Where Are We Now
Chapter 18
The Wedding
They weren't due to be at the actual wedding of Maisie and Rab. That was being held in a registry office for immediate family and a couple of close friends. Georgie and Prof being included in that. Molly and Charles drove straight to their hotel to check in and unpack.
"Sorry Molly" started Charles "I didn't think … I should have thought after the other week at my parents …. I should have changed the booking"
Charles was panicking in their room was a large king size bed and he hadn't thought at all about Molly's feeling about this, he should have checked it was a twin or booked two rooms. She was just going to think he hadn't listened to her and how she felt.
Molly laughed "Don't worry about it, I'm sure we can share a bed for one night anyone would think we were at it like bloody rabbits the way you're reacting."
He looked down her and smirked and waggled his eyebrows
She gave him one of her looks "Don't even consider saying it Charlie"
"What?" he laughed and was rewarded with a punch on the arm for his trouble
"Ouch! What was that for?" "I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to" she laughed "Pack it in, your being a perv."
"Shall we get something to eat, line our stomachs before the main event?"
"Now you mention it I am a bit Hank"
"Do you know I sometimes wonder how I haven't had to use google translate more often with some of the things you say" he said as he put his arm around her shoulder and led her out the door and make their way to the restaurant.
A couple of hours later they were both ready to make their way to the hotel where the reception was being held for family and friends. Charles looked at Molly, she looked absolutely stunning in her new outfit. Her hair was down with the ends curled and it hung down her back and shoulders.
"You look beautiful Molly, and so tall" he laughed and held out his arm for her to loop hers with his.
"You going to be able to walk in those shoes" he nodded in the direction of her feet
"Piss off you lanky shit" they both giggled and made their way to the reception, which appeared to already be in full swing.
The lighting was already low and the music blaring and the bar was already crowded with faces they recognised. There was a dance floor in the middle and round tables round the edge. According to Monk it wasn't a traditional wedding breakfast there would be no speeches, which suited him as one of the witnesses.
"Were you the best man then?" asked Molly
"Nah! Not really, me and the missus were witnesses but they didn't want speeches or nothing. After Fingers not sure I would want to do that again."
"Yeah! I can see that"
Charles came over with her glass of wine passing it to Molly
"You're looking well Boss, how's things?"
"All good Monk, looking forward to the day I get you all on exercises again to put you through your paces" he laughed
"Well it won't be for a while Boss, we are all due back to Afghan"
"What I thought you had not long been back"
"Isn't that Marie over there? I would have thought she would have had the baby by now" interjected Molly wanting the subject changed.
"Yeah! Due any time now I believe but she wanted to come to represent Fingers. He would have wanted to be here himself, always loved a party did Fingers"
Just then Maisie and Rab came up to them to say hello and thank you for coming.
"Good to see you Boss, good to see you looking so good after that bloody jump"
"Indeed Maisie" not really wanting to remember that part of his life anymore
"How has the day been, you and Rab enjoying it?"
"Yeah it's been great" she started
"Georgie is round here somewhere if you want a catch up" She had always liked Georgie and once she had got over her bolshie behaviour with her they had got on really well saving those kids in Nepal. She thought Georgie had the hots for the Captain at one time and couldn't understand why they didn't get it together. She thought they would have made a lovely couple both really good looking. Maybe her wedding could be the start of something and she wanted to help her friend. She wasn't sure of the bloke she had brought with her, Prof or something, a bloody ex-schoolteacher. Not really her sort, she would be a better match with the Captain.
Captain Sternface made an instant appearance
"Indeed Maisie, we've seen her and her sister. You haven't met my wife Molly have you?"
Molly had the measure of Maisie straight off. Reminded her of Proud Mary a little bit, the cocky little shit.
"You still in the army then Maisie" she asked with a sugar sweet smile one that Charles recognised and tightened his grip on her shoulder
Rab answered for her "Yeah we both are, based out of Colchester. I'm in the Royal Artillery and Maisie is in the Signals"
"God 'elp us" whispered Molly and Charles gripped her tighter but she could feel him snigger
"So, you like being a Captains wife Molly"
"Don't know I'm not in his chain of command, I'm in the RAMC" she'll give her credit, she's bloody persistent.
She looked at Charles and said she would go and have a word with Marie and Monks wife Doris.
"Nice to catch up, have a lovely day the pair of you" said Charles and followed Molly leaving Maisie, Rab and Monk to carry on talking.
"Look Kingy is over at the bar, you have a chat with Marie if you want and I'll be over with Kingy" he pecked her on the cheek as she nodded in agreement "I won't be that long and I'll join you"
"How are you Marie, can't be long now"
"Any day and it can't come soon enough; I've forgotten what my feet look like" she laughed "Thought I would come with Georgie and Prof. Gets me out the house and Fingers would have liked me to be here"
"Look I know you are off on tour next week, Prof's going as well but when you all get back I want to have a christening for little Frankie, will you and the Major come"
"It's nice of you to ask us Marie"
"I know it's hard for you, with Georgie being there but I would like you to come"
Marie looked over towards her sister sitting with Prof and Monk and his wife had joined them. Molly followed her eyes and saw that Georgie was laughing at something he had said and kissed him on the cheek.
"It's amazing what difference a year can make isn't it"
"What?"
"Well she was a mess after Bangladesh. Came back to Manchester not really knowing what she was doing but she seemed to settle back into training medics in Manchester"
"Never thought she would go back on tour to Afghan" she continued "Think she had been back about a month or so when she met you on exercise" Molly nodded
"She really does seem happy with Prof you know; I know it's still early days only 4 months since they've been back and he is due off next week with the rest of you, but they seem to have a good connection. It's about time she found happiness and with the right bloke" she smiled
"No Molly, I'm not having a pop. Her and the Major were never right and that prick Elvis hurt her more than he should not turning up to the wedding." She stopped to think and look at her sister across the room "I have high hopes that this is the one"
"She's lucky to have a sister like you"
"Maybe you can forgive her one day"
"I think we've made our peace. We are never going to be friends again but I wish her well" and smiled at Marie
"I won't be having the christening until all 3 sections are back and all his mates can be there, so please come.
"OK it's a date" "Now I'd better find that husband of mine see if he's still propping up the bar"
She walked to the bar and put her arm around his waist and he looked down at her and smiled "and here is my beautiful wife" he whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek.
"Hello Moll, you look better than I last saw you" laughed Brains and gave her his customary hug
"I should bloody think so" she laughed back pleased to see her old friend.
Kingy handed her a glass of wine which had been waiting on the bar for her
"Your section all set for next week then" he said looking at Molly and Brains
"Yep Kinders has had us running around the parade ground twice a day in full kit. Not that you get a feel for it until you are there. The heat" replied Brains while Molly sipped from her glass and looking at Charles
"You haven't met the Captain yet have you" Kingy continued and they shook their heads
"He was the Lieutenant when we were out there last time" he laughed "been promoted to Captain now so he can lead the 3 sections"
"3 sections" queried Charles and Molly's eyes closed
"Yeah" continued Kingy "There's been a bit more Taliban activity lately, it was felt that they should have more men there while the Medics are doing their thing"
Molly continued to sip her wine and Charles looked down at her, his eyes looking at least two shades darker, she could see he was furious. Then his face went blank and he turned back to Kingy
"So, this Captain Hurst, what's he like?"
"Well when we were first out there I have to say very green, never been before. When we were stopped at a roadblock because of a suicide bomber he wanted us to get out the mastiff and help. I had to convince him to wait out. Just as well as a second went off close enough to roll the mastiff"
"What a bloody idiot" said Brains and no one particularly noticed Charles grab Molly's hand and only she could tell he was shaking.
"Well he learnt his lesson pretty bloody quickly" Kingy laughed "He's come on a long way, he's OK"
She managed to extract her hand from Charles saying she wanted to go to the ladies and left them talking. As she made her way across the room to the toilets she had to pass the table that Georgie was sat at.
"Molly" she called "I want to introduce you to Prof, real name Alan" he put out his hand to shake which she did.
"Looks like the pair of you will be in Afghan next week" said Georgie
"You not coming George" Georgie shook her head
"Nope, that was the last one for me. Sticking with training the next generation of Medics now" and she smiled at Prof
"How's Charles about you going off"
"OK I think, he knows it's my job" but she had seen him look at her and knew he wasn't
"Look I really need to go to the loo, and head back to him. I'll see you next week Prof."
She hurried off. Trying to think how to handle this. She was right he was angry she hadn't told him but she thought he already knew and didn't want to talk army stuff when they were together.
She put her arm around his waist and she felt him stiffen and try to pull away but she dug her fingers in tighter.
He carried on talking with Brains and Kingy. Various other friends came up to talk with them and he laughed and joked as if nothing was bothering him. Eventually people started drifting away and the slow music started playing as the evening drew to a close.
"Right, ready for the off then Molly"
"You don't wanna slow dance before we go" He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes
"Not particularly, why do you?" She sighed he really was pissed off.