Husband Went Fishing with His Mates, Then I Saw Him Live at My Best Friends Wedding
“No, no, and no again!” Emily threw her hands up in despair. “I can’t go to the wedding, Sophie! You know James has had this fishing trip planned with Dave for months. Theyve been preparing foreverI cant cancel last minute.”
“But its Charlottes wedding!” Sophie set her tea down with a clatter. “Your best friend from uni! Shell never forgive you if you dont show. What fishing trip could possibly matter more?”
“Its sacred to James,” Emily sighed. “He hardly ever gets time away without me. Hes been talking about it all springnew tackle, a tent, the works. I cant let him down.”
“And Charlotte, then? Shes fine to be let down?” Sophie shook her head. “She picked the date specially so you could come up from Bristol. Your seats are paid for, and youre both on the guest list.”
Emily tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. This dilemma had plagued her all week. On one sideCharlottes wedding, her closest friend since university. On the otherJamess long-awaited lads fishing trip. And of course, both landed on the same weekend.
“Maybe Ill just go alone?” she offered weakly. “Explain the situation. Charlotte will understand.”
“Oh, shell understand,” Sophie snorted. “And hold a grudge for life. Remember how she sulked when you missed her birthday three years ago?”
“That was different,” Emily protested. “I forgot. This is a proper reason.”
“Right. Fishing,” Sophie drawled. “Fine, suit yourself. Dont say I didnt warn you.”
The conversation left a bitter taste. Emily rode the Tube home, turning the problem over. Maybe she should talk to James again? Explain how much the wedding meant? But hed been so excited about the trip, counting down the weekends It felt selfish to ask him to cancel.
James met her in the hall, helping her out of her coat. He smelled of fresh air and something delicious from the kitchen.
“Dinners ready,” he said with a grin. “Your favouriteseafood pasta. How was your day?”
“Fine,” Emily pecked his cheek. “Met Sophie for coffee. She says hello.”
Over dinner, the weekend plans inevitably came up.
“Sure you dont mind me going fishing?” James studied her face. “If the weddings that important, I can stay.”
“No, no,” Emily said quickly. “Go, of course. You and the lads have planned this forever. I get it.”
“Really?” He still looked uneasy. “Dave says signals rubbish out there, so I might not get through. But Ill text when I can.”
“Its fine,” she assured him. “Enjoy yourself, catch loads. Ill go to Charlottes alonecant let her down. Ill just explain youre fishing.”
James nodded, but something like relief flickered in his eyes. Emily chalked it up to happiness that his trip was still on.
Friday morning was chaos. James packed rods, checked the tent, rang Dave twice to confirm details.
“Dont forget your tackle, oh mighty angler,” Emily teased as he hunted for a torch. “And mind the fish bite back.”
“Cheers, love.” He hugged her tight. “Take care, dont miss me too much. Send Charlotte my best.”
“Will do.” She buried her face in his neck, breathing him in. “Wont be the same without you.”
“Youll have a blast,” he kissed her head. “Right, Im off. Daves waiting downstairs.”
“Bring back a whopper?” she asked at the door.
“Absolutely!” He winked. “Feast for days!”
When the door closed, the flat felt too quiet. Three days without James. They rarely spent time aparteven holidays were together. But itd fly by. And the wedding tomorrow would keep her busy.
That evening, she rang Charlotte, explaining Jamess absence. Thankfully, her friend took it well.
“Just glad youre coming,” Charlotte said. “Wouldnt be the same without you. James is hardly around anywaywell survive.”
“See you tomorrow,” Emily smiled. “And congratulations again. Youll be the most gorgeous bride!”
Saturday was a whirlwindhair, nails, picking up the gift, pressing her emerald-green dress. Glancing in the mirror before leaving, she was pleasedfresh, polished, ready.
A text from James came mid-morning: “Made it safe, setting up camp. Signals dodgy. Love you, have fun!”
She smiled and replied: “Good luck! Love you more.”
The wedding was at a posh Mayfair restaurant. Emily arrived lateLondon traffic, as ever, was horrendous. The ceremony had just ended when she slipped into the hall.
“Em!” Charlotte, radiant in white, rushed over. “You made it! I was starting to think youd bailed too!”
“Miss your big day?” Emily hugged her. “Youre stunning! Olivers a lucky man.”
“Thanks, darling.” Charlotte beamed. “Shame James couldnt come. But men and their fishingsacred tradition, isnt it?”
“He sends his love and apologies,” Emily said. “Promises to make it up to you.”
Charlotte led her to their table, where uni friends were already seatedSophie and her husband, Lily with hers, Tom with a new girlfriend. Catching up eased Jamess absence. Toasts flowed, laughter bubbledthe room was warm with joy.
“Wheres your better half?” Tom leaned in. “Not skipping this, surely?”
“Fishing with mates,” Emily said. “Planned for agescouldnt back out.”
“Fishing in April?” Tom frowned. “Bit early, no?”
“Is it?” Emily shrugged. “James says springs best. Not that Id know.”
“Anglers wisdom,” Tom smirked, but his gaze held something odd.
The evening rolled on. After dinner, the dancefloor openedcompetitions, a live band. Champagne had loosened Emily up when she noticed guests clustered around a phone streaming live.
“Katies Instagramming this!” Sophie pulled her over. “Wave hello to everyone watching!”
Emily obliged, smiling at the camera. “Hi all! Weddings fantasticshame some couldnt make it.”
“Lets show the vibe!” Katie panned across the roomguests dancing, the cake cutting. “Waitis that James?!”
Emily followed her gaze. Near the bar, a man who looked exactly like her husband swayed to the music. Even in low light, she knew his frame, his movements, that crisp blue shirt he wore for special occasions.
“Cant be James,” she forced a laugh. “Hes fishing. Miles from here.”
“No, thats definitely him!” Katie zoomed in. “Look!”
The phone screen showed Jamess faceher husband, who shouldve been lakeside. He was laughing with a woman Emily didnt know, their ease suggesting familiarity.
The floor tilted. Blood roared in her ears. This had to be a mistake.
“James!” Her voice cracked across the room.
He turned. Their eyes met. His face drained of colour. He muttered something to the woman and bolted for the exit.
Emily followed in a daze, ignoring stares.
“Em, wait” He caught her in the corridor. “I can explain.”
“Explain what?” Her voice shook. “The fishing lie? You being hereat Charlottes weddingwhere you supposedly couldnt come? Who was that woman?”
“Its not what you think,” he ran a hand through his hair. “Can we talk somewhere quiet?”
“Talk here.” She crossed her arms. “Why lie?”
James glanced around. They were alone, but music pulsed from the hall.
“Fine,” he exhaled. “There was no fishing trip. I lied, but not for the reason youre imagining.”
“Then why?”
“I was planning a surprise,” he admitted. “For our anniversary next month.”
“A surprise?” She stared. “At my best friends wedding?”
“Exactly,” he nodded. “Charlotte and Oliver helped. That womans a singershes been coaching me. I wanted to sing for you at our anniversary. Tonight was a rehearsal, to see if I could perform in front of people.”
“And the fishing story?”
“If Id said I was coming here without you, youd have suspected,” he grimaced. “I wanted it to be a proper surprise. Imagineme, singing at our party!”
“Good grief,” Emily covered her face. “You lied to surprise me?”
“Stupid, I know,” he cupped her shoulders. “Forgive me? I never thought youd come alone. When Charlotte told me, I panickedstay away or risk being seen.”
“And the photos? You dancing with a stranger?”
“Dunno,” he admitted. “Didnt think that far. Conspiracys not my forte.”
Just then, Charlotte appeared.
“There you are! James, weve been lookingweve still got the number to practise!”
“You knew?” Emily gaped.
“Of course!” Charlotte grinned. “Its romantic! James wanted to do something specialwe helped. Youre not cross?”
Emily looked between them. Jamess eyes were pleading.
“I dont know if Im angry or not,” she said honestly. “But Im definitely shocked. All this for a song?”
“Not just any song,” James corrected. “Our song. The one we danced to at our wedding.”
“Oh, James,” Her anger melted into tenderness. “Youre terrible at secrets. But its sweet.”
“So you forgive me?”
“On one condition,” she narrowed her eyes. “I hear it now. The surprise is ruined anyway.”
“But Im not ready!”
“Tough,” Emily smiled. “Ill be kind.”
Half an hour later, a flushed James stood by the mic, the “stranger” (a professional vocalist, it turned out) beside him. Their wedding song began, and Emilys eyes welled up.
He wasnt perfectmissed notes, flubbed lyricsbut the love in his eyes, fixed only on her, was better than any polished performance.
When it ended, the room erupted. Emily hugged him tight.
“Youre unbelievable,” she whispered.
“Even with the stupid lie?”
“Because of it,” she smiled. “It showed how far youd go to make me happy.”
Later, in the cab home, James still looked guilty.
“I really mucked this up,” he said, holding her hand.
“Now weve a story for the grandkids,” she laughed. “How Grandad went fishing, and Gran saw him live at a wedding. “Best fishing trip I never took,” James said, squeezing her hand. “Though Daves going to be furious I stood him up.”
Emily leaned her head on his shoulder, still smiling. “Oh, I already texted him.”
“You what?”
“Told him the truth. That you were rehearsing to serenade me like a soppy romance film.”
He groaned. “Now Ill never hear the end of it.”
“No,” she said, kissing his cheek. “But youll hear every note I never knew youd sing.”
And as the city lights shimmered past the window, she knewsome lies, tangled and foolish as they were, could still lead back to love.
