The Best Man

Chapter 17: Taron

Meghan was starting to act weird. I didn't know why, because the ride over to Aberystwyth had been fun. We had sung along to David Bowie and Ed Sheeran. Considering the reason of our trip, we had a great time.

My mom had made lasagne for us so we all sat down at the living room table.

"How was traffic?" my stepdad Ray asked.

"It was quite alright actually" I said "Once you get out of London"

"Well London traffic is always bad" Meghan laughed. She had a point.

"How long are you staying here?" Mari asked before putting a piece of lasagne in her mouth that was huge.

I chuckled "I don't know." I looked at my mom

"The funeral is in 2 days" she said before looking down. "I don't know when you need to get back"

"I cleared my schedule for a week" I said before glancing to Meghan who was sitting next to me "Meghan might have to go back earlier though"

"Of course" my mom said "I understand. It's great you came though, Meghan" she smiled.

"I wouldn't miss this" she said "It's just that I'm getting married next week"

"Oh you are?" Ray asked "Congratulations!"

I watched Meghan's reaction and she felt a bit uncomfortable as she said "Thank you"

"When's the wedding?" my mom asked.

"It's on Saturday" Meghan shrugged.

"In that case you should definitely get back sooner rather than later" my mom smiled.

"It's fine" Meghan said "Everything is taken care of. And I wanted to do this for Taron" she said before looking at me. I would have said she looked at me lovingly if I didn't know any better.

After we had finished dinner Ray and Meghan washed the dishes. They talked about her wedding and James and I tried to block that conversation out the best I could.

My mom and I sat down on the couch. She filled me in on my gran's death. She had died of motor neurone disease which had been diagnosed a few years ago. It hadn't been a sudden death, but awful nonetheless.

"I can't believe she's gone" I said sadly.

"I know darling" my mom said and pulled me into a hug. We shed a few tears and talked some more about how wonderful she was.

"Do you remember when you were running down the street and gran tried to chase you but fell because it was glazed?" my mom asked.

I smiled at that. "I do. She broke her arm"

"She could be so wrong sometimes" my mom smiled "She always thought you would end up with Meghan"

My pulse quickened "She did?" I asked, astonished.

My mom nodded "Yeah"

I gulped. I had never heard of that before.

"It's great she accompanied you" she said.

I was at a loss for words "We're good friends" I said slowly. I couldn't tell my mom I loved Meghan, could I? Certainly not when Meghan was only a few feet away.

My mom changed topics and I was relived. She told me the funeral details and what we would need to take care of the next two days.

"I talked to the funeral director already" my mom said "We will need to get the things from the retirement home first thing tomorrow. Everything else we need to take care of are the flower arrangements and the venue."

I nodded "I will help you with all of that"

My mom smiled lightly "Thank you darling" she put her hand on my thigh. "I'm glad you are here, even if the circumstances aren't great"

"Me too" I said.

Meghan and I played a boardgame with Mari and Rosie and I hadn't had that much fun for a while. I watched Meghan who laughed too. I could totally picture myself and Meghan, playing with our own children. Shit.

They went to bed eventually and Meghan and I sat down on the couch together.

"How are you feeling?" I asked her.

She laughed "I should ask you that" she looked into my eyes searchingly.

"I'm good" I said, keeping my eyes looked with hers "I'm happy you're here"

She smiled "I am too. I think I needed this"

I frowned "What do you mean?"

She sighed "You know my family lives in Germany and I haven't seen them for a while. And James' family – " she paused "They're not that affectionate. I mean I like them and we get along well, but they're pretty much like my own family. Facts are the only things that matter, no emotions"

I put my hand on her thigh "I'm sorry"

Her eyes met mine, she seemed so... confused?

"Don't be" she said "Whoever you marry one day, she will be one lucky woman. She doesn't only get you, she gets your family too" she smiled.

I smiled. I wished it would be her but I couldn't tell her that "Thanks for saying that. My life is not as perfect as it seems"

"I know what you mean. But it comes pretty close. You have a family that loves and supports you through anything" then she smirked at me devilishly "And you're rich" she teased me.

I laughed "That's certainly not the best part of my life, being rich" I shrugged. The best part about my life was having her in it.

"You will meet a woman who doesn't love you for your fame or money but for your character, your personality" she said.

I sighed. I felt like that would never happen. What my mom said earlier still haunted me.

"Should we go to bed?" I asked.

She checked her watch. It was almost midnight. "We probably should"

We both got up and walked upstairs towards the guest bedroom. I opened the door and we walked in together. It wasn't a particularly large bedroom but it would do. It had a normal double bed.

I saw Meghan stop dead in her tracks.

"I can sleep on the floor if you want" I said, wanting to make her feel comfortable for as long as we were here.

She looked at me then shook her head "Don't be ridiculous. We have shared this bed before"

I thought back to what she meant. It had been quite a few years ago we had both been here. We had been friends only at the time. That was before I developed my crush on her. Before I fell in love with her.

"Sure" I shrugged. I wouldn't mind if she didn't. At least I could hold her close before I would never be able to do that again. "Do you remember where the bathroom is?"

"Yeah" she smiled "It hadn't been that long"

I rolled my suitcase to my side of the bed and unzipped it on the floor. "You go first, I'll wait"

"Thanks" she smiled and grabbed a few things from her suitcase, before disappearing to the bathroom.