“We feel the same about Leo,” Mum replied.
So far, so good, I thought.
“Ah, but does he feel the same about us?” Sal asked. Putting her glass to her lips, she winked at Leo.
“I’d make a run for it, mate. Before it’s too late,” Ryan said.
“It’s such a shame about the church ceremony though, isn’t it?” Grace said, at the same time swatting out her napkin.
I looked to Leo. To say he’d said his mother didn’t hold grudges, she’d dropped her disappointment into the conversation pretty swiftly.
“Church service?” Mum said.
Leo opened his mouth to explain, but his mother jumped in first.
“Sorry, I thought you knew.”
“Knew what?” Mum looked to me, confused.
“That I’d arranged a proper service with Reverend Joseph,” Grace said.
“Proper?” Mum said, her hackles rising.
“Which had to be cancelled because you’d booked some fancy manor house?”
Mum took a deep breath, clearly trying to remain calm.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Grace continued. “These civil ceremonies are all very nice, it’s just a shame their union won’t be taking place in the eyes of God.”
I leaned into Leo. “Please tell me what’s happening here.”
“So they are no longer two, but one flesh,” Grace said, with a flourish. “What thereforeGodhas joined together, let no man separate… Matthew, Chapter 19, Verse 6.”
As Mum turned to Leo, I couldn’t tell if she was embarrassed or confused by Grace’s outburst. “You never said you came from religious stock, Leo.”
Again, he tried to speak.
“Should he have?” Grace said, drawing Mum’s attention back to her.
Oh, Lordy, I thought.
Sal reached for a menu. “So, what’s everyone having?” She smiled broadly. “I don’t know about you lot, but I’m starving.”
“Me too,” Ryan said.
Everyone except the two mothers followed suit and began exaggerated perusals over what to eat.
“It’s going to be a hard choice,” Bill said. “Everything looks so good.” He tried to interest his wife, but she was having none of it.
“And Saint Oswald’s has such a lovely font. The oldest in Europe if I’m not mistaken,” Grace said. “Eh, Tess?”
Mum flashed me a look, daring me to take Grace’s side.
“What do you fancy, love?” Dad asked. He offered Mum a menu, but she waved it away.
“Then you’ll be pleased to hear that Gregbrook Manor has a wonderful French fountain,” she said instead.
“I can’t believe they’re both behaving like this,” I said to Leo.
