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not be in touch for a few
days.  But I don’t want you to worry.”
    Their
smiles dropped into frowns.  Silence replaced the laughter, spreading an
awkwardness around the room like a bad smell. 
    I
leaned forward, bent out of shape by an invisible arc of unease overhead. 
I stared at my feet, afraid my eyes would reveal my hidden worries.  “So,
carry on with the wedding as planned, will you?  And I’ll catch up with
you as soon as I can.”  I downed my drink in one, then waved my empty
glass in the air.  “Who’s opening the next bottle?”
    Laura’s
face twitched.  Sat at my side, she wagged her finger at me.  “Oh, no
you don’t.  You can’t say something like that then change the
subject.  I thought you were going to help with my wedding.  What
could be so important to drag you away?” 
    I
thought fast.  “I need to visit my parents.”
    “Is
it your personal stuff or theirs?” Emma asked.  A grin crept onto her
lips.  She rubbed her hands together then pointed at me.  “Parents my
ass!  I know that sneaky little look.  You’ve bagged yourself a new
man!  That’s who you were with tonight.”
    I
paused, noting the obvious delight in Emma’s expression.  She didn’t know
it, but she’d just gifted me with the perfect explanation. 
    “Spot
on,” I told them, nodding theatrically.  “Can’t keep my hands off
him.  Can’t hide anything from you, Emma, can I?  So, promise me
you’ll not worry and keep everything on track for the wedding. 
Please.  It’s important to me.”  I stared with new confidence until
they nodded, looking mainly at Laura. 
    “This
has all happened very fast,” Laura said.
    Emma
continued showing me her toothy grin. 
    At
least they wouldn’t worry now, and I didn’t want to sully the run up to Laura’s
wedding by burdening her with the truth, especially when I barely understood it
myself.  Nothing could be allowed to ruin her dreams for a much-deserved,
new, blissful life.  Not even a death threat.  She’d dealt with more
problems than enough this year.
    “But
why would that stop you getting in touch with us?”  Laura asked. 
“And it’s just for a few days, right?  I can’t believe you’re going to
disappear days before my wedding.  You promised to be here to help.”
    “I
know.  I’m sorry.”
    “Maybe
she’s going somewhere in the country,” Emma said, helping me without knowing
it.  “Bad phone reception.”
    Laura
didn’t take her eyes off me.  “Don’t get too carried away.  And you’d
better come back in time!”  Judging by her frown, I sensed she believed my
story, just wasn’t happy about it. 
    “Yes,
of course.  It’s a few days at the most.  Of course I’ll be back for
the wedding.”  I wished Laura would stop studying my face.
    “This
is great news, Chelsea.”  Emma sounded giddy.  “Just had a quick
romp, have you?  That explains your tangled hair.  Let her get on
with it, Laura.  She’s probably going away to a hotel with him.”  She
paused to look at me.  “Right?  A dirty weekend during the week, you
little minx!  I’m really happy you’re dating again.  It sounds like
you’ll have a man for the wedding, after all.”
    The
beep of a car horn travelled in from the street. 
    Emma
peeked through the curtains, then ran her fingers through her long blond
hair.  “My taxi’s here.  The driver looks kind of cute.”  She
slipped her heels on, grabbed her belongings and made for the front door. 
She winked at me over her shoulder.  “Love to stay and squeeze more gossip
from you, but I have to get going.  Let me know how it goes with your
mystery man, and hopefully he’s got a brother for me!”   
    We
waved until her taxi drove off, then shut the quiet streets away for the night.
    Laura
aimed a curious look at me.  “I’m guessing that... Lee is your new
man?  How did this happen so fast?” 
    I
nodded, but gave nothing else away.  I ran my fingers along the