by M A Comley
A few excited gazes turned her way. She smiled at the other guests, and when she reached the bottom of the stairs, she said, “The bride looks beautiful. Not long to wait now, folks.”
James caught her eye and winked at her. She walked across the black-and-white-tiled hallway and tapped Bradley on the shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt. Okay if I have a chat with you in private?”
“Of course.” They stepped through the large front door into the garden. “This sounds ominous, Ruth. Is everything all right upstairs?”
Ruth waved her hand, dismissing his concerns. “Everything is fine. I told Geraldine I would check everything was going well down here. Have you checked? I wouldn’t want to go around a second time if you’ve already done it.”
Bradley’s cheeks flushed, giving himself away. “I was just about to do that when Scott wanted to bend my ear about something.”
She inclined her head. “A quick word? Was it important? More important than making sure your wedding goes according to plan?” Why? Why did this man always bring out the worst in her? He was the total opposite to caring, dependable James. Lord knows what Geraldine saw in him.
He narrowed his eyes, and his smile turned quickly into a sneer. “One day, that’s all I’m asking, just give me one day off from all your snarky comments. It’s obvious how much you detest me, Ruth. No idea why or what I’ve done to deserve that kind of hatred that I see in your eyes every time we’re in the same room together. For your sake, I think it’s about time you rethought your actions, don’t you?”
“Is that some kind of threat, Bradley?”
His smile never reached his cold grey eyes. “Take it as it was meant, a warning. You think Geraldine doesn’t notice how much you hate me? She does. Maybe you’re guilty of not knowing your best friend and what she needs to ensure her happiness in this life. That task is down to me. I know what Geraldine wants, how much she craves being loved. I know every intimate part of her. Me, not you, so my suggestion would be for you to fall into line or move on and find yourself another best friend.” He glanced at the gold watch strapped to his slender wrist. “Because in exactly ten minutes, Geraldine will be all mine.”
Blood coursed through her veins, on fire. “Meaning what?”
Bradley smiled broadly and shrugged. “Simply stating a fact. Read into it what you will, Miss Private Eye.”
He’d always taken the mickey out of her in the past regarding the business she’d taken over. “I’ll be watching you, be aware of that. If ever you do anything out of line, I’ll be on you in a flash. I don’t like you. I’m usually an excellent judge of character. Maybe I’ve turned down my radar because of my friendship with Geraldine, but I know deep down there’s a whole different side to you that has yet to come out. My advice would be for you to keep it well hidden, because if I get a whiff of it and you hurt Geraldine, I’ll come down on you like a ton of bricks.”
“Is that some kind of threat, Ruth?” he asked, mimicking her voice, or trying to.
“I don’t have time for this, and neither do you. If you want to carry on this conversation after the wedding, you know where to find me.”
“Yeah, at that two-bit office you laughingly call a detective agency. The thing is, from what I’ve seen of your skills, you couldn’t detect a sudden drop in temperature, let alone whether someone is telling a lie or not.”
“Is that the voice of experience talking? Have you lied in the past, Bradley?”
He smiled, turned his back and returned to talk to his friends again, leaving Ruth feeling livid for coming down to his level and biting back. She hadn’t intended doing that, on today of all days, but the man had wound her up the wrong way. He had a habit of doing that over the years she’d known him.
She sighed and rushed towards the marquee to ensure all the preparations to do with the meal were going well. Arriving at the entrance, she gasped at the spectacle before her. Everything looked amazing, from the floral displays in the centre of the tables, to the chairs disguised in white cloth, decorated with a large lilac bow, the same colour that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses. She had to admire Geraldine’s taste. Her friend definitely had an exceptional skill for blending colours in order to make a substantial impact. “Is everything going well in here?”
A man in a black suit gave her the thumbs-up from the back of the tent. “We’ll soon be finished, Miss. Leave it all to us.”
“Glad to hear it. Not long now before they walk down the aisle.” Ruth crossed the lawn and entered the house once more, ignoring Bradley as she made her way across the floor to James.
“How’s Geraldine doing? Nervous, I bet?” James asked, kissing her on the cheek.
Ruth took the glass of orange juice from his hand and gulped down a large mouthful. “She’s fine. Everything is going well in the marquee. We’re all set to go. I’m just going to check on the band now, make sure they haven’t got any last-minute hitches.”
“Calm down. They seemed fine to me when I popped my head in the main room a moment ago.”
“I’ll go and check anyway, to put my own mind at rest. How are you both doing?” she asked Mr and Mrs Cruise.
“I’ll be better when I can have a decent pint or a whisky,” Mr Cruise snapped back.
“We’re fine, dear. Don’t worry about us,” Mrs Cruise replied, patting her on the hand.
Ruth placed her hand on top of Valerie’s. “Good, just enjoy the day.”
“We will, dear.”
Ruth handed James back his drink and left the group. She breezed into the main room, where the wedding was actually going to take place. It looked stunning and took Ruth’s breath away for a second. If she thought the marquee was dressed well, it was nothing compared to what lay before her now. Even Meghan Markle would have been thrilled to have had such a display at Windsor the previous summer.
Subtle notes were coming from one side of the room. She approached the band members. “Any problems, gents?” She didn’t know any of the band, they weren’t local at all.
“Everything is going swimmingly here. Don’t worry, Miss,” the elder member of the band replied.
“Good to know.” One last glance at her watch, and she returned to the hall once more. It was time to make an announcement. “Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention please?” The room fell silent. “It’s time for you to take up your positions in the main room before the bride makes an appearance.” She gestured for the crowd to start making their way to their seats and greeted her neighbours and friends with a smile as they filtered past her and into the room.
It took seven or eight minutes for everyone to locate their seats, leaving the hallway clear, except for Bradley. He made a beeline for her. She had no place to run to, even if she wanted to avoid another confrontation with him. Instead, she beamed at him. “Well, this is it. You should be in there, awaiting your bride.”
“I know where I should be, Ruth. About our conversation earlier, I meant what I said. I wanted to issue a little warning as well. If ever you try to come between me and Geraldine, you’ll be the one likely to be cast adrift, not me. Got that?”
Despite seething inside, she kept her face neutral and replied, “We’ll see. Enjoy your day.”
He glared and marched into the room. She ensured he took up his position at the front of the room alongside his best man before she ran up the stairs to give Geraldine the all-clear.
Geraldine was standing in the bay window when she entered the room. “Are you ready for this, beautiful lady?”
The bride inhaled then exhaled several deep breaths and twisted the bouquet around in her hands a few times then looked up at her. “I don’t know, am I?”
Ruth rushed across the room and grasped Geraldine by her shoulders. “It’s not too late to call the whole thing off.”
“Isn’t it? Tell me it’s just the nerves speaking and that I’m being foolish.”
“It is just the nerves. As to you being foolish, no one would see it that way if you changed yo
ur mind, love.”
“Bradley would have a hissing fit.”
“Any doubts at all running through your mind should be listened to, Geraldine, you don’t need me to tell you that.”
“You do like him, don’t you? Don’t think I haven’t noticed the look you give him at times.”
Ruth placed a hand across her chest. “Me? I can’t say I’ve noticed myself doing that. I apologise if you’ve spotted that in the past. You know me, I’m always thinking about work. Maybe I was distracted about something and it showed on my face. Purely coincidental, love, I promise you.”
Damn, she hadn’t realised she’d been that open about her dislike of the groom. She hoped against hope that Geraldine accepted her excuse. She’d hate to be the cause of her best friend refusing to walk down the aisle.
“If you say so. You would tell me if you didn’t like him, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course I would. I’ve never been one for keeping the truth hidden. If I’ve got anything to say, I’ll say it.” Ruth cupped Geraldine’s chin in her hand. “Everything will be fine, you’ll see. You two were made for each other.” She almost choked on the final two words. What in God’s name was she saying? No, I refuse to point out that I think she’d be foolish to walk down the aisle with him. That’s something she’ll have to discover for herself. I have no right to interfere in someone else’s marriage, whether it’s just starting out or if the couple have been together a lifetime already.
“Okay. I’d better get into position myself.”
Carol coughed slightly. “You’re two minutes late already.”
“There you go, it’s fashionable for the bride to be late. You’re on course for a happy marriage. No regrets, sweetheart. Let’s do this.” Ruth hugged Geraldine and led her to the door.
“No regrets. There’s no going back now. Thank you both for being here.”
Ruth winked at her. “Don’t you dare cry. Come on, smile.”
Geraldine gulped. “I’m smiling on the inside. I’m struggling to transmit it to my face, though. Maybe nerves are kicking in. Let’s get this over with.”
Ruth walked in front of them down the grand staircase. At the bottom, she fluffed up Geraldine’s dress and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Good luck, not that you’ll need it. I’m going to run ahead and take my seat. I’ll instruct the band you’re out here, waiting.”
“You’re a treasure. Thank you for being such a fabulous friend, Ruth.”
Ruth strode through the main door. Geraldine’s father was waiting for his daughter at the entrance. “She’s coming now,” she whispered in his ear. Then she nodded to the band leader to begin playing the wedding march and took her seat next to James in the front row on Geraldine’s side of the church, next to her mother who anxiously reached for her hand. “Don’t worry, she’s fine. A little wobbly, but I think that’s the norm.”
“Phew, I’m glad she has you as her best friend, Ruth. You’ve been amazing over the years.”
“Thank you, even if I did let her down about being a bridesmaid.”
Chapter 3
The service turned out to be a very special one. The bride and groom shared their own versions of the sacred vows. They were both heart-warming and gentle in nature—even Bradley pulled the stops out for that one. Which only made Ruth feel guilty for speaking to him the way she had earlier.
Merriment was prominent in what took place after the couple had tied the knot. Along with James, she was the first to congratulate the happy couple. While the bride and groom accepted further congratulations from the rest of the crowd, Ruth excused herself and left the room to ensure all was well in the marquee, ready for the reception that was about to take place.
The butler to the estate appeared beside her and said, “Looks like everything is in hand. The caterers have done an excellent job.”
“I think you’re right. What a relief. This is the area I was dreading going wrong the most.”
The butler clicked his heels together, bowed slightly and disappeared without saying another word.
Moments later, he was leading the wedding party into the marquee, ensuring the bride and groom and all their relatives were seated at the top table first before he went back to collect the other guests.
James joined Ruth at the entrance. “I’m starving. I hope the food is up to scratch.”
She chortled. “Trust you. Always thinking of your stomach. You had a large breakfast only a few hours ago.”
“I know. Nerves, blame it on the nerves I’ve had to endure all morning. It takes a lot to organise a big event like this, you know.”
A glint twinkled in his eye, and she swiped his upper arm. “Idiot. Go on, take your seat. We’re on the table sitting alongside the top table.”
He leaned forward and whispered, “Just think, if you’d accepted the role of bridesmaid, we’d be treated like royalty today on the top table.” He ducked another swipe heading his way and ran inside before she could respond.
Everything appeared to be well organised and going swimmingly. When everyone was seated, the speeches began. Again, what Bradley had said about how he felt for Geraldine floored her, and for the second time in half an hour she wondered if she’d done him an injustice. If this was the side of Bradley her best friend had fallen in love with, then who was she to question that love?
Everyone raised their champagne glasses to the happy couple, and the meal was served. Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings. It was all perfect in Ruth’s eyes. She felt so proud of the way Geraldine had organised her own big day. Her gaze travelled along the top table and settled on Geraldine’s father. He was hitting the drink heavily now. She couldn’t help wondering where that could possibly lead to in a few hours. She also noted the jaded expression slapped on Geraldine’s mother’s face.
After the meal had ended, everyone was directed to go back into the main hall where the service had taken place. The room had been cleared, and the band struck up a lively tune once people began arriving. A small bar had been set up in the corner. The first person to use it was the bride’s father, much to his wife’s disgust.
“He’s overdoing it a little,” James whispered.
“Shocking behaviour. We’re going to need to keep an eye on him. A lot of good your chat with the barman had in the end.”
“I know, I did my best. You can’t help some people though, right?”
“Yep. As long as he was soberish for when he walked Geraldine down the aisle and for the photos, I don’t suppose anyone is going to begrudge him getting plastered now. I can’t say it sits comfortably with me.”
“Nor me. I’ll keep an eye on him, don’t worry.”
She kissed him on the cheek. “What would I do without you?”
“We could have a frank and honest conversation about that later, if you’re willing?”
Ruth grinned and rolled her eyes. “Nice try.” She left him and started to circulate—knowing everyone who had been invited to the wedding had its advantages. No awkwardness because everyone knew one another. Although that brought with it certain disadvantages, too. There were a few people in the room she intended to steer clear of after falling out with them over the years. Being a private investigator made people suspicious of you all the time. That suited Ruth the majority of the time; she wasn’t really the type who needed to be surrounded by friends. She was content with her life the way it was, with James and Ben.
By mid-afternoon, Ruth could tell that Geraldine was flagging. The poor girl hadn’t sat down since their time in the marquee. Ruth crossed the room and stood beside Geraldine while she accepted Mrs Jordan’s praise.
“I only said to Frank yesterday that I was so looking forward to this wedding. What a beautiful setting you’ve chosen. You’re very lucky in so many ways, Geraldine. Good health and much happiness throughout your marriage. You’ve snagged a good one there.”
“Thank you, Mrs Jordan. Did you know we’re flying out on our honeymoon in a few hours?”
“I heard something on the grapevine about it being in the Caribbean. I must say, I’m a little envious. Always wanted to go there but have never had the opportunity over the years.”
“Maybe your forthcoming retirement will change that.”
“I doubt it. Not the state my pension pot is in, dear. Most of it got wiped out years ago. Dreadful state of affairs. That means Frank now has to continue working for another ten years or more, to make up for the loss. Bless him, he’s insisted I should retire when I’m ready. After having six kids, I was ready to retire in my forties.” They all laughed. “Any plans to start a family, love?”
“Gosh, I haven’t really thought about that. Maybe in a year or two once we get to know each other better.”
“You’ve got an extremely wise head on those pretty shoulders of yours, sweetie. Don’t let him bully you into something you’re not ready for. Having kids is a huge commitment that most people take too lightly nowadays, in my opinion.” Mrs Jordan patted Geraldine on the hand then drifted off into the crowd.
“That told you,” Ruth said, brushing her forehead against Geraldine’s.
“Didn’t it? It’s been a wonderful day, but I’m feeling exhausted now. The thought of travelling to the airport and enduring that flight today is well, frankly, more than a little daunting. Why on earth did I arrange the flight so soon after the wedding?”
“I think I would have done the same thing. Once you’re sitting on the plane, all this will be long behind you, you’ll see. I bet you’ll sleep most of the way there.”
“Fingers crossed.” Geraldine cast her eyes around the room.
“Looking for someone?”
“My new husband. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him. Any idea where he’s got to?”
“No. Want me to search around for him? I don’t mind.”
“No. He’ll show up soon. He’s probably nipped to the loo to empty his bladder.”
“Eww…thanks, mate. Too much information. Is there anything I can do for you?”
