Fredric eased himself between me and James. His elbow out for me to take. I looked over at James but Fredric had already started moving us towards the congregation he'd just left.
He'll be alright, he said to me, his attention firmly on where we were moving to. And when, we'd merged with his crowd, announced 'look who's here' as if he'd done the inviting. As if, I was his guest. Like the synchronised swimmers they weren't, heads turned towards us, faces lit up and conversations halted at the sight of us. At James for sure. You'd think this event was in his honour, the way they all cheered and were happy to see him.
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Fredric, he's now taken it upon himself to introduce me, though I recognised one person in this little group, having previously met at James' parents' home.
Yasmin, this is Jessica, she...' Fredric started to say.
Jess, my goodness, She said. Arms wide open, head tilted a little to receive me. 'It took me a little to recognise you walking on the arms of this man.'
You know, Jess? How?
Never you mind.
Politely pushing Fredric to the side, giving me a hug instead of the polite handshakes dished out earlier. Yasmin is the Adlington-Cellurier's interior decorator not exclusively but they kept her sufficiently busy to be their interior decorator in residence. And, too, the common denominator we bonded on years ago at the Adlington-Cellurier's Christmas party.
And I embrace her lovingly. We're giving each other a kiss on each cheek now and I tell her it's nice to see her again, releasing her so James can greet her.
'Mr and Mrs C, are they here?' She asks of James. 'I haven't seen them.'
'They arrive tomorrow.' James tells her.
As we come back around to where the greetings started, the drum of conversations resurge and I catch a glimpse of Fredric looking my way. This time I'm more intrigued. But James waves hearty to a woman across the restaurant. Fredric waves too and that distracts me.
'Come on, we got to go say hi.' James guiding me by the waist.
I look to where we start moving to. The woman I don't know is locked arms with another who turns back to us. I feel an arrow shoot my way and it isn't one of love. Mentally, I feel myself straighten. Physically I did. Chin up and back straight, one five-inch platform in front of the other, I fix a smile and make my way across the restaurant.
James, I say 'is there anyway of checking that there is indeed a seat reserved for me at this dinner.' Chuckling.
'Why? Looking at me baffled.
But we've now reached this little congregation and Charlotte. I instead wrap a left arm across James' waist for good measure.
'Hello James my darling.' The other woman I don't know says. She's got him by both shoulders. Leaning in, giving him a kiss to both cheeks. James, he returns the favour and introduces me. 'This is Caroline, our bride and Charlotte's sister.'
'Jessica,' she starts saying 'I am so glad you could make it.' Holding me by the shoulders and giving me the same cheek-to-cheek sweetness. James acknowledges Charlotte and I do the same. Though her repulse is worn bare. I find myself questioning the parentage of Caroline and her sister because that's not how grown-ass women greet each other. Not like two kids locked in a Petit Filous fight for no reason. And certainly not while draped in Madame Chanel.
'Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials!' I say to Caroline. And thanked her for inviting me to the dinner after complimenting her on her outfit.
'Don't be silly. She replies back. 'A friend of James is a friend of mine. And I felt her truth.
Caroline has got her hair back in a loose ponytail. The same way Charlotte wore hers earlier in the day. But it's her shimmering gold jumpsuit I'm in love with and I tell her that. Though she's got a lot of love for my romper. Wants to know where I got it. And I tell her, except now she wants one to take on her honeymoon to French Polynesia. Her eyes twinkled on French Polynesia and my face lit up. I want to ask her where exactly because I can be nosey like that but since we've only just met, I refrain. Somehow my brain takes me to Tetiaroa, it seems the most befitting destination. And if it's Tetiaroa they're off to, then they're off to one incredibly romantic honeymoon.
Still, she's made me feel at ease, her being as giggly as she is. The very opposite of Charlotte.
Charlotte, her hair now worn down, has woven herself around to James' side and into a conversation with a few others. Whatever they said caused them to laugh in unison. Caused Caroline and I to turn towards them.
Let me introduce you to my fiancé.
Turning me into the informally formed circle. Her arm goes across the back of a tall guy.
Honey, this is Jessica. Jessica this is my fiancé, Jack.
He's quietly spoken with a business like handshake. Caroline continues around her crowd. 'Mom, dad,' she continues, 'this is Jessica, James' date.'
I'm not saying it was thrown but an axe stopped within inches of my side. 'Jessica, this is my dad, Edward Feversham..' and she continues around the group, introducing me to her crowd. Some more receptive than others. Mr Feversham (a barrel chest of a man) however is quite chatty. He smells like a Floris boutique, specifically the one on Jermyn Street. As matter of fact he looked dressed straight off of Jermyn Street. His fragrance choice earns him a compliment from me and it is well received.
He wants to know where I'm from after I dismiss Jamaica. My accent has him guessing. So, in our newly invented, totally unofficial game, he confidently declares he can name my island in three tries. And I let him.
He takes me on a Caribbean cruise to Barbados, Grenada, Turks and Caicos. I'm unsure which cruise line Mr Feversham uses as he never quite docks at the right port. Misses the port entirely, even with a bonus stop, (Trinidad).
Defeated, he laughs, admits he'd have never guessed and immediately pivots. Now wanting to know what I do. I confirm that we are no longer playing our newly invented game and tell him. Now I may have a potential client and I thank him for his future business.
A glass clinking in the middle of the restaurant calls everyone's attention. With both hands, Mr Feversham taps his stomach with glee.
Where will you be sitting Jessica, May I call you Jessica?
I'm not sure... I suppose where..
Mr Feversham jumps in before I could finish with where ever James is sitting.
Mr Feversham, don't you concern yourself with Jessica here. She has a seat reserved next to mine.
Mr Feversham looks at me and then Fredric. This was not how I saw the evening going but it at least ensured I was seated. Except now James sidles up next to me.
You coming?
I breathe easier still until Charlotte drags him off. Signals to the chair left of her on the near side of the table we are standing. The chair nearest that is occupied by someone I've not yet met. The chair to the right of her seats her sister.
He acknowledges Charlotte but I note he scans the room and I do the same with him. It's casual seating. Everyone sits where they sit. Everyone is in full-on conversation as they take seats gathered at this table (rustic and long) in the centre of the restaurant. By the time we finish scanning the space there are two empty seats at the table but not together. There's the one next to Charlotte which she's assigned to James and the other, is next to where Fredric is now standing. Now either Charlotte and Fredric engineered that or my prayer beads remain tied up on whatever intervention they're on.
James and I exchanged a look. I could tell he wasn't best pleased with this. Had the last two chairs been Fredric and literally anyone else, he'd taken the seat next to Fredric. But not even he would ask me to sit with Charlotte. And since I had exactly zero plans of sitting with Charlotte, Fredric lucked out.
"It's okay," I say, walking over to where Fredric stood, the chair already pulled out, waiting for me.
He waits until I'm seated, then, without ever taking his eyes off James, rests a hand ever so decidedly on the back of my chair.
"Don't worry," he says, voice smooth, deliberate. "I'll take good care of her."
There it was again. That something between them. A thread wrapped around a loose tooth.
And James? His jaw ticks. Just slightly.
What is this?
