The Guest List (17 page)

‘Erm . . . yes, of course.’

The two said their goodbyes, and afterwards Danielle put the phone down gently, as if it was a time bomb.

Holy crap, what can of worms had that just opened?

Cara and Shane were sifting through the pile of brochures for St Lucia. The island looked truly magnificent, and she could easily picture her wedding day, on soft smooth sand looking towards the perfect horizon, while palm trees lined the still shores, the sea breeze blowing and the movement of the waves as they said ‘I do’. All on a paradise tropical island with the soaring volcanic Pitons and rainforest as background.

‘It looks incredible doesn’t it?’ Shane said excitedly as he shuffled through the brochure for the Paradise Oasis resort, their preferred venue out of the options Danielle had sent them. ‘So should we just go ahead and book it all? Put our deposit down and then tell everyone? Or tell everyone and then put our deposit down afterwards?’

It looked so wonderful and seemed so perfect in theory, but at the same time Cara couldn’t help but feel nervous about the prospect of telling her mum and dad, her mother in particular, that this was what she and Shane were planning on doing. She knew how desperate Betty was for a traditional ceremony, and so far had been successful in her attempts at dodging any talk about the wedding, and coming up with excuses to avoid discussions surrounding potential churches and timings.

But Cara still couldn’t believe how straightforward it all seemed once, as promised, Danielle sent through her contacts for resorts on the island.

She was beginning to worry that Danielle truly did think that her and Shane’s plans for a beach wedding were a big mistake, when all of a sudden the email arrived in her inbox.

She had to admit that while she wasn’t especially close to her older sister, she sort of looked up to her in any case. Her life in Florida always sounded so glamorous and she admired her free-thinking spirit, maturity and independence as well as envying the fact that Danielle remained largely oblivious to day-to-day Clancy family drama; from Heidi’s tantrums to Mick’s aches and pains, not to mention Betty’s interference.

Cara had few childhood memories of Danielle before she moved out. And if she was being honest, most of the mem-ories she did have were based on pictures from photo albums kept at home at her parents’ house. She had perused these mainly on her own, as Betty always seemed hesitant to talk about her. There was no denying that there had been some big falling-out between those two, but Cara had never been able to figure out the reason for it.

While Danielle did come home for visits every few years, it wasn’t as if there was a big homecoming celebration. But given that there was undeniable tension between her mother and Danielle, Cara now wondered what it would be like at the wedding.

Surely Betty and Danielle could put aside whatever long-held differences they might have for her special day?

No, she couldn’t go down that road, couldn’t start wondering about things she just couldn’t control. Cara looked at her fiancé sitting across the dining room table from her and decided that they should just take the bull by the horns and get it done. Once they’d drawn up the guest list and broken the news to the few people on it, it would be time to plan the trip as well as the ceremony. Even though a beach wedding would make things simpler, there was lots to be done and she knew that she’d better get cracking.

‘I think we just go ahead and book it,’ she said confidently. ‘Then it’s done and we can’t be swayed by anyone else. Yes, let’s do it.’

‘Great. And definitely September then?’ Shane queried. September was one of the most affordable months in the brochure, and it also gave them a good four months to plan everything.

‘I think it sounds perfect. You don’t think we will have any issues, with the weather or anything?’ September was apparently smack bang in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season and possibly one of the reasons they were being offered such a fantastic deal on the package.

‘I don’t think that any of us can predict that. Unless you’d feel better waiting until after the season is over?’ Shane asked. ‘Trouble is, we’re working with a tight enough window as it is, because of Heidi and Kim.’

Cara shook her head determinedly. ‘No, you’re right, I’m not going to worry about it. Like you said, you can’t control everything. Besides, I definitely don’t want to drag everything all out to next year,’ she said resolutely.

‘Good. Shall we go ahead with the booking then?’ Shane asked.

Cara clapped her hands together excitedly. ‘Yes, let’s do it.’

Moments later, Shane got off the phone with the resort. He’d given his credit card number for the deposit, and then dutifully faxed the signed booking contract, promising to put the hard copy in the post later.

When it was all done, Cara let out a huge sigh of relief.

It was all confirmed. She and Shane were officially going to be married on the island of St Lucia in four months and counting!

Cara threw her arms around her husband-to-be, who was equally jubilant.

The plans were set in motion, and there was no going back. It would be smooth sailing from now on, she just knew it.

Now all she had to do was tell the guests.

However, the following Monday evening Cara was not feeling so positive. In fact, she was downright nervous as she and Shane climbed the front steps to her parents’ home. Having finalised the booking over the weekend, they were going to tell Betty and Mick the news today. They had come prepared with a selection of information on St Lucia, leaflets and brochures with pictures of the resort where the wedding would be held, and finally the booking confirmation for their flights, which Cara and Shane had also booked recently.

‘Cara just breathe, everything is going to be fine,’ said Shane encouragingly. ‘What’s not to like about this? Everyone’s getting a holiday to somewhere exotic, somewhere they have never been. It will be fine.’

But Cara wasn’t so sure. Shane came from a worldly family after all, and while Lauren and Gene were still acting like silly children at the moment, they were bound to be much more open to travelling to exotic destinations. Whereas the furthest Betty and Mick had been was across the Irish Sea to visit family in the UK.

‘Cara, I’m serious, relax. Everything will be fine.’

She nodded and took a deep breath as she went through the front door, to be immediately met with the smell of her mother’s shepherd’s pie. Of course. She smiled at how wonderfully predictable Betty was. It was a Monday and Monday had been shepherd’s pie night for as long as Cara could remember.

‘Hello?’ she called out. ‘Mum, Dad?’

Shane followed Cara into the house and Betty appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, wiping her hands with a dishtowel.

‘Oh. Cara love. And Shane. What are you two doing here?’ She rushed forward to kiss her daughter on the cheek. ‘I’m a mess. Just in the middle of making dinner. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming over, I’d have made more – although of course I’ll be able to stretch it out, put on a few more vegetables,’ she babbled. ‘I hope you haven’t eaten yet.’

Cara smiled at the warm familiarity. No, she and Shane hadn’t eaten, and even if they had, her mother would still have encouraged them to have at least two helpings.

‘Where’s Dad?’ Cara asked as she followed her mother into the kitchen.

‘Oh he’s out the back somewhere – skulking around in the shed and trying to avoid any housework as usual. Shane, will you run out and get him? Cara, grab that spoon for me, will you?’

Cara dutifully did as she was told, giving the brochures and tickets a tentative glance as she placed all the documents in a neat stack on the countertop. Shane gave her a little wink as he retreated to the backyard to find Mick.

‘So how’s everything?’ her mother asked companionably.

‘Good – great, actually. We’ve made a decision about the wedding plans, that’s why we’re here actually, to let you know what we’re going to—’

‘Ah great! It’s nice to hear you’re finally making some decisions, you know you’ve been driving us all batty with your indecision. So when’s the date? Oh and while Shane is outside,’ she said conspiratorially, ‘have you made things up with his parents yet? Terrible carry-on really. They shouldn’t be going on like that; after all it’s your big day. And to my mind, if they continue on sulking like this they are going to miss out on all the fun,’ Betty said, her tone full of reproach.

Cara swallowed. Things still hadn’t thawed between them and the Richardsons. ‘I’m afraid not, but I’m sure they’ll come round eventually.’ She certainly hoped so.

‘Well you shouldn’t let these things draw out for too long, Cara. It will only make it worse. His parents might be big-shot society types but they’ll soon find out the Clancys can throw quite the party ourselves, eh?’ Betty winked at her daughter and Cara felt a lump of apprehension grow in her stomach. She needed to just spit the news out and get it over with.

‘About that Mum . . . Shane and I have been brainstorming over the last while, and now we know exactly what we want.’

‘That’s great pet! I hope you’re thinking St Joseph’s because they have that wonderful balcony with the pipe organ, and of course it can fit at least three hundred easily, if not three fifty. And Father O’Brien is such a lovely priest, very modern and everything, he will do such a lovely ceremony.’

‘Well no . . .’

‘Ah, don’t tell me you’re going for St Mary’s? Really, it’s so dark in there; all the photos would come out terrible. And speaking of photos, I found a great photographer for you. You know my friend Noreen from bridge class? Well her son is a professional photographer apparently. We can set up a meeting, go through his portfolio and see what you think. We’d probably get a good quote too, considering.’

Cara was about to speak when the back door opened and Shane and Mick walked through. As usual, Mick greeted his daughter with a warm hug and a kiss.

‘So I hear you’re getting to grips with the wedding plans then?’ he said happily. ‘I guess I should break out the chequebook so. Go on then, how much is this all going to cost me?’ Her father was smiling and jovial about the prospect of writing wedding cheques, but behind the façade, Cara thought she saw some trepidation too. Her heart swelled up with pride that this wedding was, in fact, going to cost her parents nothing at all. The opposite actually, as this time they would in fact be benefiting, given that she and Shane were taking care of the cost of their travel and hotel stay.

With that thought in the forefront of her mind, she spoke with confidence. ‘Actually Dad, that’s where the good news comes in. The wedding is going to cost you nothing. Not a single penny.’ She looked at Shane and he smiled, coming up behind her to put his arm around her shoulder.

‘What’s all this?’ her father said with confusion. ‘What do you mean it won’t cost us anything? Did ye win the lotto or something?’ he laughed.

Betty looked from Cara to Shane and back again. ‘Oh no, the wedding is off is that it?’ she asked, her tone frantic. ‘Do you want to be one of those trendy, new age couples who just live together their whole lives? And have a gaggle of illegitimate children all with silly hyphenated surnames? Oh God Mick, talk some sense into your daughter . . .’

‘Mum!’ Cara laughed. ‘It’s nothing like that, really.’

‘Of course we’re getting married,’ Shane reassured Betty. ‘Don’t worry about that. We’re going to do things in a slightly different way, that’s all.’

Both of her parents wore blank expressions, but seemed calmer knowing that the prospect of a big day out had not been taken off the table.

‘Well? What are these grand plans then? And why isn’t it going to cost me anything?’ said Mick, his tone still suspicious.

Cara knew it was now or never. She cleared her throat and blurted it out all at once, desperate to share her excitement with them. ‘Because we’re going to have the wedding in St Lucia!’

The blank expressions remained. Mick and Betty regarded their daughter as if she was speaking a strange language.

‘St Lucia’s? Where’s that? I don’t think I’ve heard of it before,’ Betty said frowning. ‘Is it Catholic?’

‘No Mum, I’m not talking about a church,’ Cara explained happily. ‘The island, St Lucia. In the Caribbean. We’re going to have a beach wedding!’ She smiled, although her enthusiasm was shaken somewhat as her parents continued to look at her as if she was an alien.

‘Shane?’ her father asked, turning to him, bemused. ‘What’s all this about?’

‘Like Cara said Mick,’ Shane spoke in a measured tone, as if he was explaining something to a small child. ‘Cara and I have decided to have a beach wedding. On the Caribbean island of St Lucia. It is our intention, our
preference
, to only have family and close friends at this ceremony. We are not interested in a church wedding, nor are we interested in having a bunch of people that we do not know there. Furthermore, we are not interested in going into debt, or having someone else go into debt over the financing of our wedding day. We are going to have a beautiful ceremony on a beach in St Lucia, and we are flying both families out there and paying for everything. That is what we are doing.’ Shane smiled pleasantly, but Cara could tell he still meant business. She tried to feed off of his no-nonsense attitude.

‘Oh you’re just going to love it! We brought all the information and photos for you both to look at and everything. Danielle helped us find the most beautiful resort. It’s absolutely stunning and it will be so perfect – look.’ She hustled over to the countertop and thrust the brochures that she had brought into her mother’s hand.

However, Betty seemed to have only heard the mention of the name Danielle.

‘Danielle?’ she repeated, her forehead wrinkling. ‘You went to
Danielle
to plan your wedding? What on earth could
she
possibly know about weddings? And why would you go to her and not me, Cara?’ Betty added, sounding hurt.

‘Why don’t we just all sit down and we can go through everything together?’ encouraged Shane. ‘We should have a cuppa while we do so.’ He filled the kettle with water and switched it on. Over her parents’ heads Cara met his eye and gave him a worried look.