Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper by Debbie Johnson

Author:Debbie Johnson [Johnson, Debbie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008150228
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2015-09-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Lucy Allsop’s wedding was a much different affair than Gaynor’s had been. Which made sense – Lucy was a much different woman than Gaynor. The tasteful dress, the under-stated make-up, the beautifully arranged hair – it all screamed class.

It also, thought Maggie, screamed tension – poor Lucy had gone through the service like a sleepwalker, and now stood receiving her guests like she was hosting a funeral, not enjoying the happiest day of her life.

When Maggie and Marco reached the head of the queue, the woman looked about ready to keel over from the stress. A warm smile broke out across her strained features when she saw them approaching, and she held out her hands to Maggie, casting a confused glance at her friend. The friend who looked familiar and yet not, at the same time.

“It’s his twin brother,” said Maggie, correctly picking up on her thought process. She’d met Rob that time in the shop – and Marco looked enough like him to raise an eyebrow.

“Oh,” said Lucy, quietly. “There are two of them?”

She gave a small grin – which looked like her first of the day – and shook his hand.

“I know,” replied Maggie. “Who’d have thought it? Are you okay, Lucy?”

She so obviously wasn’t okay, it seemed pointless to even ask the question. Maggie was a veteran of these events – and she recognised a Nervous Breakdown Bride when she saw one.

“Umm…yes, of course. It’s just been a long day, that’s all. The whole family seems to have developed some kind of communal hysteria, and…well, my feet are hurting.”

Maggie nodded, and fixed her with a warm smile.

“Can I give you a bit of advice, as a woman who’s been to quite a few weddings? Take off the shoes. Have a drink or six. And remember one thing – you’re here, today, because you and Josh love each other. You love each other so much, you were ready to make a commitment to spend the rest of your lives together. Everything else – the guests, the in-laws, even, dare I say it, the dress – is irrelevant. A side-show. Today you married the love of your life – and this is just the beginning for you two, not the end. Hold on to that thought, and you’ll get through the rest of this, maybe even start to enjoy it. Okay?”

Lucy nodded, some of the tension seeming to drain out of her with the words. Maggie gave her hand a last squeeze, and started to walk on into the reception room. Marco lingered for a moment, and she heard him say: “And by the way – you look absolutely stunning.”

Maggie felt a smile tug at the corners of her lips, knowing that at exactly that second, poor Lucy Allsop – now Morgan – would be very prettily blushing as she watched him go.

“You Cavelli men,” she said, waiting for Marco to catch up to her, “always seem to know the right thing to say to a woman.”

“Well, what can I say? My mama raised me right.

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