The wedding reception was in full swing when I felt the first knot tighten in my stomach. I was standing by the bar, nursing a glass of champagne, when Deb leaned in and said, “Daisy, the delivery driver can’t tell a four from a six, but that’s the comprehensive system for you. ”
I forced a laugh, but my mind was elsewhere. My sister Carla had just married Lisa, and the whole family had rallied to make it happen.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Karl, my ex, had caused all this mess, and I was still reeling from the chaos he’d left behind. “It’s not your fault,” Deb said, squeezing my arm. “What do you reckon?
Do they date fun now? ” I asked, trying to change the subject. “Oh, all right. It’s free champagne all day,” she replied with a grin.
“Well, exactly. ”
“Come on, you’ll need to get changed if we’re going for a romantic lunch,” Deb said. “Is there anything I can do? ” I asked, feeling useless.
“Uh, couldn’t we all, huh? ” Ryan chimed in, gesturing at the chaos around us. “You all right, Sal? ” Deb asked, noticing my tension.
“Oh, ask if she wants to come day drinking and all. You all right? ”
“All right, well,” I muttered, not really listening. “Only one of my favorite films,” Ryan said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Were you all in on this? ” I asked, realizing they’d planned something. “Royston, you’ve got a rule against lying,” Deb said, raising an eyebrow. “Well, it doesn’t matter how we do it, only that we do, right?
” Ryan replied. Made me feel sick, which is why I’ve not said anything to Ben, because I God knows what I’d do. “We’ve got all the evidence we need. Apart from any actual evidence,” Deb said with a sigh.
“Sorry, one sec,” I said, stepping away to gather my thoughts. “I can’t believe Karl’s caused all this,” I muttered to myself. “Well, we’ve done what we can, and Karl and Lisa seem happy enough,” Deb said. “Mind you, the way them two are looking at each other, they’d probably get married on a rubbish tip.
”
“It’s no, no, it’s all right, Ryan,” I said as Ryan approached. “Forever’s a long time,” he said, looking at the happy couple. “There’s only one person who’s caused misery around here, mate,” Deb said, glaring at the thought of Karl. “Ryan, will you do me a favor and go and check on the girls, please?
” I asked, needing a moment. “Do as you’re told,” Deb added. “You got two kids on the other side of the world and one cold in the ground,” Ryan muttered, then walked off. “And when I have reconciled myself with never seeing you again, I wish you no harm,” I said to no one in particular, thinking of Karl.
“If it’s Jeffrey Dahmer, I’ll tell him to be on his way,” Ryan called back, making me laugh despite myself. “Do what? ” Deb asked. “Not if it’s in my garden, it’s not,” Ryan replied.
“Let’s get this happy bit out the way first,” I said, trying to focus on the celebration. “Not today, Beth,” Deb said, pulling me back. “For all three of us,” I said, taking a deep breath. “All right.
Let’s do this,” Deb said, and we headed toward the dance floor. When I first met you, I thought you were completely and utterly terrifying,” Carla said to Lisa, her voice shaking with emotion. “Callie, your family and friends must really hate the day we ever got together,” Lisa replied, tears in her eyes. “This is about me, not them,” Carla said, squeezing Lisa’s hands.
“I want your face to be the first thing I see every morning,” Lisa whispered. “We are our own love story, aren’t we? ” Carla said. “And we’re not just looking at each other’s eyes.
We’re looking in the same direction now,” Lisa added. The officiant smiled and said, “You may kiss. ”
As they kissed, I felt a wave of relief. But then my phone buzzed.
I glanced at it and saw a message from an unknown number: “It’s not your ex, is it? ”
“All right, I’ll see you in a bit,” I said to Deb, trying to hide my anxiety. “Of all the time for this to happen. All right, shift,” Deb said, noticing my change in demeanor.
I stepped outside, and the cool air hit my face. I called Ben, my old friend, and told him, “I ONLY SUGGESTED it to Sal. We didn’t expect all this. ”
“How did you get here before all this?
” he asked. I hesitated, then confessed, “It was the only protection I had to make sure he didn’t get rid of me. But then I um, well, they caught me trying to escape and I got bundled into the back of a van. Luckily, her dad didn’t realize I still had the hard drive.
”
“He must have eventually realized it was still missing, yeah, and figured out that it was me,” I continued. “If Olivia tracked you here, they could be on their way already,” Ben said, his voice tense. “It’s my only insurance policy. And Olivia, she won’t say anything,” I said, clutching the drive in my pocket.
“Jodie, they could still know where you are, okay? ” Ben insisted. “I would never in a million years have thought that the highlight of Carlos’ wedding would be sausage rolls,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “If you serve sausage rolls at my wedding, there’ll be a riot,” Ben joked, but I could hear the worry in his voice.
“It was all prepared last minute with the help of friends and neighbors,” I said. “Carol all over in tips,” Ben said, and we both laughed, but it was hollow. “Yeah, some party and all,” I said. “Anyway, a mate’s just texted asking if I’m going to town later.
What do you think? ” Ben asked. “Why not? ” I said, needing to get away.
“This your first lesbian wedding, then? ” he teased. “Well, you know, one of my mates has suggested going into town later,” I said, ignoring his question. “Will you remind me to reimburse you for all the champagne, please, because I can’t have my staff, you know, splashing out like drunken sailors,” I said, trying to keep things normal.
“Yeah, we could all do with that, cuz that’s nice, couldn’t we? ” Ben replied. “I never had children, but in Carla, I feel that I’ve enjoyed all the benefits of fatherhood without any of the drawbacks,” I said, thinking of my sister. Suddenly, I heard the DJ announce, “Would you please welcome the happy couple onto the factory floor for the first dance, Lisa and Carla.
”
I turned to watch them, but my heart wasn’t in it. I knew I had to leave soon. I had to get to that town, to meet Ben, and to figure out how to end this nightmare with Karl. As I headed back inside, I saw Deb watching me.
She knew something was wrong. But before she could say anything, I said, “Don’t touch anything. ”
“You pair after a raise or something? ” she asked, confused.
“No, it’s something we all wanted to do for you both,” I said, forced a smile, and handed her a small envelope. “I will leave you to it, so if you need anything, just bum me a text,” I said. “Anything for you, wife,” she said, her eyes full of concern. I walked out of the reception, my grip tight on the hard drive, my mind racing.
I had to get to town before Olivia found me. And I had to decide what to do with Karl’s secrets—whether to use them or destroy them for good.
