by Gemma Fox
‘Very inspirational,’ George laughed, ‘but I do know that you’re right. I’ve wasted so many years. There is a rather attractive woman who works in our local building society, who has been giving me the eye for months. Maybe I’ll ask if she’d like to join me for a spot of lunch. And I’ve always fancied travelling more, but Judy was never a very keen flyer—besides, I never wanted to go with her and I doubt now looking back that I would have been ideal company.’
‘There you are then. Chasing women and travelling. That sounds like a jolly good start to me,’ Callista said warmly.
George lifted his teacup in a toast. ‘I’ll drink to that.’
Outside, away from the babble of voices, under the shade of a chestnut tree, Diana and Hedley, Jan, Adie and his partner Mike, Netty and Peter Fleming, Leonora and Jasmine sat with Carol and Raf, Ollie, Jake, Patrick and Maisie, watching the world go by and eating their strawberries and sipping champagne. No one said anything.
Out on the lake ducks dabbled and paddled and bickered in water that reflected the cerulean sky. No one could wave a magic wand and put things right for Leonora or Jasmine, but at least they had had the satisfaction of seeing Gareth’s face when he realised that the game was up. And, of course, there was always Fiona.
The late afternoon air was still and heavy, fragrant with the perfume of hot clipped lawn and warm gravel; it was a perfect summer’s day. On the grass Raf lay flat out, eyes closed, with his head in Carol’s lap. She stroked his hair, totally at peace with the world.
‘You know I’ve been thinking. This would be a great place for a wedding,’ said Raf suddenly, rolling over onto his belly. ‘What do you think? It would be fantastic. Out here in the grounds. Under these trees, down by the lake. Could we book the place for a whole weekend, Diana, or do you have to be something to do with the Church?’
Diana looked up in surprise. ‘No, I don’t think so, do you, Hedley? And I’m sure Hedley wouldn’t mind officiating, would you?’
Hedley lifted eyebrows the size of baby walruses. ‘I’d be delighted,’ he said.
‘I could find out for you, if you like,’ said Diana. ‘The food here is wonderful. I’m sure they’d do the reception as well if you wanted them to.’
‘Well, there we are then,’ said Raf triumphantly. ‘What more could a person want?’
Carol didn’t ask him what the hell he was on about, but then you didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to work it out.
‘Can we all come? You could book Teddy Towers for the bridal suite as well, if you like,’ said Adie. ‘All those bunk beds to romp about on. I’m going to miss sleeping with this lot.’
Raf looked up at Carol with a grin. ‘So how about it then?’
Carol pulled a face. ‘So how about what?’ she asked, being deliberately obtuse.
‘Oh, come off it. Getting married. You and me. How about it?
‘Oh right, well, that’s very romantic, isn’t it? Very Hugh Grant,’ growled Netty from behind a rising pall of cigarette smoke. ‘“How about it?” They don’t write them like that any more. I thought you Celts were famous for your way with words.’
Carol looked down at Raf and shrugged, although her eyes were alight with mischief. ‘Maybe. I don’t know. I’ll think about it,’ she said casually.
Raf looked delighted. ‘Do you really mean it? Will you really?’
Netty slapped her forehead. ‘Oh please, what are you people like? For fuck’s sake, Carol, put us all out of our misery. Say yes or no. What sort of answer is maybe?’
Carol raised her eyebrows but before she could say anything, Raf jumped in. ‘For God’s sake, don’t knock it, Netty. At least it’s a step in the right direction,’ he said cheerfully. ‘The last time I asked her she told me to bugger off.’
About the Author
Living close to Cambridge, Gemma Fox adores shoes, her kids, cats, gardening and tall men, although not necessarily in that order. Constantly torn between being a bornagain sex kitten—it’s never too late—and cleaning out the litter tray, Gemma enjoys photography, long lazy suppers with friends and being old enough to be taken seriously in shops. For automatic updates on Gemma Fox, visit HarperCollins.co.uk and register for AuthorTracker.
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Copyright
This novel is a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities, is entirely coincidental.
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FIRST EDITION
Copyright © Gemma Fox 2005
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