The Eleventh-Hour Groom

‘Okay. Goodnight, Beth.’

‘Goodnight.’ She watched as he walked towards his car, got in and drove away. All that was left were the tyre marks on the virgin white snow. Was that it? she asked herself. The end of a marriage? The last time she would ever see Jay Hammond?

She closed the door firmly and leaned back on it. I don’t care, she told herself fiercely. But no matter how many times she said those words they still rang hollowly inside her.

CHAPTER THREE

JAY was caught up in the early-morning traffic when the phone rang. He frowned and looked around the car in some confusion. Where was that ringing coming from? He didn’t have a mobile phone with him. It took him a moment to realise it was coming from Elizabeth’s briefcase.

Checking in his mirror, he switched lanes and pulled to a standstill next to the kerb before opening the case to answer it.

Just as he got it out, it stopped. ‘Damn things,’ he muttered, and was about to put it away when it rang again.

He pressed the button and connected the call. ‘Hi, it’s Lucy.’ A warm and very attractive voice said in his ear. ‘We’re still on for tonight, aren’t we?’

‘I don’t know,’ Jay drawled with amusement. ‘That depends on where you are planning to take me?’

‘Sorry.’ There was confusion in the voice now. ‘I seem to have the wrong number.’

‘Are you looking for Elizabeth?’ Jay asked.

‘Yes.’

‘Then you haven’t got the wrong number, just the wrong person. I’m Jay…Elizabeth’s husband.’

‘Really?’ The voice sounded alert and amazed now. ‘Are you two getting back together? Gosh, that’s so good to hear. I do like a happy ending. When did you arrive in London? Beth hasn’t said a word.’

‘Only yesterday—’

‘Well, listen, I’m glad you’ve answered the phone,’ she gushed on without pausing for breath. ‘You know it’s Beth’s thirtieth birthday today?’

‘Yes—’

‘Well we’re having a surprise party for her after work. It’s at the Mayfair Tower Hotel. I’m calling for her at the office at six-thirty. She just thinks we’re going for a few quiet drinks, so it’s going to be a great surprise for her…well, I hope it is. She isn’t suspicious, is she?’

‘Not to my knowledge,’ Jay said truthfully.

There was a moment’s silence, a moment where Jay could almost hear the other woman’s mind ticking over.

‘Seeing as we are having this friendly chat, maybe you could tell me about the guy Beth is seeing,’ Jay said nonchalantly.

‘What guy?’

‘She says she’s seeing someone and it’s quite serious.’

He heard the woman swallowing nervously at the other end of the line as she realised she had made a big mistake and a huge assumption. ‘You’re not getting back together, are you?’

‘Not quite. But don’t worry about it, Lucy.’ Jay took pity on her. ‘And your secret is safe with me. Thanks for the invitation, by the way.’ Then he hung up.

For a moment he sat at the edge of the traffic and thought about things. Was there someone serious in Beth’s life? Her friend hadn’t seemed to know what he was talking about. On the other hand, she couldn’t know much about Elizabeth if she could assume so easily, from him answering a phone, that they were back together.

Jay reached for a piece of paper and scribbled down the address she had given for the party tonight. Maybe he’d check it out.

‘The report you wanted from Marketing.’ Robert put the stack of papers down on top of the manila envelope. ‘Cheer up, Elizabeth.’ He leaned over and grinned at her. ‘It might never happen.’

‘I hate it when people say that,’ Beth murmured.

‘Yes, so do I,’ Robert admitted with a laugh. ‘Because it usually does happen…well, it does to me, anyhow.’

She smiled at him.

She’d always liked Rob. He was a couple of years younger than her, a pleasant guy, always helpful at work. He wasn’t bad looking either, she supposed. Tall with dark hair that fell forward over his forehead like an absentminded professor. She knew he liked her; it was obvious from the way he kept asking her out. But, although she thought he was a nice person, she didn’t feel any attraction for him.

Maybe she should try and make herself feel an attraction. There hadn’t been anyone in her life since she had left Jay. She needed to change that, get on with her life. Next time he asked her out, she’d accept, she thought suddenly.

But for the first time ever, Robert hurried away without issuing his usual invitation for a drink. She sighed. Maybe it was just as well. Getting involved with a work colleague could lead to complications.

She picked up the report he had left. Beneath it the manila envelope stared at her, heavily foreboding.

Jay had dropped her briefcase at the reception early this morning. Now it was late afternoon and she still hadn’t got around to looking inside that envelope. Nor had she got around to having any lunch. The day was turning out to be even more hectic than usual.

Wonderful way to spend a birthday, Elizabeth thought as she rushed off to another meeting. Still, at least she could look forward to having a quiet drink with Lucy after work.

The last meeting of the day overshot and it was almost six-fifteen by the time Elizabeth managed to finish.

She raced to the cloakroom to freshen up. Changed out of her work blouse into a sparkly halter neck top. Re-applied some deep red lipstick. Fluffed up her hair and then bent closer to the mirror to examine herself with a critical eye.

Not marvellous, but she’d do, she decided, putting on her black jacket. She picked up her bag with the divorce papers tucked safely inside and made her way out of the building. Nobody was around. Most people seemed to have left early today for some reason.

Lucy wasn’t in the reception, but had left a message saying she was caught up at work; could they meet outside the Mayfair Tower Hotel?

Sounded as if Lucy’s day had been as hectic as hers, Elizabeth thought as she hailed a taxi.

Lucy was waiting inside the foyer when Elizabeth arrived. She was twenty-nine, blonde and extremely attractive. She was also great fun. They had been friends ever since Beth had handled an advertising contract for Lucy’s dating agency eight months ago.

‘Happy birthday, you old codger!’ she said now, reaching to kiss her.

‘Wait until it’s your turn.’ Beth grinned.

‘So how are you?’ Lucy asked casually as they made their way through the busy foyer.

‘Don’t ask.’

‘That good eh?’ Lucy slanted a look over at her. ‘Any news?’

Elizabeth shook her head. ‘Apart from my husband asking me for a divorce, you mean?’

‘Oh, hell!’