Page 58 of Tied to You

You can say that again.My fingers naturally lift to the crystals suffocating me. “Yeah, he tried to buy me back.”

Mum bats her hands at me. “Oh, stop. He loves you. He only wants,” she hiccups, “what’s best for you, dear.”

What’s best for me. Sure.“Have you eaten?” Lord knows she needs something. How she can be drunk already blows my mind. I wasn’t invited to the ceremony itself, but I don’t believe they served drinks there.

“I have had some of the canapes the lovely men have been serving.”

I look around, spotting the silver service. It’s all very glamourous. All very… not me. The sun is warm on my skin, the air still cool enough to warrant a jacket. I don’t have one. Couldn’t find anything to go with the dress, but, just for a moment, I allow my eyes to close and take it in. I don’t want to be here, but I will be okay. What’s the worst that’s going to happen?

The majority of the guests that are here are mingling in the gardens. A Mercedes, followed by a Range Rover, come through the main entrance, pulling my attention as they roll to a stop on the gravel. The drivers simultaneously get out and open the doors for the passengers, all of whom are dressed to the nines. They shake hands with the guests standing closest to the cars, before joining everyone else.

“Oh, they’re here,” Mum says, looping her arm under mine. “Now, you will play nice when we say hello, won’t you, darling? We represent your father. We have to show decorum at all times.”

“Me?” I say offended. “You’re the one staggering at barely three in the afternoon.”

“Nonsense. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“That why you’re holding on to me for dear life?”

“You hush and keep those tootsies walking. I don’t want to go over.”

I laugh with a despondent roll of my eyes, helping her walk forward, guiding her straight to the bride and groom.

“Audrey, Mollie, how nice to see you both.” The bride kisses both me and Mum before turning to her new, old, husband. Honestly, all of this to renew your vows.

“Monica, you look divine.” Mum admires her elegant, white, off the shoulder gown. She does look stunning.

“Thank you, Audrey, you look lovely too. And Mollie,” Monica’s dazzling eyes skate over me, “you look like you could kill. Don’t let Timothy see you.” Her playfulness almost makes me throw up in my mouth.

“Timothy, look, it’s Mollie and Audrey. Don’t they look beautiful.”

My mum tucks her hair behind her ear, enjoying the compliments, but I double take when I see Timothy’s eyes suggestively taking me in as he loops his arms around hiswife.

The way I hate it and the entitlement he thinks he has to do that. I shift on my feet, just about ready to say something.

Mum must feel me tensing. She’s quick to divert the attention away from how beautiful we look. “The ceremony was absolutely stunning, Monica. Congratulations for managing to book Silvia so last minute. I know how busy she is.”

“Oh, yes. I did get lucky, didn’t I.”

I don’t call paying ten thousand pounds for a party planner, lucky.

A glass chinks, and we all turn in unison. The announcer asks us to find our tables before the main meals are served.

“Guess we should find our table,” Monica says, again jokingly. Their table clearly is the biggest and the fanciest, the one expertly decorated to within an inch of its life.

Mum and I smile as they walk away. “Right, shall we sit?”

I agree, again guiding Mum to her table, coming to an immediate holt when I don’t see my name card next to hers. “Uh, has there been some sort of mistake?”

“No.” My father appears from nowhere, stepping closer. “You’re there.”

He points to the adjacent table, and my eyes slowly turn to follow. “Great.”

Dad helps Mum to her seat as I walk away, finding my name card next to Sarah’s, who’s sat next to Henry. He doesn’t say anything as I place my clutch on the table, then drop to my chair, holding my dress in place.

I honestly can’t tell if he’s speechless because of what I’m wearing, or the fact that I actually showed up. Or maybe he lost a bet, too?

“Drink?” the server asks, gliding around our table.