’ I handed Hannah my phone. Chloe and I didn’t speak every day but we kept in touch by text and social media. Something we’d done for years was to send each other texts starting with the words ‘HOT TIP’ when we came across something the other would like. It could be anything – a book, a film, an advert, a fragrance or an item of clothing. We knew each other so well that the recommendation was invariably spot on. Sometimes the tip would be advice or something funny.

✉︎ From Chloe

HOT TIP! Samantha Wishaw. The unicorn of best friends. Rare, precious, and kind. Guaranteed to add sparkle to your world. Most claim they don’t exist but I know they do because I’m lucky enough to have one xx

‘I feel so guilty,’ I said as Hannah returned my phone. ‘I doubt she’d have sent me that if she knew the truth.’

Hannah shook her head. ‘You can’t think like that, Sam. You let him go so he could be with Chloe and I’d say that does make you the unicorn of best friends. Not many people would do that. Oh, hang on, she’s coming over.’

‘Hi you two,’ Chloe said.

‘Congratulations,’ Hannah said, heaving herself up and kissing Chloe on both cheeks. ‘You look beautiful, Chloe. Will you give us a twirl?’

While Chloe picked up her skirts and turned round so we could see the detailing on the back of the bodice, Hannah turned to me, her expression sorrowful. I gave her a weak smile and nodded to assure her I was okay.

‘Such a stunning dress on a stunning bride,’ Hannah said when Chloe was facing us again. ‘James is a very lucky man.’

‘I’m the lucky one.’ Chloe reached for my hand. ‘And I’m so grateful to Sammie for encouraging us to get together.’

‘That’s Sam for you,’ Hannah said, a slight edge to her tone. ‘Always doing what’s best for others.’

I shrugged. ‘I’m a hopeless romantic, that’s all. I could see they were perfect together.’ How I managed to keep smiling, I’ll never know.

‘The photographer’s going to do a confetti shot in about five minutes,’ James said, joining us. His proximity to me made my heart race. Would it ever stop?

‘Excellent,’ Chloe said. ‘I love confetti.’

He smiled at her so tenderly that the butterflies in my stomach swooped and soared, making me feel quite nauseous. He’d never looked at me that way. It was right that they’d both found their matching heart and I genuinely was thrilled for Chloe because, alongside Hannah, she was my best friend and I loved her very deeply.

‘Did you ask Sam?’ James said.

‘I was just about to.’

‘Ask me what?’

‘I’m just going to track down Toby,’ Hannah said, leaving the three of us alone.

‘We’ve messed up,’ Chloe said as soon as Hannah was out of earshot. ‘Are you still insured to drive anyone’s car?’

‘Yes. Why?’

‘After we’ve done the confetti shot, we have a huge favour to ask you…’