Angel Kiss - Laura Jane Cassidy [71]
Joe beckoned me over to the side of the stage. The band had just launched into a rendition of ‘Congratulations’.
‘I’m going to call you up to sing. I’m not sure when it’ll be yet. We’ve to wait till Mary is settled and has said hello to everybody and everything.’ Joe looked anxious. I suppose as one of the chief organizers of this big occasion he wanted everything to go just right. The hall looked great, and everyone seemed to be having lots of fun already. I wasn’t nervous at all. I was excited about performing. I’d really grown to love the song.
‘That’s grand, Joe. Relax. Everything is going great.’ I smiled and he smiled back, but I don’t think he was really listening to me, because he rushed off, still looking flustered.
Everybody from Avarna was in the parish hall that night. Well, almost everybody. Des wasn’t there. I wished he was, just so he could see my mum. She was wearing one of Anne’s blue designer dresses and looked absolutely stunning. I had an idea of how insanely expensive it was, but I didn’t tell Mum. It had a high neckline and dipped down low at the back. She looked like the movie star she’d always dreamed of being. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look so beautiful … except maybe in her wedding photographs. I hadn’t told Mum about my visit to Des. Not yet. I wanted to be one hundred per cent sure before I told her anything. I didn’t want her heart to break all over again.
‘Who’s yer one in the black dress? She’s a bit of all right,’ said a familiar voice from behind me.
I turned to see Colin standing there, in a black suit and white shirt.
‘You’re not looking too bad yourself, Colin.’
‘Yeah, I scrub up all right, don’t I?’ He looked really cute.
‘Want to go sit down?’ he said.
‘Yes. I do. These heels are killing me already.’ I’d brought some pumps in my bag, but I refused to surrender this early in the evening. Besides, the heels looked so nice that they were totally worth the pain.
‘Have you got your song sorted?’ asked Colin.
‘Yep. “Have I Told You Lately”, one of Mary’s favourites apparently. Joe is going to call me up when I’ve to sing it.’
‘Joe has gone to a lot of trouble. I know my mam and Lydia went to a lot of fuss, with the decorations and the food and all that. But he really went to town on the personal touches. Oh, and fair play to you for coming.’ Colin smiled at me sympathetically. I’d almost forgotten about Nick. Almost.
‘Well, I couldn’t let Joe down. I hope this won’t be too awkward.’ I glanced over towards Nick.
‘Ah, don’t worry about Nick. He’s busy mingling. His granny has him trapped over there at her table.’
I wished he would talk to me. Even just to say hello. I kept looking over, hoping that he’d catch my eye.
Joe got up on the stage.
‘Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Now don’t worry, I’m not going to give a speech.’ There was a laugh from the crowd. I think Joe had a reputation for giving speeches that went on forever. ‘I’m just here to announce that we will now be having the first dance.’ This was my cue to go up on stage. ‘The song will be sung by the lovely Miss Jacki King. I would like to invite our birthday girl, Mary, and her husband, Michael, to the floor.’
As soon as the band started to play the intro to ‘Have I Told You Lately’, Mary let out a little squeal of joy. I started to sing.
Joe and Rita joined the Reynolds. Rita smiled at Joe, and he clasped her hand, and put his arm round her waist. Brigid took Pa by the hand, and led him on to the dance floor. He gave her a kiss, and they started to dance. Lydia and Colin followed. Then David and Emily, and then Anne and Carla, and more and more couples until eventually the dance floor was packed with people. I looked at them all embracing each other, dancing together, laughing and smiling. Then I took a deep breath and sang the chorus one last time.
There was a round of applause. I stepped away from the microphone, and walked down the steps. Joe came running over to me.
‘That was beautiful, Jacki,’ he said. ‘Just beautiful. You’re an absolute