A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon [134]
And she realized that her adventure was coming to an end. That she and David might never make love again. But it was all right.
Her life with George was not an exciting life. But wouldn’t life with David go the same way eventually?
Perhaps the secret was to stop looking for greener grass. Perhaps the secret was to make the best of what you had. If she and George talked a little more. If they went on a few more holidays…
The rain had stopped. Jean turned the wipers off and the register office came into sight on the right-hand side of the road.
She indicated and pulled into the car park.
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George was having a very enjoyable time indeed.
They parked the car and walked toward the stone arch at the back of the register office where everyone was gathering for photographs.
“Come on, Dad.” Katie took his arm and guided him down the little path.
He was Katie’s father. It felt good being Katie’s father.
He was giving his daughter away. And that was a good feeling, too. Because he was giving her away to a good man. Giving her away. What a strange phrase it was. Slightly antique. Sharing. That would be a better word. Though that sounded a little strange, too.
But where was Jamie?
He asked Katie.
“He’s looking for you,” said Katie, smiling in a way that was rather difficult to interpret.
Why was Jamie looking for him? He was about to ask when the photographer moved Katie forward and she began talking to Ray. George made a mental note to ask her again at some later point.
The photographer looked very like Ray’s best man. What was his name again? Perhaps it really was Ray’s best man. Perhaps they were not having an official photographer.
“Come on, people,” said the photographer. “Try not to look quite so glum.”
He had a very small camera. He probably wasn’t a real photographer.
Ed. That was his name.
George smiled.
Ed took four photographs then asked Katie and Ray to stand in front of the arch.
As they were moving aside, the man standing next to George introduced himself. George shook his hand. The man apologized for not having introduced himself earlier in the day. George told him not to worry. The man introduced his wife. George shook her hand, too. They seemed like very nice people.
A woman appeared from the register office. George thought, at first, that she was an air stewardess.
“If the party would like to make their way inside…”
George stepped aside for the ladies, then walked into the register office with the men.
It was possible that the nice couple were Ray’s parents. That would explain why they were all standing together having their photographs taken. He would check with Jean when they were sitting down inside.
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They were in the car halfway to the register office when Katie looked out of the window and saw a tramp urinating against a bus stop on Thorpe Road, which was not something you saw very often, and it seemed like a sign from God, who obviously a) had a sense of humor, and b) agreed with Ray. Expect the day to proceed with dignity and efficiency and someone was going to screw it up. Better to be together in twenty years and laugh about it, than have it run like clockwork and split up twelve months down the line.
Poor Jamie. At least he’d have a good story to tell.
Perhaps they could go round to his flat after Barcelona. Do the vows all over again. Get some confetti. Jacob would like that.
A fine drizzle began spattering the windscreen. It didn’t matter. Snow, hail, driving rain. She understood now. You got married in spite of your wedding not because of it. She looked over at Ray and he broke into a smile without taking his eyes off the road.
For the next few minutes they seemed to exist in a little bubble entirely cut off from the wet world around them. Then the register office loomed into view and they pulled in through the gateway and the crowd of guests looked like exotic fish against the brickwork of the building.
They pulled into the car park and got out and the drizzle had stopped and Mum and Dad were getting out of the car next to them.