Willow's Wedding Vows: a laugh out loud romantic comedy with a twist!

by Debbie Viggiano

  Charlie was now so pale he was making his shirt look as though it had spent a fortnight in the Bahamas.

  ‘From an anonymous person who told me that sometimes you aren’t really working late at the office… that sometimes you’ve been out with Kev.’

  Charlie looked like he was going to puke.

  ‘What did this person sound like?’ he growled.

  ‘Female. Well spoken.’

  Willow took a sip of tea and regarded Charlie’s reaction over the rim of her cup. Blimey. Her boyfriend almost looked ill.

  ‘And that’s not all,’ she added.

  Having mentioned the anonymous phone call and got Charlie’s full attention, now was as good a time as any to tell him what the mystery woman had said.

  ‘She told me to leave you.’

  ‘Leave me?’ he repeated incredulously.

  Charlie had to resist the urge not to slump down on the floor and crease his precious shirt.

  Flipping hell. It was all kicking off, wasn’t it? Bloody Kev wasn’t going to let him go. All his efforts to distance himself were turning to ashes. He’d have to see her and have it out. How dare Kev think she could coerce him into resuming their relationship. It was tantamount to, well, emotional blackmail. Yes, that was exactly what it was. The woman was obviously a bunny boiler. Thank God they hadn’t got a rabbit. Although Kev had a different sort of rabbit. He had a horrible vision of coming home from work and finding Willow by the stove, peering into a pot of boiling water and saying, “But what is it, Charlie?” and him, slightly hysterical, saying, “A sexy present, darling. I wanted to sterilise it before you tried it out. You can’t trust anything that’s made in China these days.”

  Oh God. Now he was having ridiculous thoughts about vibrators.

  ‘Did this person say anything else?’ he gasped.

  ‘No.’ Willow shook her head. ‘Do you have any idea why I received such a call?’

  Charlie felt his stomach contract with tension. Was Willow challenging him?

  ‘No idea at all,’ he said faintly. ‘It’s probably just some saddo who’s jealous of our relationship.’

  ‘I did wonder that,’ said Willow thoughtfully.

  ‘What a bloody cheek,’ said Charlie, glad that Willow was being led down this line of thought. ‘Don’t take any notice.’

  ‘The only thing is–’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Well, if this woman is jealous of our relationship–’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Then it would stand to reason that we know her.’

  Charlie gaped at Willow. Why had he ever thought she was a bit of an airhead? Right now, she was on a trail. Joining up the dots. Sooner or later she’d put them all together and see the full picture. A portrait of Kev.

  ‘I’m not sure about that,’ he blustered. ‘It’s more likely to be someone who has seen you out and about with me and recognised you from the library. They probably thought we looked deliriously happy and now they want to cause trouble. You get people like that.’

  ‘But this person mentioned you by name.’

  Charlie gave a casual shrug while his mind raced to come up with a plausible answer.

  ‘Perhaps this person overheard you saying my name while talking to me?’

  He wanted to end this conversation, so he set about doing it in exactly the way he always did when a woman boxed him into a corner. Charlie abandoned the shirt, removed the mug of tea from Willow’s hand, then swept her into his arms and held her tight.

  ‘Forget about this stupid person who called you at the library.’

  ‘But–’

  ‘No, I mean it. Don’t let it bother you. Whoever this woman is, she’s nothing. No one. Okay?’

  Willow rested her head on Charlie’s shoulder, luxuriating in his embrace. She felt his lips kiss the top of her head. Seconds later, his mouth was on hers.

  ‘Charlie?’ called Ben, from the next room. ‘I’ve run out of razors. Can I nick one of yours?’

  Charlie pulled away from Willow and grinned.

  ‘Bad timing, eh?’

  ‘Never mind,’ she sighed. ‘I can wait until you’re home again.’

  ‘That’s a promise,’ he smiled.

  As he went off to find razors for Ben, Charlie mentally made another promise.

  To pay Kev a visit when he was back from Birmingham.

  Thirty-Five

  ‘Heyyy,’ said Willow in delight as she opened the front door to her bestie. ‘Happy birthday, Ems!’

  She pulled a grinning Emma into the hallway and hugged her tight, just as Charlie and Ben clattered down the stairs clutching their overnight bags.

  ‘Look who’s here!’ Willow beamed at Charlie. ‘Wish Emma many happy returns.’

  Willow was quick to notice that her friend’s smile had frozen.

  ‘Happy birthday,’ said Charlie politely.

  ‘Happy birthday from me, too,’ said Ben, hopping from one foot to the other and looking incredibly gauche.

  ‘Thank you,’ said Emma quietly.

  ‘Ah, Ben,’ said Willow. ‘I’m not sure if you two have met before?’

  ‘Um…’ said Emma vaguely.

  Willow was aware of a sudden tension in the small hallway. Everyone seemed to be behaving strangely.

  ‘Anyway’ – she turned back to Emma – ‘this is Ben, Charlie’s mate from work. He’s between properties at the moment, and staying with us for a few weeks.’

  Willow hoped Ben had caught that last word. Weeks. Not months. Or, God forbid, years. But Emma wasn’t looking at Ben. She seemed to be avoiding eye contact with him. Or, hang on, was it Charlie she was avoiding eye contact with?

  Willow’s gaze flit from Emma to Charlie. Her boyfriend had his head down and seemed to be deliberately busying himself by fussing with the handles of his holdall.

  ‘We’d better be off,’ said Ben.

  ‘Yes,’ Charlie agreed.

  His tone was suddenly brisk. He gave Willow a quick peck on the cheek, then almost flattened himself against the hall wall in order to pass Emma.

  ‘Bye,’ said Ben.

  He was still looking awkward. Willow didn’t know if it was because he wasn’t sure whether to kiss her good-bye too. She took a small step backwards, her body language immediately signalling that it wasn’t necessary.

  ‘Have a successful work convention’ – Willow held open the front door as both men stepped outside – ‘and I do hope the conference isn’t too dull.’

  Ben opened his mouth to say something, but Charlie appeared to nudge him in the ribs.

  ‘It will be boring as hell,’ said Charlie firmly.

  Willow waved, then shut the door after them. She turned back to Emma.

  ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘Yeah, great. Why wouldn’t I be?’

  Emma was smiling again, but Willow felt it was forced. Her friend had arrived lit up like a hundred-watt lightbulb, but within seconds the sparkle had dimmed.

  ‘You look like someone who has just had a ton weight dumped on their shoulders.’

  ‘Oh, it’s something and nothing,’ Emma shrugged. ‘Are you ready to go?’

  ‘Almost. I just need to change handbags.’

  Emma followed Willow upstairs to her bedroom.

  ‘So define “something and nothing”,’ said Willow.

  She scattered the contents of a formal black bag used for work across her duvet. Today she would use her tan satchel. It would look perfect teamed with her jeans and brown leather boots. For a moment Willow’s fingers hovered mid-air as she contemplated which bits of paraphernalia she required.

  ‘Well’ – Emma plonked herself down on one corner of the bed – ‘I’m now thirty years old.’

  ‘And what’s wrong with that?’ asked Willow, shoving a lipstick into the satchel’s inner zip pocket. ‘You’re talking to a woman who had the same birthday herself last week. I survived.’

  ‘Yeah.’ Emma gave Willow a wan grin. ‘But it’s not so much the age thing as
–’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Well, look at me.’ Emma spread her arms wide. ‘Single and alone.’

  ‘There’s nothing wrong with being single and alone,’ Willow protested.

  ‘And back home with her mum,’ Emma added mutinously.

  ‘Fair comment,’ said Willow.

  Much as she loved her own mother, Willow really wouldn’t want to be under the parental roof again.

  ‘At least your mum is still young and trendy,’ Willow pointed out.

  ‘Which means she nicks all my clothes and make-up,’ Emma countered.

  ‘Ah. Point taken.’

  Willow’s own mother was much older than Emma’s. Unlike Karen Everest, Willow’s mum had long succumbed to the menopause and middle-age spread, whereas Karen still had a whippet-thin body and could even have another baby if she so desired.

  ‘I guess swiping your stuff is the downside to having such a youthful mother. She did, after all, start a family very early in life.’

  ‘Too early.’ Emma’s lip curled. ‘She was still a kid herself. And that’s why I’m feeling a bit fed up. Today I’ve reached a “big” birthday… and so has Noah.’

  Willow paused in buckling up the satchel and regarded Emma for a moment.

  ‘You know, sometimes I forget you have a twin.’

  ‘So does Mum.’

  ‘Oh come on, Ems. I’m sure Karen hasn’t forgotten about Noah. After all, she gave birth to him.’

  ‘Huh. She kept her baby boy for all of five minutes, before allowing my father’s family to take Noah away.’

  ‘But that’s how your parents worked things out,’ said Willow gently. ‘You know all this. Their quarrels about custody. How they compromised with each other to resolve arguments.’

  ‘Yeah.’

  Emma gazed at the carpet for a moment.

  ‘My mum’s family raised me, and Dad’s family raised Noah. But everyone on my dad’s side emigrated. What sort of relationship have I had with any of them? Sporadic, that’s what. And Noah isn’t just my brother. He’s my twin. Twins are meant to have such a special relationship. But ours has been long-distance. We’ve lived nine-and-a-half thousand miles apart and I’ve been denied that special bond.’ She blinked furiously. ‘My relationship with both my father and brother has been very patchy.’

  ‘Hardly surprising, given the distance,’ Willow carefully pointed out.

  ‘But it’s more than that,’ Emma sniffed. ‘Mum has positively encouraged me not to have too much contact. I’ve turned down numerous invitations to Australia, and all to appease Mum. You see, she doesn’t like being reminded of Noah. It flags up her past which, before she got pregnant, was full of wild parties. She’d rather forget the years that culminated in her giving up one of her children.’

  ‘Perhaps it’s Karen’s coping mechanism,’ Willow pointed out. ‘After all, it can’t have been easy giving her little boy up.’

  ‘Yes, and I get that. But it’s still hard to deal with. It’s on significant days like today – our birthdays – that I struggle with keeping the resentment buried.’

  Emma’s eyes shone with unshed tears and she hastily blinked.

  ‘This morning I received a lovely card from Noah.’

  She opened her handbag and rootled within.

  ‘He also sent this.’

  Emma passed a piece of paper to Willow.

  Taking it, Willow immediately saw it was a photograph. Her eyes widened at the image. A man. And a drop-dead-gorgeous one at that. Her brain let out a sigh of approval that sounded very much like “phwoarrrrr”.

  Noah was standing against the backdrop of an Australian sunset. He looked absolutely nothing like his sister. Emma was a brunette, but Noah’s hair was much darker. Almost black. As was the stubble grazing his cheeks. His skin was tanned, and his body was both lean and well-muscled. He reminded Willow of someone. She chewed her lip, trying to think who it could be. And then it came to her. Emma’s brother wasn’t unlike one of Madonna’s ex-lovers. What was his name? Willow couldn’t remember. But he’d once been one of the iconic pop star’s dancers and had caused a huge sensation dating a woman thirty years his senior. Willow gazed into the brown eyes looking back at her. Noah was hot.

  ‘Turn it over,’ said Emma.

  Willow flipped the photograph round and saw a handwritten message.

  Happy birthday, little sis (I’m allowed to say that because I’m five minutes older than you!). I’m taking time out for some long-overdue travelling including catching up with my English family. I’m doing a three-month trip covering some of Australia’s North Territories before flying over to China for an explore, then to France, on to Amsterdam, a wander through Europe, finally finishing in good old Blighty (as I believe you Brits say). The timing will take me to roughly the third week of December. It would be GREAT to spend Christmas with you and Mum xxx

  ‘What a wonderful message,’ said Willow. ‘Just think, after all these years you’re going to be reunited with your brother. That’s amazing!’

  ‘I know.’ Emma gave a watery smile. ‘Unfortunately Mum isn’t so enthusiastic.’

  ‘What?’ Willow’s eyebrows shot upwards. ‘Don’t be daft.’

  ‘She really isn’t keen.’ Emma shook her head. ‘She’s worried about Noah asking a ton of questions. The third degree, and all that. She thinks seeing him again will open a sore. Currently Mum’s blanking the subject. It’s almost like she’s pretending that Noah hasn’t got in touch.’

  ‘I’m sure she’ll come around. Karen has over two months to get used to the idea. You know, Ems, try and see it from your mum’s side. Noah is planning on walking back into both your lives. Maybe your mum is apprehensive because the reality is that she doesn’t want him leaving her all over again.’

  Emma sighed.

  ‘Yeah, maybe. I never thought of that.’

  ‘Is Noah travelling alone, or is he bringing a girlfriend, or even a wife?’

  ‘He’s doing the trip alone. There was a girlfriend. Caitlin. But apparently they wanted different things from life, whatever that means. She called it a day.’

  Passing the photograph back to Emma, Willow marvelled at her slightly trembling hand. She also wondered why she felt so ridiculously pleased to hear that Emma’s brother was single.

  Thirty-Six

  Willow looped the satchel’s strap across her body, then grabbed her coat.

  ‘Right then,’ she said to Emma. ‘Let’s get this tattoo of yours sorted. And no, I’m not having one.’

  ‘Oh come on,’ Emma wheedled. ‘You promised.’

  ‘I promised to hold your hand, not to share your pain.’

  As the two women made their way downstairs, the doorbell rang.

  ‘Wonder who that is?’ said Willow.

  She wasn’t expecting anyone. Perhaps Charlie had forgotten some vital item – a toothbrush or change of underpants – and had dashed back home. But then again, he’d surely use his housekeys. Unless, of course, it was his keys he’d forgotten.

  But when Willow opened the door, instead of Charlie standing there, it was Anna. For a moment the two women simply stared at each other. Willow felt a wave of annoyance. What the heck was Ben’s ex doing here? First the woman had the audacity to wake her up at a ridiculous hour insisting Willow promise to never marry Charlie, and now she was here in person. Would more crazy demands follow? Did Anna want Willow to make a promise in writing?

  ‘Hello,’ said Willow coolly.

  She would have preferred to rudely demand, “And what the flaming heck do you want?”. But she’d never been one to be intentionally ill-mannered. It simply wasn’t in her nature.

  ‘Ah. I can tell from your tone you’re still sore at me.’

  Emma stood a little behind Willow and stared at Anna in astonishment. The friction between this visitor and her friend was almost tangible. Emma could feel herself tensing too.

  Her eyes swooped over the woman on the doorstep. Tall’ish. Attractive, but a defin
ite hardness around the mouth. She was stylishly dressed in a cropped leather jacket teamed with distressed jeans. The material was so slashed Emma presumed it to be deliberate because it was artfully framing an enviable tattoo. A pretty butterfly danced across Anna’s left thigh.

  ‘If you’re after Ben,’ said Willow, ‘I’m afraid he’s not here. He and Charlie have gone to a work convention.’

  ‘Oh yes. Charlie’s beloved Birmingham,’ said Anna sarcastically.

  ‘Hardly,’ Willow tutted. ‘He can’t stand the place.’

  ‘Really? Then perhaps he is gallivanting closer to home these days.’

  Anna paused to glare at Emma.

  ‘Gallivanting?’ Willow questioned. ‘I’m not sure I understand your choice of word.’

  ‘Would you know what I mean?’ said Anna, challenging Emma.

  ‘Most definitely not,’ Emma protested.

  She could feel her cheeks colouring but held Anna’s gaze, which was like a searchlight seeking out lies.

  ‘Can I ask you a question instead?’ Willow interrupted.

  Anna tore her eyes away from Emma and looked at Willow.

  ‘Sure. Ask away.’

  ‘Did you ring me at the library on Thursday morning?’

  Anna blinked.

  ‘That’s a strange question. If I’d rung you at your library, I would have said it was me calling.’

  ‘So you didn’t call?’ Willow persisted.

  ‘No.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘Hm, let me see,’ said Anna.

  She shifted her weight to her left leg and put her right hand to her chin in a parody of someone thinking.

  ‘Did I ring you on Thursday morning?’ she drawled. ‘Yes. You know I did. At your house. But did I call you at the library? No.’

  Anna’s eyes swivelled to Emma again, but this time her gaze wasn’t met. Emma appeared to be enthralled with Willow’s hall floor.

  ‘Why do you ask?’ said Anna.

  Willow hesitated before speaking.

  ‘Someone rang, but we got cut off. The caller sounded like you.’

  Anna shrugged.

  ‘Not me.’

  She opened her handbag and removed some envelopes.

  ‘The reason I’ve popped over is to give Ben his post. As I’ve missed him, would you be kind enough to give him these?’