A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell Read Free Book Online

idea. But it’s not looking good.” All around them people were whispering to each other, buzzing with anticipation and speculating as to what could have happened. Joel was dazed and shaken, the picture of a broken man. The bridesmaid was deep in conversation with him, talking rapidly and waving her arms like an Italian street seller. A short distance away from them, Evie was now hugging the couple Lara guessed must be Joel’s parents. The inexpertly fastened silver combs were falling out of her hair. As she lifted the hem of her skirt off the ground and turned, making her way toward the guests assembled at the entrance to the church, she seemed calm.
    â€œUm, hello, everyone.” She paused, cleared her throat, then continued. “Right, well, as you’ve probably noticed by now, this wedding isn’t exactly going according to plan.” Behind her Joel was climbing into the passenger seat of the limo; glancing round, Evie saw him speaking to the chauffeur. Taking a deep breath, she went on. “In fact, it isn’t going ahead, period. Sometimes ,” she raised her voice to be heard over the gasps of dismay, “it’s the only thing to do. So look, I’m really sorry but me and Joel won’t be getting married today. Or any other day. But seeing as everything’s laid out ready at the hotel, the reception is still on and you’re all very welcome to head on over there for food, drink, dancing, and well, probably a fair amount of gossip. And I hope you’ll have fun anyway, so it won’t have been a completely wasted day.” At this point her voice began to wobble. “You can all have a lovely party…” Briefly overcome, she searched the gathering then spotted Lara and beckoned her over.
    â€œMe?” Lara pointed to her own chest to make sure. Why would Evie choose to single her out?
    â€œYes, please.” Evie nodded rapidly and beckoned again.
    â€œDon’t disappear,” said Flynn. “We have to talk. My God, I just flew in from Australia… if I hadn’t made it back, I’d have missed you…”
    But Lara was already squeezing through the milling crowd at the foot of the church steps. She made her way over to Evie, who held out her arms to her.
    â€œI’m so sorry. And you came all this way. Are you staying down here tonight or going back?”
    Up close, Evie’s makeup was weird, almost clown-like. And she was trembling like a baby bird; Lara could feel her racing pulse as they clasped hands. “I was going to stay.” She’d got a bargain price on a last-minute booking at the five-star Ellison. “But I won’t now. Where do you want to go?”
    Evie’s face crumpled with gratitude. “I don’t know. Anywhere. I think it’s my turn to disappear.”
    â€œNo problem. My car’s just down the road. Come on, we’ll leave now.”
    Out of the corner of her eye, Lara glimpsed Flynn as, together, she and Evie made their way down the tree-lined drive.
    Evie murmured, “Is everyone watching us?”
    â€œOh yes. We’re the center of attention. It’s like that last scene in The Graduate .”
    â€œAnd they’ve no idea who you are.” A glimmer of a smile lifted the corners of Evie’s mouth. “They’re going to think we’re a couple of lesbians running off together.”
    A hundred yards down the road they reached the car and jumped in. As Lara was maneuvering them out of the tight parking space, a white Audi pulled up in the road with its indicator flashing, waiting for the space to become free.
    â€œJust hang on a minute.” Evie put a restraining hand on Lara’s once they’d snaked out into the road. She waited until the Audi had squeezed into the vacated space, then buzzed down the passenger window, and stuck her head out. “Mum, it’s OK, you don’t have to bother getting out of the