Swansea Summer Read Free Page B

and loose change to call your own.’
    ‘Jealous, Adam?’ Jack suspected Adam was still smarting from his sister Katie’s rejection.
    ‘Jack and Helen,’ Brian interrupted smoothly, touching his glass to Jack’s.
    To Adam’s annoyance, he realised Jack had left the pint he’d bought him on the tray and was drinking another. ‘Come on, get it down you.’ He pushed the spiked drink towards him.
    ‘It’s only eight o’clock,’ Martin warned.
    ‘And that leaves just two and a half hours of drinking time.’ As Adam returned the tray to the bar, Jack switched the spiked pint with Adam’s.
    ‘I was about to tip you off.’ Brian moved his chair so Adam couldn’t see what Jack was doing.
    ‘I saw Lifebuoy Lettie pour in the vodka.’
    ‘This is a new one; sensible Jack.’
    ‘Too sensible to get pissed the night before my wedding. Anyone want to take bets on how many pints Adam will go after that one? My money’s on two.’
    ‘I thought the cutlery set was from you as well as Mr Williams, Mrs Hunt.’ Helen took the beautifully wrapped box Judy’s mother handed her.
    ‘We’re not married yet.’ Joy Hunt smiled self-consciously.
    ‘But soon, Mam,’ Judy reminded her.
    ‘July most probably.’
    ‘And I’m going to be bridesmaid …’
    ‘That’s July, Judy. Helen’s big day is tomorrow and we should concentrate on that.’
    ‘Oh, Mrs Hunt, you shouldn’t have. It’s wonderful and so thoughtful. How did you know we didn’t have one?’ Helen opened the box and lifted out a camera.
    ‘Your father happened to mention that you were borrowing his for your honeymoon. And with’ – Joy faltered as she realised she’d been about to mention the baby – ‘you just starting out on married life, there’ll be a lot more occasions when you’ll be wanting mementoes, so I thought it might be useful.’
    ‘It will be, I promise you.’ Helen hugged her.
    ‘There are four films in the box so you don’t have to go dashing off in the middle of your wedding tomorrow to buy one.’
    ‘I’ve just been showing the girls my outfit.’ Setting the camera down carefully on top of the cocktail cabinet, Helen lifted her costume from the sofa and peeled back the cotton dust cover.
    ‘Isn’t it beautiful.’ Judy smoothed the textured silk as Helen held the full-skirted blue-and-white costume in front of her.
    ‘Very. You’re going to look stunning, Helen. I wish I could be there but you know how busy the salon is on Saturday and I dare not risk losing my regulars by letting them down.’
    ‘I understand, Mrs Hunt. I’ll save you a piece of the cake.’
    ‘Auntie Norah used to say that if you put a piece of wedding cake under your pillow you’ll dream of your future husband.’ Lily took the costume from Helen.
    ‘There’s no point in you doing that, Mam, you know who he’s going to be. Now Katie, Lily and I are different, so be sure to put at least three pieces in boxes strong enough to slip under pillows, Helen. Otherwise we’ll make right messes of our beds.’
    ‘You’re welcome to stay and have a Babycham and some sandwiches with us, Mrs Hunt.’
    Joy was touched by Helen’s invitation but she also knew it had been given from politeness, not the heart. A middle-aged chaperone was the last thing Helen needed the night before her wedding. ‘Thank you, but I’m meeting Roy in ten minutes. He has tickets for a concert.’
    ‘See you later, Mam.’ Judy turned back to Helen’s outfit as Helen showed her mother out. ‘I’m so envious.’ Judy replaced the cover as Helen closed the door.
    ‘It’s hardly a white wedding dress but I put paid to my chances of wearing one of those.’ Helen faced her friends. ‘I’m not getting at your mother, Judy, but I’d rather you didn’t pretend this is a normal wedding. Everyone in Carlton Terrace and half of Swansea knows my father would never have given his consent if it weren’t for “my condition”, as Mrs Jordan so coyly puts it. And, as Jack