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CHAPTER8
“You may now kiss the bride.”
As Aaron kissed Alice tenderly on the lips, Felicity’s vision blurred. She was a complete sucker for weddings. She cried at every single finale ofThe Bachelor, for heaven’s sake. So, obviously, when her cousin was getting married, she didn’t stand a chance of remaining dry-eyed.
Happy tears were okay to shed.
Sad ones she’d cried an ocean of, there was no room for them in her life.Cultivate joywas Felicity’s mantra now.
She shifted her feet, her leg aching from the constant standing, and Polly cast her a sympathetic glance and mouthed, “Do you need a seat?”
She shook her head and buried her nose in her posy.
Over supper last night she’d told Polly and Judith about the cancer. She did her usual thing of laughing it off, but they’d both been incredibly sensitive, which made Felicity realise exactly why they both worked in mental health. Even so, she didn’t mention how long her recovery had taken, the months of unrelenting pain, nor her time at Hedgedown Lodge.
People rarely understood the psychological scars, and even if Polly and Judith probably would, it wasn’t something that needed dissecting the day before Alice’s wedding.
After the ceremony Felicity got through the photographs, smiling brightly and distracting herself from Scarlet by allowing her eyes to covertly feast on Oliver arranging everyone for the photo shoot, making sure that his gran had a seat and generally being incredibly charming.
And now he was on the podium, making everyone laugh with his witty anecdotes about Aaron as a kid, before introducing Henry.
At the bridesmaids’ table, Felicity sat and gazed adoringly at her uncle as he delivered a stellar father-of-the-bride speech.
“When Alice and I met for the first time just over a year ago we discovered that a love of Winnie the Pooh and a passion for the Brontës is clearly a genetic trait.” Laughter filled the room as Henry regaled the guests with tales of his and Alice’s shared love of literature, and that laughter soon turned into muffled sniffles as he finished, “—and I know my husband Gabe will understand when I say, I loved Alice’s mother and was devastated when we lost touch. Imagine my joy when twenty-five years later I found out that our deep friendship had created the most compassionate, intelligent and beautiful young woman a father could wish for. My joy was twofold when I simultaneously acquired a son-in law. Welcome to the English contingent of the family, my dear fellow…”
The applause thundered. Henry hugged Aaron and kissed Alice.
Moments later, Oliver strode onto the podium once more to announce the speeches were over and it was time to welcome the bride and groom onto the dance floor. Alice looked radiant in a white silk dress with a pearled bodice, her rich brown hair covered in a pearl-dotted veil that she’d pushed back from her face. And Aaron gazed at her as if she was the only person in the room as they danced.
Felicity released a happy sigh. What a perfect day it had been.
“Come on, it’s our turn now,” Polly said as guests finally filtered onto the dance floor.
“Oh, no—I—” She grimaced in the direction of her leg.
“Just do a little shimmy on the spot.”
“I look like a clumsy duck, honestly, it’s better if I don’t.”
“We’ll all be with you. And seriously, no-one can be a worse dancer than Carts,” Polly pointed out.
“Oh, my poor darling, don’t believe a word of it.” Judith reached up and affectionately ruffled Carts’ fringe. Carts grinned and said, “It’s true, I’m totally rhythm blind and tone deaf. At least keep me company.”
How could she refuse after that? Even though attempting to dance made her feel sad, reminded her of what she used to be capable of. But today was an exception, so she told herself not to be a party-pooper and followed them onto the dance floor.
A red buzz-cut swung in front of her nose—Dan doing a strange dance that made him look like he was made of rubber. He soon had her snorting with laughter and thankfully put paid to memories of the past.
Within minutes the band struck up an ABBA number and suddenly people were flying around the floor like missiles. Felicity gyrated a little faster, shifting her left leg awkwardly but letting her upper body sway. Nearby, Polly and Solo were rock n’rolling and Carts and Judith attempted to waltz.
To “Dancing Queen”?Seriously?
Suddenly a guy who’d clearly decided to do a dirty dancing number with his girlfriend swung into Felicity’s path. A big elbow dug into her ribs, and she teetered. Trying to regain her balance, she tripped over someone’s foot and found her body hurtling, arms spread-eagled, towards the nearest table of guests.
The next moment her flight was abruptly halted. By a wall of male chest, a heart-splicingly delicious smell... and a pair of strong arms around her waist, steadying her. When she lifted her gaze, eyes as dark as a night sky held hers.
“Oh, golly gosh!” she gasped as she tried to stand up, but Scarlet decided otherwise, her leg gave way and she collapsed against him. To hide her chagrin, she grinned cheekily up from the pleats of his dress shirt. “I think I should put you on a retainer.”
Oliver’s low laugh rumbled its way into a place it had absolutely no right to go.
