Page 39 of Finding Jacob
“So, Anna’s new boyfriend, huh?” I heard.
I turned to see one of my ex’s friend’s. He was addressing Jacob. It was clear he had a stinking hangover and I wondered if that was the case for my ex.
“Yes, although I think the term ‘boyfriend’ is a little juvenile, don’t you?” Jacob held out his hand. “And you are?”
“Yes, yes, so do I. Erm, Darren, friend of the groom. Her...whatever,” he said, stumbling through. “Banging headache,” he added as if a reason for his basic lack of coherence. “So, erm, how are you, Anna?”
He could barely keep eye contact. “I’m extremely well, thank you. Are you still with Juliana?”
“No, that fizzled out,” he laughed. “She didn’t put out enough, know what I mean, mate?” He turned his attention to Jacob.
“No, sorry, I don’t.” Jacob smiled down to me. “I think we’re needed.” He nodded towards the photographer.
We squashed in at the side, not knowing if we were likely to be in the shot or not, and then, when done, headed to the car park.
As the driver held open the door for us, Jules staggered over. “I didn’t see you in the church,” she said, taking hold of my arm. I could smell the alcohol on her breath and see the hip flask in her purse.
“We sat at the back,” I replied. I gently shook my head as sadness washed over me. I opened my arms and hugged her. I could feel her forcing back a sob.
“Do you want to come to the hall with us?” Jacob asked gently.
She looked up at him and shook her head. “I’m not invited but I’ll see you tonight. I just wanted to pop into the church,” she said, and I frowned. “I’m sorry, Anna,” she added and then rushed off.
She had been best friends with my sister for years. I wondered why on earth she’d just have an evening invitation and hoped it wasn’t because she worked for me.
I climbed into the car. “Well, that was odd,” I said as Jacob joined me.
“She looks very troubled.”
“Mmm,” I replied, nodding my head. “Anyway, part one over with. Now let’s see where my sister has us sitting.”
I hadn’t been given any prior notice of the table plan since I wasn’t involved in any of the preparations, and I highly doubted I’d be given a place close to the top table.
When we arrived at the hall, a mock Tudor wedding venue, we were offered champagne or mineral water. Jacob picked up two mineral waters which I found strange. “Remember, it’s cheap, we don’t like it,” he said, as if to clarify my thoughts. I giggled.
I sipped on my water while we wandered to the seating plan. I scanned, and then scanned again, not finding our names at all. I didn’t immediately tell Jacob, but it seemed to me that we hadn’t been included in the meal. I rolled my eyes.
I was about to inform Jacob we should head to a nice restaurant somewhere when my dad strolled over.
“Anna,” he said, holding out his arms. I didn’t step into the hug but still allowed him to kiss my cheek. “Ah, the elusive boyfriend,” he said, chuckling. “We didn’t believe you existed.”
“Oh, I’m real all right,” Jacob replied and shook my dad’s hand. They exchanged names and I wondered why my father frowned at Jacob’s.
“They want us to sit down so your sister can make her entrance,” Dad said, smiling.
“We won’t be, I’m afraid. It appears we don’t have a place to sit,” I replied.
“Huh?”
Jacob didn’t comment, but just looked at me. Dad stepped over to the plan. “That’s not right. I know you were on there. Your sister fitted you...”
“Fitted me in?” I asked when he didn’t finish his sentence.
“No, you know what I mean. She wasn’t sure you were coming, and she’d made these plans a long time ago.”
“Before or after she had yet another affair with a taken man?”
I couldn’t help the dig.
