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‘We haven’t seen it on,’ says Mum.
‘But I have. And you’ll see it on Christmas Eve.’
Elaine looks horrified. ‘You can’t buy the first thing you see! I mean, who does that?’
‘I do,’ I say. ‘I came to buy something for your vow renewal, and I’ve found it. But don’t let me stop you. I can easily go and wait in the coffee shop until you’re both ready.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ says Mum. ‘I don’t want you filling yourself up with cake and not being able to eat your lunch.’
‘She used to do that when she was little,’ she tells Elaine. ‘I’d spend all day cooking, then Graham would give the pair of them a bag of crisps to keep them going, and Annie wouldn’t eat her dinner. I told him time and time again that she had a tiny appetite, but would he listen?’
‘It must be why she has such a lovely figure,’ says Elaine.
‘She gets that from me,’ says Mum complacently. ‘I’ve always been able to eat what I like.’
‘What are you wearing to the ceremony?’ I ask her.
She immediately forgets about my childhood snack habits. ‘I have the most beautiful dress. Elaine and I chose it together so we wouldn’t clash. You can’t have the matron of honour and the bride dressed the same.’
‘You’re the matron of honour?’ I ask.
‘Of course, she is!’ says Elaine. ‘There wouldn’t be much point otherwise.’
‘Point in what?’ I say, confused.
She turns pink. ‘I mean there’s no point in having a vow renewal if you can’t have your best friend at your side.’
‘Exactly,’ says Mum.
‘And what are you wearing?’ I ask Elaine.
‘Oh, it’s lovely!’ says Mum. ‘It’s the most beautiful –’
Elaine pokes her. ‘It’s supposed to be a secret.’
‘I’m sorry I asked,’ I say.
‘It isn’t important,’ she says. ‘It’s just a silly tradition.’
I look at my watch. ‘We don’t need to stay for lunch after all. I mean, we have what we came for, and it’s only eleven o’clock.’
Elaine looks disappointed. ‘But I was looking forward to getting to know you and hearing all your news.’
‘I don’t really have any,’ I say. ‘And I know that Mum wants me to help her with the mince pies.’
Mum wavers. ‘That’s true. And you haven’t wrapped any of your presents yet. It might be better if we got going, after all.’
‘That’s a shame,’ says Elaine. ‘It was lovely to meet you, Annie. Perhaps we’ll have a chance for a really good catch up after the ceremony.’
‘That would be nice,’ I say, privately resolving to avoid her if at all possible. She seems very nice, but she’s Alex’s mother, and anything I tell her is bound to get back to him.
I toy with the idea of telling her all about my new rocket scientist boyfriend, who models on the side, but reluctantly decide against it. Mum would inevitably demand to meet this paragon, and I don’t know anyone who could conceivably fit the description. Brandon would be delighted to take part in such a scheme. But unfortunately, Mum already knows him.
I’ll stick to my original plan and keep my head down and my life as private as possible. There are only five more days to go. I should be able to get through those without too much difficulty. After that, I can make my escape back to London, leaving Alex and his entire family behind me.
Chapter Fourteen
Iwake abruptly from another dream about Alex. There’s nothing surprising about that. I’m in the place I most associate with him. If that wasn’t enough by itself, I’ve heard his name more often over the past couple of days than at any time during the past two years. Mum seems obsessed with the subject. She seems to know more about him than his own family, and certainly more than I do.
