Page 31 of One Hollywood Sunset

‘I know you detest wasting money but sometimes a little bit of luxury, particularly for your wedding day, isn’t greed.’

‘We’ve discussed it, neither of us wants that. I can’t imagine anything worse than saying my vows and being drowned out by Channel Nine trying to take photographs from a helicopter.’

She could picture the scene. Sandra McNeill would be harnessed up and hanging out, a notepad in one hand, a voice recorder in the other.

‘So, have you talked about where you might do it? Are you going to get married in church?’

‘I don’t know. Nick got married in church the first time and I don’t know why, but every time I walk into a church, I get the feeling I’m going to start spurting ectoplasm or disintegrate if I get splashed by holy water.’

‘You survived my wedding.’

‘I did. But if you remember, I did tell you I had a close encounter with the cross on the altar when I was fruitlessly searching for your flowers. No, I don’t think a church. Apparently, ’cause we live in Mayleaf we can get married in the town square if we want to.’ Freya turned her attention to Sasha, watching her take the camera off the tripod and move closer to the water.

‘And would you want to?’ Emma asked.

‘Well, it does have the advantage of the protection of the Town Circle. That works like some invisible cyber cordon keeping away anyone who has any connection with the media.’

‘And what are your other options?’

‘Well, Las Vegas if I fancy sharing our big day with a couple of thousand fruit machines and a couple of hundred Elvises. Or should that be Elvi? Is that the plural?’

‘Las Vegas. At one of those tiny little chapels where you get married in seconds and could get divorced even quicker?’

‘What’s good enough for Britney Spears is good enough for me.’

‘Why don’t you get married here?’ Emma suggested.

‘In Corfu?’

‘Why not? You met each other here. You got back together here. Nick proposed to you here. Why not get married here? It doesn’t have to be in the church. You could probably get married at Villa Kamia, right here where I’m standing in the garden.’

There was definite excitement in Emma’s voice.

‘How cold is it there right now? Are you expecting snow?’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘It’s sounding appealing.’

‘Well, I think it’s a great idea and I bet Nick would love it. I mean, you could even stay on and have your honeymoon here. No extravagance because you have the villa already, as little media attention as you’re going to get and you get to meet Melly and see me and Yiannis again.’

‘God, that sounds so tempting.’

‘It would be perfect!’

‘Well, let’s hold the thought and I’ll speak to Nick about it tonight.’

She watched Sasha move down the bank, towards the river, then lost sight of her.

‘What did Nick say about Jonny?’ Emma wanted to know.

‘Oh, well I haven’t really had time to talk to him about it. We went to the hospital today because it was the first day the new scanning equipment was going to be used and…’ Freya began.

‘You have to tell him. You can’t have secrets from each other, particularly now, when you’re planning your marriage. He’ll be hurt if you don’t tell him and he finds out from someone like Sandra McNeill.’

‘I know, I will tell him. I’m going to tell him. I’m going to tell him tonight.’

‘What are you so worried about? What d’you think he’s going to say?’

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