Where the Stars Fall

5 | Beautiful surprises

AMONG THE CACOPHONY of whispered voices, melodic tunes and kids' giggles spinning through my head like the roar of a migraine, I glance around, looking for my family. Off to the right, I spot my sister, her gaze already searching my face.

Sue shakes her head and I can feel her disapproval all the way over here. I'm not only late, I probably also look like I was thrown under a bus.

Scanning the front of the church, I find my father at the altar shaking hands and exchanging a few words with Jimmy and Simon, our long-time friend from school days.

All dressed up for the occasion and with a freshly-shaven face, but with the same blank stare we've all gotten used to lately, Simon is still looking as he feels – like crap. His wife left him a few months ago, on his thirtieth birthday. Took everything but the kitchen sink and a dog that pees all over the place. Poor chap.

Surprisingly, Jimmy isn't looking any better. In his custom-tailored dark suit and fancy white tie, he's pacing back and forth like he's going mental, either looking at his watch or at the front door, barely able to hold himself together.

A flash of irrational hope surges through me as I begin to scan the pews from left to right, looking for Olivia's face. Imagining that possibility seems to ease the dull ache in my gut just a little.

Nothing. All I see is a blur of faces, the realisation all too unsettling.

"I give it a year. Two, maybe," Robert mutters behind me.

"I thought you wanted to stay outside."

"If you want to know my opinion," – Actually, no. I don't. – "They're getting off to a pretty lousy start. Look at him, a nervous wreck. And where's the loving, sweet bride? Probably instagramming her dress, the bouquet or the bloody lace garters, who the fuck knows!"

I briefly look over my shoulder. "Linda's a nice girl, you know?"

"Sure, she's nice. They're all nice. Right before they lay their hands on us and become our all-knowing wives, having our bollocks in a jar and making us into bumbling, inept screw-ups. And after two dozen full-blown PMS fits of rage? Everyone is jaded, hurt and resentful."

Why don't you shut the fuck up, I growl internally, the frustration and incomprehensible voices around me running rampant in my mind.

"And you know what else?" Rob continues. "This I-want-to-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-with-you fucking fairy tale? It's all a load of rubbish! In fact, it should come with a 'hazard' warning or something."

I take a deep breath, debating what to do. It's pointless to try to reason with a drunk man, everyone knows that, even more so when he just got served with divorce papers.

"Enough!" I snarl under my breath as I tighten my fingers around his arm and pull him down, to the bench.

He frowns, looking confused, then afraid.

"Maybe you're right, maybe Jimmy's strolling right through hell's gate in front of all his nearest and dearest." I pause, before adding in a threatening tone, "But this is their day. So you're going to sit here in the back and be still. Don't make a fuss, you hear me? Or I'll break that ugly nose of yours."

Unable to utter a single word, Rob lowers his gaze and sags down into his seat.

With that, I adjust my cuff-links and make my way down the aisle.

"Brian, my boy!" Jimmy's grandmother smiles tenderly when I hug her from behind, interrupting her slow march towards the seats in the front.

"Oh my God, you look so gorgeous! Leave that husband of yours, the miserable old git. Let's run away together!"