AUTHORS NOTE: Two months have passed since the last chapter. I thought I’d highlight that here as well as in the chapter. Thank you.

***

The woman yawned as she sat down at the breakfast table and smiled gratefully at Sandra when she rested a mug of coffee in front of her. She might not have been a fan of coffee at the start of her life but now it appeared to be all she drank and she knew that Mikey was to blame because he lived on the stuff. She found herself yawning as she turned on her laptop so that she could check her e-mails not surprised to see the ones she had. There was one off Jack with the simple words ‘I told you so...” and she knew that he was being his arrogant self but she couldn’t help but smile at him.

It had only been last week that the police had phoned Lindsey and explained that they were sorry for everything but the case had been dropped because of lack of evidence. They apologized for the devastation of her wedding and they said they understood if she wanted to report them for their behaviour. She had declined the offer because she didn’t want to go too far seeing as she knew that she had done what she’d been accused of. She was just so lucky to have amazing friends that could lie amazingly well. So now that she was off the hook and there would be no case, she had started to relax more and she now had a great relationship with Elliot which pleased Mikey.

However deep down she still felt for Nate’s mother. She had liked the woman when they had met. She had wanted to ring and offer her condolences but both Mikey and Elliot had said that would make her look more guilty because no one technically knew what had happened to him. Jack had made it sound like that he had just been fed up of living with the memories that haunted him. His mother had agreed and just decided just to wait for him to text back. Lindsey knew that Jack would have used his charm, women fell left right and centre for him except for the one he actually wanted.

Speaking of Lauren, she had been back in their hometown for about a month now seeing as they had received a phone call saying that the restaurant had been set alight. It had been ruled as arson and Lauren was now afraid that someone was after them. Lindsey had feared that Jack had known something about that too but she quickly remembered that it had been Jack’s money that had paid for the restaurant in the first place. He had gone back with her to the hometown to help look after the children and restaurant seeing as Lauren had long since ended things with David because he had turned out to be needy and she didn’t like that. Lindsey realised that she knew now that Jack would never harm Lauren and that he would eventually convince Lauren that he loved her.

A new e-mail appeared in her inbox and she smiled as she saw it was one off Helen containing photographs. Chandler had managed to convince Helen to allow Hadlee a trial period at the boarding school. Lindsey could still remember the aggressive shouting that had happened between the pair of them and she remembered the harsh words of Chandler when he’d shouted, “What you’re worried about is he’s going to realise how pathetic you are for a mother?” Everyone knew that was the way the two of them got to each other when they were angry and Helen could normally retort but this time she had shriveled up before allowing her tears to take over. That was when the three of them worked out what her issue of letting him go was and Chandler had immediately felt guilty, his arms wrapping around her as he cradled her against him whispering sweet words of assurance. She was crying that Hadlee would go to this school and see all the rich, fantastic mothers that allowed their sons everything whereas she was determined to teach him that money wasn’t everything. She worried that he’d eventually hate her because they all had fathers whereas he’d been forced to grow up without one. Chandler had just shook his head and promised Helen that Hadlee had the better life because he lived with a mother that cared and loved him. She was the one that took care of him, not a nanny all the time. Mikey agreed and Helen eventually calmed down, never letting go of Chandler’s hand.

So Hadlee had gone to the boarding school and Helen had been surprised at how excited he was about it. She was sure that Chandler had said something to him but neither would let on. She was often jealous of the rapport the two of them had but she never said anything because Hadlee did need a father figure and it wasn’t as if she could do any worse than Chandler.

Helen’s play had been postponed because of some personal matter concerning the director or something. Lindsey had started off listening but as Helen got more and more angry and agitated with her words, she had found herself tuning out the words and focusing on the pictures on the library walls. She had omitted the odd noise here and there to make it sound like she was listening but she realised that Helen had just needed to rant so Helen probably hadn’t realised that Lindsey was starting to nod off.

Since Helen was now doing everyone’s head in, Chandler decided that a break was in order. He booked two tickets to Ireland – he knew it was a place on her list to visit – and promised her a luxury month or so away. When they arrived, he told her that there might be a bit of business involved. Lindsey smiled as she remembered the first e-mail off her when she had just called Chandler several bad names before mentioning that they were there to buy out a hotel business that was going bust. Lindsey knew Helen wouldn’t mind being involved because she would be convincing Chandler to save as many jobs as possible because Guy had told Lindsey previously that it was thanks to Helen that Chandler was turning into a charitable person.

This e-mail was telling Lindsey that Chandler had indeed bought the hotels and was now working on how to make them modern without losing the warm, home feeling that they all offered. There was a P.S saying that Lindsey should keep an eye on the post because Helen was in desperate need for her help. Lindsey just rolled her eyes assuming that Helen had been working a little more on her writing while she was away and had sent it to Lindsey to read through.

“Lindsey, you have mail!” Mikey called as he moved through the house flicking through the mail and smiled at her sat at the kitchen table. “Helen sent you another e-mail bitching about Ireland?”

“No this one says she is having the time of her life now but that was because Chandler promised to drink beer on a Valentine’s day pub crawl if she started to enjoy it.” She said holding out her hand for the letter that Mikey had said she had and was surprised to see Helen’s neat scrawl already. She’d always been amazed at how someone could have a neat scrawl hence her remembering whose the handwriting was. She ripped it open. Two plane tickets fell out along with another note with Helen’s writing “I’m being serious about needing your help with something. I love you both and hope to see you soon!”

“It looks like we’re going to Ireland.” Mikey laughed taking the tickets off her and shaking his head. “How did I know that Helen wouldn’t be able to survive on her own with Chandler?”

“He’s probably been phoning Miss Sasha,” she impersonated Helen’s bitchy tone with the name, “all the time.” Mikey just smiled at her. It wouldn’t surprise him. Sasha Benson had always been clingy even when she was just friends with them but now that Chandler was dating her, he’d bet money that the clinginess had turned into desperation and was double that of what it normally was. “I really thought that this time together would make them both realise it was each other they needed, you know.”

“Lindsey, we’ve been trying to convince them for three years that they’re in love. You’ve been here just over a year. You have no chance.” Mikey flatly said before thanking Sandra for the coffee that she handed him and then turning back to look at her. “You know, I think we should eventually take up my parents offer and move into the Peterson mansion. We’ll have our own wing.”

“Do you not enjoy their company?”

“I love their company but sometimes I just want you to myself and besides, we’re a young couple who need time to themselves.” He whispered softly pressing a kiss to her pouting lips as he smiled. “I mean, they’ve gate crashed valentine’s day!” He said indicating the dates on the tickets. Lindsey just laughed not wanting to tell him she wasn’t a big fan on Valentine’s Day.

“Oh well.” She said shutting off her laptop before jumping off the stool and smiling at him. “I best get packing.”

***

“You always allow them to gatecrash our moments.” Chandler complained and Helen looked over at him. They were sat in the airport waiting room on uncomfortable metal chairs.

“Chandler, we don’t have moments and if I had to listen to one more phone sex conversation between you and Sasha I was going to either hurt you or me. Preferably you.” She ended the sentence with before shuddering at the thought but was happy that he had the decency to blush.

“I didn’t realise you could hear.” Helen had already worked that part out but she had guessed that Sasha had an idea that she could. It wasn’t as if you could hide much in those small cottages that Chandler had rented for them. She just patted his shoulder.

“I would also like to say that the things you say are not dirty and do not turn women on.” She then squealed as she saw Lindsey turn the corner. She left Chandler mulling over what she’d said and ran over to give her friend a hug. “I’m so happy you are here. You’re saving me from a long stint in jail.” She assured them and heard Chandler mumble something about how he felt the same as he shook Mikey’s hand.

“Is he ringing Sasha all the time?” Mikey asked with pity, not caring when Chandler punched him in the shoulder.

“No. Miss-I’m-so-clingy-and-can’t-believe-you-want-to-go-away-with-that-instead-of-your-beautiful-and-sexy-girlfriend has never stopped calling and they’re either arguing or she’s trying to convince him to come home because she needs her sexual needs fulfilling even though we all know she has a phone full of brainless idiots that would go running just to give her a quick...”

“Yes, thank you, Helen.” Chandler quickly said before her mouth ran over board like it normally did when she was in one of her moods. “Was it a nice flight?”

“You didn’t need to pay for first class.”

“I didn’t know I was paying until someone told me about an hour ago that we had to go pick you up from the airport.” Chandler responded to Mikey’s statement and Helen smiled her devil grin before taking hold of Lindsey’s arm, leaving the guys to grab the bags.

“I have a mission for us to complete.”

“I’m allowed to see my parents first?”

“Obviously, Lindsey.” Helen laughed rolling her eyes. “What kind of friend do you take me for?”

***

The couple arrived at the house that stood at the address Lindsey’s parents had sent her. They hadn’t rang or anything to say that they were coming because Lindsey had decided to surprise them. The contact had been pretty slim since the wedding thanks to the stress of being arrested for attempted murder and stuff but Amy had sent Lindsey the odd e-mail and they’d managed to have the odd phone call.

Mikey took hold of her hand as he pulled her down the path. She was carrying some flowers and looked nervous. “I swear, if they mention having a better life here then I’ll beat them with these flowers.”

“Please don’t. They’ll make an awful mess.” Mikey teased knocking on the front door moving behind her so that the first thing they would see was their daughter and not him. Amy was the one to answer the door and there was a moment of shock highlighting her features before she finally recovered and squealed, her arms wrapping around Lindsey as she pressed a kiss to her cheeks, the flowers getting squashed anyway.

“Mark, come look who’s here!” She shouted happily pushing Lindsey through the door so that she could kiss Mikey on the cheek and welcome him into the home. Mark mumbled as he turned off the television and stepped out of the living room before smiling at Lindsey.

“Never heard of picking up a telephone?” He teased pulling her into his arms and pressing a kiss to her temple. She just smiled and held onto him close before shaking her head.

“Ever heard of the element of surprise?” She asked in the same tone of voice and he just smiled down at her.

“Oh how I’ve missed you.” He muttered sarcastically but Lindsey could tell that he meant it so she just held onto him tighter.

***

“So why are you over in Ireland, sweetheart?” Lindsey didn’t mention the use of her mother calling her a pet name as she accepted the plate of food that her mother was handing them. They hadn’t planned on staying too long because Helen had said something about her mission being really important but when her mother offered them food, Mikey had insisted they stay so not to offend.

“Chandler is over trying to save some hotel business from going bankrupt and he brought Helen. Helen is bored so she invited me to come keep her company and apparently we have some big mission to do...” Lindsey shrugged her shoulders and bit her lip gently.

“It was nice of you to drop in on us while you have so much on your plate.” Her dad muttered and Lindsey looked at him to try and read if it was sarcasm. He also must have sensed that it sounded like sarcasm because he looked over at her and smiled. “That came out a little harsher than I thought it would...” He laughed eating a little of his dinner and shaking his head.

“It’s okay.”

“Have you two thought about setting a date for your second wedding?” Amy asked hoping to change the conversation and Lindsey rolled her eyes into her plate. She knew that her mother would be the only person brave enough to ask that question. Everyone else had skipped around getting remarried after the fiasco of the first wedding and it took someone with real bottle to ask about second plans.

“We’ve decided that we should wait awhile.” Mikey said in a convincing tone. They hadn’t really discussed it but he knew Lindsey was still starting to believe that there were signs everywhere preventing them from doing anything. “We wanted to make sure that the case against Lindsey was definitely dropped and what with Elizabeth in the middle of designing her own magazine and fashion line, Helen and Chandler being here on business and such things we thought we’d just wait.”

“You don’t have to wait at all!” Amy started to protest and was surprised when Lindsey just sighed.

“Mum, I understand that and I know you think they should all dance to our tune but I just don’t want to start another wedding and the police to run in and start arresting me again. I’ve not been able to face half of Mikey’s family since and I’d like to mention that Clarisse was way too smug.” She mumbled stabbing at the meat on her plate viciously, smiling slightly as Mikey wrapped his ankle around hers as he was sat across from her. “I know you’re going to tell me that I’m being silly but you had the perfect wedding with dad whereas mine was gate crashed by detectives that believed I had murdered my ex-boyfriend. I just want to...” She stopped talking and her dad took hold of her hand.

“Princess, we understand that that was a scary experience for you and we’re just glad that Mikey stayed with you instead of fearing that he was your next victim.”

“I don’t know. It’s a big kink thinking that something so little could be able to murder a man.” He said winking at her and she felt her cheeks set alight with her blush. He did not just say that in front of her parents, right?

“Well I think that’s a weird kink, Michael, but whatever floats your boat.” Mark teased smiling over at his daughter flaming cheeks before looking at him and then saw that her mother was wearing the same horrified expression. Apparently women didn’t find it easy to talk about this kind of topic. “So Michael, did you catch the game last weekend?”

Both women groaned.

***

“You know I love my parents and everything but I’m so glad we escaped. I seriously thought mum was going to offer us a bed for the night!” She said laughing as she snapped her seatbelt into place smiling as he reached over and pressed a kiss to her lips.

“Well I’d have had to decline because Helen has made it blatantly obvious that you have to be back at the hotel so you and she can go on that mission she has planned.”

“I know.” Lindsey looked forward a moment, her teeth burrowing into her bottom lip. “Do you have any idea what that could be? She’s never been here before and I’ve never heard her voice a want to go so it’s not as if she wants a tour guide because she hates the tourist thing anyway.”

“You know I’ve always offered this advice to people when they’re trying to understand Helen.”

“What?” Lindsey said wondering what advice he could offer her on understanding her own best friend.

“Don’t. She’s one weird cookie and there is no way anyone can understand what is going through her mind.” Lindsey found herself laughing. She agreed with Mikey. Some people were just too unexplainable and you really shouldn’t try to understand them.

***

“You’re not doing that mission now. It’s Valentine’s Day, Helen. They’ll want to spend time with each other.” Chandler said as he leant up on his elbow to look down at her. Since she had invited Mikey and Lindsey to stay in their two bedroom cottage it had involved Helen giving them her bedroom. Chandler had said that he would go sleep on the couch but Helen had just laughed about how his old back wouldn’t manage to cope. She convinced him that they were mature enough to share the double bed in his room.

A week had passed since Lindsey and Mikey had arrived in Ireland and every time Helen had planned to go on her mission, Chandler had always found something for her to do work related and now he was whining about a stupid day. She pouted as she looked up at him, her hand reaching up to move a random piece of hair away from his forehead. “I’m surprised you haven’t gone back to England to spend today with her.”

“Helen, she has a name.” Helen rolled her eyes and he bit back the urge to tug on her hair.

“Okay, I’m surprised you haven’t gone back to Scotland to spend today with Miss Sasha.” He decided he should have just allowed her to call Sasha her because it made things between them easier.

“I don’t spend Valentine’s day with girlfriends, Helen. They get the wrong idea. I’ve spent every Valentine’s day with you.” Helen looked at him and then realised he had. He’d even been geeky enough to buy her a box of chocolates or something. She’d always mention how it was odd that she’d been married yet he was the only one to ever buy her anything.

“You always said they were off Hadlee because he has the best mum in the world.” She laughed before pouting again. “Fine. I’ll let them spend Valentine’s Day together but if she says that she wants to go with me then that’s fine.”

“Helen...” He said in a warning tone and she just giggled as she reached up to press a kiss against his lips before jumping off the bed. He just groaned and moved after her. She was a pain in the arse at times.

***

“Well we could spend the day together and then I can go out with Mikey tonight?” Lindsey said over her breakfast as she looked between the three of them. She knew that both Chandler and Mikey had a big thing about Valentine’s day but she and Helen didn’t so she was trying her best to get out of having to do anything where there would be many people falling in love with each other and making out in public.

“Well that sounds fair enough.” Mikey muttered knowing how Lindsey hated moments. “It gives me and Chandler time to go through the contracts that he has had drawn up before he does anything stupid like sell his soul.”

“I sold my soul years ago when I let some raving ginger into my house.” He laughed as he ducked from a piece of toast that had just been thrown at him. “Okay. That sounds like a good plan. I’ll take her out for something to eat tonight.”

“No you won’t. We’ll get take in and watch some movies.”

“Chick flicks?”

“Do you know me?” She laughed as she shook her head.

“Horror.” Both Lindsey and Helen said together.

***

“Are you going to tell me what this mission is yet?”

“I’m surprised you’ve not worked it out yet.” Helen laughed as she reached into the glove compartment of the rental car that Chandler had said they could use because the guys wouldn’t need it and threw over one of her CD’s. Lindsey just started to laugh. She should have realised. Helen had loved this guy since she was a toddler and now that she was in Ireland she was obviously going to stalk him.

“We’re going on a wild goose chase so you can get a glimpse of Damien Donnelly?”

“I want more than a glimpse of him. I want his babies.” That was it then. Lindsey was in complete hysterics. She knew that Helen was being deadly serious and even though she knew that what they were doing was illegal in so many ways, she knew that it would be fun just getting up to mischief with Helen again.

“Do you not think you’re a bit too old to have an obsession with Damien anymore?”

“Bite your tongue!” Helen gasped concentrating more on putting her CD into player rather than on the road. Lindsey was going to say something but she knew Helen had a hatred for passenger driving. “You know I’ve been brought up singing along to this guy! His songs were the first I ever learnt to sing!”

“I thought you erased everything from your past?”

“I did but you can’t erase Damien! He’s like a musical God!” She laughed before seeing the sign for the village where he lived. “I have a confession. We are going to see him. He’s got an afternoon show on for some charity bash thing and we’re going to be the representative’s for the Child organisation.”

“Does Chandler know this?”

“Nope. Why do you think he was insisting that we should spend Valentine’s Day with them? I was slowly starting to panic that you would agree with him!” Helen laughed giving Lindsey her “innocent” smile before pulling up outside the church hall. “We are here to assure them that the hotel business is going to be good but I had selfish reasons...”

“Damien Donnelly.” Helen squealed and Lindsey laughed, “You’re never going to get over the fact that you’re getting the chance to meet him.”

“This is blog worthy my dear, blog worthy!” Helen laughed.

***

Stepping into the hall, Helen clung onto Lindsey with excitement while containing the urge to scream with excitement. “Nothing is happening yet.” Lindsey pointed out smiling as a bunch of old women stopped talking and turned to look at them. “Are you in charge of this situation or am I?” It took Helen a moment to calm herself down before she took Lindsey’s hand before moving forward and smiling at the women.

“Hello, my name is Helen and this is my best friend, Lindsey. We’re to show our face as representatives for the Child organisation.” The women stared at them a few minutes before smiling.

“We assumed it would be men that we would get to see.”

“Well Lindsey is engaged to one of the men in charge of the business while I work directly for the boss.” That immediately got the women even more excited and they were asking all sorts of questions about what the changes were going to be and if it was true that Chandler Child was cute and if it was true that Guy Child was homosexual but an absolute darling. Helen looked over at Lindsey and mouthed, “Help.”

“You have such a pretty shade of hair.”

“And you’re both so young and pretty!”

“It should be wrong for you to join us all!”

“Are you sure you want to join in with this festivity, girls? It can’t be very entertaining for someone your age.”

“Well actually Helen has a huge crush on Damien Donnelly so she was coming here even if she wasn’t doing mingling for the Child Organisation.” Lindsey said squeezing Helen’s shoulder, smiling as her friend blushed angrily as all the women started to coo about how Damien was such a nice boy but a little but old for her. “That doesn’t bother Helen. She still wants his babies.”

“Oh his wife might have something to say about that.” A woman cooed and Helen nearly had a heart attack as she stared at the wife of Damien Donnelly.

“Oh you might have a real issue with that.” She said holding out her hand and shaking the hand of the woman. “It’s a real pleasure to meet you, Mrs Donnelly.”

“No, I think the pleasure is all ours. We’ve been dying to meet the owner of the billionaire company that could save my family from going bust.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“My father owned the hotelier business you are trying to save.”

“Well we’re not trying to save that but...” She stopped talking as the woman pulled her into a bear hug and then Lindsey after her. Lindsey decided that this was the last time she agreed to help Helen on one of her missions. She’d been hugged by too many women today and it was starting to annoy her.

“You’ve spoiled your Valentine’s day to come and see us?”

“Well more Damien Donnelly.” Helen said grinning making the man’s wife laugh as she held on to her hand.

“I didn’t even know my husband got such young fans.”

“I was brought up listening to him, Miss.” Helen laughed taking hold of Lindsey’s hand as the woman led them over to sit down at a table. She ordered them three cups of tea from one of the young girls serving them before turning back to look at them. “I heard he was playing here and decided that I would use the Child name to smuggle my way in and see him.”

“Do you mean you have no right to use the man’s name?”

“Yeah she does. Just the guy doesn’t know we are here because Helen didn’t want to admit just yet that she was coming to stalk Damien.” Lindsey explained as she noticed that Helen was now focused on the stage. “We’ve lost her now until the show has ended.” Both women laughed.

***

“Oh my god, that was amazing. Did you see...?” Lindsey smiled at her friend gently before laughing.

“Helen, we were all there. Will you stop bouncing about like a child?” Damien’s wife laughed before taking hold of Helen’s hand. There was something about the way both of them had fresh enthusiasm to be there that made her smile. Damien had been talking for years that he’d didn’t attract the young audience anymore and it had always depressed Hazel but here was two women that had travelled to see him. She could tell that Lindsey didn’t have the same passion as Helen did but she was still there with her best friend.

“Would you like to meet him? I want to introduce him to the pair of you seeing as you’re saving the business.”

“You understand that once Chandler owns the business, it will no longer be your business?”

“Yes, I do. It’ll be relief to no longer have the stress. When my father passed away the business was left to Damien and me but we’re too busy having fun in entertainment and we kind of just pushed the hotel part aside.”

“You perform in your hotels regularly, don’t you?” Helen said smiling and Hazel nodded.

“Damien is obviously the bigger hit with the older women whereas my music hit the younger students because I’m a performer and I release pop music rather than folk like he does.”

“It’s great to hear your own wife making you sound amazing to two beautiful young ladies.” An Irish voice drawled behind Helen and she flicked round, her heart stopping as she found herself staring at Damien himself.

“Lindsey...”

“Yes, Helen?”

“Pinch me.” Both Lindsey and Hazel started to laugh.

***

“I can’t believe you made us stay here until it got dark, Helen. You don’t like driving in the dark.” Lindsey mumbled as she got into the car knowing that Helen wasn’t listening to her because Damien had just kissed her cheek as they’d left the village hall. She could see that silly grin on Helen’s face as she snapped on her seatbelt. “Are you even listening?”

“Lindsey, are you complaining that you didn’t have a good afternoon?”

“I was meant to be spending tonight with Mikey?”

“What are you complaining about? You hate Valentine’s day!”

“He doesn’t know that!”

“Well you won’t have to tell him now. I give you permission to blame me.”

“It is your fault!” Lindsey cried realising that Helen wasn’t going to make any sense right now because she was too excited that she had spent the day with Damien Donnelly. Helen was living proof that some people just didn’t grow up.

“You’re so picky.” Helen laughed as she started the car and started to drive.

***

“I think you’ve got us lost.”

“I have not got us lost.”

“Okay, so where are we?” Lindsey challenged and smiled as she watched Helen’s lips purse as she tried to name to the place where they were. “Oh god, you actually don’t know!”

“So we might be a little lost!” Helen admitted as she spied a village. “There has to be a pub or something open about here to tell us where we are...” She said before pulling into the village and seeing that it was just a long line of houses with a small church at the end of the road and a little corner shop that had probably been shut for hours. They stopped outside the church and Helen’s face fell. “You want to hear the irony?”

“What?”

“I might just have run out of petrol.”

“Helen...” Lindsey’s tone wasn’t one Helen liked hearing and she gave her friend a small grin.

“Can you not think of this as an adventure?”

“Helen!” Lindsey shrieked. “We’re in the middle of fucking nowhere and you’ve just ran out of petrol!”

“I think you’re a little upset.”

“You know those people that say boys are a little dense and know how to wind up their partners?”

“Yeah?”

“They obviously haven’t met you.” Lindsey laughed and Helen just rolled her eyes before pulling her mobile out of her handbag. “Now you’re going to tell me that you have no phone reception.”

“You thinking what I’m thinking?”

“You mention one thing about a horror film and I swear to god...” She was cut out by Helen slamming the door shut as she moved towards the front door of the church.

***

The priest had allowed them to use the phone so that they could send Chandler and Mikey a distress call. They had both laughed at it before deciding that they could indeed come to their rescue with a can of petrol and a few sandwiches because Helen had told by the time they arrived, Lindsey would probably be hungry. The priest then had taken pity and said they could wait in the church seeing as it was always open. He had handed them blankets and a few bottles of pop. They were grateful because it meant they could just laze about.

Lindsey was lying on one of the bench pews, her gaze on the stained glass window. “Helen.”

“Yes, Lindsey.” Helen uttered as she too stared but at the altar. She was slightly worried about being in here and decided that she might stop reading horrors.

“Am I stupid making Mikey wait?” Helen leant over the back of her pew to stare over at Lindsey. Lindsey had a deep look on her face and Helen was too busy munching on the mini egg stash she had hidden in her handbag.

“You’ve made the poor guy go celibate? Do you want a mini egg?”

Lindsey groaned as she sat up, “No. You idiot.” But she did steal a mini egg or two before sighing. “I mean to get married. I’m just so scared that they’ll find evidence that links me to what happened with Nate.”

“Don’t mention bad things in the church or god will kick your arse.”

“I think you’re more likely to go to hell for that than mentioning murder in a church.” Lindsey commented dryly. “I also think mentioning sex. I’m sure that was a big taboo.”

“Did you just wander off on topic or was this actually the topic we wanted?”

“We never managed to stay on topic, Helen.”

“I know. Mini egg?” She held out the bag again making Lindsey laugh.

“So do you think I’m being stupid?”

“Stupid isn’t the word I’d use. You’re just cautious. It’s fair enough. Your last wedding was interrupted by two police as if it was some stupid TV show that you’d find me watching and then his family have all started to believe that he is marrying some crazy murderer.”

“Thanks for that commentary.” Lindsey muttered sarcastically stealing another mini egg and rolling it on her tongue before looking at Helen. “I want a smaller wedding.”

“How do you mean by smaller?”

“I could survive if it was just me and him.”

“You need two witnesses.” Helen commented as she too played with a mini egg but her tactics was always to suck until it melted.

“Well I could survive with me, him and two witnesses.”

“You should have run away to Gretna like he told you to when you were first pregnant.”

“Yes. Again, thank you for pointing out all the errors I make in my life.” Lindsey said taking one of the mini eggs and throwing it at her, smiling at Helen’s laughter.

“I always wanted to get married in a small church like this.” Helen said softly. “I had dreams of the big white wedding, the people I love the most behind me and the guy waiting at the altar would be that guy I was to spend forever with. Instead I got a rush job up to Gretna Green, realised a day later that the guy had done it to spite me and asked him for a divorce just to prove that he loved me. He did it and then I left him.”

“It’s a mad world, Helen.”

“You shouldn’t stop believing, Lindsey. I suppose deep down I know that the marriage with Kent was romantic. We just ran away and did it. We didn’t care for rules or boundaries. The only two people that mattered were me and him. There was no fuss about a big white dress, caterers or vows. It was a simple ceremony with a kiss at the end, the signing of the certificate and a twelve hour session in the bedroom before going home and celebrating it with you guys.”

“I could have done without that detail. I’m so going to feel pressurised when we consummate.”

“Did you know it’s a fact that most couples don’t consummate on their wedding night. They’re too drunk to do anything so they just fall asleep in each other’s arms which is kind of romantic minus the fun of stripping the bride out of her wedding finery.”

“Helen.”

“Yes, Lindsey.”

“Stop reading romance books.”

“Lindsey, I do more than read them. I write them.” Lindsey just groaned as she leant back against her pew.

“Do you think about marrying Chandler, Helen?”

“Yeah and then I wake up.” Helen commented digging through her bag and pulling out her mobile, throwing it back in when it said they were still without signal. “Lindsey, don’t start comparing the relationship I have with Chandler to what you have with Mikey. You and Mikey are like Romeo and Juliet.”

“That doesn’t end happily, Helen.”

“Jack and Rose?”

“Helen...”

“Gomez and Morticia?”

“You’re obsessed with television. It’s a big problem.”

“Shut up.” Helen laughed before looking at her. “You understand my point, don’t you?”

“That we’re meant to be together against all odds.”

“You catch on quick.”

“I hate you at times.” Lindsey commented before sighing. “I want to marry him. I don’t care. I want to be able to wear his ring on my hand and say that against all odds we were married.”

“That’s a song by Westlife.”

“Phil Collins.”

“The Westlife cut is probably better.” Helen muttered starting to throw the mini eggs into her mouth. “Why don’t you just marry him here? It’s a pretty little church and I’m sure the priest won’t mind. We’ve spent the night camped here. Also you have to offer a donation and think what he could do with it.”

“Is that even possible? We have to do all the legal stuff first like get a license.”

“You have one.” Helen pointed out. “Besides, I was just joking. You have no dress, no family, no groom and no audience.”

“That’s what I want, Helen.”

“I was seriously joking. That’s not a good idea! I also think it would be handy to have a groom.”

“I’m going to make you choke on them mini eggs if you mutter one more sarcastic comment.”

***

Meanwhile back in the real world, the two boys were driving through the countryside cursing the women. “Only they could get lost in the middle of the nowhere and then run out of petrol.”

“No not they, Mikey. Helen. That woman is a bloody curse. I swear she does it on purpose just so she has something to write in her stupid books. I swear, this is going to happen to her next hero. He’s going to have to trek after the dumb heroine because she can’t do anything right.”

“You’ve never said that to Helen, have you?”

“Are you kidding? I love my life a little too much to have her eat me alive because I made some sexist comment.”

“I think I should warn you that Lindsey is the exact same.”

“Why didn’t we stick to debutantes?”

“They’re brainless?” Chandler had to agree with that. He found himself thinking about Sasha back home and how he could only use her for fantastic sex. The minute it came to conversation, he was finding an excuse to leave. The woman couldn’t string two words together whereas Helen knew how to make him laugh, cry and even angry with a sentence. He had passion when he was talking to Helen and he enjoyed helping her correct her stories.

“I’ll give you that one. However you now have the worry that Lindsey might be smarter than you.”

“Whereas you know Helen already is smarter than you.”

“Low blow, low blow.”

“Sorry. You walked into it though.” Mikey grinned trying to ring Lindsey’s phone again. “I swear to God it’s a cliché. We’re going to get to this church and find out the priest is a Satanist that has sacrificed them to the gods.”

“Or maybe to Satan if he’s a Satanist?”

“That could work too.”

“Mikey?”

“Yes, Chandler?”

“Stop hanging out with Helen. She’s warped your mind.” Mikey just responded by laughing.

***

“I still can’t believe you haven’t seen Dirty Dancing! That’s sacrilegious at twenty-three, Lindsey!” Helen mumbled from her pew, totally disgusted in her friend. Boredom had started to take over and Helen had started to quote Dirty Dancing – as you do – and Lindsey had sheepishly explained that she still hadn’t seen it.

“Hey, you only just listened to Sweet Child O Mine the other day.”

“That’s totally different!”

“How is it?”

“Girls are brought up on films like Dirty Dancing. You’re meant to watch it when you suffer big break ups and arguments while swooning over how cute Patrick Swayze is.”

“I thought your favourite break up film was Pretty Woman and no, I haven’t seen that either.” Helen smacked her head against the pew making Lindsey grin. “You know in those years you’ve been gone?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve missed this.”

“Me too. Olivia Jade didn’t quite understand how to be casual and fun.”

“Helen, I’m being serious when I say I want to get married here.”

“I know that and I was afraid that you were being serious.” Helen sat up and leant her chin on the back of her pew. Lindsey was smiling up at her. Helen knew that she couldn’t stop her from doing it but what with Helen’s past in doing it fast, she knew that she wanted to make Lindsey think about what she was doing. “You’ll upset everyone.”

Lindsey also sat up and took hold of Helen’s hands, her face so close to Helen’s so that she wouldn’t try and look away. “My mother already said just the other day that the only two people that matter are Mikey and I.” She reached out and tucked Helen’s hair behind her ear as she smiled. “You’re too busy worrying that I’m going to make a big mistake.”

“Are you?”

“You know what. I don’t think I am. I love Mikey, Helen. I love him so much more than I ever thought it was humanly possible to love a person. You heard that song by Damien Donnelly “Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Love”?” Lindsey shook her head at Helen’s raised eyebrow. “I realised it was stupid the minute I asked it.” She laughed. “I think that’s what I have with Mikey and I crave more every day.”

That’s when Lindsey saw the tears glistening in Helen’s eyes, the way she moved to look her away as she ran her tongue over her teeth. “Helen?” The woman just lifted her hand to signal that she needed a minute or two. She didn’t even know why she was getting all emotional because she knew that Lindsey and Mikey had shared something special from the beginning but listening to her talk about it made her cry a little inside.

“I understand you love him, Lindsey. Trust me. I do.” She whispered as she looked down at her trembling hands and smiled. “Oh god, I’m so happy for you for finally reaching this level of maturity.”

“Nate really screwed you over. He took away every bit of happiness that you ever deserved but you came back fighting.” She licked her lips and Lindsey knew that as a sign for when Helen was really struggling to chew over her words. “We both had issues back then. You had a sweet, caring boyfriend that was secretly obsessive and sucking the life out of you. He destroyed every single part of your confidence and thanks to Caleb, you got that back. You fell in love with some jerk of a lecturer that made you a laughing stock in your class and even when Nate came back to take that last part of your dignity, you just raised two fingers to the social norms of that kind of problem. You’ve moved on and you’re making a better life for yourself. You’re going to be an amazing lawyer. You’re marrying one of THE eligible bachelors of Scotland who has told me that you had mentioned envying me because my life was perfection when you had thoughts of me being a low drug taking prostitute...”

“That dirty little snitch!”

“... and I would like to say that we both have perfect lives. I have my strength, stamina and my son whereas you have the makings of a perfect family.”

“Helen, the doctors said I might not be able to have children again?”

“What?”

“I didn’t want to tell anyone.”

“Oh God.” Helen returned to hitting her head against the pew again.

***

“Do you think Lindsey trusts me, Chandler?” The question was so sudden; Chandler had nearly crashed into the trees on the roadside as he’d turned to look at his companion. He had never known Mikey want to talk about this kind of thing without being prompted to do so without some serious bullying from Helen and she knew how to react.

“What’s brought this on?”

“The fact she seems to think that postponing the wedding is the best way to deal with hiding the shame of the detective’s gate crashing our previous attempt.” Chandler decided not to mention his use of his lexis but if either of the girls had been here, they would have probably strangled him for being so damned vague and male about that description. He decided to think over his answer but before he had chance Mikey had jumped in with, “does your silence mean you think she doesn’t trust me?”

“Mikey. Don’t be so stupid. Lindsey trusts you with her life.” Chandler pulled over into a lay by and forced Mikey to look at him. “You know I see you like a brother, Mikey and as your brother I refuse to let you fuck things up with Lindsey because you have some stupid moment going through your mind about her not trusting you.”

“I’m not going to fuck up anything but she was talking about it to her parents and she kept insisting that we had agreed on it and all I could think was, no we hadn’t. She had.”

“You didn’t fight it which showed her that you had trust in her judgment. You both need to start batting on the same court or it’s going to be struggle.”

“Your thoughts were right, by the way.” Mikey eventually said after a few minutes of silence and when Chandler turned to look at him with a look of confusion, Mikey grinned. “Helen is better at these talks.” He looked at the note scrawled on his notepad. “By the way, we’re there.” He pointed at the church just down the road.

***

“You’ve told Mikey, right?”

“Nope.”

“So this has just made me realise that I’m happy to be single.”

“Why?”

“You’ve kept something so important from him. How do you think he’s going to react?”

“It’s not as if it’s my fault! We weren’t even talking when it happened!”

“Lindsey, that was months ago! There has got to have been some opportunities since then to talk to him about this.”

“Hey, don’t you start lecturing me about telling people things!”

“Hey! That was below the belt. I lied for a reason. You guys would have been ashamed of me if I had told you about the pregnancy. I was the fat girl. I wasn’t meant to be getting pregnant.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. No one thought of you as that.”

“What?”

“You always hid behind that fat girl facade. We all knew that you were out there screwing Kent and I was at the wedding. Remember?”

“I invited you because I trusted you. You’re the honest one of the group, Lindsey.”

“Why do we always end up bickering like children?”

“I have a bad temper?”

“I think that’s it.”

“Hey!”

“Just kidding.”

“Can we not leave you two alone for five minutes?” Chandler teased as he entered the church, smiling as she saw them both smile with relief. “I’ve warned you before Helen about not filling your car with petrol and what the hell were you doing all the way out here?”

“Can we just curl up in the car and sleep now?”

“It’d be warmer in here.”

“That’s true.”

“We’ve just came to save you. We’re going home.”

“No we’re not.”

“Lindsey?”

“I want us to get married tomorrow morning.”

Mikey stared at her for a moment, his jaw loosening before he eventually fell into a dark abyss. Everyone cursed as they raced towards him.

He eventually came round and found himself staring into Helen’s face. He should have known that she would be the one to look after him because she was the first aider of the little group. Then he rolled his eyes. That was obviously what he should be concentrating on at this precise moment. He tried to sit up but swayed and smiled gratefully as Helen ordered for Chandler to kneel behind him so that so that Mikey could use him to rest on. “Where’s Lindsey?” He managed to ask.

“I’m here.” She said kneeling down next to him and handing him a glass of water. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sprung that on you like that.”

“You’re being deadly serious, aren’t you?” He croaked as he read her face for any signs of it being a joke the two girls had concocted through their boredom. He’d have looked at Helen but that woman had been born to lie and he didn’t even fancy wasting his energy.

“I am always deadly serious about that kind of thing and even if I hadn’t been all elements of humour evaporated when you collapsed on us and Helen had to turn serious.” She chuckled as she laced her fingers with his. “Do you know how scary that is?”

“You know, I sometimes think you forget that I’m sat right next to you when you’re bitching away.” Lindsey turned to grin at her before winking. “Does your head hurt by the way? You were on the floor before any of us could even register what was happening so you might have a slight concussion?”

“Meaning if I agree to this crazy idea of a wedding, I might regret it later?” He teased bringing Lindsey’s hand up to his lips so he could press a kiss to it. He smiled as Helen chuckled and tapped his ankle with her hand to show that she was really amused.

“I said concussion not hangover. They have completely different effects. When we get you up on one of the pews, me and Chandler will go for a walk so you two can talk.”

“Have you seen how dark it is out there?”

“Well you can ravish me in the woods.” She teased moving to take hold of one of Mikey’s arms as Chandler took hold of one of the others.

“You’re all promises. You’re too much of a prude to allow me to take you out in the woods.”

“Chandler, Helen has done it in a graveyard. I don’t think she has an issue with outside sex. The issue might actually be you.” Mikey grumbled as he laid back on the pew, accepting the blanket that Helen covered him with because he knew that she was fearing that he was probably suffering from shock as well.

Helen just laughed as she tapped his chest and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“Thanks for helping the situation.” She mumbled taking hold of Chandler’s hand and dragging him outside. Mikey and Lindsey could still hear Helen’s giggles as she tried to convince him to go for a walk with her in the woods.

“I’m sorry about springing that on you.” She whispered kneeling at his side, her head resting lightly on his chest as she looked up at him. “It’s just being here with Helen. She finally told me about everything with Kent and it made me realise that it was what I wanted with you.”

“What did Helen have with Kent?”

“A small wedding with just Jack and I as her witnesses. It was a odd moment listening to my best friend say them words when she was crying. I should have realised that Kent had forced her into that stupid marriage but I was just so precoccupied.”

“I do find Helen fascinating but we’ll get back to her later.” Mikey teased before looking at her. “Are you sure you want to do this without your parents?”

“As long as you are there then that’s all that matters to me.” She whispered stroking his hair before laughing. “I wouldn’t even care if tweedle dee and tweedle dum weren’t here. I’d be happy with strangers as witnesses as long as you was there to say I do at the end of it and promise to love me until the day we die

That was when she saw the tear drop in the corner of his eye and her heart went out to him as she took hold of his hand. “Mikey...”

“I didn’t even realise you could be so damned romantic!” He laughed sitting up and wincing at the same time as he started to go dizzy. Helen had been right by making him lie down. “Lindsey, it would my pleasure to marry you if the priest agrees.”

Lindsey stared at him, speechless, before jumping up and wrapping her arms around him. She too was now crying as she clung onto him. “I love you.” She whispered pressing a kiss to the skin just underneath his ear.

“I love you too.”

“Awwh...” came from the doorway and they released each other to see Helen cuddled up against Chandler by the door. “Its times like that that make me want to get married.

“Well she’s right under your nose. You’re the only blind one...” Mikey winced as Lindsey nipped his leg because she could see the awkwardness starting to grow between them. The digging of their relationship was fine to happen when they were teasing while the other wasn’t around but when they were together, their cuteness was too obvious. “I’ll blame that on my concussion.”

“Good idea.” Chandler glared before turning to look at Helen. “I have warmer blankets in the back of the car. Shall we attempt to get some sleep?”

“Oh yes please!” She laughed pressing a kiss to his cheek moving away to the car. She grabbed hold of the blankets and thought for a moment. If she did ever get married again, she hoped that he was amazing as Chandler. She found herself wondering why he didn’t love her but then was snapped out of her thoughts as he wrapped his arms around her.

“We thought you had got lost and it appears you did. That little world of yours is dangerous.”

“I can’t help it. I get excited at the idea of a wedding.” She lied smoothly shutting the boot. “It’s a good thing I’m wearing a white dress. I doubt Lindsey would mind taxing it.”

“You going to sleep in your underwear like?”

“Nope. You’re going to offer me your shirt.”

***

Sleeping on a church pew was probably the most uncomfortable thing known to man. Helen had already fell off the pew three times during the night causing everyone to panic because the third time she had landed heavily on her head. Thankfully there was only a small cut there that had bled heavily but Helen had explained that more blood was released from the head so it would look scarier than it was.

Chandler had placed Helen on his knee as he’d tried to examine her cut. She kept moving out of his touch before eventually slapping the back of his head. “I’m fine.” She assured him as she slid off his lap and curled up against his shoulder, pressing a kiss to it. “The only thing that’s wounded is my ego.” She teased before sighing, her hand pressing against his chest and then she remembered that his top half was naked. She hated how warm he was whereas she was freezing to death in his shirt.

Lindsey and Mikey after that had decided to sleep sat straight up. She had rested her head on his shoulder and her arm had wrapped around his waist so that they could keep each other warm. She was struggling to sleep thanks to her confession earlier to Helen. She knew that Mikey wanted kids. He’d made that apparent and he was good with kids. He knew how to handle Hadlee when he was being a pain and before Lauren had gone home, he had loved looking after young TJ. She’d have to tell him.

“Are you okay?” He whispered smoothing back her hair and pressing a kiss to her temple. She nodded before smiling.

“I’m just so happy we had this time to share together. Ireland was probably the best idea she’s had in a while even if it was so that me and her could spend some time together.”

“I love you.” He whispered gently lacing his fingers with hers before yawning, “Now how about we get some sleep before we try and plead with the priest?”

“Okay.”

***

Lindsey found herself staring up at the altar listening to the sound of Mikey’s snoring. She could also hear Chandler snoring behind her and she knew that it would annoy Helen eventually because Helen was a light sleeper. She closed her eyes as she found herself rethinking over what Helen had shouted at her. She did need to tell Mikey everything because she couldn’t have him deciding several years down the line that she had tricked him into marriage and she couldn’t avoid his questions about Caleb forever. He had noticed that something was going off between them because he originally had always been battling for Lindsey’s affections but he’d understood that her best friend always came first.

“I know you’re awake.” Helen said flatly behind her and Lindsey whipped round to see her moving off Chandler’s knee gently so not to wake him. “Your shoulders were too hunched to be relaxed and then I could feel a bad aura as if you were thinking about something.”

“You don’t half talk some rubbish.” Lindsey whispered as she looked up at Helen that had just arrived at the end of their pew, her hand being held out. “What?”

“It’s obvious you want someone to talk to and seeing as I’m awake because my head is pounding, why not use me as your ears?” Lindsey smiled as she accepted Helen’s proffered limb and climbed away from Mikey.

“I just feel really bad now, Helen.”

“Why?”

“I need to tell him.” She whispered sitting down one of the pews, her hands digging through her hair as she found herself taking a deep breath. “I can’t marry him and not tell him that the doctors believe there is only a slim chance I can have children.” She turned to look at Helen. “I also need to tell him about Caleb.”

“Why?” Helen asked picking at her nail varnish as she looked over at her friend. “It wasn’t as if anything happened between the pair of you?”

“I still have to tell him the reason my best friend wants nothing to do with me is because I refused to love him instead of Mikey!” She answered back and Helen could hear a trace of tears in her voice. Helen took hold of her friend’s hand and squeezed it gently. “I do love Mikey and I don’t regret saying goodbye to Caleb but I do get upset whenever Mikey goes ‘have you heard from Caleb recently?’ because I do wait for Caleb to ring me and admit that he was a big idiot.”

“Lindsey, guys don’t think like that but I’m sure Mikey will respect your decision and if you want to tell him then that’s fine but don’t get too worked up about it.”

“Well I can’t promise that. He might hate me when he realises that I lied to him for so long.”

“I don’t think so somehow.” Helen promised wrapping her arms around her friend, her lips brushing against her temple. “And besides, I always promised to be your surrogate, remember?” Lindsey laughed through her tears as she clung onto Helen harder. What would she do without her best friend?

Mikey stared at the girls, his jaw dropping slightly after listening to that conversation. He’d been woken by Lindsey moving away from him. He had feared that there was something happening between Caleb and Lindsey but not that. He had just seen it as some stupid tiff. He closed his eyes again and decided that before they got married they would have a heart-to-heart. God knows, it was long overdue!