Page 82 of The Virgin's Dance

Donna’s mind gradually focused on the word, and then the meaning.

“Oh. Why would I feel depressed about the wedding José? I’m very happy for you.”

“You know why …”

He gently took her hand. A gesture she had once dreamed of, had waited for in what felt like a lifetime ago. It seemed ironically sad to her now.

He let go of her hand and turned away.

“We spent so much time together in America. Having you here now …”

He stopped.

“I love Maria. We are … we have always said we are soul mates. We were always going to get married, from a young age.” He stumbled around for words. “But with you here now, I feel confused.”

It was his turn to look down at the floor. He was a good man. He was one of her favorite men in the world. But in that moment, despite the hopeless of the situation, she knew how deeply in love she was with a different man, and her heart broke.

She slipped her arm into his and she brushed away the trace of a tear from her eye.

“José. José … I think this is the bit where, as best man, I have to tell you to pull yourself together.”

“Yes,” he said, the look on his face a mixture of confusion and hope.

“You are getting the wedding jitters, and it is normal,” she said firmly.

“Yes,” he said again.

“We will always be good friends, but Maria is your soul mate, and once you get to the honeymoon and you are away from all this craziness …”

He began to cry. They were tears of utter exhaustion and stress. They hugged in the moonlight, two best friends.

“I do think you are wonderful, my tiny Donna. I hope you find someone who I won’t have to punch in the face.”

“I hope so too.”

That night she dreamed of the man who had broken her heart. She dreamed of his dark curls, the way they fell past his face as his body twisted and turned on the stage, and how it curled around her in his bed.

She woke up with a sense of deep longing. The day of the wedding would roll around soon, and she was due to fly out the following day. Then she would try to put him behind her.

Chapter 16

“The tie is too tight, Donna. I think it should be a little looser. What do you think?” José asked, unable to stop fidgeting as he stood in front of the mirror in his suit.

The house was full of frantic energy.

“What time is it? How long until the ceremony?”

Donna had written a speech, was dressed in a pale green dress that set off her red hair, and was working hard to calm José’s nerves.

The wedding was to be held on the beach overlooking the villa. There was an air of chaos about the house, as if the circus had come in to set up. José’s father had hired caterers, magicians, and had even arranged for a fireworks display.

No expense had been spared and the wedding was to be the spectacle of the year in the sleepy Spanish town.

They’d set up a stage on the beach, on which speeches would take place, entertainers would perform, and singers would sing and honor the family.

José’s normal confident manner had deserted him completely.

“I hope she turns up. Do you think she will?”