Page 13 of Wedding Games
‘Ror-eee,’ complained Arnold. ‘I was just getting to that bit!’
‘Dad,’ Zoe said, her spoon scraping the bottom of her bowl. ‘Why don’t you just give Brad the highlights now, then give him the director’s cut another time?’
‘Maybe I could take him up to the glen to see where I faced off against the adder?’
‘Snakes!’ yelled Brad happily as Mary and Barbara both shouted, ‘no!’ at the same time.
Arnold raised his hands as if to placate everyone. ‘Okay, okay, I’ll give you the edited version of our sweeping love story.’ He looked across the table at his wife, his expression soft. ‘I finally passed out as Willie carried me off the glen. When I woke up, I was clean and warm, tucked up in a strange bed with an angel looking down at me. I remember blinking, thinking it must be a dream. But it wasn’t. It was reality. I’d been through hell and entered paradise. I’d set off from London on an adventure to find myself, but instead, I found my soul.’
Mary’s eyes welled up as she smiled at Arnold.
There was a loud sniff. ‘That’s beautiful, man. Frikking poetry.’ Brad grabbed a napkin and blew his nose. ‘And Mary? Had you ever met anyone like Arnold before?’
‘No. I thought I would remain a spinster forever,’ Mary replied. ‘My mother was demanding and kept me at home. I didn’t have any options and the single men in the village were completely unsuitable.’
Barbara sniffed.
‘Too old, too ugly,’ Mary continued. ‘Or both.’
Barbara gasped.
Rory caught Zoe’s eye across the table. The situation was deteriorating rapidly.
‘Nobody was a suitable candidate. But then Arnold appeared like he was sent from heaven to rescue me. It was love at first sight, and before a week had passed, I packed a bag and ran away with him to England.’ She sighed. ‘It was meant to be.’
‘Well—’ Barbara began.
‘Hot damn!’ interjected Brad. ‘We’ve got ourselves a movie!’
Rory pushed back his chair and stood, Zoe following his lead.
‘I think this has been a great success,’ he said.
‘Did you want any coffee?’ asked Clive.
‘No thank you,’ Zoe replied as she tugged her father’s arm. ‘I need to get these two back to Morag’s. You alright with the clear up?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Clive replied, pulling Barbara’s seat out so she could stand.
Brad was embracing Arnold. ‘We need to get together again, man. This has been the bomb.’
‘Absolutely!’ Arnold replied. ‘I should take you up to the glen.’
‘No!’ said Mary and Barbara again in unison.
Zoe marched her parents through the castle as if it was on fire, reaching the front door at least twenty yards ahead of Rory, his mother, and Brad.
‘Thank you so much, see you tomorrow at the rehearsal dinner,’ she called over her shoulder as she pushed them out into the courtyard.
Rory excused himself and followed her out. The September evening held a slight chill that was soothing to his skin.
Zoe ran back to him and he held her tightly in his arms.
‘We survived,’ she said into his chest.
‘Only just.’ He sighed. ‘Fuck me, that was hard.’
‘Yes please.’
