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‘Call me Kenneth.’ Her dad shook Matt’s hand. ‘You’re a brave man. You wouldn’t catch me planning someone else’s wedding. I didn’t even get involved in planning my own.’
Although it was meant as a light-hearted joke, Beth wasn’t sure it was something he should be overly proud of. She refrained from comment, nonetheless.
‘Stark mad, the pair of you. Good luck with it.’ He smiled at Beth. ‘I’m heading out.’
‘Before you go, sir.’ Matt turned to him. ‘You’re actually the reason why I’m here. I wondered if we could have a chat about suits for the wedding.’
Beth felt her eyebrows raise. He’d called her dad, sir? The man-mountain had manners, she’d give him that.
‘No need,’ her father said, dismissively. ‘I have my own Savile Row tailor – they’ve already measured me up for a set of tails.’
‘That’s just the thing, sir. Zac has requested evening suits.’
Her dad frowned. ‘For a wedding?’
‘Yes.’
Her dad looked perplexed. ‘It should be top hat and tails.’
Matt glanced at Beth, as if unsure how to proceed. ‘Maybe if it was a traditional church wedding, but they’ve opted for a ceremony within a hotel, so they feel tuxedos would be more fitting for the occasion.’
‘No church?’ Kenneth Lawrence reacted as if Matt had announced the wedding was to be held in Strangeways. ‘My baby girl should be getting married in a church. It’s only right and proper.’
Beth wasn’t sure which hypocrisy to point out first. Her father’s lack of religion. His non-existent church visits. His infidelity, or his ‘baby girl’ already being married. But as no one else in her family knew about this last one, she bit her tongue. ‘We did look at a church option,’ Beth added, trying to be helpful. ‘However, Megan and Zac said they’d prefer a civil venue.’
Planning another couple’s wedding was stressful enough when the people involved agreed, but as Beth and Matt hadn’t, they’d been forced to ask Megan and Zac their preference on this matter. Matt had been proved right – the couple didn’t want a church ceremony. Despite the opportunity to gloat over his victory, Matt hadn’t. Beth still wasn’t quite sure why.
‘Still no excuse to abandon the whole traditional tails,’ her dad said, puffing out his chest. Beth realised he was trying to appear taller, stretching up his torso, no doubt a little intimidated by Matt’s imposing frame.
Matt’s voice was surprisingly gentle as he addressed her father, as if used to putting insecure men at ease. ‘The thing is, we’ve only a month to go before the day, and the groom’s family have ordered evening suits.’
‘Then they can reorder tailcoats.’
Matt glanced at Beth. ‘That’s not going to be possible.’
‘I don’t see why not? They’re hiring them, aren’t they? Why can’t they just change the order?’
Matt looked uncomfortable. He flexed his hands and rubbed them on his T-shirt. ‘Some of us aren’t a regular size, sir.’
‘Your point?’
A beat passed. ‘I’m having my jacket specially made. It’s too late to change the order.’ His voice was low and hesitant, and far from his normal confident self – he actually appeared vulnerable.
Beth studied his face, trying to fathom the reason for his discomfort. Was money an issue? Or was he self-conscious about wearing formal clothing? It wasn’t everyone’s preference. He certainly had no reason to worry about his appearance. Despite his character shortcomings, he was a striking man. Large, definitely, yet handsome. He reminded her of Russell Crowe in Gladiator… a thought she immediately quashed when an image of Matt dressed as a Roman warrior filled her head. That was one distraction she did not need.
‘I’m sorry, but as the bride’s father I’m insisting on wearing a formal tail suit,’ her father said, waving his hand about. ‘You younger lot can wear what you like.’
Matt looked conflicted. He clearly didn’t want to get into an argument with this man, but the idea of the two families dressed in different outfits was ludicrous.
It was time for Beth to step in. Who’d have ever thought she’d take sides with Matt Hardy? ‘Dad, we can’t have half of the congregation wearing tails and the other half wearing tuxedos.’
‘Why not?’
She lifted her hands. ‘Because it would look ridiculous.’
‘If they don’t like it, they can change it.’ Her dad was in one of his belligerent moods.
‘Matt has explained why he can’t do that. And besides, this is Zac’s decision to make, and he’s opted for evening suits. We have to respect that.’
