Chapter 2

Paisley

Twenty minutes is all it takes to get to where we’re going. And I’ll admit it, I’m surprised. After pulling up to large wooden gates then driving along a winding, tree-lined and narrow road, we arrive on the sweeping driveway and park outside the most breath-taking 16th Century manor house I’ve ever seen.

I’m totally speechless as I climb out of the car. It looks like something from a period drama, so elegant and steeped in history you can almost breathe it in. It’s not hard to imagine lords and ladies roaming the estate, all decked out in rich velveteen and decorative brocade, love and laughter right here on the immaculately manicured lawns.

“What is this place?” I ask as Jack comes up beside me.

“Breckmann Manor.”

“I’ve never heard of it.”

He smiles, runs a hand through his sandy brown hair, and offers me his arm. “It’s a private home. It’s not rented out for events, but I know the owner and he’s said we can come and see if there’s anywhere suitable for Flora and Elliot’s wedding.”

It seems rude not to take his arm, and so, still a little in awe of the building in front of me and the gardens, parkland, and pastures all around, we head up to the already open front door.

A tall, older man appears from a room off to the right. “Jack, so good to see you again. It must be what, two years now?”

“Must be. How’s Francesca?”

“Oh, she’s fine, she’s fine. She’s around here somewhere, as is Izzy.”

Jack noticeably pales. “Great, great. Erm, well, this is Paisley, the bride’s sister. Paisley, this is Bennett, he owns this place.”

I watch him falter a little, take a look over his shoulder, and as Bennett shakes my hand, I wonder just who this Izzy is, and what exactly the deal is between her and Jack. Not that I care, it’s just that it’s obviously rattled him, so I’m curious.

“Call me Ben, please. Jack filled me in on the details. Your poor sister, she must be beside herself with worry,” he says, placing a hand on my lower back. “Come, let’s see if we can sort something out.”

He leads us through his home, past a grand, ornate staircase that would make the most beautiful backdrop for the wedding photos, and eventually into a room which must be at least sixty feet long with a beautiful mosaic ceiling and chandeliers which dance light across the marble columns and dark parquet floor.

“It’s stunning,” I manage, already seeing it set out with chairs either side, Flora walking down the aisle formed between, her dress sparkling as the sunlight beams through the period windows to our right.

Ben smiles widely. “We’ve held family weddings in here, it can seat up to 200 guests, would that be enough?”

“Perfect. Last count we were at 140.”

Jack is scuffing his foot in the doorway, seemingly unaffected by the grandeur of our surroundings. Maybe he’s been here a lot, there’s definitely history with him and this Izzy.

“Jack said you’ve also lost the reception space too, is that right?” Ben asks.

I nod, shoulders sagging as the sheer size of this task hits again. “Yeah, the same day we lost the church to a roof collapse, the hall we’d booked called to say they’d somehow double-booked May the first in a management changeover. They thought it best to honour the original bookings.”

Ben frowns. “That’s not on. Look, we have a restored barn down by one of our lakes, it’s where we hold our parties and fundraisers. You’re welcome to use it. Shall we take a look?”

****

Returning from the barn, the first thing I see is Jack talking to a redhead in one of the long corridors. Her hand is on his arm as she looks at him from beneath lowered lashes, her body angled toward his, leaning into him. She’s tall and willowy, yoga pants hug her toned behind, an oversized sweatshirt falls off one shoulder, and her hair hangs in long waves down her back. She’s beautiful. Truly beautiful. I’m guessing this is Izzy.

“Izzy, darling, come and say hi to Paisley. Jack brought her along today, we’re going to be hosting their wedding.”

Izzy looks to Jack, her brow creasing. “You’re … you’re getting married?”

Jack’s gaze drifts to mine. “No. Paisley’s sister is getting married.”

“Oh. Thank heavens,” she smiles, again stroking Jack’s arm.

She doesn’t have to seem so pleased about it not being me and Jack.

“So, do we have a reception space?” Jack asks, pulling his arm from Izzy’s grasp and moving away. A move she’s clearly unhappy about as she follows him and once again leans into him, her arm snaking around his waist.

Ben smiles and looks over at me. “Well, we’ve got the ceremony and reception sorted, I think, haven’t we, darling?”

“I think so. I just need to go over prices with you, see what it leaves for everything else, but it’s perfect, it really is.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t possibly take money from you. This is a favour for Jack, I owe him, and plus, what’s the point of having a place like this if you can’t help out your friends once in a while?”

I’m shocked. Free? He wants to let us hold a wedding and reception here, for free?

“I … How … We’d be taking over your house for several hours, not to mention the barn for the entire evening. We’d be bringing caterers in, photographers, hundreds of people. You can’t just let us do all that and not charge us,” I manage, regaining my composure.

“I can. Jack said you and him go way back, and anyone who’s a friend of his, is a friend of mine. We can go away for the weekend, give you the run of the place, we’ve plenty of spare rooms, you could assign one each to the bride and groom as dressing rooms on the big day, have a room for hair and make-up too.”

I nod slowly. “Your generosity is amazing. Thank you.”

It’s at this point I get a little tearful. In one visit, I’ve ticked two things off my list. No, Jack has ticked two things off my list. And it’s the most beautiful place I’ve seen. Flora will love it.

“Come on you, let’s get going,” Jack says, still trying to shake Izzy from his arm where she’s clinging onto him like some kind of limpet. “I believe we’ve got more planning to do.”

I can’t argue with that. A deal’s a deal. And not only did he come through with one phone call, but he did it knowing he’d be coming here and likely seeing Izzy, something he’s clearly not comfortable with.

“Yeah, okay, we do have a lot to get through.”

Ben walks us out and Izzy hovers beside Jack the entire way, tries to pull him into conversation. Even once Ben has hugged us both goodbye and headed back inside, still she lingers, rambling on about some horse trials thing she’s entered into next month and how Jack should definitely accompany her. He’s so uncomfortable, that in the end, I take pity on him.

“Sweetheart, will you bring the car over? I think my ankle is playing up from the tumble I took last night.”

He flashes me a look but gets what I’m doing straight away, we always did have a connection. “Will do babe. Or I could always just carry you, you know, practice for when we do this and I get to carry you over the threshold.”

Izzy immediately looks between the two of us.

“How about we save the practicing for elsewhere, when we’re alone,” I say in a stage whisper.

Jack grins. “Isn’t that how we injured your poor ankle in the first place? I’ll have to stop chasing you around the bedroom.”

The blush that heats my face catches me off guard, but I keep the rouse going. “I like when you chase, but I prefer it when you catch me.”

The growl from Jack startles both me and Izzy, and despite the years that have passed, the memories of that sound in my ear while we were in bed come rushing back.

“I thought you two broke up years ago,” Izzy pouts. “Wasn’t she the one whose—”

“Goodbye Izzy. Good luck with the horse trials,” Jack says quickly, cutting her off.

Just as quickly, he steps to me, picks me up and carries me bridal-style towards the car. He laughs at the squeak I let out, asks if I’m okay, but I’m too in shock at how easily he lifted me to say anything, so instead, I nod, let my arms drape around his neck and watch his strong jaw as he almost marches us across the driveway.

When we get to the car, he places me gently down, almost as if my ankle really is sore. We’re close, body to body still, and the look he gives me lingers a little too long, his gaze dropping to my lips before returning to my eyes, the air crackling between us.

It’s been ten years. Ten years of staying away from this town, of trying to forget the horrors that happened here. The only reason I’m back is for Flora, she stayed when I left, wanted to put the past behind her. She always was stronger than me.

For me, coming back here not only dredges up that night, but it reminds me of the fact that when I needed him the most, the man I loved with everything I had, wasn’t there for me. It reminds me that after that night, everything I thought we had just slipped away.