Page 99 of Be More Lucy

He nodded. ‘We’re going to get another test when the baby is born. Then we can be 100% certain.’

‘And if it is yours?’

‘I guess I’ll have to pay child maintenance and negotiate access.’

‘You wouldn’t go back to her?’

‘Absolutely not. She cheated on me and lied about it. She must’ve known Josh could be the father the whole time.’

Poor Mark. ‘So you’re single again then?’

‘Looks like it.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Are you?’ He looked crestfallen.

‘About the baby, I mean, not you being single.’

‘It’s a relief. I do want children, but not like that. It was never going to work.’

He gave her a long look. ‘What’s happening with you?’

She didn’t have time to answer as Em reappeared in the corridor, quickly followed by Jack.

The ceremony flew by. Lucy found it odd watching her best friend and Jack share their vows with hardly anyone else in the room. It made it more emotional somehow. But she couldn’t help feeling they deserved to be bathed in warm sunshine on a tropical beach somewhere rather than in this converted office on a grey December morning. And then there was Mark.

‘Lucy?’

Em’s voice snapped her back to reality. ‘Sorry. What am I meant to be doing?’

‘Sign here.’ The registrar pointed to a line at the bottom of the register page.

Mark’s signature was already on there. Lucy carefully wrote her name next to his.

‘Would you like me to take a photo?’ the registrar offered.

Jack handed over his phone. She took one of them pretending to sign the register and another with Lucy and Mark in the background.

And that was it. Lucy’s best friend of 28 years was now Mrs Jack Carver.

‘You’re next,’ Em said, handing her the bouquet of roses.

‘Perhaps.’ She caught Mark looking at her.

‘Aren’t you supposed to throw that?’ Mark asked.

‘After the last bouquet throw we took part in, this way is far safer.’

‘What are you doing for the rest of your wedding day?’ asked the registrar as she tidied up the desk.

‘We’re having a surprise party with all our friends this evening,’ said Jack. ‘We better head back home to make sure everything’s organised.’

‘No need to rush ‘ Mark smiled. ‘Mother dearest has it all under control. She’s in her element. She’s so thrilled your engagement party is at her house. She’ll be ecstatic when she finds out it’s your wedding do as well. It will make up for Nigel having all his celebrations in America. Which means we’ve got time to have a swift half in a pub? The one over the road looks open.’

Jack looked horrified. ‘It’s only 10.30 in the morning.’

‘Wouldn’t have stopped you once upon a time,’ Mark grinned.

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