Did they feel the same way about Riley? Or was his celebrity status enough of an achievement to avoid their censure?
Dan hadn’t spoken, and when she glanced up at him his expression was stone-like, flat and hard and unyielding. She hoped the glass stem of his champagne flute was strong, given the tight grip he seemed to have on it.
Time for her to return the parental put-down for him.
‘You’re both doctors, aren’t you?’ she asked, still smiling sweetly. ‘Very successful and famous ones, by all accounts.’
‘That’s right,’ Wendell said, puffed up with his own pride.
Linda nodded a little more cautiously.
‘I think that’s marvellous,’ Laurel said honestly. ‘I think it’s wonderful that your natural talents have led you to a field where you can make such a difference in the world. I think it’s so important for everyone to follow their natural talents, wherever they lead, don’t you?’
‘I suppose so,’ Wendell agreed, but he was frowning as he spoke.
‘Some talents are obviously more valuable than others, though,’ Linda added.
Laurel tilted her head to the side. ‘Do you really think so? I’ve always believed that every talent is equally valid and valuable. I mean, imagine if everyone in the world only possessed the same sort of talent! If we were all doctors there’d be no one left to do anything else. You’d suddenly find yourselves spending your whole days learning how to design a car, or having to clean your own home, or write your own books to read—and have no time left for medicine at all.’
‘Well, I hardly think that’s going to happen.’
Linda folded her arms over her chest, and for a moment Laurel wondered if she was simply going to walk away from her. But she didn’t. Whether it was politeness or morbid curiosity, she was going to wait and see where Laurel was going with this.
Good.
‘Of course not,’ Laurel agreed. ‘Not everyone is going to be a doctor. Or a wedding planner, for that matter. But the thing is, the people I organise weddings for...quite often they’re not good at the same things as me. They’re not good at the details, or the inspiration, or the planning. I can take that off their shoulders so they can get on with what they are good at—whether that’s saving lives, educating children, or starring in movies. And at the same time I get to do what I love—and make a decent living out of it, thank you. So it works for everyone.’
‘Not to mention the fact that a wedding can be the most important, memorable day in a person’s life,’ Dan put in. ‘Laurel makes sure that it is perfect for them. She literally makes their memories. I think that’s pretty important, don’t you?’
He reached out to rest a hand at the small of her back and Laurel froze at the contact, feeling the warmth of his touch snake all the way up her spine. Why on earth had she chosen this dress? Couldn’t she have picked something with a little more fabric? Something that didn’t make her feel as if she was naked in front of his parents?
Of course when she’d packed it she hadn’t expected to be spending the evening as someone’s girlfriend.
‘And the same goes for Dan’s business, of course,’ Laurel added, smiling dotingly up at him. ‘He’s made a hugely successful career out of doing what other people can’t—what they wouldn’t dare to try. I imagine Riley’s career in blockbuster action movies would have been a lot less successful without people like Dan stepping in to do the really wild stuff. Don’t you agree?’
Even if they did, Laurel was sure Wendell and Linda wouldn’t say so. But sometimes, as she’d found with her parents, just letting them know that their opinion wasn’t the only one was enough. Enough to make her feel a little better about never being quite good enough for them.
And, from the way Dan’s fingers caressed her spine, she suspected he felt the same.
Leaning in against his side, she let herself imagine for a moment that this wasn’t an act. That he really was there to support her.
Wait. That part was true. They might not be a couple, might not be in love, but they were both there to help the other through the week from hell. And suddenly Laurel realised that that might be all she needed after all.
‘Linda! Wendell!’
Laurel stiffened again at the sound of her stepmother’s voice. Yes, that was what this situation needed—more awful parents.
‘Angela.’ Linda’s voice was tight, her smile barely reaching her lips. ‘And Duncan. So lovely to see you both again.’
‘Well, we should probably—’ Dan started, but Angela interrupted him.
‘Oh, no, Dan, do stay. I mean, now we’re all going to be family I’m sure we’re all just dying to hear exactly how you met our Laurel and how you came to be together. Such a surprise—don’t you agree, Linda?’
‘A total shock,’ Linda said flatly. ‘But then, we’re rather used to those from Dan.’
‘So, how did you two meet?’
Laurel glanced up at Dan at her father’s words, hoping he might have a suitable story prepared. Why had she wasted so much time hiding from him in the bathroom when they could have been preparing for this exact question?
‘Well...’ Dan said.
Laurel held her breath, waiting for the lie.
But before he could start to tell it the main door to the bar flew open and there stood Melissa, resplendent in the forest-green gown her stylist had finally got her to agree to, after twenty-two other dresses had been deemed unsuitable. Riley was half hidden behind her, his tux making far less of an impact even with his all-American good looks.
‘Friends! My fiancé and I are just so delighted to welcome you all here to celebrate our wedding.’ Melissa beamed around the room and Riley stepped out of her shadow, looking awkward in his dinner jacket, and gave a little wave. ‘I hope you all have just the best time—’ She cut off abruptly, her sideways smile replaced by a sudden scowl as her gaze fell on Laurel and Dan.
Oh, dear.
Laurel made to move away from Dan’s side—just enough to give them plausible deniability until Melissa had finished her public announcements. But Dan’s arm tightened around her waist, holding her close, and when she looked up at him his eyes were locked with Melissa’s.
He wanted this. Wanted the conflict and the declaration and Melissa’s wrath. But why? Just to see her reaction?
Laurel couldn’t help but feel she was missing half the story, here, and she really didn’t like it.
‘What the hell is going on here?’ Melissa demanded, still staring at them, her hands on her hips.
‘We...’ Laurel started to speak, but her mouth was too dry and the word came out as little more than a whisper. Her whole body felt too hot, flushed with panic and the sort of intense guilt and fear that only Melissa could make her feel. Only the half-sister whose life she’d stolen, whose happiness she’d lived, even when she hadn’t known Melissa even existed.
She could never make that up to Melissa, no matter how hard she tried. But Laurel knew she had to keep trying, regardless. That was only fair.
And now she was ruining Melissa’s big night. She was a horrible person.
From nowhere, Eloise appeared, looking slightly flustered and flushed, her cheeks a shade of pink that clashed horribly with her red hair. She swooped in and put an arm around Melissa’s shoulders, whispering fast and low into the bride’s ear. Slowly Melissa’s thunderous expression retreated, to be replaced with the sweetness-and-light smile that she usually displayed for the crowds and her public.
‘Anyway, I do hope you are all enjoying your evening,’ she went on, as if her previous outburst had never happened.
Whatever Eloise had said, it seemed to have worked. The tightness in Laurel’s chest started to ease just enough to let her breathe properly again. Dan stroked the base of her back once more, and she relaxed into his touch. She wasn’t alone. She wasn’t the only one Melissa was furious with right now. Whatever happened next, she had back-up.
And that meant a lot today.
‘I’m looking forward to talking with every one of you, and welcoming you personally to Melissa and Riley’s Wedding Extravaganza!’ Melissa finished, with a flourish, holding out her skirt and giving a slight curtsey.
As sponsored by Star! magazine, Laurel added mentally. It was still all a show to Melissa. She wondered if the actual marriage part—the bit that came next and theoretically for the rest of their lives—had even really registered with her half-sister. She hoped so. Because otherwise she had a feeling that Dan would be having words with his brother, and she really didn’t want this whole thing called off at the last moment.