Lizzie Marshall's Wedding (30 page)

Her life couldn’t get much worse than this, Kim Briarstone told herself as she got in her car and headed towards Beckleston Hall. Every man she loved seemed to dump her and she couldn’t understand why. First Max then Jack and now Ross. It just wasn’t fair; it just wasn’t right.

There had been men before them of course, many men in fact but she’d been the one to do the dumping with them. Max was the first man to finish with her; the first man to toss her aside like an old carrier bag and she didn’t like that feeling, didn’t like it at all.

Then Jack, although she’d seen that coming and had already moved on to Ross. Now he was leaving her and that meant she’d be alone and she didn’t like being alone. She didn’t want to end up like her mother who pretended to be happy even though she hadn’t had a man in her life for years. She couldn’t be alone, she simply couldn’t.

She took a large swig from the vodka bottle she’d put on the passenger seat. She’d show them. Max and Jack and Ross. They’d all be at the wedding today and she’d show them they couldn’t just forget her. She’d give them something to remember her by. She’d give them the surprise of their lives. She glanced at her handbag and sneered. Lizzie Marshall’s wedding would go off with a bang but it wouldn’t be from the fireworks she knew they were having, it would be from the present she’d brought them.

‘You look absolutely beautiful,’ Becky said when she went to check if Lizzie was running to schedule. ‘All the guests have arrived and are on the terrace with champagne and canapés; we’ll get them all seated soon. I’ve just seen the men headed back this way and yes – they’re all dressed and they all look perfectly sober so don’t worry about a thing. How are you feeling?’

Lizzie looked radiant and she dashed to Becky and gave her a hug. ‘Thank you so much for everything you’ve done Becky and you Susie for this magnificent dress and you Jess for today. Thank you all so much. This is the happiest day of my life. I feel absolutely wonderful!’ She spun around several times just to prove it.

‘Please don’t do that Lizzie,’ Jane said, ‘it’s making me feel a little nauseous.’

‘I need a drink,’ Lizzie said, ‘I’ve suddenly got butterflies!’

Becky poured them all some champagne and Jane a glass of non-alcoholic wine and they toasted to Life and Love and Happiness.

‘I’ll go and make sure the men are ready, get the guests seated and everyone in position. I’d say that’ll take about twenty minutes so you can start making your way down any time after that.’ She squeezed Lizzie’s hand. ‘Good Luck Lizzie. See you down there.’

She headed back downstairs and took a final look in the ballroom. The tables were set, the floral centrepieces were in place, the “disco” was ready for after dinner. She rang the pyrotechnic team on her mobile and they confirmed they were setting up the fireworks and would be ready in plenty of time for the nine-thirty p.m. blast off. She checked the caterers in the kitchen – all running to schedule and finally she saw Ben – she had at last got used to calling the vicar Ben – dressed and ready to officiate.

She stepped onto the terrace and asked the guests to begin to take their seats informing them that the ceremony would start in about twenty minutes. Slowly people started making their way to the chairs set out on the lawn just a short way from the terrace at the back of the house.

Becky looked around for Jack and saw him chatting and laughing with Max and Phil and Ross. She had met Ross for the first time yesterday but when they were introduced, she found herself wondering why any woman would be unhappy with him. He was good looking, he was friendly, he was thoughtful and he talked of his son at every opportunity. Clearly, his wife, Kim Briarstone, was a fool.

Max cocked his head to one side when he saw her and waved his hand to call her over. He put his arm around her when she reached his side and told her she looked even more beautiful than usual.

‘Right,’ she said, ‘we’re all set. If you gentlemen want to start taking your places, the bride will be with us in ten to fifteen minutes.’

‘Thank you so much for this Becky,’ Jack said. ‘You’ve done a fabulous job. And Max, mate. Thanks for this day, for paying for all this, I mean. It’s really great. Thanks.’

Max grinned. ‘Don’t get all mushy Jack, it’s my pleasure – and mum’s of course. And the money was nothing; it’s Becky who’s made today what it is. Oh – and the fact that you’ll soon be married to the woman you love, of course. Now come on, let’s not keep the bride waiting.’

They all turned to head towards the pergola but stopped in their tracks. Kim Briarstone stood in their path, waving a vodka bottle in one hand and a gun in the other.

Max pushed Becky behind him with one hand and held his other out towards Kim.

‘Don’t do anything you’ll regret later Kim,’ he said his voice surprisingly calm. ‘Why don’t you put that down and we can all have a chat.’

‘I don’t want a chat Max! I wanted you but you dumped me like ... like I was nothing. Someone you just screwed then tossed aside when wifie found out.’

He took a step towards her but Becky grabbed his arm to hold him back. Without taking his eyes from Kim he gently removed Becky’s fingers. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said, ‘I’ll be fine.’ He took another step forward. ‘It wasn’t like that Kim. I was just trying to save my marriage that’s all. Just as you should be trying to save yours, not doing this.’

‘Shit Kim!’ Ross said finally getting to grips with the situation.

‘Don’t be stupid Kim!’ Jack said also taking a step forward.

Phil said nothing but gradually started edging towards her.

‘Stop! Stop right where you are or ... or I swear I’ll use this,’ she shrieked.

They all stopped.

‘What do you want Kim?’ Max asked, indicating to the others to stay where they were. ‘What do you want us to do?’

She seemed unsure and took another swig from the bottle as Max took another step forward.

‘I mean it Max! Stay there.’

‘Fine. I’ll stay. Just tell me. Why are you here? And ... what exactly are you planning to do with that?’ He nodded at the gun she waved maniacally around. ‘You could hurt someone you know.’

She laughed drunkenly. ‘That’s the whole point Max. I want to hurt someone. I want to hurt you Max. Just like you hurt me. And you Jack. And you Ross. All I wanted was a man to love me. Really love me.’ She lowered the gun a fraction.

‘I love you Kim,’ Ross said, ‘in spite of everything, I love you.’

Her eyes shot to his face, hopeful but not quite believing. ‘You don’t love me! You just love our son. That’s why you married me. Because I was pregnant. All you wanted was him!’

‘That’s not true Kim. If you remember, I didn’t even know about the baby when I came to you in hospital. And then we thought he was Jack’s. I had no idea he was mine when I asked you to marry me. I wanted you Kim. I’ve always wanted you.’ He moved slowly towards her.

She seemed to relent and her eyes filled with tears then she suddenly raised the gun again. ‘No! You don’t want me. You’ve left me and you’re going to divorce me.’

‘I thought you didn’t love me anymore. I thought that was what you wanted.’

‘You’re lying! You’re all liars. All you want from me is sex. All you ever wanted was sex. You never loved me. None of you! Stay there. I won’t say it again.’

‘Okay Kim. You’re very upset. Let’s just put the gun down and talk shall we?’ Max took another small step towards her.

She looked unsteady on her long legs and she blinked several times as if trying to focus. ‘It’s too late for that Max,’ she said. Then she raised the gun and took aim directly at Max’s head.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Becky heard herself scream. Felt herself dive forward in a futile attempt to save the man she loved. She felt Jack catch her and stop her from falling then spin her around out of harm’s way. She saw Phil and Max dash forward, out of the corner of her eye and Ross put himself between Kim and Jack and herself. Then nothing. Silence. No bang. No gunfire. Nothing. Then a crack like a fist hitting bone and the sound of smashing glass.

Jack released her and she spun round half expecting to see Max sprawled across the terrace covered in blood. She blinked several times in disbelief. Kim hung in his arms like a rag doll, her head lolling back and her arms limp at her sides. The vodka bottle was smashed on the ground and Max passed the gun he’d taken from her, to Phil. Then, as if she were a sack of potatoes he threw her over his shoulder.

‘The gun’s a fake. Excuse me,’ he said to Jack, Ross and Becky then, ‘Sorry about this Ross but she clearly needs sobering up.’ He strode off with her and minutes later, threw her in the pond.

They all raced after him and watched as she came to the surface and splashed frantically in the water.

‘She’s your wife Ross,’ Max said, ‘I think you’re the one who’s going to have to get her out. Here,’ he handed Ross the life ring from a post beside the pond, ‘use this, that way you won’t get wet. And I know it’s not very gallant but I strongly suggest you tie her up in your room until the ceremony’s over. That’ll give her time to sober up and think about her actions. Jack, don’t keep your bride waiting. I’ll give Ross a hand. You and Phil go and take Becky with you.’

‘No!’ Becky snapped, standing her ground.

Max gave her a curious look then turned back to Ross.

‘I can manage her Max. She won’t be much trouble now I don’t think. You go too. I’ll be along later.’

Max hesitated for a second. Looked at Kim sobbing quietly in the water and clinging to the ring Ross had thrown her then he grabbed Becky’s hand. ‘Okay. See you later. Yell if you need me.’

He marched a still bewildered and furious Becky back towards the guests.

‘I thought you were dead!’ she screeched. ‘What were you thinking? Will you stand still and look at me Max?’ She dug her heels in.

He stopped and looked her directly in the eye. ‘I was thinking that Kim was very drunk and that the gun was either fake or unlikely to be loaded. And forget about me. What were you thinking? I saw you try to dive in front of me. If that gun had been real, you could have been hurt. Don’t ever do anything like that again.’ He wrapped his arm around her and resumed walking.

‘Max stop! I thought I’d lost you! You’re behaving as if nothing’s happened!’

He stopped again but looked a little irritated. ‘Nothing did happen. Just a very drunk and unhappy woman doing nasty things. She clearly needs help. And how many times do I have to tell you? You are not going to lose me Rebecca Cooper. Not today. Not ever. Now will you please stop making a fuss. We can talk about this later if you want. For now we’ve got a wedding to go to or have you forgotten?’ He kissed her quickly on her forehead then linked her arm through his and marched her reluctantly to the wedding.

‘Everything all right Max?’ Ben asked dashing forward to meet Jack, Phil, Becky and Max as they reached the pergola. ‘It looked as if there was a little bit of a commotion going on.’

‘Yeah Ben. Everything’s fine. Just a guest who’s had a bit too much to drink. You know what weddings are like.’

They took their places as the string quartet began playing Felix Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” and Lizzie Marshall, looking every bit the blushing bride walked down an aisle strewn with white rose petals to meet her soon-to-be husband, Jack Drake, blissfully unaware of anything save how happy she was.

The sky was a kaleidoscope of colours as Lizzie and Jack said their vows; a canopy of rose pink to blood red, soft lilac to deep purple, azure to cobalt blue, pale gold to silver then baby blue chased by indigo as the evening crept stealthily across the heavens.

Confetti was thrown, congratulations given then Lizzie and Jack led the way to the ballroom for the celebratory dinner and dance to begin.

Ross had followed Max’s suggestion and taken Kim to his room. He hadn’t tied her up but he had locked the door.

‘If she’s sobered up and can behave herself,’ Max said when Ross came down, ‘she can join the wedding but make it clear that just one word and she goes back in that pond for good. She’ll have to borrow something of mum’s to wear until we can get her dress washed and dried but it’s up to her. Either that, or she can sleep it off .’

‘Thanks Max. I think I’ll let her sleep it off – just in case.’

Max turned to Becky. ‘Well, that was a rather beautiful ceremony wasn’t it? Did you see the colours of that sunset – no wait – you probably arranged that too didn’t you?’

‘Very funny.’

‘I detect a slight chill in the air,’ he said wrapping his arms around her.

She pulled away from him. ‘How can you be so blasé about this Max? I ... I really don’t understand. I was terrified and you’re just dismissing it as a joke! What’s more, you’re inviting her to the wedding reception as if she’s a friend. Have you forgotten what she did to Lizzie and Jack?’’

His brows knit together. ‘I can’t see why it’s such a problem. The woman was drunk and we weren’t in any danger. It’s over. Forget it. As to what she did to Lizzie and Jack, yeah, that was awful but we all know she’s unhappy and it all turned out fine in the end. She’s still Ross’s wife and I have no idea why but he loves her. We can’t ostracize the woman just because she has a few issues. Let’s go and have some dinner. I’m starving.’ He reached out for her.

‘Max!’ she stamped her foot like a child in a temper.

He raised his eyebrows but didn’t speak and they stared at one another in silence for several seconds. Then Becky burst into tears.

He wrapped her in his arms and hugged her.

‘I was terrified Max! Terrified!’

He stroked her hair. ‘I’m sorry sweetheart. I hadn’t realised it had upset you so much.’

‘I told you it had!’ she said between sobs.

‘Yes but ... I didn’t think you meant it had terrified you this much. I think you’re in a state of shock. We’ll be laughing about this tomorrow, truly we will. We’re all safe. Kim’s a bit wet and probably smells of pond water but when you actually think about it, no real harm was done. Oh, she’s got a bruised jaw too. I’ve never hit a woman and I didn’t mean to hit her but I caught her on the chin when I grabbed the gun from her.’