by Adele Parks
‘What is it?’
‘An invite to Jen’s wedding.’
‘But—’
‘Not Jen and Karl’s, obviously.’
Nat blushed inwardly. Although Neil had been very forgiving and understanding about her indiscretion with Karl, as she had about his indiscretion with Cindy, she still found the whole thing embarrassing. They’d both forced themselves to put the messy past away and concentrate on their bright future instead. Nat had gone so far as to encourage Neil to post Mrs Flippy back to the nursery, as neither of them could stand the idea of Heidi missing her comforter, and Neil had helped Nat word her note to Jen, confessing and apologising for the drunken fumble with Karl. Both of them were inordinately pleased that was all it had been but they both understood that for Jen the news would be devastating.
Nat had wondered for a long time what she ought to do for the best. Should she tell Jen at all or was it Karl’s business to do so? Once she had decided for sure that her need to confess was nothing to do with easing her own conscience and everything to do with saving Jen (and Karl, come to that) from a disastrous marriage, Nat had compiled a note. There had been sixteen drafts written before Nat was content that she’d struck the correct tone – remorseful but not vengeful and aware but not dramatic. Neil hadn’t seen Karl for a few months now, not since that day at the clinic. It was possible that one day they’d find a way to allow him back into their lives but right now Neil didn’t know when or how. Karl wasn’t godfather material, that much was clear.
‘She’s marrying Christopher Shaw,’ said Neil.
‘Who?’
‘Her ex. Don’t you remember? She’d not long split up from him when you met her.’
‘Yes, it’s ringing bells. Alarm bells.’
‘Karl always said that she hadn’t got over him. My God, they’re getting married in May.’
Nat grabbed the invite from Neil. ‘Wow, it’s the same date, same venue, just different groom. Don’t laugh.’ Nat flicked through the papers that came with the invite. There were directions to the church and the reception, a list of suggested hotels for guests to stay in, a gift list and a suggested car pool list. Eventually Nat found what she was looking for – Jen had included a private note among the trail of logistics.
Dear Nat,
How’s the bump?! Bet you’re getting big now, hey?
I just wanted you to know that I did appreciate your note. It was very brave of you to send it and I realise that it can’t have been an easy letter to write. As it happens it was the wake-up call I needed. When I went home for Christmas with Karl I bumped into my ex, Christopher. Do you remember me talking about him? I probably would have resisted the overwhelming chemistry between us but for the fact of your letter arriving when it did. It turns out that Chris had not married his girlfriend as I’d been informed, it turns out that he’d put that rumour about to make me jealous (sweet boy!). Karl had gone home to watch the football on his flat screen and so (well, to cut a long story short) I enclose an invite to our wedding for you and Neil! Crazy, huh?
I’m so glad you two sorted things out, you are made for each other! I imagine by the time of the wedding you’ll have quite a sizable bump but you can get really pretty maternity frocks to disguise that, you know, so don’t worry!
I hope you understand why I couldn’t ask you to be bridesmaid. Rest assured it is absolutely nothing to do with you snogging my ex, I just think pregnant bridesmaids spoil the photos.
I do hope that you come to the wedding and that you don’t think too badly of me. I just can’t explain the pull of an ex.
Lots of love,
Jen
Nat passed the note to Neil, who read it carefully.
‘Shall we go?’ he asked.
‘I do love a wedding,’ replied Nat and she kissed Neil on the cheek.
‘OK. Let’s go.’
‘Great. I’ll put in a holiday form today. It’s quite timely because I’m meeting my boss to discuss maternity leave so I might as well get all requests on the table.’
‘But you’re happy with the arrangement?’ Neil asked, wrapping his arms round his wife and pulling her into a tight and warm hug. She could smell Weetabix on his breath and suddenly had an urge to eat one herself, perhaps with yogurt and honey and raisins.
‘Damn right. I’ll take the statutory and then you take over.’
Neil kissed the top of his wife’s head and reached down towards the bump. ‘My pleasure,’ he muttered into her hair, ‘my pleasure.’
Tina Nina Rose has arrived at 3.35am!
7 lb 5 oz. Mother and baby perfect!
Dad fainted but doing OK now!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you, over and over again, to my fantastic editor Jane Morpeth and the entire team at Headline for the most splendid welcome imaginable. I’m so delighted to be working with such an incredible, impressive and enthusiastic bunch. I am thoroughly grateful for, and appreciative of, the talent and dedication of every last one of you! With such a wealth of flair and forte it is almost impossible to begin to name names but I would like to give a particular shout out to Georgina Moore and James Horobin.
Thank you, Jonny Geller, for your endless support over the last ten years. Thank you for your wisdom, patience, encouragement and sense of humour. I’m scratching the surface here.
Thank you to all my readers. Each and every one of you is so lovely, glamorous, smart, wise, beautiful, perceptive, witty, humorous, sensitive and insightful.
Thank you, Jimmy, for everything. For all things. Without you I’d never have managed to write ten books in ten years; I probably wouldn’t have managed to write ten books in one hundred years. You are my inspiration, my insight and my purpose. Thank you.
Finally I’d like to warmly acknowledge Rob and Becky Booker for their very generous support of Sparks, the children’s medical research charity. The remit of Sparks is to fund research across the entire spectrum of paediatric medicine. Their goal is for all babies to be born healthy and stay healthy.
To learn more about Sparks visit www.sparks.org.uk
