Love at the Little Wedding Shop by the Sea - Jane Linfoot Page 0,48

of his finery, it finally clicks – I saw a suit like this the first time I caught Nic stripping off in my living room.

I’d take ocean-going waterproofs over satin lapels every time …

As the words echo round my skull, I’m desperately trying to sneak a look at the line of groomsmen across the aisle. In keeping with the size of Patricia’s vision, there are effing loads of them. But just because Nic had the suit doesn’t mean he’s at this wedding. There’s no need for panic because obviously he’s in St Aidan; I saw him there only this morning.

And then Cally arrives beside me, the violins finally fade, and Nigel steps forward. And when I look across the gap he’s left and I get a view straight across to the best man, my stomach officially leaves the building. I take a huge gulp of air, but for some reason my lungs seem to have stopped working. Somehow, I manage to pull myself together enough to step forward and take Cally’s bouquet from her.

The best man is Nic.

I think I may just die here and now and be done with it. Of all the weddings in the world, he has to turn up at this one. And when I sneak a little sideways peek it’s ten times worse than I thought. Because instead of looking normally hot, with his dark hair and stubble set off against the black satin lapels, the sizzle is off the scale.

What’s more, he’s bound to have the perfect Mrs Pixie-face here too. Believe me, it’s totally unfair for me to be in the same room as someone like that without my biggest power pants on. But however huge my personal disasters are, I need to blank them out. I’m working for Cally here; she’s what I need to focus on.

When I look at her standing next to Nigel, there’s more colour in her cheeks than I’ve seen all morning, but to be safe, as soon as I’m settled in my velvet high-backed chair I dip into my bag, twist out a nappy sack and scrunch it into my fist. As I perch on the edge of my seat, my eyes locked on Cally, listening to the registrars welcoming everyone, two things hit me. First, how very much in love Cally and Nigel are. Standing side by side now it’s as if they’re lighting each other up. And, on seeing that radiant glow in their faces, the second bombshell hits – I’ve finally given up hoping that this will ever happen to me.

Listening to people in brightly coloured dresses coming up to the front to do readings, I’m so thrilled for Cally and Nigel, but at the same time there’s this core of solid sadness buried deep inside me. That’s the drawback with weddings. If you’re heading for one yourself, they couldn’t be any more exciting or exhilarating. But if you’ve kicked love into touch like I have, they tend to drag you down.

Then Nic produces the rings and as they both slide them on, the tension in their bodies visibly eases. Then as they say their little speeches to each other and Nigel promises to adore Cally forever but not to leave his socks on the bedroom floor and everybody laughs, I glance sideways. And suddenly my eyes lock with Nic’s. The look he’s sending me is half grin, half eye-roll, and for a fraction of a second it’s as if we’re the only ones in the room. I’m just wishing it hadn’t made my heart contract quite so hard when I notice his eyebrows have shot up and that he’s jerking his head. As I follow the direction of his nod down to the floor I spot what he’s looking at and my stomach jumps again.

There I was, dreamily sitting there. But all Nic is doing is getting me to notice the small purple tin that’s dropped out of my bag and is gently rolling across the wooden floor towards Cally, Nigel, and the registrars. I make a dive for it but Nic’s already on it too and no need to guess who gets there first. One stride, Nic scoops it up and as I clamber back up onto my seat again he’s pushing it into my hand and sliding onto the chair next to me.

He’s breathing in my ear. ‘Chocolate pudding in the ceremony, Milla, whatever next?’ He’s biting his lip, but it could be covering a smile. ‘And you might want to