Never The Bride(39)

'Don't remind me about weddings,' I sighed. I was still feeling so guilty for saying yes when Tracey Tramwell, another girl from the stupid pact of fourteen, had asked if I was still ok to be one of the bridesmaids for her wedding which, much to my dismay, was later today. It wasn't until I'd accepted that I'd realised it would take my bridesmaid dress collection to number twelve. One away from the dreaded number that would seal my fate as a spinster forever. And it meant that if Georgie wanted to get married, she'd be the one to put the final nail in the coffin. I'd recently found out that the final wedding I would have had to wear dress number thirteen for, my friend Pippa, wasn't likely to happen. She had turned to religion and was considering a vow of abstinence and becoming a nun. Though no amount of penance was going to wash away the amount of sins she'd incurred as class slut for four years in a row, not to mention the introduction of alcohol and drugs to the midnight feasts.

'I'm not getting married anytime soon, Abbie,' Georgie reassured me. 'You'll be married before I ask you to wear the thirteenth bridesmaid dress, and the curse will be broken.'

'You never know what's around the corner,' I reminded her, both of us waving as we passed the row of terraced workers' cottages where some of our neighbours were gossiping on the Chormondley's doorstep. 'Love could hit you when you least expect it.'

'Very true, but I still don't think I'm ready. One day maybe. And speaking of one day, any news from Miller?'

'No.' I sighed at the reminder, having tried so hard to focus on other thoughts so I wouldn't dwell on it and get sucked into a pit of misery again. 'He's messaged me a few times, but I haven't replied. It just makes it harder to be in contact, knowing nothing's going to come of it.'

'I'm so frustrated for you. He loves you, I know he loves you, Abbie. I don't understand why he's holding back.'

'Well, he is and there's nothing I can do about it, so let's focus on getting this damn service for Tracey out of the way this afternoon. What are you going to do with that lovely mane of yours?' I asked, as we branched off Church Lane to head down the bumpy gravel and grass lane that led to our cottages.



'I feel awful,' I moaned as I smoothed the tight emerald green dress over my hips.




       
         
       
        
'It's a great colour on you,' Georgie advised as she zipped it up.

'I know, it's up there in my top three of dresses, which isn't hard as I hated the other nine. I mean because I shouldn't be wearing it.'

'You'd prefer to streak up the aisle? That's one way to get yourself noticed, I guess,' she teased as she stepped back to give me the once over.

'I wonder if naturists do nude weddings or other important services,' I mused. 'Wouldn't that go against a vicar's religion to just let it all hang out?'

'It goes against mine to think of Reverend Potter doing that,' Georgie shuddered. 'There's no way I'd accept a mince pie from him after the annual carol service, not even if he washed his hands thoroughly in the font first.'

'Change topic,' I urged as I covered my eyes. 'I'm getting a visual of the villagers naked singing "Little Donkey" and it's seriously disturbing.'

'Oh, all of them? How do Max and Heath look?'

'A hell of a lot better than Mr. Benson,' I giggled as I peeked out at her. 'I heard he's in a permanent state of flop, being too afraid to try Viagra again.'

'Well, it was his fault for getting greedy after a few success stories and taking six of them in one go,' Georgie scoffed as she handed me my diamond drop earrings. 'Honestly, what did he expect?'

'I don't think he expected Mabel to try her luck with Mr. Arthur and leave him.'

'When did Dilbury become a hotspot for randy, sexually active pensioners? Have you seen there's now a condom stand in the shop? I think Mrs. Vickers sells more of those than tea bags. It's not right. It's supposed to be us youngsters that are having all of the fun.'

'Maybe as my plus-one today, you'll meet some hot usher and hit it off,' I suggested as I secured the last earring in place.

'Here's hoping,' she beamed. 'Just try and stay out of trouble today.'

'With Fi-Fi there, hell bent on revenge? I seriously doubt that's going to happen,' I responded, a feeling of foreboding washing over me. I was dreading it.



I took a deep breath as Georgie kissed me goodbye, got out of the taxi, and hurried into Shrewsbury Cathedral to take her place. I paid Andy and slowly got out, trying to stall the moment I had to join the group of excited bridesmaids standing outside on the pavement as they waited for Tracey to arrive. I spotted Fi-Fi immediately, her daggered glare towards me slowly turning into a smug smile. She made no move to approach me, so I avoided her and went to talk to some of the other girls, trying to keep her in my line of sight at all times. I was relieved when Tracey arrived and we were hustled into position, but soon groaned as Fi-Fi was directed to stand in front of me. I became progressively more nervous as she remained uncharacteristically silent as one by one, the girls started to filter in to the sounds of the organ announcing our arrival. 

I resisted the urge to shove her as I followed her up the aisle, hoping that our tit-for-tat spat was actually over and had been laid to rest. She'd messed with me, I'd returned the favour, it was time to let it go. The cathedral was packed to the rafters. Tracey had gone all out with this wedding and had booked The Shrewsbury Domville for the reception. From what I'd heard, the bill for that six-star venue, and ultimate wedding package for maximum capacity, made many a father's eye water, and not in a good way. Thankfully, despite a feeling that something terrible was going to happen, the service went without incident. Everyone clapped politely as the newly married couple kissed, signed the register, and headed back down the aisle.

'I have to say you're taking it incredibly well,' came Fi-Fi's squeaky voice.

'Just because I'm one of the last two that are unmarried doesn't mean I can't be happy for Tracey,' I replied, not turning to face her.

'Oh, I wasn't talking about Tracey. I was talking about Miller. As if it's not hard enough that you weren't woman enough to hold onto him, it must sting to see him with a date so soon after you broke up,' she announced gleefully. I shot her a shocked look. Miller was here? With someone else? 'Oh dear, you didn't know? Hmmm, seems he didn't let the sheets get cold before he went back to his old ways. Maybe there's hope for me yet.'

I swallowed the words of anger I wanted to say back and gripped my white tulip bouquet tightly, determined not to let my right hand do what it was itching to do. Slap her. Or pull her hair. Or maybe even punch her. I'd quite happily do all three if I didn't have all of the congregation's eyes on me, as it was my turn to head back down the aisle. I kept my eyes focussed on the back of her head as I followed her, trying to work out if she was lying to try and get a rise out of me or if he really was here. I didn't dare look for him, just in case. Thankfully, for once, the cathedral had no grounds for wedding pictures to be taken in, so the bridal party were all whisked by limousines the short distance along the old town walls to where The Domville stood at the top of the town park, overlooking the river. I needed the extra time to try and pull myself together. Everything seemed to happen at warp speed, and before I knew it, I was standing in the ballroom as canapés and champagne were being served to all of the guests who'd arrived. I felt claustrophobic and like I was going to hyperventilate.

'Oh God, Abbie,' huffed Georgie as she pushed her way through, looking like she'd run all of the way here. 'Oh no,' she sighed, her shoulders slumping. 'You know, don't you?'

'You've seen him?' I asked, my stomach churning at a rate of knots.

'You haven't?' she replied, giving me a confused look as I shook my head. 'Your expression, you look so devastated that I assumed you had.'

'Fi-Fi told me, but I thought maybe she was just being spiteful. I look devastated? Really? Oh God, I thought I was hiding it well. If I look like that now, how am I going to look when I see him? Is it true? He's here with someone?'

'I'm so sorry,' Georgie confirmed with a grimace. I knocked back the whole glass of champagne I'd snagged a moment ago, trying to dilute the hurt and anger that was bubbling inside of me, but it didn't help. 'I'm livid, Abbie. Absolutely livid! How could he? After what he said to you? I tried to go and have a word with him, to ask him to leave, but it was like he was avoiding me and disappeared every time I got close.'



       
         
       
        

'What does she  …  no, I don't want to know if she's pretty. Of course she will be, it's Miller,' I said quietly as I looked down at my feet. 'I can't believe he'd do that, just turn up with someone else without even telling me.'

'I don't agree with what he's done, Abbie, but he did try and stay in contact and you rebuffed him. Maybe he figured you'd moved on.'

'I wish I had. I wish I could, Georgie, but he was the one. He'll always be the one. I just  …  I really believed I was his too, that he'd realise that and come back to me to try living here, you know?'

'Ok, unless you want to see them, don't turn around. They just walked in. What do you want to do? We can call Andy and get out of here right now, and you never have to see him again.'