The Wedding Planner Read online

  To my wife, who is always there for me.

  To Shell and P may you always be part of my life, and to H, Taph, and Maz who have been there forever.

  And to my readers may you always be here.

  CHAPTER

  ONE

  Leia sat at her desk in her pristine white blouse and her grey pin striped suit immaculately pressed. Her hair was short, a dark brown almost black colour, and her make-up was light but just enough to make her eyes look like dark pools you could drowned in. Everything was placed on her mahogany desk in perfect order. Even her gold-plated name plate was highly polished. Leia Hudson executive wedding planner. She stared out of the window onto the well- kept gardens with the white wrought iron arches which covered the walkway down to the large gazebo at the end. She was the youngest wedding planner the hotel group had ever employed. She had worked hard to be where she was, but as she sat there on another Saturday morning, she actually wondered why she was there. It had been great fun at first, everything she had ever wanted but as she sat, she wondered if she really ever wanted it, or was it her parents that did. She in truth was simply bored. When she had left college, this was not what she had envisaged, and now she approached thirty was it too late.

  “Leia please tell me when these exams are over, we are going to travel around the world and have fun.”

  She turned and faced her naked eighteen- year old girlfriend.

  “Of course, first of all we are going to go

  to France,”

  Each place name was a part on Emma’s beautiful body, with her blonde dyed hair and blue eyes, and a plethora of tiny freckles across the bridge of her nose, they played the game often. France was her beautiful full round breasts, her eyes couldn’t help but stare, she circled them with her fingertips, then bent and kissed them gently. “Then we will travel to Spain”

  her finger slid down to the well- trimmed patch between her legs she ran her fingers through her pubic hair,

  “You are so sexy.”

  “So, where do we go from there” Emma’s voice deepened.

  “I don’t know what the next place is called, but we travel south on a train through a very dark deep tunnel.” her fingers slid inside of Emma.

  Emma’s breath caught in her throat and a moan escaped.

  “I think it’s called ‘fuck me’.”

  “I think you’re right, I love you.”

  “I love you.”

  The phone ringing dragged her away from her thoughts.

  “Hello, Miss Hudson, how can I help you?” she listened carefully. “No, it’s okay, I will be right down.”

  That’s all she needed today, Marcia not turning in for work she thought to herself. At least she wouldn’t be bored now, she would have something to do. She went to check on how the staff were doing, she liked everything running like clockwork. She went and checked with Michael the head chef, it was a four-course meal, simple enough, they were having a smoked salmon mousse to start with, followed by a beef wellington, and chocolate roulade then followed by cheese and biscuits and coffee.

  “Everything under control Michael.”

  “Yes, where’s Marcia.”

  “She’s just rung in sick, so it looks like you’ve got me today.”

  He groaned and then laughed, “About time you got your hands dirty again.”

  “Thanks, I love you to.”

  “I know you do, when you stop kidding everyone, you’re a lesbian, I’ll be waiting.”

  Michael had started at the hotel the same time as Leia, they had become friends quickly. They used to hang out at the same bar when they had finished work The Black Horse. Michael had asked her out after a few weeks, he was what every woman would want, a beautiful fit body and tight black curly hair with a dimple in his chin.

  Leia let him down gently explaining it was the wrong equipment he had, and they had remained friends, in fact he was one of the few friends she had. She had never been one for pubbing and clubbing.

  She walked into the restaurant, the tables had been laid the night before, there was only flowers to go on the table and place names. They had chosen a yellow and white combination for their theme. With the sun coming through the French doors it was giving the room a warm glow.

  “Right listen up, Marcia as gone off sick so I need you all to up your game today, can someone get me the running order off Marcia’s desk, and we’ll go from there.”

  Leia organised the staff, she would welcome the guests and get them seated outside,1.30pm the wedding ceremony taking them to 2.15 pm and then the wedding pictures 3.00pm then welcome the newlyweds and look after their top table, the presents and anything else they wanted, food would be anytime between 3.00 and four 4.00 pm depending how long everything took it was always best guess, each wedding different. There was a string quartet playing during the meal, then the speech’s cutting of the cake and then a dance and live music afterwards.

  It would be after midnight before she arrived home tonight, she rang Grace to let her know.

  “Hi babe, I’ve got a problem, staff off sick I shall have to work today, I’ll be home as soon as I can, but I doubt it’ll be before midnight.”

  “It’s okay babe don’t worry about it. I’ll see you later or tomorrow.”

  Grace was her girlfriend; they’d been together for three years although at times it felt longer. Grace was the owner of an art gallery, Leia had met her at an exhibition, not that Leia knew anything about art, she had nipped into the exhibition because she had been trying to avoid meeting her mother. She had looked around at some of the art it certainly wasn’t her taste. Nude bodies that were part animals. Vases that didn’t hold anything but gave that impression, she had been surprised that they had hit it off straight away. Gracie was like a model curly brown hair and five eleven in her bare feet and seemed to tower over Leia’s five foot six. Perhaps that’s why Leia felt intimidated some of the time. Although just lately Leia felt things were out of sorts, she thought things had changed when they had moved to a new house there was no fun, no passion, it was bloody hard work most of the time, they just seemed to work to pay bills so they could live in a nice house. Sometimes it was just better if they both had to work weekends.

  Anyway, she wasn’t going to let herself get dragged down, it was a happy day for the couple Steven and Julia, she would put on her smile and do her best to make it a special day for them.

  She had met Julia when they had come to book the venue, her parents definitely had money she was often surprised at the amount of money spent on a wedding, although it was good for her and the business, by the time dresses and cars and everything else was added, it was twenty thousand plus.

  In her view it was a waste of money all that for one day, it’s was ridiculous.

  She went and checked everything was ready. the guests were turning up for the ceremony. She moved them out onto the white covered seats, with the yellow bows. She patiently waited for the groom he had been the only one not stopping at the hotel last night, along with his best man. The bride was nearly ready to join them, they started to play some music, everyone was turning around. The groom was late. The bride’s father came to her.

  “I’m sorry it’s off.”

  “Sorry.”

  “The groom isn’t turning up he says he can’t marry her.”

  “I’m very sorry, what do you want to do.”

  “I’ll have to announce it, her mother is going to freak out.”

  “Would you like me to go and fetch her.”

  He didn’t know what to do, his daughter was breaking her heart in the bedroom and a hundred and twenty guests were waiting for a wedding that wasn’t going to happen.

  “If you could.”

  Leia made her way to the bride’s mothe
r.

  “Your husband needs your help can you follow me.”

  The woman looked at her as though she was something that had crawled out of the ground. Sometimes Leia hated this job you felt as though everyone looked down on you, and they did. To them you were the hired help, their money was paying for you to jump through hoops and then jump back again, and although Leia always went beyond what was expected in her job, she hated it. It was very rare that someone appreciated them, they didn’t care they had been at college or University or for that matter how many hours they worked, the customers were selfish.

  “What does he want now” she stood up and followed Leia.

  When he told her, she went upstairs to her daughter.

  She went over to the father of the bride.

  “Mr Cotton do you want me to tell them.”

  “It’s very kind of you, but I think I ought to, can I tell them to go in for the meal as normal it will be a shame to waste the food when we’ve paid for it.”

  “Certainly, can you get them to wait in the lounge, for thirty minutes, because it’s so much earlier, I will tell the chef to start cooking immediately. We will give them the champagne that we’ve already opened.” Leia went to tell the staff what had happened.

  “Will we finish early Miss Hudson.”

  “I don’t know Amy we will play it by ear and see what happens” this had never happened before it was unknown territory.

  “Just remember the bride and groom might not be here but everyone else will be, so it’s business as usual.” She turned to Sarah

  “go and tell chef, and make sure no one cuts the bloody cake, after the meal.”

  The noise level had increased dramatically

  Leia moved out to direct the people to their tables. Some that had travelled had been going to leave not wanting to hang around, but changed their minds, curiosity getting the better of them, and the thought of a free meal no doubt. Leia didn’t know if the bride would ever get over it, it was traumatising. Soon everyone was seated, and the meal was about to start. Leia left Sarah in charge she wanted to go and see the bride’s father on what he wanted to do about drinks, she couldn’t imagine he wanted to splash out on more champagne for something that wasn’t going to happen at least she could save him some money if he wanted to. She gently knocked on the door, the bride’s father answered.

  “Come in.”

  Leia walked into the room, she explained that everyone was now in the dining room ready to eat. “Is there anything I can get any of you. Do you want a meal sending up or would you like the chef to make you some sandwiches?”

  “Sandwiches would be lovely, what do you want Julia” he asked his daughter.

  “I’m going down for my meal, he is not ruining anymore of my life.”

  “Go down mummy and daddy, I’ll be down in a bit don’t leave the guests too long and make sure we have plenty of champagne on our table.” Her parents left.

  “Leia is it.” Leia nodded

  “Can you stop here with me and help me out of this bloody dress.”

  “Two minutes.” Leia, rung down to the chef to inform him the bride and her parents were coming down for the meal, give them ten minutes.

  She moved forward to unzip Julia’s dress, she certainly felt something when she saw the lace underwear.

  “I’m sorry to ask you to do this but my parents are driving me mad.”

  Leia smiled “You seem to be taking the news quite well.”

  “To be honest between me and you I hoped he wouldn’t turn up.”

  “So why go through all of the expense,” “because my parents wanted it, money doesn’t mean anything to them.”

  Leia smiled, “So what are you going to do.”

  “I had planned to go abroad with the bridesmaid but now we can, she doesn’t want to come with me. I really liked her as well.”

  “You mean you’re gay.”

  “Yes, but mummy and daddy wouldn’t accept it. All I ever got was you’ll grow out of it, it’s a phase anything but excepting it.”

  “so, you arranged to marry someone who wasn’t going to turn up.”

  “Basically yes, well I wasn’t a hundred percent sure so now I can’t bear to be near a man I’m traumatised,” she laughed.

  “Good one,” Leia couldn’t believe what lengths this woman had gone to.

  “Is there anything else, I can do for you.”

  “Not unless you fancy coming abroad with me, tomorrow.”

  “Can I think about it.” she laughed.

  “I’ll be here tomorrow until ten thirty if you want to think about it tonight.”

  “Thanks.”

  The party went on until eight by which time everyone had, had enough. Leia organised the staff and decided to call it a night. She said her goodbyes to Mr and Mrs Cotton Julia’s parents, they had already paid the bill so there was nothing left to do. She left to go home. The day had been eventful, that had been the first no show she had witnessed, she was glad it was over. It was eight fifty by the time she pulled outside the house, she was shattered. She went in the house and she went upstairs she could hear Grace watching television in bed. When she opened the bedroom door Grace was lying in bed with a blonde- haired woman.

  She stared at both of them trying to cover their naked bodies.

  “Don’t bother on my account.” she grabbed a case from off the top of the wardrobe and started to throw her clothes in. No-one said a word, Leia smiled “I thought you would have at least gone for a true blonde”

  “Bitch.”

  She put her shoes in the case and laptop, phone and purse

  “Enjoy your life” and walked out of the house.

  Once outside the house she made it to her car before the tears fell. She didn’t know why she knew deep down that the end was near. Her hands were shaking slightly as she gripped the steering wheel she drove off and went back to the hotel, she had a room there for when she had very late nights. It was either there or her brother Luke’s and as much as she loved him, she couldn’t deal with the constant chattering.

  She put her case in her room and went to the bar.

  “Don’t you ever go home.”

  Leia turned to see Julia.

  “Hi Julia, the ex- bride.”

  “What’s, up with you, misery.”

  “I went home to find my girlfriend in bed with another woman so excuse me if I don’t seem my usual bouncy self.”

  Julia looked shocked

  “I’m sorry had you been together long.”

  “Three years.”

  “and you thought she was the one.”

  “No, I was bored anyway” she sighed.

  Julia laughed

  “sorry, so why so down in the mouth if that’s what you wanted.”

  “Because it’s not only her, I’m fed up being here, I want some excitement, before I get too old to enjoy it.”

  “Jack it in and come with me.”

  Leia looked at Julia, she didn’t know if she meant it.

  “I can’t”

  “Why”

  “because I’m...”

  “Scared, Leia take the plunge, don’t be boring.” Julia interrupted her.

  Leia smiled Julia thought she had an adorable smile.

  “So where are we going?”

  Julia could hardly contain her excitement.

  “Promise you aren’t drunk, and you will mean it.”

  “I promise.”

  “Well we will start in Cyprus first for two weeks.”

  “And where will we stay.”

  “In the hotel which I was going to for my honeymoon, don’t worry it’s all paid for, it’s one of the best hotel’s there.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No thank you, otherwise I wouldn’t be going. I’m really excited now”

  “Oh, my fathers on his way over, don’t tell him.”

  “We’re going to bed baby will we see you tomorrow.”

  “I will leave about eleven.”

&
nbsp; “Leia did my father give you a tip for looking after us today”

  Leia blushed.

  “daddy”.

  “I’m sorry Leia, I didn’t recognise you, please accept this as our thanks. I was going to leave it at reception, thank you for looking after us so well, especially under the circumstances.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  He left them alone.

  “How much did he give you, come on open it.”

  Leia opened the envelope, there was two hundred pounds. “Wow, that’ll be good for our holiday, or new life. I will have to leave some for the rest of the staff.”

  “please tell me it will be a new life with fun.” Julia giggled.

  “Of course.”

  They went to bed promising to meet up in the morning.

  “What do you mean Leia, you promised we would go, we were supposed to have fun.”

  Emma wasn’t a happy woman, but neither was Leia.

  “It’s not my fault my father’s had an accident we can go on our trip after he is better.”

  “And how long will that be, it could be months” She walked out and left her. They had graduated and Emma had gone on her trip and she had been obligated to start work, while her father was off work. It had been a long twelve months before her father had gone back to work, it had been too long for her first real love to wait. Leia had been working at the hotel when she was a student, to get extra money, when her father was ill, she had increased her hours and fell into the job. She had worked hard but it was never what she had planned for. She had wanted to travel she had thought about joining the navy.

  Has soon as Leia lay on her bed, she was regretting her decision, what was she thinking, she knew it was hard when you came out to your parents but to do all this because they wouldn’t accept her, it was wrong. Her mobile rung, Grace’s picture showed up on the screen.

  “Baby, I’m so sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking, please forgive me. Come back baby you can’t just walk out on the house and everything.”

  And that was it, Leia knew she wasn’t sorry, she was only sorry she had gotten caught out, she ended the call; no, I love you there was only one thing Grace was panicking about the house, well she was the one who wanted a larger house, so she could deal with the mortgage payments. Leia had argued over it for a long while but had given in for an easy life.