Learning to Fly - 38

Chapter 38 - the Wedding Part One

Carly looked at the dress before she slid it into a dress bag. It was so much more daring and fashionable than was her comfort zone, but Camilla's enthusiasm for it made her pack it as planned. She'd not heard from Lucas. Well that was a lie. She'd had three emails all of which she'd ignored. Not even opened. Her heart was hardened against him, that was the mantra she muttered under her breath as she packed for the trip. 

She had spoken to Marta on a couple of occasions, she was both excited and nervous, and so grateful that Carly was making the journey to share in her special day.

Camilla on the other hand was almost vitriolic now that she had made the stance against her parents she was becoming fiercely independent. The frivolity of a privileged upbringing was all but over, she was knuckling down to work hard. She was even selling some jewellery to a dealer in Salzburg and selling a lot of her designer clothing via eBay.

It was a new strong Camilla, and Carly was so proud of her, even if she wasn't completely convinced that it was all genuine. She had no idea of Lucas would be at the wedding, and her preoccupation with Camilla was purely a distraction from that, she was completely aware of that.

Her flight was late afternoon and she was due into Salzburg by six in the evening. Camilla was meeting her and they were all booked into the hotel that was housing the wedding, since her absence from the resort Camilla had become good friends with Marta and Rochelle, which pleased Carly. They were the steadying influence that her friend needed. Carly was so excited at the thought of seeing all her friends again that she almost skipped through the arrivals hall.

And there was Camilla smiling and waving. 

"I've missed you!" she exclaimed pulling Carly into her arms. 

Carly grinned, "it's only been just under four weeks!"

"I know! But so much is going on!"

Carly pulled out of the embrace with a smile before she noticed the tall handsome man beside her friend. Looking questioningly at Camilla, her friend responded with a laugh.

"This," she swept an arm dramatically up and down the length of the six foot plus man, "is the answer to all your problems!"

Carly shook his outstretched hand, "pleased to meet you."

"I'm Sam."

Carly smiled a little confused, Sam was a staggering looking man, tall, blond, and a little rough around the edges with his stubble and casual clothing. He'd be the answer to many a woman's prayers, but unfortunately for Carly the memory and longing for Lucas meant there was no attraction.

"What do you mean Camilla?"

Camilla grinned, "this is your 'plus one' for the wedding!" She glanced up at him, "I can assure you that he will scrub up a little better than this, won;'t you?" She nudged him firmly in the ribs and after a little splutter he nodded.

Sliding her arm through Carly's she led her out of the airport leaving the mysterious Sam to manage the bags.

"I'm worried!" Carly announced as she was led to a nearby car, "what are you playing at?"

"Operation Get that Man of course! Look Sam's an old school mate, he works in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, it's about three hours away. Lucas has never met him, he's the perfect distraction for you."

"Do you think Lucas is the type to be jealous like that?"

Camilla shrugged, "if he isn't, then he's not worth it, doesn't deserve you. Look really Sam's my plus one, he's who I was in Paris with over Christmas. Amongst others."

"You dirty dog! Are you...?"

She chuckled, "if I'd actually bagged a man as fit as that, then I'd have been unable to keep it to myself. As it is, I fancy the pants off him, and this way I get him alone, away from our other mutual friends under the ruse of helping you. Lucas gets jealous, sweeps you away, and I'm left to 'comfort' Sam...win, win, win!"

Sam was driving and Carly slid in to the back, watching the obvious chemistry sizzle between these two people as they bickered over directions to the hotel. As a plan this stank, and she wondered how much of it was Carly's desire to get the very attractive Sam alone.

The hotel was familiar from her visit with Lucas to the city a few months earlier. Now in April there was no snow cover but that had never delayed the function of the place. She checked in and the three of them made for the elevators, and selected the third floor. 

"We've got adjacent rooms!" Camilla confessed, "I sweet talked the receptionist!"

"And Sam?" Carly couldn't face sharing a room with a stranger.

Cam chuckled, "he'll stay with me. Until the wedding anyway. Then he'll accompany you."

"And if Lucas comes here early it'll blow it all."

She shook her head, "he's working the tomorrow night, so he'll be arriving on the morning of the wedding."

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

Laughing Camilla disappeared into her own room, leaving Carly to unpack.

That night they met Marta for a meal and a pamper in the hotel spa, Marta and Rochelle were overjoyed to see her, and the three disappeared for a little while to catch up. Rochelle was constantly nauseous, but otherwise her pregnancy was progressing along as planned. Marta was just so in love and gushing at the thought of time on a honeymoon with the dashing Bernard. And also their new life ahead. When she realised Carly still intended to travel she was even more excited at the thought of a familiar face in Australia. 

Then it was her turn to fill them in on her news. Camilla had already made them party to her plan, so they knew some of the facts, but maybe not quite how in love with Lucas Carly was. They both loved her and wanted nothing more than to see her happy, and were willing to do anything to help that cause. 

The evening ended with champagne in the bar of the hotel, Marta by that point was almost beside herself with anxiety, but they all reassured her that the next day would go like a dream.

It was with real trepidation that Carly dressed for the wedding. The black dress adorned with those large scarlet roses seemed too vivid, too tight, too revealing. But it was too late to change her mind. It was all she had. Sliding into the red patent sinful heels she groaned. This was all getting far too out of control!

As she was touching up her lipstick,there was a knock at the door. There immaculate in an ink black tux, crisp white shirt and dark bow tie was Sam. He looked amazing. The previous evening she'd had the chance to meet up with Sam and Camilla after the champagne with Marta. The two had been off on a jolly around the city and were slightly the worse for wear, though there was no sign of that now. 

"Are you ok with this?" She asked as she checked her bag for the umpteenth time. 

He nodded, "of course! Always glad to help a damsel in distress!"

Smiling she looked up at him, "not gutted that you aren't with Camilla?"

The widening of his eyes betrayed his cool calm exterior, he definitely had the hots for her. He was calm when he spoke, "I understand that if I do my job well, I won't be needed within an hour!"

She chuckled, "and just what is your job?"

He offered her his arm as he opened the bedroom door, "to make you appear as unavailable as you are beautiful! Ans my success is measured by how quickly this foolish man realises that he's lost the best thing that's happened to him."

Carly glanced up at him, "God you're good!" 

Laughing he swept her out into the hotel.

The ceremony room was hall full when they arrived. Carly walked to the front to a smiling Rochelle and the equally happy Franz who were keeping her a seat. After a round of hugs and kisses, she slid into the seat next to her, with Sam taking the aisle seat.

"Well I'm jealous, eve if he isn't...and he will be!" Rochelle whispered once they were all settled. "He's SO cute!"

"Isn't he?" Carly giggled in agreement, "and Camilla is besotted with him, thought she won't admit it...and he's no Lucas I'm afraid!"

Rochelle laid a hand on her arm, "he'll come good chéri, I'm sure of it!" 

Carly nodded, unable to voice her thoughts for the emotions that almost choked her. Rochelle's hand patted her arm, "how can he resist anyone who looks that beautiful?"

Carly shrugged, "I was awful to him when he left. I told him I hated him."

"If you didn't care you'd say nothing. Have faith, ok?"

Bernard arrived, smiling and shaking hands, when he saw Carly he winked and mouthed, 'Good to see you', then continued to his place, to wait for Marta.

She arrived in a cloud of white and flowers, gliding down the centre aisle, radiant and happy and the service commenced. Carly always got emotional at weddings, and within moments she was swiping at the odd tear that trickled down her cheek, they were both so happy.

"Here, take this!" Sam had stooped to whisper at her ear, handing her a linen cotton handkerchief. 

She smiled up at him in thanks, and it was at that moment that she felt two eyes burning into her from the back of the room. Carly didn't need to turn to know that Lucas was there, watching her. 

Sam was looking at her with concern, "you ok?"

Nodding Carly glanced up at him, "he's here."

Sam reached for her hand and squeezed it, before whispering, "you KNEW he would be. Just relax and look beautiful. Ok?"

Photos and smiles followed the service, before they all followed the happy couple into the restaurant for the wedding breakfast, even thought it was mid afternoon!

The guests filed out from the front following the bride and groom up the aisle. Carly felt sick at the thought of the confrontation, she was dreading any eye contact let alone dialogue with him. She could barely think straight. Sam was the gentleman, guiding her in the right direction with a hand firmly on her elbow.

Carly's eyes flitted around the room trying to be discreet, but she seemed to fail miserably, and anyway, he wasn't there. He must have gone. Her heart sank at the thought, obviously trying to make him jealous was the wrong plan...she couldn't be angry, as Camilla had repeatedly told her, if he wasn't willing or able to fight for her then he didn't deserve her anyway. It wasn't an easy thought, but she had to think that this was karma or fate. 

What would be would be...