an ideal world Gregor recommended four applications of his patent skin cream a day, although he understood most people (the implication being the lesser mortals) could manage only two. Gregor had looked a little disappointed when he’d said it. There were two little tablets to be taken with Gregor’s specially electro-neuro-something-ed mineral water, at fourteen quid a bottle, followed by an intensive facewash night and morning, bi-weekly facepacks, and then daily sessions with a strange silver machine with a long handle that you passed over the skin on your face, neck, hands and bosom before you went to bed.
Bosom was a very Gregor-esque word. He had lovingly lingered over the sound of it, extending the first syllable so that it sounded like something warm and liquid in his mouth, while his assistant had demonstrated the technique on a medical mannequin, pointing out the layers of deep tissue that the machine’s special rays reached and improved.
Apparently it did something really impressive with oxygen and magnets and ions . . . or maybe it was crystals and ozone and crushed rocks from Tibet. Liz couldn’t remember which now. Anyway, it puffed out air, smelt a bit like a mixture of cloves and seaweed and cost about the same as a really good holiday.
Slipping off her robe, Liz plugged in the machine and set the dial to high; after all, she wanted to look her fabulous best for Grant.
Chapter Four
In the marquee it was getting warm. Suzie was showing a copy of one of the original wedding photos taken at her parents’ reception to Matt Holman, whose company she had hired to do the catering.
‘God, it’s so romantic all this, isn’t it?’ he said with a smile, his gaze moving backwards and forwards between the photo and her face and then around the inside of the marquee. He took another long hard look at the photo. ‘I reckon we’ve just about got the look right. What do you think they’ll say?’
Suzie shrugged. ‘I genuinely don’t know. Mum and Dad are both a bit low key. I’m just hoping they’re going to be pleased with it. Actually I’m sure they will be, they’ll love everyone being together, having a good time. They’ve always had a lot of friends and most of them are going to be here tonight, but they’re not too keen on big displays and big fusses if you know what I mean.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘So a buffet supper for half of Norfolk?’
‘Might be a bridge too far, but it seemed like a good idea at the time and I’m sure they’ll be okay. I mean, how often are you married for forty years?’
He smiled and moved in a little closer. ‘You know, you look fabulous. I can’t wait to see you in your new outfit.’
Suzie reddened and hastily stepped back. ‘Stop it,’ she said in an undertone. ‘People will see us.’
He grinned. ‘I don’t care.’
‘Well, I do,’ she hissed. ‘Let’s get back to the arrangements, shall we? We’re going to put giant-sized copies of the original photos up on the display boards on the screens in front of your prep area,’ she said, pointing over to the far corner of the tent. ‘I thought people might like to see how everyone’s changed over the years and I’m hoping it’ll break the ice a bit.’
Matt nodded. ‘Great idea – you know this is a lovely photo. Has anyone ever told you, you look just like your mum?’
Suzie raised her eyebrows, warning him off.
‘Don’t look at me like that. It was meant as a compliment,’ said Matt defensively. ‘Good bones. Anyway we’re more or less bang on schedule; all tables in all the right places, garlands and swags look great. The top table is a picture,’ he continued. ‘Food’s all under control. Champagne’s chilling. So all we need now are the guests and the happy couple.’
Suzie nodded. ‘And we’ve still got the banners to put up.’
‘The banners?’
‘Uh-huh. Ten feet long, three feet high – “Happy Fortieth Wedding Anniversary to Rose and Jack”. I know it sounds a bit tacky and it probably is, but I was persuaded into buying them by the woman I bought the flowers from—’
‘Conned more like, you mean,’ Matt said with a grin. ‘Come on, before we break out the step-ladders, how about we grab a little drink? The outside bar is up and ready to roll. Steady the old nerves – or do you fancy road-testing a bottle of champagne?’
‘Nice idea, Matt, but I really need to be stone cold sober for the next couple of hours.’
‘Don’t be such a control freak, Suzie, relax. One little glass isn’t going to hurt anyone.’ Matt moved in closer and slipped his arm around her shoulders. ‘And besides I want to have a quiet word with you,’ he murmured. ‘Have you had a chance to talk to Sam about us yet?’
‘Will you stop it? This is a family party. There isn’t any us,’ Suzie hissed, pushing him away as she glanced nervously towards the open door of the marquee where she could see Sam pacing up and down, talking into his mobile. ‘No us – all right? The last thing we want is anyone seeing us and jumping to conclusions.’
‘Come on, you know what I mean. You’ll have to say something to him sooner or later. And he’s going to be hurt if he finds out from someone else.’
‘Don’t,’ said Suzie, raising a hand to silence him. ‘It’s just really difficult to know where to start,’ Suzie began, stepping away from him.
Matt looked heavenwards. ‘Come on, Suzie, this isn’t on. You are going to have to tell him. We can’t go on like this, all this creeping around. I mean, for God’s sake, it’s ridiculous. This is such a good thing for both of us. It’s a match made in heaven – you know that.’
Suzie bit her lip. ‘I do know, Matt. I do, but I’ve got no idea how he’ll take it. You know how he’s been recently. I can barely talk to him, and when we do talk it seems to end up in a row. You’re not seeing the best of him. I’m not sure what the problem is; we used to talk about everything, which makes all this worse. I’m worried about him. I don’t want to upset him any more than he already is. I just need to pick my moment.’
‘You are such a softy. You know that’s what I love about you, don’t you?’ purred Matt, leaning in to kiss her on the top of her head. ‘Trouble is, the longer you leave it to pick the moment, the harder it’s going to be to say anything to him, and the more upset Sam’s going to be when he finds out what you’ve been up to behind his back. Now, if you’re not going to have a drink with me I am going to get on, unless of course you want your guests sending out for pizza? See you later. Here, you’ll be needing this,’ he said, handing her the wedding photo.
Suzie sighed and glanced down at it. It was one of her favourites – the one where her mum and dad were cutting the cake, while on either side of them family and friends looked on with delight.
Suzie’s mum, Rose, was looking up at her dad with a grin, her eyes bright with mischief and warmth and the promise of things to come, while her dad, Jack, looked down at his new wife with such love and tenderness that, even forty years on, it was impossible not to be moved by his expression.
There was so much love in their faces, so much hope and joy and optimism caught in that single glance. Even now, after all these years, Suzie sometimes caught her dad looking at her mum in the same tender way and the look still tugged at her heart strings. How the hell had they
