Fran's Dad's pub was a cosy little haunt, nestled by the mouth of a nearby wilderness. It's long gravelled drive split off in several directions. One would lead you to a disused farm, another to a park where teenagers usually hang out to burn things and the third was to the pub. Steve found it no problem, after giving up on his sat nav after a forty minute drive.
'Got it off my mate down the market.' He sighed.
'The man who wears pyjamas?'
'...yeah.'
His choice of clothing didn't give Steve any indication that what he'd bought was shit and of no use what so ever. I found out as soon as me and Allison squeezed into the back seat of his Skoda, right around the time the sat nav blurted out directions in Korean.
'I'll take it back to him. He'll sort it.'
'The man can't dress himself.' Mary scoffed. 'How the hell can he fix a sat nav?'
'We're here!' Allison interrupted.
We pulled up outside the pub. Stood outside were a few people, all smiling warmly whilst sipping soft drinks. Fran had arranged this special meet and greet before the ceremony for both families to chat and get ready for the day. The four of us were greeted by a few familiar faces at the door. Jake was the first to do a round of handshakes and greetings, introducing and re-introducing us to Alex's brother Duncan, cousin Jim and a few aunties and uncles of the bride.
'All right, Steve. You sobered up, yet?' Jake giggled.
'Yeah, just about. Good night, wasn't it.'
We were told to go inside and order anything we wanted and Fran's Dad was paying for it. Inside the foyer the fresh air hit us, shaded from the clear day outside. Largely framed pictures of old men stared seriously at us from each wall, with aged glass cabinets stood beside them, displaying trophies for bowling, darts, dominoes, snooker, women's snooker, pool, cards and rugby. Through the first room was the games room. It wasn't a shock to see considering the amount of games they'd won. But what was a little odd was the size of the pub from the inside. From the outside it seemed like a vintage, grand old man's kind of pub. Maybe one with a beer garden or a separate restaurant area. But inside it was tiny. With low ceilings and wood panelled walls showing off more medals and certificates. From the foyer you could see the pub formed a complete circle, moving from room to room in order to form it.
In the centre was the bar, itself a smaller circle. It was as if the pub had won so many dart's competitions in it's lifetime that the whole building had formed into a huge dartboard. All that was needed was a giant tomatoe in the middle to make a bullseye.
The bar appeared custom built for old barfly's and lonely hairy men. That stale stench of aged ale and the slight scent of cigarette smoke still lingered on the nostrils long after the ban. But instead of the usual clientèle, the bar was propped up by Alex. His gold and black suit matched Jake's but Alex's seemed like it had been worn for a week or so. His shirt was untucked, his tie was on the bar next to his half finished bottle of Budweiser. It looked like the bar was propping him up, slouched over it on a bar stool in the corner. Mary, Allison, Steve and I approached him from behind. The inevitable 'wedding chime' da dum da dum's greeting him.
'Leave it out, guys.' He sighed.
'Come on, Alex.' Mary patted him on the back. 'Big day!'
'Yeah.' He replied, sipping his bottle.
'How many have you had?'
'I don't know...four...five.'
'Jesus.' Steve sat down next to him. 'I've heard of Dutch Courage, mate but this is more like Dutch...'
The four of us glanced at him as we heard the cog's whir around in Steve's brain, desperately searching for another word.
'Pisshead.'
We all angled our heads and accepted it.
'Well, I need it.' Alex sighed again. 'I've just had that talk with John.'
'Who's John?' We all asked.
'Fran's dad.'
He looked like a John. Big John.
'What talk?'
'The talk!You know...providing for his daughter. Protecting her. There's so much pressure.'
'I know but you'll handle it.' Allison tried.
'Yeah...' Mary rubbed his back.
'Yeah, but what if I don't?' He finally turned around to all of us. 'What if I can't provide for Fran? Anything could happen and it's all up to me!'
'It'll be fine.' I said generically, hoping it wouldn't be challenged.
'But what if it won't!'
'Alex, Alex.' Mary said warmly, nudging Steve out of his stool. 'This is a classic case of cold feet. It's perfectly normal to be worried but remember...you are a team. You and Fran are great together and whatever happen's you'll work it out.'
'I suppose.' Alex shrugged.
The barman interrupted Mary's flow.
'Same again?'
'No.' Alex said. 'I'll have Jack Daniels and coke.'
'On the rocks?'
'...Yeah...' Alex narrowed his eyes. 'Can I have it with ice, too?'
Now the barman looked confused.
'Can I get two pints of bitter, mate?' Steve asked the barman. 'What are you guys having?'
'Steve, you're having two pints?'
'What? John's paying!'
We all sipped our drinks in the empty pub. The sunlight was streaming in through the large windows, more friends and family that were arriving were casting shadows into the room.
'Thanks, guys.' Alex smiled softly. 'It just shocked me, that's all. I mean, what if I lose my job? What will happen to the flat?'
'You'll get another job.' Mary said.
'Fran will pay for it.' Steve said at the same time.
'What?' Mary asked Steve.
'What?' Allison asked Steve.
'...What?' Steve asked us all.
It was like a cowboy stand off. Except it was in an old pub in England.
'What if she can't?' Mary asked Steve, staring him down.
'She'll have to.' Steve shrugged.
'She can't do it on her own.' Mary protested.
'Doesn't matter.'
'Guys...' Alex tried to gain a grip of the conversation.
'Not now, Alex.' Mary cut him off. 'Is this how you see a relationship? Is this how you see our relationship? What if you loose your job? Do you expect me to take care of you with a baby on the way?!'
'Well, no...but...' Steve started to sweat.
'But what?' Mary snapped.
'Guys...'
'NOT NOW ALEX!'
Mary leapt off the stool and grabbed her handbag.
'I can't believe you think like this...'
I looked at Steve. Allison looked at me. Mary stormed off and Alex ordered another drink.
Me and Allison decided to leave Steve and Alex in the bar with their drinks and head outside to mingle. I never normally enjoy mingling at special occasions but I didn't know many people here and with Allison, I had my own back up for when mingling died out. There was no sign of Mary in the huddle of well dressed friends and family, all sipping and chatting in the sunlight. But we did see Sharon, a few yards away from everyone else enjoying one of her long cigarettes.
'Morning, Sharon.'
'Ah, Dylan. Allison. Good to see you here.' She attempted to smile. 'How was your last shift?'
'I got pissed on by rain and threw a rude woman's shopping away.'
...What? She's not my boss any more.
'Lovely.' She ignored it, popping her lighter back in her handbag.
'He's better off at the museum.' Allison rubbed my arm.
'Really? I thought you said you don't work there.'
'What?' Allison asked me.
'What?' I asked Sharon.
'What?' Sharon asked us both.
Oh fuck. I completely forgot I'd told Sharon I wasn't working at the museum. All the panic and desperation of getting out of that office...and keeping Allison away from the truth. It completely slipped my mind.
'You said...' Sharon stared at me. 'In my office. You're not at the museum.'
'Is that true?' Allison turned to me.
'Well...' I put my hands in my pocket and looked away. 'I've not been for awhile...'
'You went on Thursday...you said.'
I cleared my throat.
'When did you last go?'
'Erm...what day are we on now? Erm....May...sometime.'
Allison put her head back and glared at me. It felt like slow motion. She made a click sound from her throat, tutted violently and stamped away from me. All I could do was leer at Sharon. She just lit another cigarette.
Brilliant. A pissed up groom and two angry girlfriends. And it was only 11am.
End of part one.
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