Goody Two Shoes (Invertary 2)

Lake grabbed Danny’s arm and spoke quietly into his ear.

Danny shook his head violently. He struggled in Lake’s hold. His arms flailing wildly.

“Don’t let them take me,” Danny shouted. “I love you, Caroline. I want to marry you. You belong to me.”

Caroline watched in horror as the tribute singer was dragged away, one man on each side of him, his heels squeaking on the wooden floor. Some people were smiling after him, as though it was a show put on for the crowd. Other people seemed shocked and upset for the man. Caroline found that she was shaking slightly.

“It’s okay.” Josh wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “I’ll make sure he gets the treatment he needs. This has been a long time coming.”

As reassuring as that was, Caroline couldn’t stop the words repeating in her head. Danny, a man who didn’t know her, was shouting that he loved her. Words she’d never heard from Josh. Nausea assaulted her. Everything was off kilter. Nothing made sense.

I made a promise. Everything will be okay.

The vicar cleared his throat. “Anybody else got an objection?” The crowd laughed along with him. It was all good-natured fun.

Until another voice piped up. “I object. Anybody with a brain would object to this farce.”

Caroline closed her eyes. This was not happening. She opened them to find her ex-assistant Beth making her way along a pew, stepping on people’s toes as she went.

“Sit down and stop making a fool of yourself,” Betty called to her.

Beth ignored the woman. Josh turned to the minister. “Do we have to allow this? I don’t even know that woman.”

“She has to have her say, son.” From the way the vicar shook his head, it was clear he wasn’t impressed either.

Beth was in the aisle now. She stormed towards the platform they were standing on. Stopping right in front of Caroline. She was dressed in a red glittering mini-dress that was far too sexy for a wedding and had an over-large red handbag slung over her shoulder. She tottered in heels Caroline couldn’t have even stood in.

“You.” Beth pointed at Caroline with clear abhorrence. “You don’t deserve Josh.”

Warning bells went off in Caroline’s head. Those were the words painted on her wall. She took a step back from Beth.

Beth took a step forward. “You are a horrible person. And Josh needs someone nicer.”

“That’s enough,” the minister barked. “That is not a valid objection. Get back to your seat. Better yet. Get out. You obviously aren’t in the spirit of the occasion.”

Beth smirked at him. “Like I care what you think.” She turned back to Caroline. “You don’t deserve Josh. You shouldn’t get to marry someone like him. You’re boring and grey. Everything about you is grey. There’s nothing there to attract a man like Josh. You’re just like your dull, old-fashioned clothes.”

“That’s more than enough.” Josh stepped towards her. Lake was still dealing with Danny. Josh turned to Mitch. “Deal with this.”

Mitch shot Beth a look filled with disgust. “My pleasure.” He took a step towards the woman.

“You’re wearing the wrong colour,” Beth spat at Caroline. “It should be grey. Like you.”

She reached into her oversized bag and came out with a bottle.

Caroline’s mouth fell open as everything happened at once. Josh and Mitch lunged at Beth. Helen screamed. Beth smiled the nastiest smile Caroline had ever seen. The crowd gasped in unison.

And then the bottle exploded. Grey paint shot out. All over Caroline’s beautiful dress.

“Fantastic!” a man shouted. There were flashes. Caroline looked in the direction of Beth’s date. Pyro? The paparazzi photographer from London was at her wedding? With Beth? And he was taking photos? Photos of the most humiliating day Caroline had ever had. Caroline felt the room sway. A hand held her arm. Kirsty. Kirsty was there.

Lake came rushing into the church, followed closely by Officer Donaldson.

“Marry me,” Beth was screaming as Mitch held her hands tight behind her back. She fought against him. Fought

to get to Josh. “Marry me. I’ll be good to you. I won’t bitch at you. I won’t boss you around. I won’t be all stiff and formal. You don’t want to marry her. It’ll be like sleeping beside an old wooden plank. I’ll treat you right. Marry me.”

Josh shouted at the police, “The guy with her, her date, he’s paparazzi.”