Page 11 of The Facilitator: Part 2
“Of course not. Although, I do believe because of his title we could get married in St Paul’sCathedral.”
“Bloody hell, Gabriella! Wouldyou?”
“Oh no, can you imagine? There really will be just the four of us. We’ll let my mother organise a party or something when we get home.” She rolled her eyes and Ilaughed.
Gabriella had recently celebrated a birthday; I actually shivered at the memory. She had plenty of friends there, so I was a little taken aback by her comment there would be no otherguests.
As if she’d read my mind, she continued, “I want something private, I guess. Just Alex and my best friends; I really don’t need anyone else. I know my mother will be furious with me, but I’m going to tell her it made things easier for Alex totransfer.”
“Have you set adate?”
“Well, here’s where I invite you to a girly planning dinner. I’d love to have you beside me as my matron of honour,” shesaid.
“Wow, thank you. I’d be delighted for both the dinner and the matron of honour role,” I laughed as I replied. It was a nice relief from the worry ofMackenzie.
“Good, grab your diary and let’s get a date in. I’ll tell Alex what we’ve planned, once we’ve planned it all. Or maybe not.” Gabriella gave me a wink as she opened her diary on herlap.
We set a date for dinner, and with a wave, she headed back upstairs to her office. I was still chuckling when the telephonerang.
“Babe, I haven’t spoken to you in sooooo long, I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about me,” I heard. Jerry hadn’t even waited for me to greet thecaller.
“Ah, herm. I think you’ll find three texts and umpteen voicemails from me. The last one, I believe, called you a prick for ignoring mycalls.”
He laughed and I smiled. My relationship with Jerry had faltered as soon as I’d moved in with Mackenzie. I knew why, obviously, but it had hurt. He was my best friend, my only friend other than Gabriella andAlex.
“Are you mad at me? Go on, be mad, we haven’t had a row in years.” I could picture the naughtiness cross hisface.
“I’m not mad, and I’m not going to row with you. I’ve rowed with men for way too long to bother with all that malarkey again,” Isaid.
“I have gossip, when are you allowed out fordinner?”
I could have broken my vow not to argue with the man at that point, but I swallowed it down. Jerry was often snarky where Mackenzie was concerned, and I’d pull him up on it in duecourse.
“I happen to have my diary in front of me. When are you thinking, andwhere?”
“How about Thursday evening? I’m away for the weekend, and how about Frank’sBar?”
Thursday was good for me and the vibrant cocktail bar that went by the name of Frank’s Bar near St. Pancras was perfect. I could jump into a taxi and then call for a lift home. Jerry and I chatted for a couple of minutes only, and I felt he was distracted but excitable. Something was up with him,also.
“Men!” I said, as I replaced thereceiver.
For the rest of that day, I continued to work through some new proposals Mackenzie wanted my opinion on. He’d identified another company he thought might work well with Trymast, but I wondered if there should be a period of adjustment before bringing yet another team of new people in. I hesitated with my thoughts, Mackenzie was the expert in buying and merging, but I began to feel he was a little too distant from the feet on the ground, so to speak. He wasn’t necessarily looking at the disruption and possible unease from the existing staff. I wondered what the rushwas.
I carried on with my day, but I’d be a liar if I said both Mackenzie and Jerry’s behaviours weren’t disturbing me. Added to the fact I felt there was some jealousy between them both, which made life tricky for me, it was going to be an interesting fewdays.
* * *
“You don’t seemwith me this evening,” I said, looking at Mackenzie who was staring out the French doors into thegarden.
We had eaten dinner and were still sitting at the breakfast bar. Although we’d chatted, for the first time ever, I felt we were both searching for something to talk about. Our conversation didn’t flow asusual.
“I have a few things on my mind. I guess with Alex moving, which was my plan initially, I’m trying to rush things into place before hegoes.”
Mackenzie smiled at me, as if to reassure, but I wasn’t fooled. Worry lines had started to form across his forehead. He pinched his noseagain.
“Have you had an eye test lately?” Iasked.
“No,why?”
