The day of the wedding had arrived and Rachel sat in front of her dressing table mirror, deep in thought. Ros was sat on the bed behind her.

'Are you OK?'

'Hmmm, yeah,' she smiled.

'Wonder how the boys stag night went? It's a good job we had the hen night earlier?' Ros started to help Rachel tie her hair back.

'Richard had better be alright! You never know what they may have done to him,' Rachel suddenly felt worried, wishing that Ros had never brought up the subject.


***

Richard was starting to wake up on the sofa at Number Six. After going out with a huge group of mates into Norwich, a few had ended up having a lock-in at The Headless Pint. Phil had offered him the sofa for the night.

'Fancy some toast, mate?' Nathan shouted, at least it seemed like shouting to Richard.

'Yeah, please...suppose I'd better get a shower,' Richard's voice was still husky from all the cigarettes he'd smoked while drunk.

'Go for it, mate, not long now, like a lamb to the slaughter!' Nathan laughed.

Richard headed for the bathroom, all his doubts flooding back rapidly…

 

 

 

 

 

Rachel’s parents, Peter and Sophie Watson had arrived and were downstairs helping to prepare food to take to the pub, while her sister Deborah Harris was at the pub already helping out with decorations. In spite of the short notice, it was going to be a family affair. Everyone was very tactful and didn’t mention her brother, John…

 

‘You’re looking amazing, babe!’ Ros smiled, helping to adjust Rachel’s necklace.

 

‘It’s lucky I haven’t got a massive bump yet,’ Rachel was over four months pregnant, but no-one would ever know it, without looking closely.

 

‘It brings back memories of the day I married Nick, we had such a lovely day,’ Ros’s eyes began to fill with tears.

 

‘It looked great on the photos that you showed me,’ Rachel replied.

 

‘Shame that it all went bad, it was all for nothing in the end. Promise me Rachel, if it looks like things are going wrong, if Richard doesn’t TOTALLY love you, get out, because I wish I had years ago…’

 

Rachel almost scoffed at this, but thought better of it.

 

‘I promise. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.’

 

 

***

Richard was putting his suit on, when his brother Steve arrived at Number Six.

 

‘Come in, nice to meet you,’ Phil welcomed him in. Max and Sam Reynolds were already there, getting started on cans of beer.

 

 

Richard came downstairs.

 

‘Hey, Steve! I’m so glad you could make it!’

 

‘Alright, Dick!’ Steve laughed, but he could tell just by looking at his younger brother that something wasn’t quite right.

 

‘Let’s drink a toast to Richard and Rachel then lads,’ Nathan raised a can in the air.

 

‘Here’s to a great married life,’ Gary added.

 

‘Yeah, you nutter!’ Max cried, all of them laughing.

 

 

***

 

 

The Headless Pint was buzzing with activity. Jo had decided to work an extra shift that day, and was chatting to Kris at the bar.

 

‘Anyone would think it was Charles and Lady flippin’ Di,’ Kris scowled.

 

‘I know,’ Jo replied,’ look at her over there.’

 

She pointed to a stunning brunette, who was chatting to Jack and helping him put up banners.

 

‘Deborah Harris, Rachel’s sister...got all of the men eating out of the palm of her hand already!’

 

‘Well, she’d better leave Nathan alone, or she’ll get her eyes scratched out!’ And Jo knew that Kris meant it.

 

‘Crikey, you’re starting to sound a bit serious,’ Jo’s concerns about Nathan were at the front of her mind.

 

‘Well, not really, he’s good fun, we row, but

 

it makes the making up fun!’

 

‘Kris, he’s probably not all that you think he is-’ but she didn’t want to hear what Jo was about to say.

 

‘Jo, when I want advice on my love life, I’ll ask for it. Can I have another one of these please?’

 

***

It was almost three o’clock and people were at the church, the organ already playing.

 

Kris and Nathan got to the entrance, to be met by the Lucas family.

 

‘Hello people,’ Nathan said cheerfully,’ and Laura, you’re looking particularly gorgeous today.’

 

Kris noticed Nathan and Laura give each other a lingering glance.

 

‘Come on you, let’s get inside.’

 

‘Nice to see you too, Kristen,’ Val smiled.

 

At the perimeter wall, Lil Johnson and her cronies were gathered.

 

‘Ooh, I love a good wedding, let’s get inside ladies.’

 

‘Not yet, Lil, we should wait for the bride to arrive and then get inside?’

 

At the altar, Richard and Steve were chatting while they all waited for the bride. Or rather, Steve was talking and Richard wouldn’t!

 

‘What’s wrong? Is it just nerves? I can tell that something’s not quite right?’

I’ll be fine,’ he replied, staring at Jesus on the cross at the front of the church.

 

‘They’ve always made a lovely couple,’ cooed Josie as the Reynolds family gathered in one of the pews.

 

‘Yeah, replied Sam.

 

‘If only you could find a nice girl like her.’

 

‘Give it a rest, woman, just for today!’

Don groaned.

 

Moments later, the organ started up again and Rachel began to make her way down the aisle with her father, Ros and Deborah following behind as bridesmaids.

 

‘What a stunner,’ Nathan murmured, looking at Rachel and then across at Laura, something that Kris noticed once again.

 

Richard’s heart was pounding as he saw his smiling wife to be walking towards him. He looked around at the faces, family and friends, all of them smiling almost as much as her.

 

‘Is something going on between you and that little tart?’ Kris whispered in Nathan’s ear.

 

‘Don’t be paranoid, love,’ he answered, looking Rachel’s sister up and down at the same time.

 

Ray reached for Val’s hand and they briefly looked at each other, both of them remembering their wedding day.

 

 

The vicar’s words began.

 

Ros looked for Sam, only to notice Josie giving her daggers. She quickly looked away, staring at the vicar, the same vicar who had married her and Nick almost ten years ago in that very church.

 

Gary nudged Phil ‘Look at that, Josie can’t stand Ros, can she?’

 

‘Don’t blame her, I suppose, in her situation. Should be a good do later, I quite like weddings, as long as it isn’t my own!’ Phil whispered, recalling his estranged wife Diane, wondering where she was now.

 

‘Do you Richard Thomas Curtis….’

 

As the vicar’s line finished, Rachel’s smiled faltered, realising that Richard had a grave look on his face.

 

‘I’m sorry, Rach, I can’t...’

© 2010 Danny Alborough / DJA Publications
All characters, names and situations are fictitious.
Any similarities to places or people, living or dead, are purely coincidental.