Page 103 of Be More Lucy

‘Honestly? Relieved.’

‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘Congratulations on a lucky escape will do.’

‘Does Lucy know?’

‘Yes. I told her while you and Em were in with the registrars. I was hoping she’d want us to get back together again, but she still seems distant.’

‘It’s probably a shock. She was seriously upset that you broke up with her. She’s been different since then. Quieter. Concentrating on her business, according to Em.’ Jack looked at him with a look of concern on his face. ‘And then there is this new partner.’

‘Harry?’

‘You’ve heard about him then.’

‘Only when his name was mentioned in the pub earlier. I suppose I shouldn’t have expected her to be sitting at home alone, pining for me. What’s he like?’

‘I don’t know. He only came up in conversation last night when we were having dinner in the Kingfisher. I didn’t even know she was dating again. Em doesn’t know any more than I do. We get to meet him in Birmingham at New Year.’

At least it sounded like Lucy hadn’t been dating Harry until very recently. He might be able to win her back if she wasn’t too deeply involved with him. But Lucy referring to Harry as her partner was worrying. It didn’t sound like a casual affair. Perhaps he shouldn’t try to win her over. Not today, anyway. He didn’t want to spoil Em and Jack’s celebrations.

‘You have reached your destination,’ the satnav announced. Jack pulled into a car park.

‘This isn't the wine merchants,’ Mark said, looking at the sign welcoming them to the local garden centre.

‘Correct. We’re going there next. Right now, I need a Christmas tree.’

56

‘Do you want this Union Jack bunting?’ Lucy was in the marquee with Em, rifling through a mixed box of decorations that Nancy had given them.

‘No. We’re not royalty.’

‘Some of this stuff is vintage. It must date back to the queen’s coronation. And this string of flags has got 1977 Silver Jubilee on it.’

‘Nancy dug it out from one of the attics in case it was any use.’

‘Did you get any new stuff?’

‘These fairy lights. We’re after a cosy Christmassy feel, not a summery bake-off tent vibe.’

‘Stick to the lights, then. You’ve got plenty.’ Lucy packed the bunting back in the box.

Em started laying the lights out on the bar. ‘There should be enough to string them around the tent. We’ve got an LED curtain for the wall by the dance floor, and I bought these jars with lights inside. They can go on the occasional tables.’

‘Where is everyone going to eat?’ Lucy looked at the sofas, bar stools and occasional tables dotted around the tent.

‘It’s a buffet, not a formal meal. There should be enough space for everyone to sit somewhere. There are only 60 of us. We went for the nightclub configuration.’

‘Complete with a sticky floor and a random groper?’

‘No, those were optional extras.’

Lucy had to admit, it did look good. Far less fussy than most of the wedding receptions she’d been to. Perhaps one day she’d do the same for her own wedding.What are you thinking, Lucy Thomas?She grabbed a string of lights and handed them to Em, who was now at the top of a step ladder by the side of the bar.

‘How are things with Mark? I’ve not had a chance to talk to him properly today,’ Em asked as she clipped the lights to one of the marquee fittings.

‘I’m not sure. He seems very low.’

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