“And that you said it wasn’t suitable?”
“It wasn’t. It was too big,” Leo said.
Dad proffered us the tray and encouraging us to take a glass, we did as we were told.
“Well…” Mum’s smile got bigger. “You’ll be pleased to know that’s no longer a concern.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?” I asked.
“It means I’ve booked it.” She clapped her hands together. “That’s where you’re getting married.”
Recalling all the other lines Mum had crossed, my back stiffened. “You’ve done what?”
As I took a deep breath, scared I’d say something I’d only regret, Sal nudged Ryan and gestured he take India out of the way.
“Why do I have to miss out on the action?” he asked, his voice low. My sister glowered and realising he had no choice, Ryan sighed. “Come on, India. Let’s go and see how dinner’s coming along.”
“I’ve arranged for Gregbrook Manor to do the wedding,” Mum said, in answer to my question.
“But why would you do that?” I asked. “Like Leo just pointed out, it’s too big. And not only–”
“Correction,” Mum said. “Itwastoo big.”
“Excuse me?” Watching Mum head out of the room, I felt Leo take my hand.
“I’m sorry, love,” Dad said, while I continued to fume. “By the time I realised what she was up to, it was too late.”
Mum reappeared with a stack of wedding invitations. It consisted of way more than the twenty-odd that Leo and I had asked her to sort out.
“Please tell me you haven’t?” I said.
“It all started when I saw cousin Annie.”
Sal and I glanced at each other, realising she meant the woman we’d spoken to on our shoe shopping trip.
Mum turned to Dad. “When we were at the supermarket that day. You remember?”
Dad threw his hands up. “Don’t bring me into this.”
“Anyway, you two were in Ireland,” Mum said, turning back to Leo and me. “And I was telling her about the wedding and how, through not having a venue, I couldn’t send out the invitations. Which is when she said that explained why she hadn’t yet received hers. Of course, I couldn’t tell her she wasn’t getting one.”
“Why not?” I asked.
Mum looked at me like I’d gone mad. “Because that would have been embarrassing. Anyway, that’s when it hit me. If I made the wedding party bigger, both our problems would be sorted. You’d get a venue that you love…”
I scoffed. “And you don’t have to tell cousin Annie that she can’t come to the wedding.”
“Exactly.” Mum tilted her head and wrinkled her nose. “I knew you’d understand.”
I forced myself to breathe.
“Naturally, this lot only pertains to the Cavendishes.” Mum indicated the invitation stack. “So, to even things out, I’ll need names and addresses of any extra guests on your side, Leo.”
Unable to listen to anymore, I rose to my feet. “I’m going home.”
“What do you mean?” Mum looked at me, bewildered. “We haven’t had dinner yet.” She took a step towards me.
“Mother,” Sal said. She shook her head, as if warning Mum to leave it.
