Extract 5

Let’s get serious here. Of course I’m not going to get married in New York. Of course I’m not. It’s un­thinkable. I’m going to get married at home, just like I planned, with a nice marquee in the garden. There’s absolutely no reason to change my plans. None at all.

Except...

Oh God. Maybe, just maybe, Elinor has a point.

I mean, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, isn’t it? It’s not like a birthday, or Christmas. You only have one wedding day. So if you have the chance to have it somewhere really amazing, maybe you should just grab it.

And it would be amazing. Walking down that aisle in front of four hundred people, to the sound of a string orchestra, with fantastic flower arrangements everywhere. And then sitting down to some incredible dinner. Robyn gave me some sample dinner menus, and I mean, the food! Rosace of Maine Lobster... Fowl Consomme with Quenelles of Pheasant... Wild Rice with Pignoli Nuts...

I mean, I know Oxshott and Ashtead Quality Caterers are good – but I’m not sure they even know what a Pignoli nut is. (To be honest, I don’t either. But that’s not the point.)

And maybe Elinor’s right, Mum would be grateful if we took the whole thing off her hands. Yes. Maybe she s finding the organization more of a strain than she’s letting on. Maybe she’s already wishing she hadn’t volunteered to do it all. Whereas if we get married at the Plaza, she won’t have to do anything, just turn up. Plus Mum and Dad wouldn’t have to pay for a thing... I mean, it would be doing them a favour!

So, as I’m walking back to Barneys, I take out my cellphone and dial my parents’ number. As Mum answers I can hear the closing music of Crimewatch in the background, and I suddenly feel a wave of nostalgia for home. I can just imagine Mum and Dad sitting there, with the curtains drawn and the gas-effect fire flickering cosily.

‘Hi, Mum?’

‘Becky!’ exclaims Mum. ‘I’m so glad you’ve phoned! I’ve been trying to fax you through some menus from the catering company, but your machine won’t work. Dad says have you checked your paper roll recently?’

‘Urn... I don’t know. Listen, Mum–’

‘And listen to this! Janice’s sister-in-law knows some­one who works at a balloon-printing company! She says if we order two hundred or more balloons we can have the helium for free!’

‘Great! Look, I was just thinking about the wedding, actually...’

Why do I suddenly feel nervous?

‘Oh yes? Graham, turn the television down.’

‘It was just occurring to me... just as a possi­bility...’ I give a shrill laugh, ‘that Luke and I could get married in America!’

‘America?’ There’s a long pause. ‘What do you mean, America?’

‘It was just a thought! You know, since Luke and I live here already...’

‘You’ve lived there for one year, Becky!’ Mum sounds quite shocked. ‘This is your home!’

‘Well yes... but I was just thinking...’ I say feebly.

Somehow I was hoping that Mum would say, ‘What a fantastic idea!’ and make it really easy.

‘How would we organize a wedding in America?’

‘I don’t know!’ I swallow. ‘Maybe we could have it at a... a big hotel.’

‘A hotel?’ Mum sounds as though I’ve gone mad.

‘And maybe Elinor would help...’ I plough on. ‘I’m sure she’d contribute... you know, if it was more expensive...’

There’s a sharp intake of breath at the other end of the phone and I wince. Damn. I should never have mentioned Elinor.

‘Yes, well. We don’t want her contributions, thank you. We can manage very well by ourselves. Is this Elinor’s idea, then, a hotel? Does she think we can’t put on a nice wedding?’

‘No!’ I say hastily. ‘It’s just... it’s nothing! I was just...’

‘Dad says if she’s so keen on hotels, she can stay at one instead of with us.’

Oh God. I’m just making everything worse.

‘Look... forget it. It was a silly idea.’ I rub my face. ‘So – how are the plans going?’

We chat for a few minutes more, and I hear all about the nice man from the marquee company and how his quote was very reasonable, and how his son was at school with Cousin Alex, isn’t it a small world? By the end of our conversation Mum sounds completely mollified and all talk of American hotels has been forgotten.

I say goodbye, turn off the phone and exhale sharply. Right. Well, that’s decided. I might as well call Elinor and tell her. No point in hanging around.

I turn on my mobile again, dial two digits and then stop.

On the other hand – is there any point in rushing straight into a decision?

I mean, you never know. Maybe Mum and Dad will talk it over this evening and change their minds. Maybe they’ll come out to have a look. Maybe if they actually saw the Plaza... if they saw how magical it was all going to be... how luxurious... how glamorous...