The Guest List (26 page)

She turned round to face the others, hoping that they loved it as much as she did.

‘Mum, what do you think?’ she asked, smiling.

Betty had removed a tissue from her purse and was dabbing her eyes lightly. ‘Oh Cara—’ she whispered.

Tears came to her own eyes, she was so taken aback at her mother’s reaction. ‘You like it?’

‘Oh sweetheart, I love it. It was made for you.’ Betty smiled happily. ‘Forget all about the ballgown. This is the one.’

Cara turned back towards the mirror and looked at herself once again, doubly thrilled by her mother’s approval. She wondered what Shane would think when he saw her in this. Her heart soared at the thought of becoming his wife in this gown, of committing herself to him for ever while she was wearing this.

‘It really is stunning on you.’ Bridget smiled.

‘Thank you, Bridget.’

‘Would you like to see any of the others or . . .?’

‘No, no, I don’t think so. I’ve been told you should always go with your gut when it comes to wedding dresses, and mine is screaming at me that this is the one.’

Bridget smiled. ‘Yes, I have heard that theory works.’

‘Is there a veil?’

She nodded and went back to the rack, a moment later producing a simple tulle veil with a crystal appliqué, similar to the one on the dress, decorating its bottom edges. She slid the comb of the veil into Cara’s hair. It fell gracefully around her shoulders, falling right in the middle of her back.

She was sold.

‘Bridget?’

‘Yes?’ smiled the saleswoman, already mentally calculating her commission.

‘I’ll take it.’

Cara was feeling giddy. It had been a fantastic day. She had found her wedding dress, her family were (for the most part) getting along with each other, and she had indulged in champagne. Life was good.

She’d had three glasses at the bridal salon, and afterwards Kim had insisted on a celebratory late lunch, especially after they decided on the bridesmaid dresses, too.

Gold, Empire-line knee-length dresses that would look fantastic on all three women, even taking into account that two of them had ever-expanding tummies to contend with. As Danielle had always had an enviable figure and would look good wearing a sack, Cara figured her older sister would be fine with her choice, but she was going to email her the details, and a picture of the dress from the catalogue, just in case.

At the restaurant, she had allowed her wine glass to be filled a few more times and admitted that it was wise to let Kim drive her home while Heidi dropped Betty back at her own place.

‘I can’t believe I’ve found my wedding dress. Isn’t it amazing I found my dress? Number three’s a charm. Or is it third time’s the charm?’ she giggled at Kim as they drove home from the restaurant. ‘I don’t remember.’

‘I believe it is third time’s the charm. And yes, it’s amazing and looked fantastic on you. Drop-dead gorgeous. What a stunner. Shane is going to pass out on that beach when he sees you in it.’

Cara leaned her head back against the car seat. ‘You know, I think I needed this,’ she said dramatically. ‘Something about this wedding to go right. Did you go through lots of drama before your wedding day?’

Kim smiled and patted Cara’s knee. ‘Let’s just say that it wasn’t smooth sailing, especially when Ben and I announced I was pregnant. My parents didn’t take kindly to it really. My dad wanted to kill Ben, like he had compromised my honour or something. Poor thing had a hard time getting his head round the fact that I wasn’t as pure as the driven snow, but yes, they all came round in the end.’

‘Yes, but you and Ben were engaged already by then, and I don’t remember anyone objecting to your wedding the way they are with ours,’ Cara continued, looking to Kim for answers.

Kim smiled, keeping her eyes on the road. ‘Like I said, it wasn’t a walk in the park. Being the bride, technically it should have been my family who was in charge of things, but I have to admit, your mother had the tendency to overstep. That’s between you and me of course. And my own mother drove me crazy.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘It’s just part and parcel of it all, really. As for the beach wedding, I think your mother might be coming round, and barring that cheap shot about my drinking threatening to upend your dress shopping, Heidi might well end up onside too. It will work out,’ she encouraged.

Thinking of Shane’s parents, a sliver of worry shot through Cara’s otherwise happy buzz. ‘But what about Shane’s parents though? They’re still not speaking to us.’

Kim shrugged. ‘They’ll eventually come round too.’

‘But what if they don’t? What if they just continue to punish us? What should I do? What should Shane do?’

Kim looked at her as she pulled up in front of Cara and Shane’s apartment block. ‘Are you and Shane happy with each other?’ she asked.

‘Of course.’

‘Exactly, you are a team, so there’s little point in worrying about things you can’t control. Just take it one day at a time. Now pull yourself together and powder your nose. I’ve got you home and I won’t be blamed by Shane for getting you all drunk and messy.’

‘OK, see you soon. And thanks for coming with me today.’ Cara hiccupped loudly as she reached across to give Kim a hug.

‘You’re welcome. Now scoot!’

Cara got out of the car and laughed happily as she fished out her keys. This had been the best day yet and she couldn’t wait to tell Shane all about it.

Lauren Richardson sat by a large floor to ceiling window in the library of her home. She studied the early evening sky and went over the conversation that she had had with Shane earlier. She hated that he was upset, but then again she had fully anticipated that he wouldn’t take the information that she delivered too readily. In any case, when you truly considered it, she was really just trying to protect his interests – and the interests of the Richardson name.

She sighed and took a sip of the Bordeaux from the crystal wine glass on the side table next to her. Admittedly, she had always liked Cara and truth be told, she thought she and Shane were a good match. However, now that the wheels were apparently in motion on this so-called wedding ceremony, Cara simply had to come to her senses and move away from the ridiculous notion that some tacky beach wedding was appropriate.

Lauren felt her blood pressure rise at the thought of the ultimatum Shane had issued when they first told her and Gene about their wedding plans. She recalled his comment that they were to either take it or leave it and that he only wanted them there if they could act like they were happy about it.

Well, Lauren wasn’t happy about it, and she certainly wouldn’t pretend to be either.

Two can play at that game
, she thought. She had to admit, she actually was surprised that Shane had so grossly underestimated her. He seemed genuinely shocked at her request earlier. Whereas as far as Lauren was concerned, it was simply a trump card, and she was holding it.

She got up from where she was sitting and crossed the room to her desk, picking up the all-important documentation.

This was her security. This was how she would get the society wedding that she had dreamed about for her son.

Lauren thought back to the last few days. As soon as Shane and Cara had left after announcing their news, she hadn’t wasted a moment in getting on the phone with her lawyer.

She picked up the papers that her lawyer had recently drafted.

It was a contract – a prenuptial agreement of sorts, really. It was a fantastic idea, practically foolproof if she was being honest. She thought again of the details in the specially customised legal document and smiled to herself. She didn’t like to be devious, but really it was the only way.

What she was proposing was perfectly reasonable; what’s more, she was putting all of the control in Cara’s hands, and that – Lauren thought – was the genius bit.

She could pursue her wedding in St Lucia and suffer the consequences, thereby affecting Shane’s future, or she could err on the side of caution and reason and have a proper, sophisticated wedding here in Ireland.

At that moment Gene walked into the library, holding a snifter of brandy in his hand. He swirled the amber liquid in the glass.

‘You look like the cat that ate the canary,’ he said, noticing the satisfied look on his wife’s face. ‘Do you really think this will work?’ He sat down in the velvet-upholstered chair on the opposite side of the desk.

‘Of course it will work. Only a fool would refuse and despite the current silliness, Cara is no fool. Besides, she wouldn’t just be affecting herself, but Shane too.’

‘What if Shane isn’t concerned about that though?’

Lauren raised her eyebrows. ‘Come on Gene. As cool as Shane plays it most of the time, and as unimpressed as he pretends to be by money and standing, he was completely concerned about it this morning. There’s no denying that.’

Gene looked slightly uncomfortable, his conscience getting the better of him. ‘Do you really think this is the best option, dear? What if it backfires and they want nothing to do with us? What if they are fine with cutting us out completely?’ He set down his glass. ‘Or worse, what if this causes them to argue and call everything off? In proceeding with this, aren’t we denying our son his happiness?’

‘Of course not. If anything, we are providing them with even greater happiness. Who in their right mind would pass up what we’re offering?’

Gene shook his head. ‘I don’t think Cara is materialistic though. Neither is Shane.’

‘Materialism and good sense are two completely separate things,’ Lauren stated in a no-nonsense tone. ‘Personally, I think the choice is simple.’

Gene ran a hand through his hair and considered the situation, wondering if what they were proposing was perhaps too drastic. It was just a wedding at the end of the day. Still, he understood only too well what was at stake and how things worked in this country.

He looked at his wife and watched as she reread the document for at least the hundredth time since his good friend, Jarlath O’Connor, a contract lawyer, had sent it over. He had to appreciate the way her mind worked. It’s too bad his wife had never gone into business in her own right; she would have made a killing – she was ruthless in her determination to get what she wanted.

That same tenacity was what would undoubtedly get them out of their current bind. You couldn’t navigate the Irish property circuit without a thick skin and an ulterior motive.

Lauren looked up to find Gene watching her. ‘You aren’t looking to reconsider, I hope?’

He jumped a little, startled by the warning in her tone. ‘No, of course not.’

‘Good.’ Lauren smiled. She wondered if Shane had told Cara about the document yet. And if so, how did she take the news?

‘Are you going to wait for Shane to tell Cara about our conversation?’

‘No. I really don’t care who tells her. In fact, I’m willing to bet that he’s keeping this to himself at the moment, while he considers his options.’

Gene felt the guilt rise afresh in the pit of his stomach.

‘Regardless,’ Lauren continued. ‘I am paying Cara Clancy a little visit soon. She and I are going to have a nice little mother- to daughter-in-law chat.’ She smiled. ‘And I have absolutely no doubt that we’ll both be on the same page very soon.’

‘Honey, I’m home!’

Shane looked up from the couch in the living room where he had been working on his laptop. Cara smiled at him and stumbled slightly as she closed the distance between the front door and where he sat.

Looks like she had a good day, Shane thought. She was glowing and smiling and looked genuinely happy. That was good, because he had had a somewhat less than stellar afternoon. But how to explain it all to Cara? He tried to push the thought away, at least for the time being.

‘Good day?’ he asked, trying to arrange his face into an easy-going expression.

Cara climbed on to the couch next to him and pushed his laptop aside. It was clear that she had had a couple of drinks while out wedding dress shopping.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted kisses along his jawline, making her way to his lips. ‘I found it,’ she whispered. ‘A dress,
the
dress. It’s really going to happen. I’m officially going to be a bride.’

She kissed him hard on the mouth, and ran her hands gently down his chest, Then her mouth moved to his neck. His lips found her mouth and she responded with more passion and need. Shane’s hands worked the buttons on Cara’s blouse, undoing them, removing the garment and throwing it to the floor while Cara took the more direct route of pulling Shane’s T-shirt over his head, exposing his bare chest.

Cara shivered as his hands cupped her breasts and removed her bra. Then she pulled him on top of her on the couch.

‘You know,’ Shane teased, as he kissed her breasts and moved to her stomach, his hands skilfully undoing the buttons on her jeans, ‘if you keep this up, I’m not sure you’ll be able to wear white on our wedding day.’

‘Way too late for that,’ breathed Cara, moaning with anticipation as she arched her back.

Shane easily moved out of his jeans and pulled Cara up from the couch, her legs encircling his waist. He carried her from the living room to their bedroom where he collapsed on top of her on their bed.

She cried out as they began to make love with familiar and passionate movements, fully aware of what aroused and pleased the other, bringing each other to climax as a thin sheen of sweat covered their bodies.

Afterwards, lying in each other’s arms, Shane traced a lazy circle across Cara’s stomach. ‘You know, I should send you shopping for wedding dresses more often. Gets you all hot and bothered. I like it.’

She smiled drowsily, some of the merry buzz from before wearing off a little. She felt warm and relaxed next to Shane. ‘Yep, tulle and sequins really do it for me.’

Shane moved briefly to pull the duvet that had been cast aside up and over them. He cuddled down next to her once again. ‘So did you find what you wanted? Are you happy?’

‘Oh yes,’ nodded Cara as she closed her eyes. ‘It’s perfect. I can’t wait. It is just so perfect for what we’ve planned. I can already feel the sun on my skin and the sand between my toes.’