I don’t laugh. ‘I think you’re probably confusing me with someone else.’
‘What do you mean?’
I stare out of the window, not wanting to meet his eye. ‘You’re probably thinking of Suzy.’
‘Suzy?’ he says blankly. ‘Oh, you mean that Suzy?’
‘Yes, I mean that Suzy.’
‘I’d forgotten all about her,’ he says. ‘We hung out with her a couple of times, didn’t we?’
For a moment, I’m speechless. Forgotten all about her? Forgotten the girl with whom he had a fling while he was supposed to be with me? I don’t know which is worse – him lying and pretending not to remember Suzy or him having actually forgotten the whole incident.
I’m about to give him a piece of my mind when the door opens and Elaine comes in, carrying two glasses of champagne.
‘There you are!’ she says as though she’d expected us to have disappeared in her absence.
‘Where else would we be?’ says Alex. His tone is light, but I can’t quite read his expression.
She plonks down the glasses of champagne on an upturned wine box. ‘Oh, you know. I thought maybe you’d gone out into the garden or something.’
‘I’d be more than happy to show Annie the garden,’ says Alex.
I stand abruptly. ‘I really must be going. It’s been lovely to see you again, Elaine.’
‘But you haven’t drunk your champagne,’ says Alex.
I give him a cold look. ‘You can drink them both. You’ve always been good at having your cake and eating it too.’
My eyes fill with tears. I quickly turn and leave the room before he can see them.
Chapter Seventeen
Iwake with a sinking feeling on Christmas Eve. Ever since childhood, this has been my favourite day of the year – even more special than my birthday. I love the delightful anticipation of knowing that Christmas Day is on its way, yet I still have to wait. In some ways, it’s even more special than Christmas Day itself, which always carries with it the sense of time ticking away.
When Christmas Day is over, it’s gone for a whole year. But Christmas Eve is special. It has no weight of expectation. It’s the magic doorway into the day for which everyone is waiting.
I hear a door slam, followed by Mum’s voice. ‘Graham! Where are you? I’ve been calling and calling!’
I pull the pillow over my head and groan. I hadn’t intended to get up this early. The vow renewal isn’t until two o’clock. I’d planned to sleep in, have an early lunch, and take my time getting ready. Not that I care what anyone thinks about the way I look, but it seems a shame to have bought a new dress and not make an effort with the rest of my appearance.
Obviously, that plan isn’t going to work now. Mum’s voice floats up the stairs, sounding increasingly hysterical. ‘Drat that man! He’s never there when you want him.’
I open my bedroom door. ‘What’s wrong?’
She gives me a tragic look. ‘It’s the cream!’
I take a beat to consider what cream this might be. Knowing Mum, it could be anything from Elizabeth Arden’s newest age-defying serum to hair-removal lotion for her legs.
‘What about the cream?’ I say. ‘Have you broken the jar?’
Mum flaps her hands. ‘It isn’t in a jar, silly! It’s in pint pots or gallons or something. I don’t know.’
How much face cream does she need? I speak in a soothing voice. ‘I’m sure we can get you some more. And people won’t be looking at you. All eyes will be on the bride.’
She looks annoyed. ‘What do you mean? Of course, they’ll be looking at me. Elaine and I spent ages choosing my dress.’
‘I have some face cream you could use,’ I offer, not wanting to get into an argument while she’s in this mood.