“We’re here!” exclaims Ali, a few minutes later, jumping up and down in her seat excitedly, the low cut of her dress edging dangerously close to revealing a nipple.
“What the hell was that all about?” asks Paige as they clamber out of the minibus.
“It’s just a rooster,” says Rachel wearily, not wanting to hear any more of Paige’s theories, especially where Jack is concerned. “There’s no hidden meaning.”
Paige snorts derisorily. “It’s a cock,” she says. “There’s all kinds of hidden meanings.”
9
It’s funny how just a couple of nights ago, the only thing Rachel had to worry about was how they were going to be spending their weekend. To the point that even when a text had popped up on Jack’s phone, she’d thought little of it, preferring instead to fixate on whether she was going to be subjected to a rowdy nightclub to celebrate Will and Ali’s nuptials or not. But now, all sorts of incidents are flashing up in her brain as she remembers them, suddenly conscious of what they might mean.
“Who’s that?” she’d asked, when “Can’t wait to see you” had flashed up on the screen from where it lay upturned on the vanity unit as she and Jack brushed their teeth the night before they left.
“Er, Will,” he said, picking it up and taking it into the bedroom with his toothbrush still in his mouth.
“Why doesn’t it say Will, then?” she’d asked, not because she was suspicious, but because she’d thought there might be something wrong with Jack’s phone.
“He’s got a new number,” Jack had said from the other room. “And I haven’t got round to saving it under his name yet.”
“So, what do you think the venue will be like?” she’d asked, thinking nothing more of it. “I’m hopeful that he’ll want to get married somewhere your parents will be proud of.”
“Do you honestly think Will’s had a say in it?” Jack had asked incredulously.
“Well, I’m banking on his good taste prevailing,” she’d replied, in between spitting out toothpaste.
Jack had laughed. “Well, I’m afraid you’re going to be bitterly disappointed, because if you think he’s had any control over what’s happening, dare I say, you’re being a little naive.”
She’d taken his comment with a pinch of salt, but a lot can change in forty-eight hours and now she’s wondering if that’s exactly what she’s being. Who else would automatically believe that a text message sent to their husband saying “Can’t wait to see you” would be from his brother?
Paige wouldn’t have, for sure. She would have strung Noah up by his testicles until he told her the truth.
As she follows the sign welcoming Will and Ali’s guests, she can’t help but wonder if she’s being taken for a fool.
“Wow,” says Paige as she heads through a quaint arch that’s decorated with blossoming bougainvillea, its vivid fuchsia petals trailing all the way to the ground.
They walk through to the garden where shimmering fairy lights illuminate the trunks of two tall palm trees, making them look like miniature helter-skelters. Candlelit lanterns hang from branches of cork trees and a gentle glockenspiel tune rings out from the chimes swaying in the breeze.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” says Ali happily.
“Olá bonita,” calls out a bearded man as he emerges from a low-rise white stucco building. He opens his arms wide as he rushes to embrace Ali, kissing her on both cheeks. “Como está a noiva?” he says excitedly.
“Erm…” Ali giggles, turning to look wide-eyed at Will.
Will laughs as he shakes the man’s hand. “He’s asking how the bride is.”
“Oh,” says Ali. “Good, I’m really good.”
“Paulo,” says Will warmly, pulling the man in for a bear hug. “How have you been?”
“Very good. Very busy,” says Paulo, the unfamiliar words sounding short and clipped on his Portuguese tongue.
“It’s stunning,” says Will, looking around the walled garden. “Thank you.”
Rachel follows his eyes to the open lilies that are lying serenely in a troughed water feature, the stillness reflecting the twinkling lights from the trees.
“Your guest, she is here already,” says Paulo as he ushers them toward the doorway of the restaurant.
“That’ll be my mother,” says Ali, laughing. “I’ll put money on it. She wouldn’t have been able to wait.”