Commitment: The Beauty in Between (A Beautiful Series Novella)

by Lilliana Anderson

  On top of that, the last time we came here, David and I had a massive fight and almost broke up. I know that the reason we fought doesn’t exist anymore. But I’m still nervous coming here and acting like we’re all one big happy family.

  As luck would have it, we pull up outside the house at exactly the same time as Elliot and Paige do.

  “Here we go,” I say quietly. I see Paige say something as she turns to Elliot and looks back at us. He leans over and kisses her, then they both get out of the car and start organising all of their baby things.

  “Come on princess,” David says. “We’re all friends now remember?”

  David takes my hand in his and holds it next to his face before pressing a kiss into my palm. I feel the slight prickle of his stubble against my skin and move my fingers to caress his rough cheek.

  “Hi Guys, Merry Christmas,” David calls over to them as we both get out of the car. They both say hi and return the same festive greeting with a smile.

  “Do you need a hand carrying anything?” I ask as I see Paige sling a nappy bag over her shoulder as well as her own handbag before she reaches in to lift out baby Grace.

  “Oh um… yeah ok,” she concedes, handing me the nappy bag. “Thanks,” she says, smiling briefly.

  “No trouble.”

  “So, looks like it going to be a hot summer,” David comments, making small talk. He’s carrying the bowl of salad we brought as well as helping Elliot with an esky.

  The men start talking about the benefits of air-conditioning and sea breezes as we all make our way towards the front door.

  “Must be nice living so close to the beach,” I say to Paige who is carrying a very wriggly Grace in her arms.

  “Yeah it is actually. I think it helps Grace sleep at night too,” Paige answers. Her words are a little stiff, and I wonder if I imagined her friendliness at the beach. Although she’s not ignoring me and she’s not being rude - I guess I’ll have to see how we go.

  My parents are already there, as is my brother and his wife. The house is decorated festively with a big tree in the corner, and garlands and ornaments adorning walls and surfaces. We exchange hugs and cheek kisses and place everything we’re carrying in the appropriate places.

  “Drinks?” Kathy asks us all, looking around the room at all of our faces.

  We all accept various drinks, and then head outside where Steve is preparing the BBQ before he needs to turn it on and cook lunch.

  David

  A lot of fuss is made over Grace as she’s passed around and cooed over like a beautiful gurgling doll. Katrina’s mother insists on her holding the baby, and I have to laugh at the awkward look on her face as she tries to keep hold of the wriggly babe.

  “You look good with a baby Trina,” I tease, grinning at her.

  She looks at me and smiles, although I can tell by her expression that she’s telling me not to push my luck. I think she makes it maybe a full minute before she hands Grace back to Paige who’s laughing at how awkward Trina is.

  “She’s not made of glass. You won’t break her,” Paige laughs.

  “I don’t know about that, I’ve never really been around babies before.”

  “I’d never been around babies either. But when you have a screaming baby thrust into your arms when they’re born – you learn pretty fast.”

  “She really is beautiful Paige. She looks just like you.”

  “She has my hair and her daddy’s eyes and mouth. She’s nice mix of us.”

  “She is,” Trina agrees.

  I just sit there, quietly smiling as Trina plays with Grace and chats to Paige. When Jenny comes outside carrying a tray of nibbles she doesn’t waste any time joining in as well. I find it amazing how something as small as a baby can make people forget their discomfort with each other.

  Deciding to leave the women to it, I head inside to see if there’s anything I can help with. Kathy and Carol are in the kitchen talking up a storm while they’re handing trays of meat to Elliot and Tom. I line up alongside them on the opposite side of the bench.

  “So Carol’s been telling me about the big plans,” Kathy says in a low voice. She slides her eyes toward the back door to make sure Trina isn’t in ear shot. “Not long now huh?”

  “No, not long at all,” I grin.

  “Have you got everything planned?” She asks.

  “Yes, well – mostly. We’ve hit a bit of a snag on the celebrant, but I’m hoping to get it sorted in time.”

  She looks at me thoughtfully. “If you don’t mind, I can make a few calls. I might know someone who could help you out.”

  “Really? Oh Kathy, if you could you’d be a real life saver,” I gush. The mere hint of a solution is a huge relief to me.

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “I can talk to my dad too, he might know of someone,” puts in Elliot.

  “That’d be great man, thanks,” I say.

  “It’s not a problem.”

  We all shut our mouths quickly as Katrina approaches the sliding door. She stops in her tracks when she sees us all looking at her. We must look guilty.

  “Um, Paige was just after some sort of chew toy for Grace,” she states, causing a burst of laughter from those gathered in the kitchen.

  “You mean a teething rusk. I’ll go and grab one for her,” Elliot says smiling.

  I move next to Trina as I carry some of the food outside and lean in to kiss her cheek. “Chew toys are for dogs, princess,” I laugh.

  Her cheeks instantly flame red. “Oh god, I’m so sorry!”

  Elliot walks past with a baby toy and a little packet containing the rusks. “It’s cool. I’m always commenting that she reminds me of a puppy.” He gives us a wink and goes outside to hand the items over to Paige. They have a short exchange during which Paige laughs loudly. When I look at them together, I see in them how I feel about Trina and regret ever feeling any sort of jealousy or animosity towards them.

  I look at Trina and smile – I can’t wait to be married.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Katrina

  A week later, we’re sitting together at dinner, talking about our work load over a glass of wine and a steak dinner when David’s phone starts singing. He’s set his ring tone as the wedding march to tease me. He loves that I have no idea what’s going on. Although I wish he would at least tell me the date, so I know how long we have to go.

  When he checks the screen his brow creases slightly. “I have to take this. I’ll be back in a minute.” He taps on his screen and tells the caller that he’ll just be a second then rises from his chair and kisses me on the cheek.

  “Sorry, I’ll be back soon,” he tells me in a low sweet voice. If he wasn’t being so loving I’d start to get really annoyed. But I love how happy he is lately. There’s an underlying sense of stress, but most of the time I find him smiling or whistling to himself. His mood is infectious.

  I’ve made so many excuses to avoid this wedding – we need to save, there’s no rush, it takes time to plan, and finally, I’m scared it will ruin my career. I regret every one of them. We should have done this sooner.

  David

  “So my dad made a few calls,” Elliot says to me talking quietly. I wonder if Grace is sleeping near him or if he’s being quiet because he knows this is all a secret.

  “Thanks man. Do you have good or bad news?” I ask, my voice matching his in volume.

  “Great news. We have someone who’s agreed but she’s pretty expensive – given the date and all.”

  “I don’t care mate, I’ll buy her a fucking yacht as long as she turns up on the day.”

  Chuckling, he says, “I don’t think that’ll be necessary. I’ll text you through her details and you can give her a call on Monday.”

  “Thanks man, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

  “It’s no problem. I’m more than happy to help.” I’m about to hang up when he starts speaking again. “Ah, listen – Paige and I were wondering if you a
nd Katrina would like to come around for dinner tomorrow night. We can show you the flat like we’ve been promising to. That is if you have time right now of course.”

  “Um… yeah sure. I’ll set it up with Trina.”

  “Great, I’m ah, not sure if Katrina remembers the address so I’ll text that through too. Around 7?”

  “Sure. We’ll see you then. We’ll bring something for dessert.”

  We disconnect the call and I look at my phone for a moment laughing at these new friends we’re making. If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be almost ready to marry Trina and taking her over to Elliot’s house for dinner with him and his wife, I would have called you crazy.

  I’m busting to tell someone that everything is on track again, and I can’t tell Trina, so I dial my mum instead.

  “The wedding’s still on,” I blurt as soon as she answers.

  Laughing at my relieved tone, she says, “So you got a new celebrant?”

  “I did, and you’ll never guess who sorted it out for us.”

  “Who?”

  “Elliot.”

  “Elliot? Are you all talking now?”

  “Yeah, it’s weird. We’re all getting along. His wife, Paige, seems to really like Trina too. It’s very surreal, but it’s good because Carol and Elliot’s mum are always together and organising BBQs that we all have to attend, so it’s nice that things aren’t uncomfortable.”

  “Are they coming to the wedding?”

  “No. Why? Do you think I should invite them?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe, isn’t Kathy and Steve coming?”

  “Well yeah,” I admit, but we’ve spent a lot more time with them over the years. I then realise that everyone we know and spend time with is invited except for Elliot and Paige. “I’ll talk to Trina about it.”

  “Alright. I only ask because you’re going to see them again and again. So you might as well include them.”

  “Funny you should say that – guess where we’re going tomorrow night?”

  Katrina

  “I see a smile mixed with worry. Is there something I should know?” I ask as I watch him slide the glass door closed that leads to our balcony.

  He laughs. “I can’t tell you about the smile. But the rest - um… how do you feel about going to Paige and Elliot’s for dinner tomorrow?”

  “Was that who called you?” He nods and places his phone back in his pocket. “Well… yeah… I guess. We’ve gotten along with them the last two times we saw them. I can’t see why not.”

  “Ok. Lucky, ‘cause I already accepted that one.” I roll my eyes and laugh. “Wait, there’s more - what about inviting them to the wedding?”

  I pull my head back slightly, surprised he’s actually speaking about the wedding, but more surprised that he’s thinking about inviting them. I always thought there was a rule that you didn’t invite exes to weddings.

  “I’m asking because I thought about the Christmas get together we had at Kathy’s and everyone that was there is invited except for them. Our family and their family are always going to see each other, and well, if they’re reaching out with a dinner invite then I think we should include them.”

  I fold my arms across my chest and look at a blank spot on the wall as I think it over. I can’t see what harm it would do – it’s not like there’s anything between Elliot and me anymore. There hasn’t been on my side for years. Just like I am with David, he seems one hundred percent in a relationship with Paige.

  “If I say yes, will you at least tell me the date?”

  “No Trina. I won’t tell you the date. But I’ll tell you what flavour the cake is.”

  I grin, I don’t care what flavour it is, but I’m happy to have this tiny deal. “Deal. Let’s invite them. Now what flavour is the cake?”

  “Right now, it’s air. I haven’t ordered it yet.”

  My mouth drops open. “That’s just mean!” I pick up a cherry tomato from my salad and throw it at him.

  He deflects it and starts laughing his arse off. He’s so impressed with his own cheekiness. I can’t help but laugh too.

  Chapter Sixteen

  David

  The next morning I tell Trina I’m going out to pick up something to take to Paige and Elliot’s house for dessert. It’s all come at a great time as I was booked in for a cake tasting today.

  I’m meeting both mine and Trina’s mother at the bakery I’ve hired to bake the cake for us. Trina’s mum is also picking up the dress. We couldn’t have a final fitting because she’d be able to imagine it slightly based on wearing it. When I took her to the bridal shop for her fitting, we tried a mermaid shaped dress – they’re the ones with the love heart shape at the bust that fits the top part of her body, then flares out at the bottom. I think she’d look beautiful in something shaped like that. So we measured up a simple one, then my mum and Trina’s mum went together and chose a dress based on that. So in essence, we’re keeping with tradition because I don’t know which dress she’ll wear.

  When I walk into the bakery, both mothers are already there waiting for me, sitting at a little table drinking their favourite cappuccinos and chatting. The moment the bell above the door dings, signalling my arrival, they grin broadly and rise.

  “We were about to start without you,” my mother jokes.

  “Ma, I’m five minutes early,” I point out, kissing her on her cheek before doing the same with Carol.

  The woman behind the counter is smiling as we approach.

  “This is Simone,” my mother tells me. “We’ve been telling her all about the wedding while we waited for you.”

  “You’re the first groom I’ve ever met who’s planned the whole thing,” she comments. “You’re fiancée is one very lucky girl.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. I think she’s had more than one moment where she’s regretted agreeing to this.”

  “Have you told her anything?”

  “Not a thing. It’s all a surprise.”

  “Well, I hope you’ll show me some photos afterwards. I’d love to see how it all turns out.” I nod to let her know that I will. “Are we ready to try some cake?” she asks.

  “We sure are,” I tell her.

  She turns around and collects a tray filled with a selection of bite sized pieces of cake. Trina and I aren’t huge cake eaters, so I’ve just asks to try a little bit of everything.

  Simone explains what each one is as we test them. They vary in names like Dark Chocolate fudge, black forest, traditional dark fruitcake, mud cakes in dark and white chocolate, cherry and caramel. There’s carrot cake, flourlesss orange and almond, orange poppy seed, red velvet, sticky date, marble cake, something called croqembouche, butterscotch and of course, lemon.

  I think my mum just loves that she’s eating cake before lunch. I’m not sure that she’s actually tasting them per se. But she’s enjoying them – so that’s a good thing.

  “I can’t choose. They’re all good,” she says when she’s finished.

  “Well, I think she’ll like the black forest one best. It’s always been one of her favourites,” Carol puts in.

  “Agreed. It’s my favourite too actually. That one or the orange poppy seed.”

  Simone brings out a full slice of each of the cakes we’re deciding between. I taste a bit of each and Carol does the same. As we’re talking about which one would be best to suit everyone in attendance, my mother slowly polishes off both slices.

  “I still can’t decide,” she says around a mouth full of crumbs. “I just love cake. You can choose any flavour and I’ll be happy.”

  Eventually we decide on the orange poppy seed with the citrus cream cheese filling. It’s nice and fresh tasting and suits the warmer temperature that summer brings.

  “Great choice,” my mum says as I finish going over the details with Simone. I put my arm around her and kiss the side of her head.

  “Thanks mum.”

  I also grab a strawberry cheese cake to take for dessert tonight before
walking outside with both mothers.

  “Ok, so are we all set now? Is there anything else we need to organise?” Carol asks, her aging blue eyes filled with nerves and excitement. “I have the dress by the way. It’s beautiful. It’s in the car.”

  “Thank you. And no, there’s nothing else to organise. All we have to do is get her there without her knowing what’s going on.”

  “How are we going to do that?” my mother asks.

  “Well, I have an idea about that,” I say, lowering my voice conspiratorially as I fill them in on the final part of my plan.

  There isn’t long now.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Katrina

  “That was the longest purchase of a cheesecake in the history of all cheesecake purchases,” I comment when David finally arrives home and shows me what he bought.

  He’s been gone so long that I’ve already gone for a run, returned home, showered, changed, and had something to eat.

  He puts the cheesecake in the fridge and comes to stand in front of me. “Don’t pout princess. You know I can’t tell you what I was doing.”

  I pout anyway.

  “Here, let me fix that for you,” he says as he brings his mouth to mine. I quickly forget to sulk as I feel my insides swoon over his kiss.

  “I do love that you’re doing all of this you know,” I tell him, my voice sounds thick with desire as I wrap my arms around him and press our bodies together. “I only pout because I can’t wait to be your wife.”

  He leans in and sucks my lower lip, gently into his mouth. “Do you want to go and practise for the wedding night?” he murmurs in my ear.

  I answer him with my mouth as I press it up against his, sliding my tongue inside as he parts his lips and reciprocates, moving his deliciously against my own. That’s when I taste it.