Faith - Lesley Pearse [238]
Stuart blushed like a bashful schoolboy.
‘I owe Stuart more than words can ever say,’ she added as the applause died down. ‘He was the real hero in all this, along with his friend David Stoyle who sadly couldn’t be here today. But I’d also like to thank my lawyer Patrick Goldsmith for working so tirelessly on my behalf. And for the unconditional love and support my sisters Meggie and Ivy gave me.’
There was another burst of applause but Laura made a gesture with her hands to end it.
‘I would ask you now to leave me and my family in peace to get on with our lives,’ she finished up. ‘Thank you.’
Patrick Goldsmith took her arm and led her away from the throng. ‘Well done, Laura. That was perfect,’ he said. ‘I doubt they’ll obey your wishes, they never do. But for now a celebration drink is in order, and I’ve taken the liberty of hiring a private room in a restaurant down the street.’
It was four in the afternoon, chilly and spitting with rain, but f r Laura Edinburgh had never looked so bright and beautiful. She and her sisters had flown up early that morning, and Meggie and Ivy would be going back the following day. Laura had not booked a return flight because she planned to stay a few days with Angie, then buy herself a car so she could go out to Fife to visit Barney’s grave. After that she intended to get her belongings from Angie’s mother’s house and drive back to London.
Stuart fell in beside her. ‘Did I tell you that you look beautiful today?’ he said.
Laura smiled. She had taken great care in picking her outfit, a fitted taupe linen dress with a cream striped jacket. It wasn’t just because she knew she’d be photographed, but because she wanted Stuart to see her at her best. ‘You look pretty gorgeous yourself,’ she retorted, noting how well the light grey pinstripe suit fitted him. ‘I’ve never seen you in a suit before!’
She was tempted to remind him that he’d once claimed he would never wear a suit because it was ‘establishment’. But she supposed they had both grown up a lot since those days.
‘Happy?’ he asked as they arrived at the restaurant, giving her the kind of wide smile that brought back so many sweet memories.
‘Happy doesn’t even come close to covering it.’ She smiled back. ‘I’d like to climb right up on to the highest point of the Castle and scream out how great I feel.’
‘I was glad to see your bruises have gone,’ he said, reaching out and touching her cheek gently with his thumb. ‘Meggie said they were bad – she was afraid they wouldn’t fade in time for today.’
‘I think that is down to the power of faith,’ Laura giggled. ‘I’m far too vain to want to look like a road accident victim, even if it would get me still more sympathy.’
Stuart laughed. ‘David rang this morning to wish you luck. I’ll have to phone him in a minute and tell him all about it. Next time I’m in London I could take you over to see him and meet Julia and his children, if you’d like that?’
‘I would,’ she said. ‘But you must give me his address anyway so I can write and thank him for his help. But right now all I want is a stiff drink.’
The small private room had been decorated with yellow helium-filled balloons and yellow ribbons. Laura stood looking at it in amazement. ‘I do hope no one’s going to pop up and sing “Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree,”’ she giggled.
‘I thought of it, but I’ve forgotten the words,’ Stuart said with a grin. ‘But we’ve got champagne and I think that says how we all feel.’
∗
The champagne went straight to Laura’s head as she had been too nervous to eat in the morning, and she fell silent. It was good just to be sitting around the table with everyone she loved, listening to their chatter and laughter, and marvelling that this was a dream come true.
Stuart was sitting between her and Angie, and they were having an animated discussion about the street children in South America and what Stuart thought ought to be done to help them.
Meggie and Ivy were sitting either side of Patrick and they both looked lovely. Ivy,