The Ruby Wedding

They'd been best man and chief bridesmaid, but they hadn't seen each other since. Until today...

- Val Bonsall

JOHN walked down the thick-carpeted stairs of the hotel. At least he wouldn’t have far to go after the party, having taken advantage of the special offer for guests to stay overnight. In reception he paused, then proceeded in the direction music was coming from.

Entering the large function room, he saw Evelyn immediately. She was busying about in a red dress – ruby-red, what else? – making sure everyone was all right, just as she had at the reception of her and Steve’s wedding 40 years ago.

Dear Evie. Even on that day, when it should have been all about them and particularly her, the bride, her prime concern had been everyone else’s welfare.

Steve, too, had done his bit. And was this evening as well, John noted, watching him moving from one group to another, dashing in a velvet jacket the colour of Evelyn’s dress.

Smiling, John took a drink from a waiter and stepped behind a pillar. His old friends were busy enough without worrying about him.

He knew from Evelyn that they were inviting as many as possible of the people who’d been at the wedding, but he didn’t recognise anyone. Which was to be expected, he decided, taking a sip of wine. He’d left the town shortly after the wedding.

To be honest, he’d been amazed to receive his invitation. With all the moving about he’d done over his life, they’d had trouble tracing him.

But it seems right you should be there, since you were Steve’s best man, Evelyn had written on the back of the pretty card:

That had come as a surprise back then. Though friends, he and Steve weren’t that close.

“What about your brother?” he’d asked.

“He doesn’t want to do it,” had been the reply.