Designing Abigail Kilton's Dress - #1 The Wedding Dress

Chapter 38 - The Return from Neverland

"Mum, we really have to go. It's a three-hour drive back to London and we're working tomorrow," Kayleigh said as her mother cut another slice of pie and transferred it to Marcus's plate.

She and her brother had barely said a word as they sat for tea with their parents. But Mr and Mrs Moore did not have the faintest clue that something was not quite right as they fussed over Marcus Burrows.

"Just one more slice and then you can go. Are you sure you don't want another cup of tea, Marcus?"

"Go on, then," he replied, pushing his blue and white cup forward with a big smile.

"Do you want more coffee, honey," her father offered in a tone he reserved for his baby girl.

Kayleigh wanted to leave. She wanted to be on her own, in a safe and quiet space to get her head in order as soon as possible. But if she couldn't have that, she figured she might as well have a drink.

"Kay Kay, that's your fourth cup today," Marcus pointed out as he dug his fork into the pastry in front of him.

"And that's your third helping of Blueberry pie. What's your point?"

Marcus set down his fork, ready to explain his point clearly, but he was distracted by Leon pushing his chair back and standing up.

"Kay, can you come up to my room? I need to show you something."

Kayleigh had to hand it to her brother. It wasn't easy to avert four pairs of eyes in such a small kitchen, but Leon succeeded. She cleared her throat and stood up to follow him.

"Should I come too?" Marcus asked.

Kayleigh saw the fear in his eyes. It would have been funny if that same fear wasn't causing her own heart to beat twice as fast.

Did Leon learn their big secret? Maybe someone overheard her and Rosemary talking on the pier. Or maybe someone saw them by the huts and went to tell him.

No, it couldn't be.

"That's okay, dude. Eat your pie."

Leon didn't seem angry. But what could he possibly have to tell Kayleigh that he didn't want to say in front of his best friend?

Kayleigh gave Marcus a subtle nod to assure him it would be fine and followed Leon out into the hallway. To her surprise, he stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned to her with a serious expression on his face.

"Kay, you have to put in a good word to me with Rosie, okay? She's the only person here with two brain cells and a decent sense of humour and she's not talking to me."

Kayleigh's brows knitted together in irritation and concern. Leon looked so agitated she barely recognised him. He was like a child getting his toys taken away from him.

"Look, you just have to be honest with her. She's a bit upset right now but I'm sure she'll come around-"

"No, you don't get it," Leon stated hurriedly, running his fingers through his blond curls. "Something happened last night. It wasn't a big deal, but you know Rosie. She's really embarrassed and she won't even look at me."

Kay exhaled in frustration. How? How could he be so clueless?

"She's not embarrassed. She's upset. There's a difference!"

A look of surprise flashed across the boy's face. "She spoke to you?"

"Yes."

"And she told you about-"

"The kiss. Yes."

Leon was flabbergasted. The wheels were turning in his head but nothing seemed to click.

"But... I don't get it. Why would she talk to you and not to me? Is she very angry at me?"

"You told her it was a silly thing!"

"It was! She was drunk. She had no idea what she was doing at the time. I didn't mean she was silly," he went on desperately. "I meant that I know she wouldn't have tried to kiss me if she were sober."

Leon cursed under his breath making Kayleigh roll her eyes.

"Does she think I took advantage of her? I stopped it as soon as I could. I mean, I had a drink or two fogging up my head too, and you know it's not in my nature to stop a girl from coming on to me. So, I guess it took a couple of seconds for the logic to kick in but... Rosie means a lot to me! I wouldn't do anything to hurt her."

One look was all it took for Kayleigh to know he wasn't lying. She even wondered if Marcus was right. Maybe Leon really did like Rosie and he just didn't know it yet.

A wave of affection for her brother rolled through her. Somewhere along the past month, Leon had grown up. He was putting somebody else's feelings first rather than acting on his urges. Maybe she had a thing or two to learn from him as well.

"Give her some time to calm down," she told him patiently. "And then, tell her just that."

Kay wished she could tell him more, but she also knew it wasn't her place.

Leon considered her for a moment before nodding his agreement and pulling his sister into a one-armed hug.

"Do you really have to go back? I'm going to miss you, baby Kay."

Instinctively, Kayleigh grimaced. She hated when he called her that. "I'll be back to annoy you in six weeks, don't worry."

"Six weeks? You wish! I'm back in London in three weeks for Marcus's wedding, you Dopehead."

And with that friendly reminder, Kayleigh's already dampened mood turned pitch black.

#

Kayleigh thought the drive back would be the longest and most painful three hours of her life. She couldn't have been more wrong. And when Marcus pulled up in front of her door, she wished it was so. She wished her heart yearned to bolt out of the car, rather than bask in Marcus Burrows's magnetic field.

He switched off the engine and turned to face her. Her breath stopped when their eyes locked.

It was dark out, but it wasn't so late for the street to be deserted, or even quiet. So, when he reached out to touch her face, she recoiled back and scanned the area to see if anyone was watching. The photos he'd bought less than twenty-four hours ago may have been safe in her apartment, but there was nothing to stop anyone from taking a fresh batch.

"What's wrong?" Marcus asked gently.

Kayleigh gave him a derisive laugh. She didn't know where to start.

Her hand fell on his, their fingers intertwining in her lap until her thumb and forefinger found his ring finger. It was bare, and for some reason, this surprised her. She tried to remember when she saw him wearing his engagement ring last, but she was certain she hadn't noticed it at all this weekend.

"Why did you ask Abigail to marry you?"

The question had been burning in her head since her argument with Rosemary. She would never have guessed she'd have the nerve to ask it.

Marcus turned his palm upwards and took her hand in his. "Do you really want to talk about that tonight?"

Of course, she didn't.

"She's not just my boss anymore. She's my friend. She's trusting me with the most important day of her life and I'm betraying her. And Jack," she added with a sad groan. She dropped her face in her hands but Marcus took hold of her again. "I was supposed to call him and I completely forgot!"

"Good!"

"Marcus!" Kayleigh warned, but she softened when she saw he was only messing around with her.

He shifted in his seat so that his back was completely facing the window. Then he covered her hand with both of his and kissed her knuckles gently.

"I don't have all the answers, Kay Kay. But I meant every word I said. I love you and I can't keep ignoring it. And yes, this is all very, very messed up, but nothing is going to make me regret today or tonight or this. You. You are what I always wanted. We'll figure it out, okay?"

Kayleigh looked at him, lost in his eyes, lost in his words, wanting them so badly to be true.