Free Lexington Black by Savannah Smythe Page A

smiled conspiratorially at Geri and Rob
and continued to be ignored by everyone else. It was rather fun
knowing there was an ally in the camp. Geri and Rob grinned back at
her like mischievous twelve-year-olds.
    Wedding talk dominated the conversation. Rob
was painfully aware of the arrowing glances of his mother, ex-wife
and younger sister, aimed squarely at him as he tried to enjoy his
roast beef. He pointedly ignored all of them, drank far too much
wine and directed most of his conversation towards Geri and
Silvy.
    At the point where Geri had decided not to
top up his glass any more, Sara called for everyone's
attention.
    'There's a first dress fitting for the five
bridesmaids in two weeks time,' she said importantly. 'It will be
much easier if we all do it together. Here's an itinerary so you
know where to be and at what time.' She started handing round A4
sheets of paper. Silvy was whispering to Christopher, 'but the
twins are going to a party that day!' Christopher shrugged, as if
there was nothing to be done about it.
    'Five bridesmaids!' Rob exclaimed. 'What do
you need five for? I would have thought two was plenty.' He
glowered at Sandy as he said it.
    'It isn't up to you, is it?' Sara snapped at
him. 'All you have to do is turn up at the wedding and try not to
get drunk.'
    'Well, I might not be there at all. I might
be in New York.'
    It had the desired effect. The table went
quiet.
    'You can't be!' Sara was furious. 'You know
how important this is to me!'
    'Yes, it's important to you. My life is
important to me. Sorry.' He made the last word as insincere as he
could, but inside, his heart was beating fast. He could not believe
he had actually left Lex in bed so he could put up with this shit.
With every fibre of his being, he wanted to be with him.
    'I'm surprised you can afford it,' Mother
said archly, the first words she had spoken directly to him since
his arrival.
    'That's none of your bloody business.' Rob
kept his voice calm with an effort.
    'Steady on,' Christopher said reasonably.
'Don't talk to Mother like that.'
    'I don't see why not. She's barely said one
decent word to me for five years!'
    'Not in front of the children!' Mother was
outraged.
    'Please keep your voice down,' Sara said
primly. 'We don't want the hotel thinking we're from a council
estate.'
    'That would never do, would it?' Robin
snarled at her.
    'What's got into you?' His mother snapped.
'This is supposed to be a nice family occasion!'
    'So why the hell did you invite her?' He
motioned at Sandy, still stone-faced on the other side of the
table.
    Geri waded in. 'This is your fault, Sara.
What the hell were you thinking, inviting Sandy to be a
bridesmaid?'
    'She's my best friend!'
    'Even after she chucked Rob out on the
street? Whatever happened to family loyalty?'
    'You should be asking him that, not me!
Swanning off on holiday when he knows I'm getting married. Anyway,
he deserved it,' she added, as if Rob wasn't glaring at her across
the table.
    'You know nothing about it!' Rob was aware of
other people watching them discreetly, attracted by their raised
voices.
    'Keep your voice down!' His mother hissed
again.
    'Sandy's my matron-of-honour and that's the
end of it,' Sara said sharply. 'If you don't like it, you'll have
to lump it, Rob. Surely even you can manage to be civil to her for
a few hours? It's the least you can do on my Big Day.'
    'No way,' Rob said flatly. The sense of rage
he had been fighting at having to leave Lex to subject himself to
this abject misery was boiling to the surface. 'Screw your Big Day,
Sara. You're just a spoilt little bitch making everyone's life a
misery. If Sandy is involved then I can't be there. You've always
known that and I get what's happening. If you don't want me
involved, I'd rather you come out and say it to my face.'
    'I don't want you involved, especially
behaving like this,' his mother said coldly. 'You're a disgrace to
this family, Robin. You've ruined your marriage and you seem
totally