Rob’s Best Friend

April’s reaction is understandable – but can the father of the bride save the day?

Love and friendship

As soon as Phil saw April’s car coming down the road, he sprinted to his armchair, settled into it and closed his eyes. Maybe if he pretended to be having a doze, she wouldn’t make him go for his father-of-the-bride outfit fitting.

“Don’t worry, Dad,” April had said. “You’ll look great in a kilt and Rob’s family will appreciate it when they come down for the wedding.”

His arguments about knobbly knees had got him nowhere.

“You don’t really mind, do you, Dad?” she’d asked and his heart melted along with his resolve. “Of course I don’t,” he’d lied. Now she stormed into the livingroom and declared, “Don’t bother getting ready. The wedding’s off!”

“Off?” No point him pretending to be asleep then.

She burst into tears and Phil put his arms round her. His heart was thumping almost as hard as she was shaking.

“What’s happened, love?” he said, but she couldn’t speak.

Phil had never seen her cry as much as this before – ever.

“You know how Rob’s been dithering about choosing a best man?” “Yes,” Phil said. “He’s gone and chosen his best friend from school.” Phil felt all the tension leave his body. “Is that all?” he asked in relief. “All?” April repeated with distraught emphasis. “She’s called Janine.” “She?” Phil breathed. “Apparently…” April’s voice cracked. “She looks absolutely great in a kilt.”

She tried to laugh, but the tears came again and Phil gave her a squeeze.

“Lots of people have friends of the opposite sex,” he said. April glared at him. “You don’t,” she said accusingly. “Me? Anyway, you were telling me about Janine,” he said, deftly changing the subject.

“She has terrific legs and was better at football than most of the boys,” April said bitterly. “She has a fantastic sense of humour and glorious red hair and amazing green eyes. I’m going to love her, apparently. That’s what Rob said when I asked what she was like. And then he talked for ages about why she’s so wonderful.”

“I see your point, love,” Phil said. “But it’s you Rob loves. When he finished his six-month work placement at Rowley’s, didn’t he beg them to keep him on so he could move here permanently? He left his family and his home town – and his best friend – to be with you.” She buried her face in his chest. “Oh, Dad. You didn’t see him when he was talking about Janine. It was as if he was talking about someone he’s madly in love with.”

“There’s only one person he’s madly in love with,” Phil said. He’d seen the way Rob looked adoringly at April. “Let’s get to the fitting before we’re too late. I don’t want to have to borrow one of your Aunty Gina’s skirts!”

April laughed a little at that, but he could see he hadn’t put her mind at rest.

“I won’t come if you don’t mind, Dad,” she said quietly.

“You were only coming along to make sure I turned up,” he said, wagging his finger at her.

“Well –” She shrugged. “It might not matter now.”

She didn’t mean it, he told himself as he drove into town. If she was serious about cancelling it all, she wouldn’t let him go for a fitting. Would she?

Phil looked in the window of the shop and saw Rob’s brother Alex who had come down from Scotland and his friend Mark from work. They were going to be Rob’s groomsmen, along with his dad and his uncle.

When he’d married April’s mum, Phil just had his best man and a couple of ushers. Thinking of her knocked the breath out of him. If only she was here. She’d have known what to say to April to make it right, he was sure, but Kate had died when April was four and he’d managed alone ever since.

"We’re going to look the business, aren’t we?” Alex was addressing a curtain when Phil stepped into the shop. “Dad and Uncle Ken are already sorted. Oh, hi there, Phil – we thought you weren’t coming.”

“I’m just giving April away,” Phil said. “I could just wear my good suit.”

Rob came out from behind the curtain. He was wearing the full outfit and he looked incredibly handsome.

“Wow, you look stunning,” Mark said. “If I wasn’t already spoken for, I’d marry you myself.”

They all laughed and Phil started to relax. He was surprised how comfortable the outfit was when it was his turn to be fitted and even more surprised at how good he looked in it.

“I can’t believe that’s me,” he said as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. It was like looking at someone else, a more strapping, better-looking version of himself. He almost forgot that April was threatening to call the wedding off.

When they’d finished, Rob took Phil to one side.

“Why didn’t April come?” he said, concerned. “She’s not answering her phone. Is she OK?”

“She’s a bit upset,” Phil said. “About your choice of best man.”

“Janine?” Rob laughed. “We were best friends all through school.”

“I thought you were going to ask your

brother – or Mark,” Phil said.

“I was, but Janine made me promise that when she got married, I’d give her away. She said it would save upsetting her brothers. They’re an amazing family, very close, but she’s surrounded by men who adore her and even when she was thirteen she was worried about hurting their feelings way off in the future. She’s lovely like that, so considerate of the feelings of others.”

Hmm. Phil could see what April meant about Rob singing Janine’s praises.

“Anyway, I said I’d give her away as long as she promised to be my best man when I got married.

“I was all set to ask Alex when I got a message from Janine reminding me of my promise. I’d forgotten, but I thought I’d better ask her and she said yes! Isn’t that great?” Phil thought for a moment. “You’re away next weekend, right? Invite Janine down here for the weekend so April can get to know her.”

“You really think that would help?” Rob asked hopefully.

“It can’t do any harm. April and I will look after her and it might be easier while you’re out of the way. We can take her for her outfit fitting.”

April wasn’t impressed when Phil told her the plan. “I don’t even know her,” she protested. “We’ve never so much as spoken. It’ll be a disaster. What were you thinking, Dad?”

“Trust me,” he said. “It’ll be fine.”

It was late on Friday night. The station platform was deserted and Phil and April waited in silence for Janine’s train to arrive. When it pulled in, only one passenger got off.

She was dressed in a scruffy leather jacket that had seen better days, jeans, heavy lace-up boots and her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail.

Rob was right about her being pretty, Phil thought. In fact she was stunning. April stepped forward. “Janine?” she said. “I’m April.” “I’m so pleased to meet you,” Janine said warmly. “You’re just as beautiful as Rob said.”

She dropped her backpack on the ground and held out her arms, giving April a huge hug, then she turned to Phil and hugged him too. “And you must be Rob’s future father-in-law. It’s lovely to meet you. Thank you so much for inviting me.” “You’re very welcome,” Phil said. “Did you have a good journey?” April asked politely. “And have you had anything to eat? We could pick up pizza on the way home.”

“That would be amazing, thank you,”

“I never, ever wore a DRESS OR SKIRT. Maybe if MY MUM had been alive”

Janine said. “I’m starving.” “Where’s your bag?” April asked. “This is it,” Janine said and slung the battered backpack over her shoulder.

Phil thought she was very personable and easy to like. He could see why she and Rob were such good friends.

When they got home with the pizza, she said, “My family all had a good laugh about me being Rob’s best man, especially when I told them I’d be wearing a kilt. I never wear anything but trousers or jeans, you see. I suppose it comes of having four big brothers and getting all their hand-medowns, like my jacket and the backpack. Even these boots belonged to one of my brothers years ago, but they’re so comfortable for walking.” “Four brothers,” April said. “It has advantages and disadvantages,” Janine said. “Anyway, I never, ever wore a dress or skirt, even for school. Maybe if my mum had been alive…”

“You lost your mum young, too?” April said. Janine nodded and Phil swallowed the lump in his throat. It seemed that April had far more in common with Janine than he’d realised.

“Mum died when I was a baby and Dad when I was thirteen. If it hadn’t been for my brothers…” She broke off and smiled. “Anyway, I’m sure Rob only befriended me because he thought I was another lad.

“But that’s enough about me, tell me about your dress, April.”

“Well, I don’t suppose you’d be interested if you don’t like dresses,” she said awkwardly.

“Did I say I didn’t like them?” Janine said. “Don’t let my appearance fool you. I love the girly stuff. It’s just a strange land to me. I’m stuck with the big brother hand-me-down look, I’m afraid.”

“Well, it suits you,” April said. Phil thought she sounded as if she meant it.

“I’m so glad Phil’s got you, April,” Janine said. “He’s been such a good friend to me over the years and he used to look out for me at school. In fact, I feel as if I have five brothers, not four.”

“I hear he’s going to give you away when you get married,” Phil said.

“Well, that’s not going to happen,” Janine sighed. “I mean who’d want to marry this?” She held out her hands. “Everyone sees me as one of the lads. I’m surprised my nephews and nieces don’t call me Uncle Janine! But I just

look plain daft if I try to dress up.”

She laughed, but Phil sensed sadness beneath the laughter and he could see from the softening of April’s eyes that she saw it, too.

He went up to bed and heard them chatting downstairs until the small hours. There was laughter too. He went to sleep with a smile on his face.

In the morning April and Janine went off to get Janine fitted for her best man outfit. It was late afternoon before they got home, laden down with bags and still laughing.

“She’s not so bad then,” he said when Janine nipped upstairs to get changed.

“She’s lovely. I can see why she’s Rob’s best friend, but…” “But?” “She’s not going to be his best man. There’s no way.” “She’s not?” Phil’s heart sank. “Definitely not. Oh, Dad, when she tried her best man outfit on, she started to cry. She was only joking when she reminded Rob about his promise, but he thought she meant it and seemed so keen on the idea, she hadn’t the heart to tell him. She doesn’t want to be his best man, Dad.” “Oh, dear,” Phil said. “He’s going to be so disappointed I know, but I’m sure Alex will step in.” “What do you think?” They both turned as Janine came into the room. She was wearing a short dress and sandals and her hair was loose around her shoulders.

“Beautiful,” April said. “Rob was right, you do have great legs.”

“April was on a mission to get me into a dress today,” Janine explained. “And I ended up buying three – and some tops. I only tried them on for a laugh, but I felt so different.”

Exactly the same thing had happened to Phil. He’d felt very different in the Prince Charlie jacket and kilt and it had been a pleasant surprise.

“I know it sounds crazy,” Janine said, blushing. “But no one’s ever been clothes shopping with me before. I think my friends have all given me up as a bit of a lost cause when it comes to styling.”

“I’m going to call Rob now and break the news,” April said and she reached out and squeezed Janine’s hand. “Don’t worry, you know what he’s like. He’ll be fine about it.” “I hope so,” Janine said. “Rob,” April said. “Hi – are you OK? Janine’s right here. We’ve been shopping. Yes, yes she had the fitting, but I’m afraid it wouldn’t do. She can’t be your best man, Rob.”

She looked across at Phil and Janine and gave them a reassuring smile.

“I know you’re disappointed,” April went on. “But I’m afraid I’ve pinched your best friend. I’ve asked her if she’d be a bridesmaid and she’s said yes. So she’ll still be playing an important part in our day – it’s just not the part you were expecting her to play.”

Phil’s jaw dropped and he shook his head in disbelief. This was even better than he had hoped.

On the day of the wedding, Phil flitted from room to room. He was a bundle of nerves, sure he’d forgotten something while upstairs gales of laughter rang from April’s bedroom.

She was in there with her four bridesmaids, her best friend Laura, two little cousins and Janine. It seemed that if anything did happen to go wrong, she was so happy she’d just laugh her way through it.

He’d taken a gamble getting Rob to invite Janine down, he could admit it now – but he’d suspected that as Rob got on so well with her, April would too.

Everything had worked out great! Rob had even confessed he was relieved when Janine changed her mind as he’d wanted his brother at his side all along.

“I think it’s traditional for the best man to fall for one of the bridesmaids,” Phil overheard Alex saying as he danced with Janine.

It would be lovely if those two got together as well, Phil thought, but he was getting ahead of himself. He looked across fondly at April and Rob, so very much in love. April waved and came across to him. “Come and have a dance, Dad,” she said warmly, taking his hand. “And by the way, I’ve had no fewer than four of the lady guests asking me whether you’re spoken for.” “Me?” he chuckled. “Yes, you,” she said. “You look very handsome. It would be nice if you’d ask Claire from my office for a dance. She’s lovely, but like you, she’s very shy and she’ll never ask you herself.”

She smiled up at him. “But I won’t push you,” she added. “I know you haven’t dated anyone since Mum died and you always say you’re happy jogging along on your own.”

He was happy, it was true, but surrounded by all this love and romance he had to wonder if he could be happier.

After the success of inviting Janine down, he felt as if he might be on a bit of a winning streak.

“Introduce us,” he said with a smile. “And we’ll see what happens.”

If anything did GO WRONG, she was SO HAPPY she’d laugh THROUGH IT