Page 81 of The Day After Christmas
Petunia, sitting in the second row, came to life then. She tutted at Bex’s use of the F-word and Felicity made a mental note to use that word as much as possible in future. Then Bex’s mother turned to Tabitha, cool as you like, rolling her eyes as if Tabitha were a small child having a tantrum. ‘Do sit down, dear, you’re making a spectacle of yourself.’
The vicar looked at her gratefully. Felicity wondered if he was going to ask her to run the service next.
‘Wait.’ Another voice came ringing across the room. A little less confident than the last perhaps but still unmistakably female.
The vicar was looking like he might actually be sick now.
‘I’m sorry, who is that please? Do you have something to say? Shall we go into the vestry and discuss all this in a calm manner?’
Adam turned to him. ‘Is this some kind of a joke?’
‘I’m afraid not, I’m sorry, er, Adam, this has never happened before. Um, just bear with me and we’ll get to the bottom of things.’
‘We may not know of anything legal,’ came the voice. Felicity turned and squinted. Right at the back of the room was another woman, this time dressed all in black. ‘We may not know the rules but we can tell you a few home truths about Adam here.’
Petunia let out a little scream and covered her mouth with a gloved hand.
‘Oh my days,’ whispered Sophie as more gasps came from around the room.
By now the vicar was frantically flicking through theBook of Common Prayeras if that was going to hold the answers for what to do in such a scenario, even though Felicity was fairly sure this had never happened before in the whole history of time. Not in real life, anyway.
‘I’m sorry, Bex or whatever your name is, but you have to know.’ Tabitha was speaking again now. ‘This man you are marrying cannot be trusted.’ She seemed to be trying to get in there ahead of the mystery woman at the back.
‘Damn straight.’ That was the one at the back chiming in. ‘He’s scum.’
Felicity glanced at Bex, who let out one long, ear-splitting wail and sank to her knees at the altar. Sophie and Felicity leapt out of their seats and tried to help her up but she pushed them away. Even Petunia’s cool façade had cracked and she was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
‘Bex, listen to me,’ Felicity found herself saying. ‘He’s changed, I’m sure he has.’
Adam turned and nodded. ‘I have, I’ve changed, Felicity’s right.’
‘He hasn’t changed,’ came the voice from the back, and now the mystery woman in black was walking towards them down the aisle. Felicity’s blood was pounding in her ears.What was happening?‘He hasn’t changed and I can prove it.’
‘This is mywedding day.’ Bex was properly sobbing now, the tears pouring down her face.
‘Not if you know what’s good for you,’ said Tabitha loudly.
The vicar held up his hands and tried to get some kind of order but no one was listening to him anymore.
The mystery woman came right up to the front. Felicity didn’t recognise her but that didn’t mean much, she knew Adam had a history. Tabitha, she had known about. Tabitha had been the original intended recipient of the Tiffany ring that had afterwards been given to Felicity and now adorned Bex’s finger too. It had history, that ring, and Tabitha they had both known about all along. But this? This new arrival could be anyone.
Bex reached out her arms and her friends pulled her to her feet.Good on you,thought Felicity and then vaguely wondered if the three women were going to fight.
‘Get out of this church right now,’ Bex spat, tears still staining her face.
The woman ignored her completely, turned to Adam and slapped his face, hard, a ringing slap that reverberated off the stone walls. Adam, thank God, didn’t fight back, didn’t evenrespond really, although his eyes watered and a large red mark started appearing on his face almost immediately.
There was a long pause while the whole room held its breath.
‘What are you doing here?’ he said finally, his voice cracking.
‘I’m saving you from yourself,’ said the woman, her head lifting, jaw flexing. Felicity caught James’s eye and he gave her a surreptitious shrug.He’s bloody enjoying this,thought Felicity.
Bex went right up to the woman, her face right in hers and Felicity inhaled sharply. Bex put a hand out as if to touch her shoulder, then thought better of it.
‘Clearly you are not well. Why don’t we call someone to take you home?’ she said in her most charming voice. Just like her mother. Trying to seem like the reasonable one.
The woman recoiled from her, took a step backwards, then turned to face the congregation. The poor vicar actually took a step back too, whether in solidarity or perhaps he’d realised he had totally lost control by this point.
