Part 13 (2/2)

From under a curtained shelf she then produced a kettle and a jar of instant coffee. 'Only black, I'm afraid. No milk but there's sugar. Make him a strong one, Mickey. Plenty of sugar. I'm going to nip out front and greet any early-comers.'

Mickey could have kissed her. 'Thanks, Vicar.'

'All in a day's work. See you shortly.'

Jesse drank the coffee, ate the biscuits and swallowed a couple of pills that Grant had in his pocket. 'They give us commandos these when we're on ops. Keeps us alert.'

'Speed?' asked Mickey, shocked.

Grant tapped the side of his nose. 'No name no pack drill.'

Whatever it was that Grant had given him, Jesse began to feel a little less drunk and a little more alert very quickly. Grant crouched over him, hands on his uniformed knees, and examined his brother's face. 'You're coming back to us, Jesse boy, you're coming back.'

'Grant, I ...' Jesse started to speak.

'Now don't do nothing stupid. We're going to walk into the church now and you and Mickey are going to look happy and sober. Got it? You're taking one for the team, ain't you now, boy? Can't let Daddy down.'

Terror gripped Jesse's heart again, but he nodded. 'How long have we got?'

Mickey checked his watch. 'About five minutes if she's on time.'

Edward Behenna burst into the vestry. 'What the h.e.l.l's going on?' He took one look at Jesse, who felt his resolve stiffen. He gulped back some more of the coffee and shook himself. He knew what he had to do.

Loveday had been brought to the church in one of Greer's cousin's cars. She was finding it hard to absorb what was actually going on around her. She found herself squashed into the back seat of an ancient Hillman Imp, with the cousin's husband driving gingerly over the compacted snow and the cousin twisting round in the front seat to talk nonstop at her. At least she left no s.p.a.ce for replies. Loveday's brain was left to wonder how on earth Jesse was going to stop this wedding.

The Hillman Imp couldn't make it up the lane to the church, so Loveday struggled over the front tip-up seat and out into the snow. It was cold but at least it had stopped snowing. Her pinching satin slippers might as well have been made from blotting paper as she trudged on up the road, the sound of the bells pealing in her ears, the cousin yakking by her side.

'You look beautiful.' Bryn Clovelly stood in awe as his only daughter stepped from her bedroom and stood in front of him. 'Give us a twirl.'

Greer obliged. 'Will I do, Daddy?'

'My darling, you'd do for a prince, never mind Jesse Behenna.'

They were alone in the house. Greer's mother had already left with her brother, Uncle Alan, and his wife, Auntie Lou, with a handbag stuffed full of tissues.

'You do like Jesse, don't you, Daddy? You do think he is going to be a good husband?' Greer felt suddenly nervous that maybe her father didn't want her to marry Jesse.

The truth was that Bryn was delighted at the thought of the merger with the Behenna fis.h.i.+ng fleet, and about all the money they were going to make now that the two families were one. A small gust of guilt hit him. Was this really the right thing to do?

'I'll marmalise him if he hurts you.' Greer's innocent smile of relief made him pity her, so he added, 'But he won't.'

There was the honk of a car horn outside.

'Your carriage awaits, my lady.' Smiling, Bryn proffered his arm. Greer slipped her hand through the crook of his elbow and took a deep breath. 'Ready?'

The 1955 cream Bentley with its wedding ribbons drew lots of attention. Its slowly negotiating the snow on the road down to Trevay meant that the locals could get a good look at Greer Clovelly on her way to marry Jesse Behenna. Greer made the most of it, smiling and offering little waves to the children through the big gla.s.s windows. She felt like a princess. At the bottom of the lane to the church, the Bentley stopped. The driver in his dove-grey peaked cap turned and said to Bryn, 'I'll 'ave to let 'e out 'ere. She'll never make it up to the church.'

Greer looked horrified. 'I can't walk up. My dress will be ruined.'

'I thought this might happen, so I've organised a little help,' smiled Bryn. 'Look over there.' He pointed towards the harbour. Sitting on the wall were two of the Trevay lifeboat crew in yellow wellies and thick navy wool jumpers. One was the c.o.xswain, the other a strapping younger crewman. They got off the wall and came towards the car.

Bryn stepped out and shook their hands. 'Morning, lads. This is very good of you.'

The c.o.xswain of the lifeboat, a wily old seaman who'd seen just about anything there was to see in life said, 'Our pleasure, Mr Clovelly. Can't 'ave this beautiful maid getting 'er feet wet, can we?'

Bryn walked to the other side of the car and opened Greer's door. The young lifeboat man stepped forward and smiled an appreciative smile at Greer. 'You look lovely,' he said, before sliding one strong arm under her bottom and the other around her back. He lifted her easily out of the car and began the short climb up the lane towards St Peter's.

At the church door, a damp-footed and s.h.i.+vering Loveday watched Greer draped in the arms of the handsome Stevie (everyone at school had fancied him), looking for all the world like a b.l.o.o.d.y poster for An Officer and a Gentleman. Loveday felt trapped in a nightmare that she wasn't about to wake up from any time soon. She hadn't seen Jesse or Mickey, but the Reverend Rowena had whispered something about having to sober the groom up, which had sent Loveday's brain into meltdown. Was Jesse going to leave it right till the last moment to drunkenly jilt Greer in front of everyone? This was not how it should be. Loveday's feet grew colder and wetter.

Greer was now two paces away from Loveday and smiling happily in the arms of the handsome Stevie. 'Isn't this romantic, Loveday?'

The wedding photographer took a couple of shots of Greer in Stevie's arms before Stevie put Greer down gently inside the church porch, which was more or less dry.

Loveday tried a bright smile, but inside her thoughts were tumbling around; a terrible confusion of guilt and fear and an over-riding yearning for Jesse to come and sort everything out. Knowing that this radiant bride was about to have her bubble burst tore at her insides. Still, better now than a few months down the line when a messy divorce would be on the cards. 'You look wonderful, Greer.'

'Would you sort my veil out for me?' Greer asked her.

'Sure.' With hands that were shaking from cold and apprehension, Loveday lifted the froth of soft tulle over Greer's face.

'Daddy,' called Greer.

'Just coming, my love.' Bryn replied, palming fifty pounds to the c.o.xswain and saying sotto voce, 'Cheers, mate.'

'Come on, Loveday. Stand behind me and Daddy and let's go. I can't wait to see Jesse's face when he sees me.' Greer watched as Loveday got into position and then she took her father's arm. The church bells had stopped pealing and there was a moment's silence before the organ struck up Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March'.

Jesse's heart was hammering in his throat. He felt dizzy. Mickey touched his arm. 'You OK?'

The organ's swelling notes were increasing the panic he felt. He started breathing loudly through his mouth.

'Here she comes,' nudged Mickey. 'Look at 'er.'

Jesse held the back of his pew for support as he turned. Greer was coming towards him as if on a cloud. He wanted to shout 'stop', but instead his eyes slid to Loveday walking behind, her eyes glued desperately to Jesse's. His brain was telling his mouth to open and speak, but when he tried it would not obey. He turned quickly back to the altar. Behind him he could hear his mum sniffing into her hanky.

The Reverend Rowena had seen nervous grooms before, but never as stricken as Jesse. She smiled at him and offered a prayer to bring him peace.

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