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The crowd let out a collective ‘awww’.
‘I remember us dancing together that night, and thinking even back then how I never wanted to let you go …’ Frank sniffed quickly, and gave himself a shake. ‘Sorry – I didn’t think this would make me so … emotional.’ Sophie reached over and squeezed his hand.
‘He’s got hidden depths,’ Helen hissed under her breath to Elle. Even she was feeling quite emotional, but that might just have been the champagne.
‘Which reminded me of how my own father and mother met …’
The crowd turned their focus to Mr and Mrs Edwards who stood on the side lines, Mrs Edwards’ rather outlandish purple fascinator bristling in the air-con.
‘Uh-oh tangent …’ winked Ish.
‘Not many people know this, and I very much hope that my parents won’t mind me relaying their story, but I’d like to tell you how Jane met Ian, all those years ago. My parents met before the age of dating apps, at a roller disco, when my mum fell on the floor and my dad held out a hand to pick her up. Rumour has it that ‘Hot Stuff’ by Donna Summer was playing at the time!’
Genuine laughter rippled through the crowd.
‘And far away in a distant corner of the world …’
Sophie leaned the mic towards her. ‘It was actually Raffles hotel, Singapore …’
‘Thank you, my love … anyway a young Mr Wu saw a beautiful British air hostess. Speaking no English …’
‘And she no Mandarin,’ Sophie corrected.
‘He communicated with her in the only language he knew they had in common … dance!’ Frank glanced at Mr and Mrs Wu, the latter of which towered over her husband. ‘Which is why today, I thought it was only fitting to honour this ancient …’ Frank winced, ‘… courtship ritual with our very own “dance-off”.’
Everyone was quiet now.
‘I know this is a tad unconventional, but, as Sophie knows, I do like to sometimes push the proverbial envelope …’
Elle and Helen swapped confused glances. Frank was the most boring person they knew.
‘So it is my delight to encourage you to grab a partner, and join in our celebration of partnership through dance … and of course Sophie and I will be leading the way with a little taster of what you can expect at our wedding!’
The first few chords of ‘Hot Stuff’ blared out the room’s speakers. The crowd parted like the Red Sea and an increasingly flushed Frank led Sophie into the centre of the room.
‘Poor Sophie …’ Helen flinched seeing her friend, tottering onto the dance floor, forcing a smile to the crowd.
‘This must have been what all those dance lessons were about?’ Elle pushed onto her tiptoes for a better look.
Sophie’s red dress shimmered as Frank led her across the floor. ‘Frank and Sophie’s First First Dance’ appeared on the screen behind them. The main lights dimmed, and multi-coloured spotlights danced across the floor.
‘Oh God,’ Helen winced. Was it even possible to feel this embarrassed when it wasn’t you?
‘I think this will be all right ya know,’ smiled Ish.
‘What makes you say that?’
‘Just give it a chance.’ Ish briefly squeezed her hand, and Helen felt a rush of warmth through her.
Sophie turned away from Frank and started stalking off the dance floor.
‘Is she upset?’ hissed Elle.
‘Sophie?’ Frank called out.
‘Tell me about it, stud!’ Sophie spun around as ‘The One That I Want’ blasted out of the speakers.
‘Mio dios!’ Elle gasped.
