Cassie pulled up at the cottage and dragged her tired body out of the car. Reaching into the backseat, she pulled out a box of files, her satchel and her handbag. She had been working for eight hours already and she could probably work another eight tonight and still have lots to do tomorrow. She rested her box on the top of Maria’s car and locked her own up.
‘Hi,’ she called, levering the front door open and pushing herself and her baggage through it. She was greeted by a warm blast of air from the heating, and a truly heavenly smell. Her mouth watered, and she heard her stomach gurgle in delight. Having only managed to throw down a salad from the takeout deli and a million cups of coffee all day, she was starving.
‘Hey,’ Tucker called in reply. ‘In the kitchen. Won’t be long.’
Maria appeared in the hallway, wearing a long dotty skirt and slightly dishevelled blouse. She was holding a large glass of white.
‘Hey, Cass!’ She waggled a finger at her, motioning for her to come into the lounge. Cass dropped the box and her bags in the hall and, kicking off her heels, followed her friend. Maria pushed the door closed a little, thrusting the glass into her hand.
‘Here, that’s for you. Tucker has been on one today. I swear, I came home and the grocer was here!’
Cassie took a slug of the wine and digested the news.
‘The grocer? Was here?’
‘I know. Tucker had called him. I swear, there is so much food in the kitchen, it’s mad. He’s been cooking all afternoon I think.’
She sipped from her own wineglass.
‘Maria!’ Cassie spat. ‘No drinking!’
She rolled her eyes. ‘It’s grape juice. Tucker bought it.’
Cassie took another deep slug. ‘I feel like I walked into the twilight zone.’ She sank down into the sofa cushions. ‘You okay?’
Maria shook her head. ‘Nope. Annabel has already emailed me with all the wedding details, and begged me to take them on. I can’t believe it, I really can’t.’
‘I can.’ Cassie snorted. ‘Men are shits. I blame Darcy for all this. Dudes just can’t keep it in their pants.’
Maria blushed, and Cassie could have kicked herself. ‘Sorry, mate. The baby is good, of course. I’ve just had a bad day at work, that’s all. A bad month actually. Why people get married I will never know.’
Maria said nothing, sipping at her juice, seemingly deep in thought. Cassie slapped herself on the forehead.
‘Shit! Sorry, I did it again.’
‘Did what again?’ Tucker asked, walking slowly into the room with a bottle of wine and a bottle of grape juice, one in each hand. ‘Top up, ladies?’
‘God, yes,’ they said in unison.
He filled their glasses accordingly and chuckled.
‘Dinner won’t be long. I felt better, so I decided to get out of that bed and do something. I can go home tomorrow, get out of your hair.’
He was standing there bare-chested, a pair of grey joggers hanging loose on his hips.
‘Tucker,’ Maria said kindly, ‘I heard you trying to put a top on this morning, and it sounded like you were in pain. Since you currently don’t have a shirt on, I’m guessing it still hurts, right?’
Tucker shrugged, wincing. ‘Maybe,’ he said sheepishly.
‘And you still have your cast on,’ she added. ‘Just stay, right, Cass?’
Cassie shrugged. ‘Sure, I’m fine on the couch.’
Maria glared at her, and she groaned.
‘Okay, okay. Tucker, please stay. Honestly, it’s fine. You can’t go home with no shirt on anyway, you’ll freeze.’
Tucker smiled then. ‘Well, if you’re sure? I was thinking I could make myself useful, clean up a bit, make some meals? I’ve made a curry tonight, homemade naans. I was gonna do a beef Wellington but I’m not up to pastry yet.’
Both women looked at him with big grins on their faces.
‘What?’
Maria giggled. ‘You had us at clean, Tucker, honestly. Thank you.’
Cassie was looking at him with a daft grin of her own.
‘Yes, thank you. Do you need any help?’
Tucker looked at her, and Maria thought she saw something pass between them.
‘You can, if you like, in the kitchen?’
Cassie nodded, and they both headed in together. Maria made a kissy face at her behind Tucker’s back, and Cassie picked up a couch cushion and threw it at her.
***
‘Morning!’ Lynn said a week later, bustling into the shop with her furry boots and warm coat on. A blast of cold air came through with her, and she closed the door firmly behind her. ‘You okay, my lovely?’
Maria nodded, smiling as best she could with a needle in her mouth. She was sitting stitching up a customer’s order, a beautiful red party gown she had made from scratch. Agatha had ordered four dresses the day before, completing with matching boleros and cardigans, bustling into the shop with Taylor, her husband, in tow. She was the unofficial leader of Westfield, living in the huge manor in the village. Nothing got past her, and she had been a good friend of the family. Maria knew it was more than just an order; it was a show of support. She knew Agatha would tell anyone who asked who had made the outfits, and send them her way. She could expect more business to come from this order, so she had to get to work right away.
‘I’m fine. Agatha placed a huge order this morning, and Taylor is coming in tomorrow. He wants a couple of new suits. Do you think you could see to him, do his orders?’
Lynn hung her coat and scarf on the coat rack and hurried over to her.
‘That’s lovely,’ she said, fingering the fabric. She pulled a chair right up close and practically bumped knees. ‘Now tell me, how did the wedding appointment go? I’ve been dying to know all week! I thought you’d have called me!’
‘Ah, well, yes, I did get it, but…’
‘But what? That’s fantastic!’ She jumped up from her seat, moving over to the calendar hanging on the back wall.
‘Did they book it in? A specific date?’ She was running her finger along the laminated paper.
It was like watching a child look for a present on Christmas morning. All excited, hopping from foot to foot, jiggling with excitement. Except Lynn had nothing under the tree, because Maria had been a naughty girl, and Santa didn’t give out presents to naughty people.
‘Lynn, I didn’t book the wedding. I can’t book the wedding, so if they call, either of them, we can’t do it, and I am out at an event.’
Lynn turned around, crestfallen. ‘Why? Can’t you work it round the baby?’
She looked so worried. Maria wanted to kick herself for making her colleague worry. She knew how stressed she had been since the wedding. Another thing to blame Darcy for. She really hated him sometimes, but not as much as she’d hated herself since that meeting.
‘No, Lynn, I can’t take the wedding. I just can’t. The groom, Mark? He’s the—’
‘Hi,’ the door opened and there was James. He looked at both women and smiled nervously.
‘You haven’t been answering my calls, so I just thought I’d check on you. I brought breakfast.’
He raised a brown bag. ‘Fruit salad, bacon rolls, fruit juice.’
‘Lovely,’ Lynn started to say. ‘That’s lovely, isn’t it, Maria?’
‘I have to work, James. Did you want something?’
He lowered the bag, and Maria went back to work stitching. She could hear Lynn tutting at her, and she did her best to pretend to be oblivious. She heard footsteps and the shop door close, and she looked up.
James was walking over to the sofa area, bag in hand. He laid himself out over it, feet on the coffee table, and, opening the bag, pulled out a bacon roll. He noticed her watching him and gave her a little wave.
‘Oh, sorry, did you think I left? I was just closing the door. There’s a bit of a draught. I’ll be fine here. I’ll just eat my breakfast and wait for you to take a break.’ He beckoned to Lynn, who was now sitting at her workstation, watching in amusement.
‘Come on, Lynn, come and grab a bacon roll. I have plenty.’
Lynn looked at Maria and got up, heading to the kettle.
‘I will join you actually, James love. Fancy a cuppa to go with it?’
James nodded, mouth full of bacon. ‘That would be lovely, Lynn. Thank you.’
Maria glared at the pair of them. Why couldn’t people just leave her alone to live in her little bubble? God knew, when she started showing, the villagers would all know about it. She kept working, trying her very best to ignore them, but James was humming and singing along in the corner.
‘I am trying to work you know,’ she said huffily. He waggled a plastic container at her.
‘Come on, you have to eat. Fresh fruit.’
Maria pouted at him.
‘Please,’ he said softly. ‘Just ten minutes?’
Maria sighed and put down the dress.
‘Five,’ she said, wandering over to him. Lynn came over with some tea on a tray.
‘I’m just going to go upstairs, sort some fabric samples out for Mr Taylor.’
Maria went to object but Lynn was already hotfooting it out the back. She slumped down into the couch opposite James and took the container from him. The fruit did look nice. She looked around for something to eat it with and James waggled a fork in front of her face. She took it without looking at him. ‘Thanks.’
‘You’re welcome. So, what’s happening with you then? Are you mad at me for something? I was supposed to be coming to look at upstairs, but you haven’t been answering my calls.’
Maria forked a piece of melon into her mouth, her eyes closing at the taste. She hadn’t eaten much that morning, other than coffee. Not the best breakfast. She needed to take her iron tablets too. Not exactly following doctor’s orders. She had struggled to concentrate on anything since meeting Annabel.
‘See, baby needs fruit.’ His face dropped. ‘The baby is okay, right?’
Maria grinned. ‘All good, yes. Hungry perhaps.’ She stabbed another piece of fruit.
‘Good,’ he said, looking relieved. ‘So what is it then? Are you cross with me? I know it’s weird, but I did think we were friends now. I don’t get what’s wrong.’
Maria felt awful. She had just assumed James would get mad at her for turning down the wedding and give up. She could just shut herself away, work hard, get someone else in to deal with upstairs. Simon, the handyman in the village, could help. She didn’t need James. She didn’t need a damn thing. She just wanted to live in her own little cocoon. Why couldn’t people realise that? She couldn’t let James in; she couldn’t lose anyone else. If she didn’t let him get any closer, it wouldn’t hurt when he left. Her pregnancy hormones had turned from tearful despair to fuelled anger, so she had been clinging to that to see her through the day.
‘Nothing’s wrong, James, I’m just busy. I don’t really have much cash spare, so I can’t do the upstairs yet.’
‘What about the wedding booking? Annabel said you turned them down. Why?’
‘I just can’t do it, James. I’m sorry. It’s just too much work and—’
‘I’ll help! I’m part of the wedding anyway, so I’ll be around. I’ll help with everything, and Annabel says she’ll leave it all to you and not interfere. To be honest, she got a bit bridezilla and it caused problems for her and Mark. They were stressing over everything, and money, but now Mark’s family have stepped in with some cash. They really love Annabel, which is nice.’
Maria’s heart squeezed when she heard James talk about his sister. He really loved her, Maria could tell. Here he was, doing what he did best, putting himself out there to help others. The man was a damn saint, and she felt a little like a devil in disguise these days. Leading all those around her down the path to hell and eternal damnation.
‘I can give her some other numbers. I emailed her a couple of other planners. Did she not call them?’
James frowned, taking a big draw of coffee before answering.
‘Maria, she wants you. They can get married before the baby comes, you’ll have time.’
Maria gasped. ‘You didn’t tell them, did you?’
James smiled kindly. ‘Of course I didn’t, I didn’t tell anyone. It’s your business, no one else’s. Has he contacted you?’
Maria could feel her heart thump in her chest.
‘Who?’
‘Your ex, Darcy.’
Maria opened her mouth to speak, to tell him some version of the truth, but his phone rang in his pocket. He looked at the screen and groaned.
‘Sorry, it’s Annabel. I swear she doesn’t know I’m here.’ He held a finger up to tell her one minute, and she nodded.
‘Hey, sis, how’s it going?’ His face darkened, his features clouding over. ‘Don’t, Bel. Listen, stop stressing. We can sort it. Listen, er…’ He looked apologetically at Maria. ‘Can we talk later? I’m on a job at the moment… yeah, give me an hour, okay?’
‘I’ll do it,’ Maria heard someone say. Someone that sounded suspiciously like her. What am I doing! ‘I’ll do the wedding.’ Oh great, you’ve really gone and done it now.
James looked at her in shock. ‘Just a minute, sis.’ He covered the mouthpiece. Maria could hear Annabel squeaking tearfully at the other end. ‘Are you sure?’
Maria nodded. ‘Yes, I’ll do it, but we’ll need to discuss my fee.’
She had to make this right somehow. Having James here had decided it for her. She would do the right thing. Help James, help Annabel and Mark have their perfect wedding, and earn the money she needed for her unborn child. Then she would just be out of their lives. If Mark asked, she would tell him the baby wasn’t his, and that would be it. She could tell him she’d had more than one drunken encounter, that it was another one which had resulted in her falling pregnant. Not the classiest answer, to be sure, but what else was she going to say? He hadn’t been in touch, so perhaps he wouldn’t even ask when he found out. It wasn’t like they had feelings for each other. It was just one night; two lonely people doing something to ease their pain.
James gave her the biggest, daftest grin, and stood to go and talk to Annabel. By the sound of it, she was very happy to hear the news. Now Maria just had to get through it. Make everyone happy, and then get back to her bubble.
***
The bubble burst that evening as she was about to leave the shop to go home. Lynn had already left, and she was just heading to the door when a face at the window made her jump. She looked at the figure for a moment, and he smiled. An awkward smile that made his whole face look nervous. She slid back the locks on the door, allowing him inside.
‘Hi,’ Mark said, ruffling his unruly hair back off his forehead with his hand. ‘I didn’t mean to just turn up, but…’
‘Annabel told you I said yes to the wedding, and you’re here to tell me to turn it down.’
‘I… it’s not that, it’s…’
He sagged a little and Maria took a step back, figuring he could probably use some more oxygen. She felt the same way. Being alone with him, especially here, among the dresses, shoes and dreams… it felt so wrong. So awkward. And oddly, it made her feel guilty when she thought of James. There was a baby elephant in the room, and Maria felt its trunk breathing down her neck.
‘I’m not this man. I don’t cheat. I don’t hurt people. I just don’t know what to do, and with you doing the wedding now, I just wondered whether…’
He looked stricken, terrified, and the penny dropped in Maria’s mind. He felt guilty too.
‘You were wondering whether I was madly in love with you, and planning to sabotage your big day.’
Her plain speaking made his eyes bulge, and she shook her head kindly at him.
‘I know what type of man you are, I think. I was sad, you were sad, it was a mistake. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not an issue. I don’t mean you any harm. I need the money too, in all honesty, with one thing and another.’ You know, my failed marriage, public humiliation, secret baby… ‘I just want to help James really.’
She couldn’t help but smile when she thought of his goofy face, the way he made her laugh and feel safe. She really did want to repay him for his kindness, even if this was a warped way of doing it.
‘Really? You’re really okay with this?’ Mark was looking at her sceptically, and she saw what Annabel saw in him. The man was in love, clearly. Adoration and sheer panic crossed over his facial expressions like raging storm clouds.
She took a step forward, placing her hand on top of his momentarily, without thinking. They both froze, and she dropped her hand.
‘Sorry, that was a bad move. I seem to be making a few of those lately.’
His eyes crinkled in the corners as the tension in the room broke a little at her joke.
‘I know the feeling.’
‘I meant what I said. This is just about the wedding, doing the job and helping James. That’s it. I like Annabel, Mark. You’re both so happy. I don’t have anything nasty planned. If you really don’t trust me, I get it – believe me. I’m willing to drop out, but I just think we can get through this, and then we’ll be done.’
He looked around the shop, his eyes flicking from one display to another.
‘Annabel wants you, and James trusts you.’
Maria nodded, relieved he didn’t seem to be so wary anymore.
‘I can do the job, I won’t let you down.’
‘I trust you too, Maria. Goodnight.’
‘Night,’ she said, watching him walk away through the window, into the darkness.
So many people to please, to make happy, to keep safe from the truth. Placing a hand on her stomach, she flicked off the lights. This was going to be some wedding.