Tony handed the microphone to Jason, who cleared his throat before speaking. ‘Firstly, I would like to apologize for the terrible behaviour of my mother earlier. Her language and actions were appalling and I am truly sorry if she offended anybody. I would also like to offer a personal apology to Carol and Johnny, who have been so supportive towards me and done everything possible to make this a special day for myself and Melissa.’
Squeezing Carol’s hand, Johnny gave his son-in-law a slow nod of approval.
Jason looked down at Melissa and smiled. ‘As most of you are probably aware, Melissa and I haven’t known one another that long. But I have to say, as she walked down the aisle towards me earlier I truly felt like the luckiest man alive.’
‘Pass me the sick bucket. He ain’t even shagged her yet,’ Tracey Thompson hissed in her new boyfriend’s ear. She couldn’t believe that the wedding had gone ahead after the earlier fiasco and had been drowning her sorrows ever since, getting louder by the glass.
‘Seems a nice enough girl, but she’s not his type,’ Peggy Rampling whispered to Irish Ted. She rubbed her thumb and fingers together. ‘All about the wonga.’ Peggy was chuffed to bits that Jason had got himself away from his mother and the Mardyke Estate. It was onwards and upwards for her grandson from now on.
‘What Melissa and I have is something special,’ Jason continued. ‘We both have young children whom we want the best for in life, and together we can be a proper family and raise our kids as brother and sister. As you probably guessed when my mother showed up earlier, my childhood wasn’t the greatest. But Donte’s and Shay’s will be. I intend to work like a Trojan and they will have everything I had to go without.’
‘Aww, bless him,’ Carol said to Johnny.
Aware of all his fellow Masons clapping his son-in-law, Johnny allowed himself a wry grin and joined in with the applause. The lad was a sweet-talker and had thankfully managed to turn a difficult situation around.
Craig Thurston handed Darlene a double vodka and tonic. The dress she was wearing was jade green. It clung to her curves, showed off her pert breasts and Craig could understand why a young lad like Jason would be interested in her. She had a look of pure filth about her, did Darlene, and when you got her in the sack she’d perform exactly as you’d expect. She was certainly one of the best he’d ever had. ‘All right, girl? How ya feeling?’
‘Revengeful,’ Darlene snapped. ‘I bet that old cow of a nan of his is there an’ all. Hates me, she does – and the feeling’s mutual. My aunt used to run catalogues years ago, Kays and Freemans. Peggy Rampling ordered tons of stuff out of ’em one Christmas, then knocked my aunt. Thieve anything that isn’t nailed down, she would.’
‘Does Jason’s nan know about you and him?’ Craig asked.
‘No. But she will do soon,’ Darlene cackled. ‘Serves him right, the lying, cheating, no-good shitbag. After today he can rot in hell for all I care. I never want to see him again.’
Feeling less embarrassed about earlier since Jason’s speech, Johnny Brooks took the microphone with confidence. ‘Firstly, I would like to thank all of you for coming today. I know it was short notice for some, and Carol and I truly appreciate you making the effort.’
‘He bribed my Jason into marrying her,’ Peggy Rampling informed Irish Ted. ‘Offered to buy him a house.’
‘This is so fucking corny.’ Tracey Thompson was spitting feathers now. ‘Everyone knows the wedding is a sham. He don’t love her. The geezer is a fraud.’
‘There are similarities about this wedding to mine and Carol’s,’ Johnny continued. ‘We hadn’t known one another for very long either when I got down on one knee and popped the question. The finest decision I ever made, that was. When you know, you just know,’ Johnny grinned at his daughter, then his wife. ‘And if Melissa and Jason turn out to be half as happy as Carol and I have been over the years, then they’ll have cracked it.’
Jason Rampling smirked. He’d done a bit of digging and knew all about Johnny’s long-term affair with his secretary. He planned to use it to his advantage too. No way was he working on that building site any more. He hated the bastard job.
‘You know everything you gotta say and do, don’t you, Dar? You wanna be on the ball. Go out with a bang, so to speak,’ Craig Thurston urged.
‘I won’t drop Tony in it, don’t worry. And I’ve memorized how to use the equipment. He must’ve showed me at least fifty times last night,’ Darlene exaggerated.
‘Good. I’ll be waiting outside for you – and I want to know all the gory details,’ Craig laughed. He would probably hear the aftermath from where he’d planned to wait, but unless the back door of the hall was open and he could poke his head around, he wouldn’t see the look of shock on people’s faces. There was no way he could strut in there. Johnny Brooks would spot him immediately and it wasn’t worth starting a war over. The bloke had just given him thirty grand, so Darlene had to deal with this alone.
‘Answer it then,’ Darlene ordered as Craig’s phone rang.
Craig took the call. ‘’Sup up. It’s time to leave.’
Tony Trot wasn’t too comfortable with what was about to happen. Not only was he a half-decent cameraman and DJ, he’d also built up a good reputation recording messages from loved ones, and playing them back at special occasions. He would edit them with tender care as a rule, adding music that suited the moment.
The Brooks’s son Mark was the first to pop up on the huge projector screen. ‘So sorry I couldn’t be there with you today, Melissa. But by the time you watch this I will be sunning myself on a beach in Turkey. It was late notice, so I couldn’t cancel the holiday, but I want you to know I’m there with you in spirit and I hope you and Jason have a brilliant day and a long and happy future together.’
Tony Trot sighed as he popped his phone inside his pocket and went outside for a cigarette. He wouldn’t usually get involved in stunts such as this, but he was wary of getting on the wrong side of Craig Thurston and five grand was a hell of a lot of money to knock back.
Tony punched in Craig’s number. ‘The speeches have started. I’m outside now.’
The Windmill Hall in Upminster had two entrances and it was the rear car park entrance where Darlene was waiting. She knew what order the speeches went in, had the list memorized.
‘You all right?’ Craig asked her. Tony had left the door ajar so they could hear everything. Auntie Mary who lived in Australia was currently boring the arse off everybody.
‘Two more to go,’ Darlene hissed.
Craig could see Darlene was nervous. She was jittery, her hands clearly shaking.
‘Do I look OK? Has my lipstick smudged?’ she gabbled.
‘No. You look great, honest. Just say what you gotta say and leave, OK?’
Feeling her heart pounding like never before, Darlene nodded anxiously.
‘How boring is this? Can’t keep the fixed smile on me face for much longer,’ Peggy Rampling complained to Irish Ted. She had never attended a wedding where tons of well-wishes were played on a big screen and it was ever so dull when you didn’t know any of the people.
‘Most of the messages are from people who are actually here today,’ Irish Ted whispered in Peggy’s ear.
‘I know! What a load of old crap. Why can’t they just say it to the bride and groom in person? I want the music to start.’
Winking at his grandmother, Jason took a gulp of champagne. He knew none of these people wishing him well and he too was bored out of his brain.
‘Hi, Jason. So sorry I couldn’t be at your wedding, but …’
Jason stared at the screen in absolute horror. Darlene was sat on the edge of her bed, done up