Court Out

Chapter Twenty Six





You could literally hear a pin drop. The room has quietened in expectation of the bride and on seeing me the guests are stunned into silence. I make my way down the long aisle which seems like it goes on for miles, desperately trying not to make eye contact with anyone. The room is packed full of Serena’s family, friends and our mutual work-colleagues. The registrar is looking at me with a puzzled expression on his face and I really don’t think I have ever been this mortified.

Talk about a ‘walk of shame.’ I know that I look like a complete state in my too-small dress and hooker-like hair but I keep my head high and walk as I had planned to when I thought I was going to be processing in front of Serena. I glide serenely to a silent tune in my head and I’m quite tempted to hum the Bridal March aloud to really entertain the gawping onlookers.

After what seems like an age I spot Sebastian. He looks beyond gorgeous in a pale grey suit and baby blue shirt, his hair neat against his head. Unsurprisingly, he is staring at me with his mouth open. I try not to laugh. I wink at him, give a jaunty wiggle and incorporate a little twirl into my walk. Ewan starts to giggle and Sebastian joins in. When I finally reach the front of the room I give a little curtsey to the watching crowd before grabbing Sebastian’s hand, like someone who has just completed a marathon would grab a bottle of water. He holds it tight and looks at me expectantly. His eyes run the length of my body and he’s clearly trying to think of what to say to get me to explain the situation to him. I put him out of his misery. Leaning in, I whisper to him

“Serena has set me up. I’m not a bridesmaid anymore. She’s done this to humiliate me.”

He nods. “You mean this isn’t how you’re going to look from now on?”

I give a loud snort and the people in the row behind audibly tut.

“I’m just going to test-drive it for today. If it’s a hit, then it’s a keeper.”

He gives me a big grin and in his eyes I can see concern for me mixed with something that I hope is unconditional love. I lower my voice further.

“Before I go all mushy, have you said anything to Ewan?”

He opens his mouth to reply but is silenced by the familiar introductory music played by the orchestra at the side of the room. As we stand he shakes his head at me.

“I couldn’t. There really was never the chance. Between you and me though, I think he knows something’s up.”

Serena is making her way down the aisle, clearly basking in the adoring gazes coming from all sides. Debbie passes closest to me and gives me an apologetic glance. I smile at her to try and let her know that I don’t blame her at all for Serena’s actions. Serena on the other hand doesn’t even look in my direction, keeping her eyes forward to her waiting groom.

Ewan is not looking at his future wife. He’s gone very pale and is staring intently at his neatly tied shoes. I squeeze Sebastian’s hand and he returns the pressure. Serena reaches the registrar and gives him the nod to start the ceremony. He indicates for us to sit and addresses the room.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the celebration of love that Serena and Ewan have for each other. They have come here today to be joined in matrimony and make sacred promises to their life partner in front of you all.”

The registrar gets into his stride and starts to remind everyone about how special this union is and how is marriage is not something to be entered into lightly. Serena appears to be scanning the room for something (Or in my opinion, more likely someone) and a small frown is starting to appear on her perfectly made-up face. Ewan has noticed his fiancée’s concern and joins her in looking around the guests. He leans in to her and whispers something that I can’t make out. She shakes her head and turns back to the registrar. I tune back in to his speech.

“...They should speak now or forever hold their peace”

I am so tempted. Can you imagine it? They all think I’m bonkers anyway, so what harm could it do? Sebastian obviously knows what I’m thinking as he’s put his hand on my knee and is pressing down in a fashion that makes it clear to me that he does not think me jumping up and announcing that Serena is a lying, cheating, criminal manipulative cow is a good idea.

For a split second, Serena has a really odd expression on her face and I’d swear that there is an air of desperation on her face. No way. No. Way. Is that what she thinks? That Rivers would turn up and sweep her off her feet in the middle of her own wedding ceremony? Wow, she’s actually crazier than I gave her credit for.

The registrar has moved to the next part of the service and knowing her as I do, Serena definitely looks uncomfortable; I can see past the fake smile plastered on her face. Ewan has obviously noticed it too and keeps trying to ask her if she is ok. From the looks of it, she is having none of it and keeps turning her head whenever he gets close enough to be heard. The registrar seems happily oblivious to the bride’s attitude and is introducing the section of the service where the vows are exchanged.

“Serena, if you would please repeat after me. I, Serena Verity Taylor-”

He is interrupted mid flow by the sound of a huge bang at the back of the room. Everyone turns to see the source of the disturbance and I catch a glimpse of something progressing at an alarming rate down the central aisle. As it gets closer my jaw drops open, as there, wearing a jeans and a red polo-neck jumper is Lucinda.

Her hair and makeup possibly look worse than mine, but are complimented perfectly by the look of rage and pure hatred on her face. Her eyes are fixed firmly on Serena and she’s managing to do a very passable impression of a charging bull.

I’m waiting for someone to stand up, to query what’s happening or to try and divert the clearly furious woman running at the bride, but it never happens. Instead, Lucinda clears the remaining distance in a few easy steps, pushes rudely past Ewan and stands, face to face with Serena at the head of the room.

There’s an uneasy silence. Lucinda is staring at Serena, breathing heavily. Serena looks round somewhat frantically for assistance but seems to draw a blank. Marsha and Debbie, I notice, are staying well out of this.

“What are you doing you crazy bitch?” mutters Serena to Lucinda. It’s said in an undertone, but I’m sure the first five or so rows are able to make out her words.

I can only speak for myself, but I’m not sure insulting an angry wedding crasher is her best option at this moment. I’m proved right. Lucinda lets out a blood chilling howl and smacks Serena, hard around the face with her hand. The noise of the slap seems to almost echo around the room.

“You f*cking bitch,” Lucinda yells. “You f*cking lying, hypocritical bitch!”

Serena grabs her by the shoulders and tries to push her back down the aisle.

“Get out!” she screams.

“Hell no!” replies Lucinda, her face still contorted in fury. “I’m not leaving until everyone here knows what you’ve done!”

With that she scrambles past Serena and attempts to make her way to the lectern set up at the side of the room for the wedding readings to be delivered from. With admirable reflexes, Serena grabs at Lucinda’s legs in an effort to rugby tackle her. To the collective horror of the assembled guests, she misses and lands, face down on the floor.

Ok, I know I’m at a religious ceremony and God is probably watching, but I just can’t help myself. I let out an audible snigger. I manage to quickly turn it into a cough and keep my eyes focused on the show, I mean wedding taking place before me.

Serena is trying to gather her masses of delicate fabric to prevent Lucinda from presenting her very special, personalised wedding reading to the audience. For a minute I think that she has collected her balance and will be able to intercept the gatecrasher but as she wobbles to her feet, she catches her heel on her underskirt and goes down again.

The most curious thing about this spectacle is not the slapstick comedy of her actions, but the fact that Ewan is still rooted to the spot at his original position, watching the drama unfold with a look on his face that can only be described as resignation.

“Ladies and Gentlemen!” Lucinda has reached the microphone and is stood, hands gripping the sides of the lectern, knuckles white against the oak wood. “You have been gathered here today under false pretences. This woman-” she spits, pointing at Serena who appears to have lost the battle with her dress and is now sitting where she fell, staring at the ground. “This woman,” continues Lucinda “Is not who you think she is. She is not the perfect fiancée, the perfect barrister, the perfect friend. She is a cheat, a liar and a criminal!”

Stunned silence meets this revelation. Someone a few rows behind me stands up. “Now look here!” intones the male in a deep baritone “You’ve got your wires crossed! It’s not the bride who is the criminal, it’s one of the bridesmaids. Or at least she was supposed to be a bridesmaid...” He tails off and I resist the urge to clamber over the rows of seats and give him a hard kick.

Lucinda rolls her eyes. “God, you lot are so pathetic. You’d believe anything she told you.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see that Serena’s father is inching his way towards the lectern, but to my amazement, Ewan holds up a hand.

“Let her finish,” he instructs, in a deep, commanding voice that I’d never usually associate with him.

Serena’s father looks confused, as I suspect I do, but halts and waits for further instructions.

“My fiancé was arrested this morning,” continues Lucinda. “The police came in and dragged him out of the house. I would say they dragged him out of bed,” at this, she gives a sinister laugh, “But he was sleeping on the sofa. You see, I found out that he has been screwing our blushing bride.”

She pauses for effect. It works. All hell seems to break loose. The guests begin to talk loudly between themselves, Serena’s parents look like they are going to pass out and Ewan’s mother has started to cry. Ewan remains fixed to the spot, eyes darting between Lucinda and Serena. The latter hasn’t moved a muscle. She is leaning forwards, hands on the ground in front of her torso, head down. She looks like she is taking part in an Avant-garde production of Swan Lake.

Amidst the chaos Lucinda starts to bang on the lectern.

“Oh if you think that’s the best bit, there is more!”

The silence is immediate. People take their seats. Lucinda looks like she is about to deliver her Oscar acceptance speech.

“So, my fiancé was arrested. I expect you want to know why! I can see you ‘re thinking ‘Well, it obviously wasn’t because he was shagging the bride!’ Well it’s worse than that I’m afraid. You see, my two-timing, good-for-nothing fiancé has always done anything he can to further his pitiful career. You all heard about the Hobbs trial? Well he was involved in defending that, as was Serena.” She points at Serena who is still motionless on the ground.

“I don’t know whether it was his idea or if the order came from on high, personally, I think he was paid to do it, but nevertheless, he was told that Hobbs had to get off, at any cost. So how did he do it? Well, as some insensitive prick has already commented, you all think Lauren tried to bribe a juror!”

There is a deathly pause and I can feel everyone’s eyes on me.

“Wrong!” she exclaims, in a loud, satisfied tone, making me jump. “They set her up. My darling fiancé and the backstabbing bride set her up. They planted the evidence on her and set her up.”

I can feel hot tears running down my face. I’m not sure how Lucinda knows all this, but if she does, it means DC Connelly believes me.

“But here’s the kicker Serena. I spoke to him at the police station before coming here. He. Used. You. You’re not the first slag he’s cheated on me with. He only needed you to get to Lauren!”

There’s a long, deathly pause. Everyone is looking at Serena. After what seems like an age, she lets out a long, guttural wail that turns into a howl of rage. Her face is red and I can’t tell from her expression whether she is distraught or furious. I think it’s an equal mixture of both. She clambers to her feet and turns to face Lucinda.

“You lying bitch! He told me he loved me, that he was only with you because of your money and connections. He never used me, if anything, he’s been using you for years!”

To my surprise and I suspect to the surprise of everyone in the room, Lucinda nods.

“Yes. He has. I’ve stood by him over the years as he’s cheated and used me to further his career, but honestly Serena, he used you too. I bet once he’d got what he wanted from you he dropped you like a hot stone.”

Serena pauses, “He lost his phone, he told me. Anyway, he loves me. I love him. You’re just jealous that he’s ended it with you!” There is an edge of defiant certainty in her voice and she sounds genuinely convinced.

I recall the conversation from last night and know without needing to hear more that Lucinda is right. Lucinda scoffs at Serena’s protestations.

“He’s been trying to keep you sweet so you didn’t say anything. He told me as much this morning. I may be a fool, but at least I knew the score. He’s taken you for a ride Serena, and you fell for it. I feel sorry for you really. He still wants me. He told me so.”

Serena wails and takes a few hurried steps closer to Lucinda with a murderous look in her eyes. Just as I think we are all about to witness some grevious bodily harm she stops, as if remembering something. She turns, as if in slow motion to look at her husband-to-be.

“Ewan...” she falters, “I’m so, so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

Really?” he queries, fixing her with a steely gaze. “It may have escaped your attention, but this is our wedding day Serena. OUR F*ckING WEDDING DAY!”

Crocodile tears are rolling down Serena’s face. I’m sure I can see her mentally weighing up her options

“I don’t know what came over me. The things he said to me, he confused me. I love you, I want to marry you!”

Ewan laughs, a cold humourless noise.

“It may have escaped your attention, but I’ve been stood here for the last ten minutes. I heard what you said.” He puts on a falsetto voice in an impression of his fiancée, “He loves me, I love him!” He shakes his head. “Serena, I’m not stupid. I’ve known about this for a while.”

She looks visibly shocked. I hear gasps coming from around me. My own voice is included.

“What, what do you mean?” she asks in a shaky voice.

“I mean, I’ve known about you and him for a while now. I must confess that I had no idea about your new criminal career though. That’s a new low Serena”

“So why are you here!” she exclaims, a hint of anger in her voice. She must have realised that the game is up. “Why did you come here to marry me?”

He shrugs. “I wanted to see if you’d come clean. I wondered if I at least meant that much to you. Obviously not.”

He walks towards the aisle with his back to her. Turning, almost as an afterthought, he continues, “I’ve changed the honeymoon tickets; I’m going with my brother. I suspect the police will be looking for you so I advise you stay in the country.”

With that he walks away from her towards the door. He stops next to where I’m stood.

“Lauren, if what has been said is true, then I hope everything works out for you. I’m sorry she’s ruined your life as well as mine.”

His voice is wobbling but his face remains fixed. I lunge forwards and grab him in a tight hug.

“Thank you,” I whisper in his ear. He squeezes me back and I let him go. As he walks out, I turn my attention to the front of the room. Lucinda is still at the lectern and Serena is stood, motionless next to the registrar.

“Let’s go,” I whisper to Sebastian.

We turn to leave and progress quickly towards the door. Just as I think that we’ve made it, I’m spun round quickly by a hand on my shoulder. Serena looks like a broken woman. She’s started to cry and has mascara streaming down her face.

“Lauren,” she pleads, “I didn’t do anything. I don’t know what they’re talking about. You’re my best friend, I’d never do that to you.”

I can’t help it. A snort of laughter has escaped my lips before I have time to stop it.

“Serena, you tried to ruin my career, have me prosecuted, steal my work and have dressed me like I’ve escaped from a fairground. You are no friend of mine.”

She grabs my wrist and for a terrible moment I think she is going to get on her knees and beg for forgiveness. She doesn’t. The pressure increases and I wince in pain. In an instant, her face shifts and her tone changes.

“You think you’re something special, but you’re not,” she hisses, squeezing harder. I can feel her nails digging into my skin. I’ve had enough of this. I just want to get home, take off this wretched dress and sort out what is happening with the remains of my career.

I take a long, hard look at my former best friend.

“Serena, take a long, hard look at yourself. You’ve been dumped at the altar, you’ll never work again, you’re about to be arrested and you’ll probably go to prison.” I pause and snatch my arm back from her. “Enjoy.”

I take Sebastian’s hand and together, we walk out of the room. I can hear an almighty commotion behind me, but I can honestly say, I couldn’t care less.