The engagement seemed a shame. If he was honest, Dan hadn’t really taken to the man. He’d seemed a little petulant and lacking in humour. Although to be fair he had just been smacked in the mouth. And it was clearly nothing to do with Dan. In fact, he was pleased for Evie. It had to be three years now since the Christmas when she’d told him that she wanted marriage and babies. So this was great for her. It didn’t feel like that man was the right one for her, though. She deserved someone better. Not that it was any of his business.
Maybe he’d leave Sasha and Evie to their conversation now.
‘I’ll catch you later. Evie, I think we’re on the same table at dinner.’
He left them and meandered over towards the bar, smiling and nodding at various people as he went.
This was the way to enjoy a wedding. Knowing a lot of the people there but having no duties beyond that of usher, which he’d now fulfilled.
‘Hey, Dan.’ His cousin Harry slapped him on the back. ‘Saw you earlier at the church doors but no time to chat. It’s been too long.’
‘It has.’ Dan nodded. ‘Got to be a couple of years? You were working out in New Zealand, Mum said?’
‘Yep. Back for good now. I’ve taken a job in Edinburgh, in orthopaedics. We should catch up properly soon. I’m staying in London for the next couple of weeks. I saw your mum and dad in London the other day, too. Thursday, I think.’
‘Really?’ Odd that his mother would visit London without mentioning it to him. And hadn’t Lucie said that they’d been doing last-minute bride, bridesmaid and mother-of-the-bride dress fittings and other weddingy things on Thursday before he and Max arrived yesterday? ‘Day before yesterday?’
‘Yep. I didn’t speak to them, just saw them in the distance, in the middle of the concourse at Paddington station. I have to say, it was sweet. They were hugging; in fact, at the risk of making you vom, they were full-on snogging, like teenagers. It was definitely them. I saw your dad very clearly.’
Dan felt his features freeze.
He should smile, or something. Speak.
‘Small world,’ he managed. No-one mistook their uncle, did they, when they’d spent so many family holidays together. And he was pretty sure his mother had mentioned that his father had indeed been in London on business this week.
‘Here’s the man himself,’ Harry said, moving a little to the side to intercept Dan’s father on his way past them.
‘Harry, Dan.’ Dan’s father shook both their hands.
‘I was just telling Dan that I saw you at Paddington station on Thursday afternoon,’ said Harry. ‘Presume you were about to catch the five thirty train back here.’
‘That’s right. Small world,’ his father said, echoing Dan. ‘Yes, I’ve been working in London a fair amount recently. Back and forth from Kemble to Paddington. I have a role with the Royal College of General Practitioners.’
‘Nice that Aunt Fiona can go with you too,’ Harry said.
‘I don’t think Mum went on Thursday,’ Dan said.
‘No, she doesn’t often come with me. Busy at home.’ Dan’s father wasn’t so much falling into a trap, he was leaping into it. ‘Particularly in the run-up to the wedding.’
‘Really?’ Maybe Harry’s senses were dulled by all the champagne he was knocking back. ‘I definitely saw her. On the platform.’
‘No, I…’ Dan’s father looked at Dan, and visibly paled. Then he returned his gaze to Harry. ‘You must have seen someone else, Harry.’ He shook Harry’s hand again. ‘Good to see you. Let’s speak again later. I’d better go and fulfil some of my father-of-the-bride duties now.’
Pity he’d apparently lost the ability to fulfil his husband-of-the-mother-of-the-bride duties some years ago.
Dan could feel heat rising up his head. He really wanted to confront his father there and then. Tell him to stop the charade, that everyone knew that he was having an affair, indeed multiple affairs, and just to be honest. But he couldn’t do that now, not in the middle of Lucie’s wedding.
‘You look hot. Very red. You alright?’ Harry was peering at him.
‘Yeah, I’m great,’ Dan said. ‘It is hot in here, though. I might step outside for a minute.’
Dan had himself back under control by the time he sat down for dinner. Normally, he was great at controlling himself around his father. He’d had enough practice; he’d been silently angry with him since he was sixteen, just before Max’s accident.
He shouldn’t have let his father’s behaviour get to him earlier. It wasn’t like it was new information; it was more a reminder of what he already knew. And from snippets of arguments that he’d heard over the years, he was sure that his mother knew too. If she didn’t want to kick his father out, Dan really shouldn’t interfere. He barely even went home now; it was their relationship, nothing to do with him.
‘Looks like the food’s going to be fantastic,’ Evie said, showing him the menu. They were now a table of nine, due to Euan’s absence; apparently his mother was staying with him at the dentist, which was why Evie had been able to come back to the reception. Dan couldn’t say he was displeased with the result, though it was just because Evie was good company. That was what he was telling himself anyway. She wasengaged,after all.
‘That does look good,’ he agreed.
