‘Oh no, I don’t want to intrude.’
‘Don’t be so soft, woman. I love your company, and I think you need to finish what you were telling me.’
With more tea in front of them, Edith met Finn’s eyes. ‘Seeing Wyatt again was tough, especially because I didn’t know why he’d dumped me. He can sometimes come across as arrogant, but yesterday, after I left the café, he came after me and we talked for hours. We drank some vodka, it loosened my tongue, and I was finally able to be honest and tell him how he made me feel.’
‘But he didn’t tell you why he left you?’ Finn tilted his head.
‘He said he couldn’t tell me everything because he couldn’t stand to have me look at him differently. I don’t know what could do that now after everything that’s happened, but I understand that he has his reasons. For the first time, I believe that whatever made him leave, it wasn’t to hurt me, but because he thought he had to. And so here we are.’ She shrugged.
‘And where is that?’
‘We both have roles to play in your wedding, and we’ll do that without causing any upset, I promise. As long as you still want my services, that is because?—’
‘Of course we do, so no more of that talk!’ Finn wagged a finger at her.
‘Thank you. That’s more than I deserve after how I behaved yesterday.’
‘Edith, we’re all humans just trying to make it through. We understand that, and no one is judging you.’
‘I’m very grateful for your understanding.’ She took a deep breath. ‘As far as Wyatt goes… I’ll always have feelings for him, but I know that it’s done between us. He can’t tell me exactly why, but I must make my peace with that. Or go mad!’
Finn chuckled. ‘I guess we can’t have everything explained to us in life, although I have to admit it is intriguing.’
‘Perhaps he found someone better and just didn’t want to hurt me by telling me that,’ she said.
But Finn shook his head. ‘I don’t think it’s that. I mean, first, how could he possibly find someone better than you? And second, I suspect there’s something he can’t explain because it’s hard for him. None of us knows what people have been through, but I get the impression that it’s something to do with his mother. Titus doesn’t know exactly what it is, but said she may be some kind of cantankerous busybody who wants her son all to herself.’
Edith nodded. ‘I think you could be right there.’
‘What are you going to do? Are you sure you can be around him without getting hurt?’
‘I have no choice. He’s here. I’m here. And to be honest, yesterday ended up being quite nice. We talked, I cried and he almost did. He held me. Not at my house, but as we were walking back from the café. I felt weak, and he supported me, and that part of it was like old times. It reminded me how much I cared for him back then. It was lovely to feel his arms around me.’ Edith’s cheeks burnt at the memory and at the confession. ‘How embarrassing. Am I a complete sad case?’
‘Not at all. Wyatt is gorgeous, and you two have a history. Being close to him again, especially seeing as how you still have feelings for him, is bound to cause a physical reaction.’
‘Oh I love you, Finn. You always understand and never judge.’
‘I know what it’s like to be judged, and growing up I swore I wouldn’t do it to anyone else. It’s not nice, and I think we should all be far more supportive of each other. It’s one of the things I love about Thora. How many women would be so supportive of their ex-husband falling in love with someone else and getting married to him? But Thora is a best friend to me, and I’ll always love her.’
‘I adore how close you two are,’ Edith said.
‘Me too. Thora is one of life’s special people. Just like you.’
‘Oh, thank you.’ She smiled. ‘You’re too kind.’
‘Anyway… Now that we’ve established that Wyatt is hot but not relationship material, what does the future look like for you?’
‘It will all be fine.’ Edith sat back in her chair. ‘Seeing him more will hopefully help me get past these old feelings and move on.’
‘Let’s hope that’s how it works.’ Finn winked at her. ‘Now come on, doll, have another slice of bread and butter and then you can help me plan our stag night.’
‘OK then, twist my arm.’ Edith helped herself to some more bread, and Finn grabbed his iPad so he could show her some of the stag party ideas he fancied.
As they looked at some photos of other people having fun and Finn talked Edith through what he and Titus would like, she felt herself relaxing. She was with a dear friend in his lovely home eating the best bread she’d ever tasted. Wyatt had apologised at last, and even if she didn’t know the full story, it was better than the limbo he’d left her in last time. She had a wedding to plan for the two loveliest people she knew, and she was very much looking forward to making their big day the very best it could be.
16
WYATT
