The Desperate Bride’s Diet Club (41 page)

The girl took a deep breath. ‘I slept
with Sebastian last month.’

Violet gazed at the girl, who was now looking downcast. She was obviously telling the truth.

‘I’m so sorry,’ carried on the girl. ‘I don’t know what I was thinking. We bumped into each other one night at a bar. I was drunk and so was he. It’s no excuse, I know. I feel just terrible.’

Violet stared at her for a while longer and then burst out laughing.

The girl looked
shocked, as if this were the last reaction she had been expecting.

Violet laughed and laughed until she felt the tears sting her eyes.

‘Was he any good?’ Violet asked, between guffaws.

The girl was still staring at her goggle-eyed when Sebastian’s mother came over to them.

‘What is it?’ she snapped. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Private joke,’ said Violet, still giggling. What an unholy mess.

‘She’s
hysterical,’ said Miriam, frowning.

She whipped up her hand as if she were going to slap Violet. But Violet suddenly sobered up and grabbed Miriam’s wrist.

‘There’ll be no slapping of the bride today,’ said Violet in a firm tone. ‘Or any day, come to think of it.’

Miriam quickly withdrew her hand. Violet stared at her until she backed away.

‘It’s OK,’ Violet told the girl. ‘Don’t worry about
it. You can go back to the other bridesmaids now.’

The girl started to say something but thought better of it and went back to the main group, glancing nervously at her every minute or so.

Kathy and Maggie came to stand with Violet.

‘Everything OK?’ asked Maggie.

‘What was that all about?’ said Kathy.

‘Nothing,’ she told them, shaking her head. She was still too shocked to tell them.

‘We’d
better go in,’ said Kathy, giving her a hug. ‘Good luck.’

‘Be happy,’ said Maggie, also hugging Violet.

Then they went inside the church, leaving Violet alone.

Well, that was unexpected, she thought. Or maybe not.

Violet had given so much time and thought to her own personal changes that she hadn’t considered that Sebastian needed to change as well. But perhaps she had to accept that he wouldn’t
change, that he
didn’t
want to. That he would always lie and cheat on her.

‘It’s time,’ called out one of the bridesmaids.

Violet glanced at the church door and there was the vicar. Time to get married.

Miriam went ahead into the church whilst Violet and the bridesmaids organised themselves. Violet had no one to give her away so she would walk down the aisle on her own.

The bridesmaids began
their slow walk up the long aisle. Violet stood waiting until she saw her cue and then began to follow. The church appeared to be filled with at least twenty pedestal flower arrangements of carnations, in various shades of pink and peach.

Something drew her glance away from the altar. She looked over and saw Mark. They locked eyes as she walked past, his green eyes burning into hers.

Violet
turned her attention back to Sebastian waiting for her at the altar. Why was she waiting for him to change? What if he didn’t? Why was she so afraid of life without him? She knew she was frightened of being alone again, just like when she lost her parents. But she had been alone for a long time anyway, it felt. Even when she was with Sebastian.

Until this year. Now she had friends, true friends.

And Mark.

Except she didn’t have him. They had had one glorious, unforgettable night together. And that was it. That was all Violet had to hold dear to her for the rest of her married life. Her memory of another man.

By now, she had reached Sebastian at the altar. He smiled warmly at her, acting the part of the loving groom.

The vicar began to speak but Violet heard none of
his
words. Marriage
would be wonderful if you loved your husband, like Maggie and Gordon. There was a marriage built on trust and friendship.

Sebastian had never really been her friend. Not fighting her cause and battling her corner, as Edward had done with Kathy. Edward adored Kathy, any fool could see that. Sebastian had never adored her. He almost seemed to hold her in contempt sometimes.

‘Lord of all Hopefulness’
was the first hymn. Hopeful, thought Violet. Was that all she was hanging on to regarding her impending marriage? Hope?

She glanced across at Sebastian as he sang. Did he even like her? It was great to love someone but it was equally important to like them as well.

Then Violet remembered something. Herself. Violet. Forget about Sebastian, what about her own feelings? What did she really want?

The hymn was over and the vicar was speaking of love and marriage. Violet stood in a daze, the words drifting over her.

‘Marriage is a solemn vow, therefore if any person can show any just cause or impediment why this man and this women may not lawfully be joined together, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.’

Suddenly Violet found herself holding her breath. Would Mark speak up?

But
the church remained silent.

The vicar smiled. ‘Excellent. Now, if you could turn to—’

‘Wait!’ Violet found herself blurting out. ‘I do.’

‘Not yet, dear,’ said the vicar with a smile. ‘That bit comes later.’

‘I meant me,’ said Violet. ‘I object to this marriage.’

Sebastian spun round to glare at her. ‘What are you talking about?’ he hissed. ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

Violet was quite calm as
she turned to face him. ‘Do you love me?’ she asked him.

‘What are you talking about?’ Sebastian glanced at the congregation who were staring at them agog. ‘Don’t be so stupid.’

Violet shook her head. ‘I’m not stupid,’ she told him, her voice clear and loud as it echoed around the church. ‘I would be if I spent the rest of my life being perfectly miserable with you. And I’m worth more than that.
I’m worth more than you will ever be.’

He was staring at her in shock.

‘You’re not worth all the tears and the pain,’ she carried on. ‘And, I’m afraid, the sex isn’t worth it either. Seriously, read a manual or something.’

Sebastian tried to speak but couldn’t.

Violet slipped off her engagement ring and placed it in his hand.

‘Thanks for the offer,’ she told him. ‘But I think I’ll pass.’

She turned from the altar and began to walk back down the aisle alone.

Sebastian’s mother leapt up from the pews to block her path.

‘Where do you think you’re going?’ she snapped. ‘Get back there and marry my son!’

Violet’s eyes glittered as she stared at Miriam.

‘Your son is a cheat,’ she said. ‘A lying, cheating idiot who was only marrying me for my money, I think. He doesn’t love me. And
I don’t love him, I’ve realised. The truth is, I’m too good for him. And you know it.’

Violet brushed past her and continued to walk all the way out of the church, her head held high.

VIOLET STOOD OUTSIDE
the church, breathing in the sweet air of freedom. Well, she’d done it. She’d finally spoken her mind. And it felt good. Really good.

Kathy and Maggie came to stand either side of her.

‘Well,’ said Maggie, still in shock but grabbing hold of Violet’s hand. ‘That was unusual.’

‘Best wedding I’ve ever been to,’ said Kathy with a grin as she clasped hold
of Violet’s other hand.

They both looked at Violet, who was standing still but looking serene.

‘So? What happens now?’ asked Maggie.

Violet looked at them both before breaking into a lovely smile. ‘I have no idea.’

Edward joined them. ‘How about a large drink?’

‘Good idea,’ said Violet, still smiling.

‘Do you want to go to the reception?’ asked Kathy.

Violet shook her head. ‘I think I’ll
leave that for Sebastian’s family to sort out. After all, it is their country club.’

‘What about the wedding cake?’ asked Maggie. A
three-tiered
chocolate cake was in the back of Kathy’s car.

‘There’s always room for chocolate,’ said Violet with a small smile.

‘I agree,’ said Edward. ‘Pub?’

‘Pub,’ said Violet.

An hour later, they were settled around a couple of large tables in the pub where
they had ended up after Trudie had walked out on them many months ago. It was New Year’s Eve and the place was gearing up for party night.

There weren’t many of them around the table but Violet didn’t mind. Most of the congregation had been complete strangers. The people who were with her now were friends, good friends.

She glanced across at Maggie and Gordon, who were telling Julie about New
York and their plans for a trip to Greece the following year. Wendy was feeding her baby with a bottle whilst she talked to Kathy and Edward, who were holding hands under the table. Wendy’s husband and Julie’s boyfriend were chatting and keeping an eye on Wendy’s toddler.

Lucy and Todd were deep in conversation with Anthony and his girlfriend about webcams and long-distance communication. That
was a romance that was destined to run a long time, thought Violet with a smile.

The surprise guest was Trudie, who had quickly followed them down the road as they had escaped. She was currently outside, calling Trevor on her phone. Nobody quite knew why she was there but everybody was accommodating her. Sort of. Besides, they were desperate to find out what kind of man would marry Trudie.

Somebody had ordered some bottles of champagne and everybody was enjoying themselves as if it were the most normal thing in the world to walk out of your own wedding. Nobody questioned Violet about it. Perhaps they already knew, she thought. Perhaps she was the last one to realise that the marriage would have been a disaster.

Sebastian had texted her a few times. The texts had gone from irritation
to panic. But they didn’t affect Violet. In the end, she didn’t bother reading any more from him. She knew she wouldn’t see him ever again.

There was only one person missing and that was Mark. Perhaps he felt guilty, having witnessed her bridal meltdown. Perhaps he didn’t really care that much. Violet felt a little sad, but ultimately she would survive. The wedding had shown her that. She had
finally come out of her shell and she wouldn’t be going back in there now. There was a big, wide world out there just waiting to be enjoyed.

Violet went to the ladies’ and stared at her reflection. Had she really just done that? Walked out on Sebastian in front of all those people? She found she couldn’t stop herself breaking into a grin. Yes, she really had.

What would her parents have said?
She knew they would have supported her, wanted her to be happy. Of that, she was certain.

Violet suddenly realised somebody was sobbing inside one of the cubicles.

‘Are you OK in there?’ she asked, knocking gently on the door.

The door slowly opened to reveal a large woman in her mid-twenties with mascara running down her face.

‘Sorry,’ she muttered. ‘I’ve just been dumped.’

‘Poor you,’ said
Violet, grabbing some tissue for the girl.

‘He said I was too fat,’ said the girl with a sob. ‘Left me for some stick insect called Mandy.’

Violet let her cry for a little while before saying, ‘He’s obviously not worth it if he dumped you because of your size.’

The girl sniffed. ‘Easy for you to say. I don’t suppose a skinny minnie like you would understand.’

Violet broke into a smile. ‘Actually,
I lost five stone this year through healthy eating and exercise. No fads. No extreme diets. No food off limits. Just good old-fashioned willpower and group help. You can join us, if you want. We’re a small group but extremely friendly. We’ve all been there.’

‘You were fat like me?’ said the girl, shocked. ‘But you look like you’ve always been slim.’

Violet smiled and gave the girl her number.
‘Call me,’ she told the woman. ‘Don’t struggle on your own.’

She walked back to the party; the pub was now beginning to fill up with people coming out for the evening festivities. The atmosphere was getting more lively as the New Year’s Eve celebrations began. A few people glanced at Violet but nobody said anything. Perhaps they thought it was fancy dress.

Maggie and Kathy came rushing up to
Violet with distressed looks on their faces.

‘It’s about the cake,’ said Maggie.

‘What’s happened?’ asked Violet.

‘That!’ Kathy told her, turning to point at the table where the cake had been set up.

Violet couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Trudie was grabbing handfuls of chocolate cake and shoving
them
in her mouth. There was chocolate in her hair, across her face and down her pale pink
dress.

They went over to stand with Lucy, who was staring down at Trudie.

‘What are you doing?’ asked Kathy. ‘That’s Violet’s wedding cake.’

‘I don’t care!’ wailed Trudie. ‘I just want to die.’

‘It would probably take a wooden stake to finish you off,’ snapped Kathy.

‘He’s left me,’ whined Trudie.

‘Who?’ asked Lucy, leaning down into her face. ‘Your conscience? Your compassion?’

‘Trevor,’
said Trudie, grabbing another lump of cake and stuffing it into her mouth.

‘Let’s move you here,’ said Kathy, pulling Lucy back. ‘Just in case she swallows you whole.’

‘My husband’s left me for a huge fattie,’ shouted Trudie, causing a few heads to turn. ‘You know, like you lot used to be. Can you imagine anything more disgusting?’

‘Oh dear,’ said Violet trying to be sympathetic. ‘What’s her
name?’

Trudie swallowed hard before muttering, ‘Gareth.’

The four woman looked at each other.

‘He left you for a man,’ said Lucy, trying not to smirk and failing.

‘A fat man,’ replied Trudie, emphasising that the fat was worse than the man part.

‘Oh dear,’ said Maggie, her shoulders beginning to shake.

‘Maybe you could give him some of those horrible shakes,’ said Kathy, grinning.

‘Or those
disgusting cereal bars that we threw away,’ said Violet.

‘You can’t have thrown them away,’ snapped Trudie. ‘Otherwise you wouldn’t have been able to lose all that weight.’