You Are Invited…

Lasting Love

Saturday, September 16

“Do you, Jessica Jane Teale, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?” “I do.” Jessica gazed happily into Matt’s eyes. They had just been pronounced man and wife. Her mum Carol dabbed at a tear. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered to Jessica’s aunt Kim. “My little girl is married now.”

“Hmm,” Kim nodded.“Seems like only yesterday you were pushing her in the pram!”

The happy couple were signing the register as everyone lined up outside the registry office ready to throw confetti.

“She never wanted a big, flamboyant do at a church,” Carol muttered.

“Pity, she would have looked like an angel in a proper wedding dress.” Kim laughed. “Your Jess has never been into all that, though. This is typically her.”

“Yes, of course, and it’s her day and she’s entitled to have it however she wants it,” Carol agreed. “And I’m so glad she had the sense not to invite her father. I couldn’t have stood him being here. He would have ruined it. Jessie’s finally seen the light and decided she doesn’t want anything to do with him.”

“It seems so,” Kim agreed.

Much later, the newlyweds returned to the home they’d already shared for the past five years.

“I think that all went beautifully well,” Jessica murmured.

They smiled at each other, and then Matt took her hand and pulled her towards the stairs.

“Yes, it did.” He grinned. “Come on, we’d better get out of these fancy clothes before we ruin them!”

Jessica laughed and followed him.

Saturday, September 23

“Do you, Jessica Jane Teale, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?” Jessica gazed up at Matt and nodded. “I do,” she said. Sitting just to the right of her, Greg took a crumpled hanky out of his pocket and wiped his eyes.

“I can’t believe it,” he muttered to his friend Sean. “My little girl, all grown up and married. Seems like only yesterday that I was bouncing her on my knee.”

“Time flies,” Sean agreed. “Mine’s got two kids of her own now.”

Greg roughly stuffed the hanky back in his pocket.

“Come on,” Sean laughed, digging him in the ribs. “Everyone’s going outside for the photos.”

“Everyone” meant Greg, Sean, and a handful of Matt’s colleagues.

“She never was one for extravagant do’s, my Jessie,” Greg mumbled as they went outside into the grounds of Hickley Hall. “Can’t say I’m sorry. I hate all that palaver myself.” “That’s probably why her mother isn’t here,” Sean said. Greg gave a derisive snort. “Well, I wouldn’t have come if I’d known she was coming, too. Jessie made a choice, and obviously she made the right one.” The guests waited while the happy couple signed the register. At least, that’s what they thought they were doing. In fact, Matt and Jessica were thanking Ben, Matt’s pal, who’d played the role of Registrar to perfection. “People really go in for these stately homes as wedding venues now, don’t they?” Greg commented, looking around. “They make nice settings,” Sean agreed. “I must say, I’m surprised Carol didn’t turn up – invited or not.” Greg scowled. Sean shook his head. “Can’t you two just bury the hatchet, after all this time?” “She won’t listen to reason, that woman,” Greg snorted. The happy couple appeared and everyone threw confetti. Jessica smiled conspiratorially at Matt, indicating their plan had worked perfectly. Both her parents had seen her happily married, and there had been no simmering hostility to spoil either of the happiest days of her life!

Sunday, October 1

“Sorry, Kim, I can’t do dinner – I’m off to Gatwick to give the happy couple a surprise welcome home!” Carol explained over the phone. “I can’t wait to see Jess again. It seems she’s been away for months.”

“Shame they had to wait a week after

they got married before they could have a honeymoon,” Kim replied.

“It was something to do with Matt’s work,” Carol said proudly. “He’s going places, that lad. One day he and Jessica will be living very comfortably – nothing like the shambles I had with her father!”

Kim groaned. “Just go and meet them, Carol, they’ll certainly be glad not to have the bother of trains.”

The flight from Naples was delayed and Carol went to one of the vendors and ordered a Latte.

“Two egg sandwiches, please,” said a voice behind her. Carol spun round in disbelief.

“You! What are you doing here?”

Greg stared at his ex-wife, who he’d completely failed to recognise due to her now blonde, short hair and much slimmer figure. “Same as you, probably.” Carol took in his much better hairstyle and dental improvements. There were very few empty tables. “We’ll have to sit together,” she said. Greg pulled out a chair for her. “Thanks… so why are you here?”

“I wanted to surprise them,” Greg replied. His plan had been to meet Jess and Matt in Arrivals and ferry the newly-weds home, but his car had broken down, forcing him to make his journey to the airport by train.

“You’ll do that all right – shock them, more like,” Carol muttered. “What made you think they’d want to see you? They didn’t even invite you to the wedding, that must have told you something!”

“What are you on about?” Greg replied. “You’re the one they didn’t invite. So what the heck are you doing here?” Carol sniffed. “You must be going potty,” she said. “No, you’re the one losing your marbles,” Greg retorted. “Here, I’ve got the photos with me!” He took them out and spread them in front of Carol. “No – this can’t be Jessie’s wedding!” Carol gasped. “Oh yes it is,” Greg said. “They didn’t invite you because they knew you’d start a row with me.” “They didn’t invite you because they knew you’d start a row!” Carol retorted, her head spinning. This was so confusing! “Look, I’ve got a photo on my phone.” She presented it to him with a triumphant flourish. The colour drained from Greg’s face as he stared at the picture of his daughter, in the same dress, with Matt in front of the Registrar. “But…” Carol was studying another of Greg’s snaps. “How can this be?” she murmured. “When was this?”

“Last Saturday,” Greg replied. “Day before they flew off on honeymoon.”

“Mine was the Saturday before last,” Carol said. “And I thought they couldn’t leave straight away because of something to do with Matt’s job.”

“Or something to do with having another wedding to stage,” Greg said, a smile tugging his lips as the penny dropped. “Dear oh dear, can you see what they’ve done? They had two weddings so we could both see them married without fear of fireworks!”

“I don’t start fireworks, it’s you,” Carol said, defensive as ever.

Greg looked at her, thinking how attractive she really was.

“Not any more,” he said. “You know what? Jessica and Matt acted diplomatically because they knew we’d behave like a pair of idiots – and that’s exactly what we’ve been.”

Carol stared at him, her mouth suddenly dry. “Do you really think that?” she asked, wondering if it might just be possible that she still felt something real and genuine for him, deep down in the recesses of her heart.

“I do,” Greg said, nodding solemnly. Carol giggled. The atmosphere between them had changed dramatically.

“The last time you said that to me, we were standing – ”

“At the altar of St Oswald’s church,” Greg finished. “See, I remember.”

Carol’s life had suddenly turned completely upside down. She mopped her flustered brow with a tissue.

“Did you drive here?” Greg asked. Carol nodded. “Really? Have you conquered your fear of motorways?” Carol shook her head glumly. “No. I’m still a nervous wreck on them, but I was determined to be here and surprise them.”

“They’re going to get an even bigger one now,” Greg said, his smile widening. “My old banger packed up on the way here. I can drive all four of us back in your car,” he suggested. “If you’d like, that is…”

Carol’s eyes were actually shining. “I’d like that,” she said. Suddenly, Greg was a very happy man indeed.

“Us back on talking terms will be the best wedding present we could give Jess,” he said.

“That, or –” Carol stopped, smiling gleefully. “We could really knock their socks off by arranging a third wedding!” Greg frowned, puzzled. “You mean, a blessing?” he asked. “No.” Carol gazed hard at him, heart pounding. There was still something between them – and she knew he felt it, too. “Don’t you get it?”

Greg continued to look at her, the woman he now knew he was still in love with.

“I do,” he murmured softly. “I do.”

They knew we’d BEHAVE like a pair of IDIOTS –that’s what we’ve BEEN