CHAPTER 6

Rachel spent the next few days just relaxing, and found herself hoping she could survive the ordeal of the wedding without losing her temper with her cousins, her aunt or the other bridesmaids.

Friday finally arrived, and about an hour before Rachel was leaving for the airport, to pick up John, her phone rang.

"Hey," he said, and her heart dropped. "I'm really sorry, but Bailey and I are still in Houston."

"I suppose it can't be helped," she said, keeping the disappointment out of her voice. "How close are you to an arrest?"

"Pretty close," he replied. "Look, we are heading back to Atlanta tonight; I will try to get on a flight tomorrow. Give me the address of the function centre, maybe there's a chance I can get there even if I have to go straight there from the plane."

"Oh John, that's too much trouble for you," Rachel said. "I totally understand, I know the job tends to impose itself on our social life. Don't worry, don't put yourself out."

"Rachel I promise I will try to get there," he said, with genuine regret in his voice, and she nodded glad that he was unable to see the tension that was causing her to grip the phone and turn her knuckles white.

"John, I understand," she said again. "Don't bother, it's too hard now. It's ok, it really is," and she hung up before he could say anything else.

Her mother looked up when she came downstairs.

"I don't think John will make it," she said lightly. "He's caught up on an arrest in Houston."

"Oh Rachel, I am sorry," her mother said. "I was so looking forward to meeting him."

"It happens in our line of work," said Rachel. "It doesn't really matter anyway."

The rehearsal appeared to be fairly straight forward; but Rachel was unprepared for the ribbing she received when she told Marie that John would be unable to attend.

"Oh, has the boyfriend has pulled out at the last minute?" asked Larissa. "That's a surprise."

"In our line of work, it's more inevitable than surprising," replied Rachel.

"You're very calm about it," said Heather. "Did you call and tell him not to come?"

"No," said Rachel, "Why would I do that?"

"So we wouldn't tease him, or you," replied Melanie. "We can see how much you don't like it."

"So your rudeness is teasing?" said Rachel, suddenly angry. "It is immature and stupid."

"Well, excuse us," replied Larissa. "We can't all be as grown up and mature as you. You always were 'special'." And she gave a scornful laugh.

"And always spectacularly unpopular because of it," said Melanie, spitefully, and she turned her back on Rachel walking away. "No wonder he doesn't want to come and be with you – that's if he was ever going to come, and not a figment of your imagination." She added, loudly enough to be heard.

Marie, who was walking toward the door to speak with her fiancé turned back suddenly.

"What's going on?" she asked. "Are you arguing?" then, as no one answered, she turned on her sister, voice raised in anger.

"What is going on?" she repeated and Heather smiled placating. "Nothing, we were just teasing and Rachel got upset, like she always used to."

"I thought we had all grown out of that stuff," she said. "This is MY WEDDING, and I wanted you all to be in it, because you are all special to me in one way or another. For God's sake I don't care if you all hate each other, but can't you at least try to get on for my sake." She burst into tears, and ran toward William and his groomsmen who were standing a little way off, watching the proceedings with surprised eyes.

Her uncle James, who was also standing with the group came over and put his arms around his daughter, and sent a dagger like look back in the general direction of the four bridesmaids.

Feeling somehow ashamed of her behavior, even if she hadn't actually done anything, Rachel walked over to Marie.

"I'm sorry sweets," she said. "I didn't mean to upset you."

Marie gave Rachel a hug. "I know that it wasn't you," she said. "I know how difficult it must be for you to come back here, especially with what's happened. And I know Heather and the others can be a bit …." She stopped short of calling her sister and best friends' bitches. "They are jealous of you. Don't let them get under your skin."

Rachel hugged her back. "I'm ok," she said. "We will stop trying to score points off each other, and start giving you all the attention." She raised her voice so the others could hear. "You are right, it is your wedding and it should be all about you."