Free The Guest List by Melissa Hill Page A

something smaller, something intimate.’
    ‘But how small, Cara? Think about Shane’s people alone – all that fancy developer crowd, sure there must be hundreds of them. Never mind the crew on our side, especially your father’s. The list of Clancy relations alone would probably have over eighty on it. Really, I don’t see how you can make this wedding small. Not without excluding tonnes of people,’ she said matter-of-factly.
    ‘But we don’t even know all that many of Dad’s family,’ Cara protested nervously. True enough, outside of her uncle and a couple of her aunts and immediate cousins, she didn’t know the bulk of the Clancy cohort, and she certainly didn’t understand why she should have to invite all of them to her wedding.
    As for Shane’s side, well yes of course, by the nature of his father’s business his parents were connected to many important people, but Cara didn’t know those people, and it was very likely Shane didn’t either. Therefore, why would they need to be invited?
    ‘Really Mum, Shane and I haven’t decided anything yet,’ she repeated, trying to be diplomatic. ‘But I really don’t think some big affair is our style. We like the idea of keeping it nice and simple, and having just people we love and who are important to us there. We don’t need lots of show.’
    There was silence on the other end of the line and Cara’s heart sank as she hoped she hadn’t disappointed her mother.
    ‘Really Mum, let’s not worry about it just now,’ she continued, ‘there’ll be lots of time to decide. Now is the time to celebrate. We can talk about everything on Sunday, at dinner?’
    Betty routinely had the family over for Sunday dinner at the Clancy home in Greygates, so Cara figured this would be the perfect time to talk about it all. It would also be a great excuse for her and Shane to share their news with the rest of the family and celebrate.
    ‘You know, that lovely church that Heidi got married in – Saint Joseph’s – would be perfect, wouldn’t it?’ Betty said, as if Cara hadn’t even spoken.
    She’d hoped that her protestations might have bought her some time, but it seemed that her mother was determined to get her commitment to the aforementioned church wedding while on the phone, right now.
    At the mention of her sister’s nuptials the year before, she couldn’t help but feel her hackles rise. ‘Well, I’m not sure if Heidi and I have the same style or taste when it comes to things like this,’ she managed to say tactfully. The very
last
thing she and Shane wanted was a wedding like Heidi and Paul’s.
    She remembered the ice swans that Heidi had insisted upon – to match the real swans she’d had Betty and Mick rent for the day as accessories on the pond on the grounds of the lavish, five-star hotel at which the wedding reception had been held. She recalled the flowers, which had cost her parents just shy of ten grand (ten grand!) that had decorated every surface at the church and the hotel, as well as a litany of other pointless embellishments that Heidi had insisted upon. It was utter craziness, and she knew that her parents were still paying for it.
    ‘Well, I suppose I will have to go back to the bank with your father soon. We still have some of the equity release left from Heidi's, but we could always try for another top-up . . .’
    ‘No Mum, no way,’ Cara interjected vehemently, horrified at the very thought. ‘Shane and I will be taking care of this ourselves – we don’t want anyone else paying for anything to do with our wedding. It’s not your responsibility—’
    ‘What do you mean it’s not my responsibility?’ Betty gasped, as if the very notion was insulting. ‘I am the mother of the bride. Your father and I are the parents of the bride. It’s what we do.’
    No, it’s what Heidi brainwashed you into doing
, Cara wanted to say, but she held her tongue.
    ‘Honestly Mum, it’s very generous of you to offer, and I do appreciate