Did The Earth Move?

by Carmen Reid

  'No, no. You're beside Deepa's very attractive, mature, single uncle. I have no idea what that's about,' Denny smiled.

  'Neither do I, I'm sure.'

  Back at home, in between washing down children, ironing outfits, polishing shoes and fiddling with her hair, she kept trying Tom's mobile. No reply. Just voicemail. It was hard to know what to leave: stern messages? Sympathetic messages? She left both, then decided to speak to Deepa.

  But her mother answered the phone and told Eve that Deepa was asleep.

  'Is she OK? Not worried at all?' Eve clucked.

  'Worried? No? She's very happy, very relaxed. What's to worry about?'

  Hmmm. That either meant all was well on the Tom front, or that Deepa hadn't shared the information that her fiance was nowhere to be found.

  'I hate my hair!' Anna returned from the bathroom where she'd gone to inspect her bridesmaid's ribbon-trimmed bun looking dangerously tearful.

  'Well what do you want? I'll try and do it whichever way you like.'

  'Just a ponytail. Nothing fancy.'

  'Are you sure Deepa won't mind? She asked me to do it the other way.'

  'I don't care.' Big sulky huffy face. 'It's bad enough having to wear this stupid sari.'

  'You look adorable in the sari,' Eve fibbed. Fuchsia pink and gold had turned out to be a very bad choice for Anna. She looked like a vampire victim.

  It was one o'clock, time to cram into the car, crank the fan on full blast against the heat and head back to the wedding venue again, praying that Tom would show up.

  When they arrived, there was only one other car already in the parking area – Denny's. But as they climbed out, she could see Denny, all handsome and suited, coming down the field towards them, waving.

  'He's here!' she made out. 'Wait till you see him!'

  They hurried along to the other side of the marquee, directed by Denny.

  'Oh Tom!' was her first reaction.

  'Aaaaaargh!' Anna gave a half-scream.

  Her son was standing in front of them in a white, high-collared Teddy boy suit with a blue frothy shirt and the first short back and sides haircut he'd had since he was 13. He looked amazing. Transformed. And he knew it. He was grinning at them.

  'Sorry, Mum,' he said, giving her a big smile and then a hug. 'I didn't mean to freak everybody out. I just looked at myself in the mirror this morning in the outfit I was going to wear and thought "nah". This is major. I'm going to get married. I'm going to be a dad. I need change.'

  'All this time I've been panicking about you, you've been shopping and having your hair cut!!'

  'Well, I was thinking too. Walking and walking ... thinking.'

  'And what have you thought?' She was trying to be stern but you couldn't with Tom, he was young, a bit daft, but so kind at heart.

  'I think it's going to be cool.'

  'Cool? Cool?! Well so long as it's going to be cool . . . that's all right then.' Her arms were crossed and she still didn't feel she'd had the satisfaction of being angry with him.

  'And I've rewritten all my wedding vows. Everyone's going to blub, guaranteed.'

  'No way,' Anna told him. 'It's all sentimental guff.'

  'Anna! You believe in all that stuff! Don't even try and pretend that you don't. Anyway, isn't Mum looking fantastic?' Tom said.

  I'm very grumpy with you,' Eve replied. 'Don't try and wriggle out of it.'

  'You're gorgeous,' he smiled at her. 'I luuurve what you're doing to your hair!'

  Anna and Robbie giggled and it was no use, she was going to have to cool down and let Tom off.

  This was his wedding day after all.

  'Come on... time for the first bottle of the day.' Denny went to raid the marquee fridge.

  What they managed to chat and joke about as they picnicked in the sunshine on the grass – polishing off the sandwiches, fruit and cake Eve had brought, along with two icy bottles of champagne – she couldn't remember.

  Well, apart from Tom's: 'Egg sandwiches! Mum! I can't eat them ... the groom can't have egg breath.'

  'It's OK. I came prepared,' Anna had told him, fishing in her big black rucksack. 'I have Tic-Tacs just for you.'

  She watched her four children laughing and teasing each other, her heart feeling like it might actually burst with pride, and tried to push away the thought that this was an ending. The next time they had a family picnic, Deepa and her baby would be there to share it. That was nice, not sad, surely? So why was it making her feel so upset?

  The first guest to arrive, shortly after 3p.m. was Joseph. He pulled up in his silly little car, which she didn't think suited him at all. He was too tall for it. He boinged out like a character in a pop-up book, dressed in white linen and alone ... by the look of things. He was smiling at them, waving and carrying a big, wrapped parcel, which he hugged up against his chest as Anna hurtled into him.

  Eve looked at Robbie, who hadn't run down to meet him but was standing up on the rug then jumping up and down with excitement.

  'That's my daddy, Jofus, that's my daddy, Jofus,' he was saying over and over again, which was cracking them all up.

  Joseph kissed everyone, even Denny and Tom, and Robbie was scooped up for a hug. 'So, how are you Tom?' Joseph asked.

  'I'm cool.'

  'Of course. Very. Love the shirt... And how's the missus?'

  Tine . . . about three and a half weeks to go, we're cutting it a bit fine. But she's great.'

  He handed over the parcel and before Tom took it off to the marquee, Joseph added: 'There's another little present I want to talk to you about, when we get a moment . . . before the service, OK?'

  'OK, you really shouldn't have, you know.'

  'Yes I should!'

  Joseph sat down on the rug beside them, Anna tucked under one arm, Robbie coming over to play with his shoelaces.

  'So Evie, the first one is flying the nest. How are you coping?' He was smiling at her. And she was trying hard not to notice how well he looked.

  'I'm fine, absolutely fine. Just don't make me cry again. I may as well not have bothered with make-up.'

  'Where's Michelle?' Denny asked. 'Is she OK?'

  'Errrm . . . lots of apologies, but she couldn't make it. She's put her back out.'

  'Oh, poor thing. What did she do?' Eve hoped this sounded sincere, but really she couldn't have been more relieved that Michelle wasn't coming.

  'Oh... at the gym or something,' Joseph batted the question away and patted Anna's hair. 'You look lovely,' he told her.

  'D'you like it?' she smiled. 'I'm Deepa's mini me.'

  They laughed at this.

  'So... I'm looking forward to meeting Dennis.' Joseph turned to Eve and gave her a smile.

  'Ah ha!' she said. 'Well, you'll have to tell me what you think.'

  He nodded at her and raised his eyebrows.

  A convoy of cars was heading for the field now. It was time to fold up the picnic rug, brush themselves down and start the ceremonies.

  Eve wanted to give Tom one last hug and sidled up to him.

  'Well, this is it, then...' She stroked the newly shorn hair at the back of his neck. He looked into her brimming eyes.

  'Are you ready?' she asked.

  'Yeah.' He put a hand on her shoulder and drew her in for a hug. 'Are you ready?' he asked back.

  'I think so,' she managed, her cheek pressed tightly against his jacket. 'I'm so proud of you,' she told him. 'Sorry,' she sniffed, 'I didn't realize how hard this was going to be.'

  'You'll be fine,' he told her. 'Yes. We love you,' she said. 'Love you too,' he said and gave her a blokeish pat on the back.

  Then it was time to mingle, welcome the guests and show people to their seats. Jen and her husband Ryan were walking up the hill towards them with Terry and John in tow.

  'My God, your boys look gorgeous,' Eve said as Jen hugged her. 'And I love your hat.'

  'How are you coping, you old bag?' Jen asked. 'You look like you've been blubbing all afternoon.'

  'Do I?
Oh no.'

  'No – no, just joking.' What was she doing inducing further panic in the mother of the groom? 'You look fantastic,' Jen corrected herself, 'and this is just amazing.' Then she caught a glimpse of the groom. 'Look at Tom! My God! I can't believe it!'

  'Eve!!!' And now, here was Janie. A radiant, tanned, back from her solo holiday to South America Janie. And David beside her looking relaxed and happy... and the kids – they looked appalling! But Eve thought that was good to see. Christine was in the all-black Goth uniform with eyeliner 14-year-olds should be entitled to and Rick was entering the phase Tom had just said goodbye to ... long hair, falling down jeans and 'Hardcore' plastered over his T-shirt.

  The important thing was, Janie had let them come like this. Everyone looked happy. This was so good.

  She gave her sister a big hug.

  'How are you bearing up?' Janie asked.

  'Oh, I'm a mess. You have to sit next to me so you can pinch me when I start snivelling.'

  'Dad is on his way up the hill,' Janie added in a funny sort of wait and see voice.

  'Oh God, does he need any help?'

  'No, no, no . . . Look here is, with his laydee friend, Martha!' Janie stage-whispered.

  Eve turned to see her father, almost within earshot of them now, looking like some ageing English screen star, all buttonhole, suit and bright white shirt. On his arm was a curvaceous, dazzling blonde who could hardly have been a day over 60.

  'Met at the hospital, apparently,' Janie explained.

  'No!!' Eve was stunned.

  'Evelyn!' Her father had spotted them. 'Got someone here who'd love to meet you. Martha – she wants to do a bit of yoga, you know.'

  Eve kissed her dad and wanted to start on a list of questions but...

  7s that Dennis!!!!????' came Janie's frantic whisper now.

  Eve turned to look and nodded.

  'Hello, Dennis, Susan . . . come and say hello to Janie and her family.'

  It was all perfectly restrained and civilized, lots of polite handshakes and 'Good to see yous' exchanged. Eve and Janie exchanging surreptitious glances and waggling eyebrows at each other. Their father making a reasonable effort to hide his disapproval of this man.

  Eve thought it was funny how surprisingly English Dennis and his family looked. Morning suit for him, lime green taffeta and hat for her. She thought almost two decades of living abroad would have de-Anglicized them a bit.

  Their teenage daughters had cleavages and legs on display in bright minidresses with matching jackets. They looked ravishing and when she went up to say hello, she could smell clean hair, melon perfume, the juiciness of being 14 and 16.

  Finally, everyone was in place and it was time for Deepa to walk slowly, calmly up the path to the top of the hill on her father's arm with Anna following behind.

  Eve took long, deep breaths, put a smile on her face and tried not to cry at the first sight of them.

  She was in the front row with Denny on one side, Robbie squirming on the other, Janie and her family beside them.

  Joseph was in the row behind and Eve imagined that Dennis and his family weren't too far away either.

  She tried to keep her eyes on her little son and his stack of wooden trains as Deepa and Tom took their marriage vows and then began their home-made promises to each other. She hoped, with Robbie as a distraction, she would manage to get through it. But every once in a while she looked up and saw Deepa, eyes fixed full beam on Tom, delirious with happiness, and she choked up all over again.

  Tom was holding her hand, not letting go of her with his gaze, as he said: 'I'm going to love you, cherish you and honour you, Deepa – as best I can – apparently, it won't always be this easy.'

  He got a little audience laugh at this, but continued, so sincerely: 'When things aren't going so well, I promise I'll think of today and remember how we felt.' Down to an almost-whisper, he added: 'Because today is perfect and there is enough love here today to last a lifetime.'

  Eve couldn't contain it any more, she began to sob as quietly as she could manage. Robbie and his trains were fading into a tearful blur. Enough love to last a lifetime... Oh God. She was gasping with the effort of trying to keep her sobs under control. She felt a hand on her shaking shoulder. And she held onto it tightly. Had she once had enough love to last a lifetime? Only to push it away? The thoughts were avalanching in her mind and coming to rest at the realization that maybe this was never going to get any better. She saw now that the hand was Joseph's not Denny's and it made her cry even more. Was she going to regret breaking up with him for the rest of her life?

  * * *

  With a lot of pausing and eye wiping, Deepa was trying to get her promises out too and now the pair were kissing over her luminous pink bump to claps and cheers. Eve looked at them, Deepa in sparkly sandals and a mad pink sari – the white satin and froth dress had gone back to the shop – Tom with short hair in a suit. The two of them, barely in their twenties, understood commitment so much better than she ever had. They hadn't changed for each other but they had worked out that they had to grow towards each other, be prepared to meet in the middle. Or else there was no choice but to grow apart.

  With her handbag full of hankies, she started a tear-stemming operation and managed to stand up, clap and smile.

  'They're going to be good, aren't they?' Joseph was saying behind her.

  She turned and smiled at him: 'Yeah, they are.'

  'Are you OK?' he asked.

  'I'm fine. Fine. Honestly,' she smiled, broke the eye contact and looked away.

  And then she was caught up in the wedding whirl. . . photos and confetti throwing and the noise of 100-odd guests greeting, talking, congratulating. Amidst all this hubbub, Eve managed to get to Deepa and Tom as well.

  'You cried, didn't you?' Tom asked her over the hug. 'You gushed.'

  'Yes, I did, darling. It was beautiful.'

  'Look at my ring!' Deepa, an arm round her new husband, was telling her. 'Look at it! This is what Tom. pulled out of his pocket to marry me with, I nearly had a heart attack! I can't get it on my fat fingers but it's gorgeous!'

  Eve looked at the outstretched hand: three substantial diamonds were strung across her pinkie on the daintiest of bands.

  'That is lovely,' she agreed ... and way out of Tom's budget.

  'Please tell me you haven't spent the entire flat deposit?' Deepa asked just what Eve was thinking.

  'Er .. . no. I've got a little bit of explaining to do on the ring front... but you won't be cross. I promise,' he told her as the next wave of relatives came to claim them.

  In the marquee, Eve hoisted Robbie up into her arms and looked at the crowd to see who she should talk to next.

  'Hey, Robbie, I almost forgot, I've got something for you.' Joseph was coming up to them again. She really didn't want to see him right now, still felt too shaken by the wedding ceremony.