Page 11

‘Any chance you can come round here, sweetie?’ he said.

Holly turned to look at Sienna. Her eyes were filled with tears as she struggled to stand. Did tears mean she was going to say yes or no? Surely it would be no. Surely she couldn’t think they’d been together long enough to get married?

She was certainly taking a long time moving, and with every step, Holly’s mind whirred. If she said no, what would that do to Giles? Would he be humiliated? He couldn’t really be serious though, could he? It had to be the painkillers making him act that way. Everyone knew you weren’t meant to mix alcohol and painkillers, and that was obviously what he had done. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. Sienna would realise that, wouldn’t she? But then, as he knelt there, Giles pulled out a small square box. Holly’s heart twisted. How spur-of-the-moment could it be if he’d got a ring?

‘Okay, I’m gonna make this quick,’ Giles said as Sienna reached him. ‘Because it’s really starting to hurt my muscles now. But Sienna Louisabell Sommercroft…’

Louisabell! Was that even a name?

She wasn’t going to voice the question though, and even if she had, she doubted anyone would have heard. They were all transfixed on the scene. Giles, on one knee, with a ring in one hand as he held on to Sienna’s with the other.

‘You are a truly wonderful person. And I feel so lucky to have you in my life. Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’

Sienna used her free hand to cover her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks. She shook her head. Was that a no? Holly wondered. Maybe it was a no. But a second later, Sienna finally croaked out an answer.

‘Yes, yes, absolutely I will.’

The entire table erupted into cheers. Almost the entire table at least. Holly was too stunned to even move.

11

While most of the table was on their feet, heading towards the newly engaged couple. Michael took hold of the champagne bottle and started refilling everyone’s glasses, only for the drink to run out after filling just Jamie’s and Sienna’s.

‘More champagne!’ He waved his hand energetically as he looked for a member of the waitstaff to fulfil the request. Yet before he could find one, Holly was on her feet.

‘I’ll go get some more,’ Holly said, pushing back her chair as she rose, only to find her legs felt peculiarly weak. ‘One more bottle of champagne coming up.’

A moment later, she was walking towards the bar. By the time she got there, not only had her legs failed to regain any of their strength, but her throat was unnaturally dry and an almost dizzy-like sensation was causing her head to spin.

‘A glass of water, please,’ she said to the barman.

‘No problem.’ He provided her with one almost immediately, although she couldn’t bring herself to take a sip.

‘Hey, you okay?’

Holly didn’t move. She could feel her hand gripping the glass a little tighter than it needed to. Anger was rising through her, but she tried to keep it in.

‘Holly, I said are you okay?’

She spun around. Jamie was only inches away from her.

‘How the hell could you let him do that?’ she said.

She didn’t want to take her feelings out on Jamie. That wasn’t fair. She knew it wasn’t, but she was angry, and Jamie was the only person there to be the recipient.

‘It’s your anniversary party. We were celebrating your wedding, and you just let him usurp it like that?’

‘I don’t think that’s what he did,’ Jamie said. Her voice was quiet and considered and, for some reason, that only made Holly even more irritated.

‘That’s completely what he did. I mean, how arrogant can you get? To not even ask someone when you’re at their anniversary party. To not even tell them you’re going to propose.’

‘Well, actually…’

Holly felt her jaw slacken. She shook her head in disbelief.

‘He told you? He told you he was going to propose, but you didn’t tell me?’

It was Jamie’s turn to shake her head. ‘He asked if it would be okay and Fin said yes. I only found out a few minutes before you did.’