God, I love this man.
Chapter Nineteen
David
Christmas has come and gone and we’re now back at work, leading up to the New Year. While we did exchange gifts at Christmas, nothing compared to the gift Trina had already given me – she wants to have a baby.
I think I have this permanent grin attached to my face lately, as everything is falling into place.
And the wedding is soon. The wedding is really soon.
Katrina
“Oh my goodness. What a day!” I sigh as I drop my bag on the dining room chair and kick my heels off. I had to work overtime so it’s almost 8pm, but it’s still light and still hot, so I head straight for the air conditioner in the lounge room, and stand under its gust while I shake my sleeveless blouse to circulate the air.
David is sitting on the couch, his glasses perched on the end of his nose and a book on his lap as he watches me. His lips are curved up as though he’s amused and I pause my movement and turn to face him.
“What are you grinning about?”
“Nothing. I just like watching you.”
“Is that so?” I ask as I move towards him. He’s shirtless and wearing only pair of short khaki cargo pants, his bare foot hangs over the side of the couch’s arm. Even though it’s hot outside, it’s cool in here, so I slide myself onto his lap and kiss him hello.
“Mmm. So tell me. What happened at work?”
“Oh, you wouldn’t believe the amount of people we’ve had starting divorce proceedings this week. It’s like they woke up Christmas morning and decided they couldn’t stand each other anymore.” I shake my head, thinking about it.
“Since you’re surrounded by divorce and family drama all the time, does it ever make you worry that we won’t make it?” he asks after a moment of thought.
“No David. Never. My life is incomplete without you in it.”
I lean closer and kiss him to show him I mean it. He chuckles happily, then taps his hand twice on my thigh and asks me to hop up. “You hungry?”
“Famished,” I reply, standing up and then following him into the kitchen where he pulls a plate of cold bbq chicken out of the fridge and a bowl of salad.
I grab the dressing and two bottles of apple cider, then follow him to the table where the plates and cutlery are waiting for us.
“So I have a little bit of bad news,” he starts as he places chicken on both of our plates. I pause spooning out the salad and look at him with my brows risen in question. “I have to go down to Melbourne for a couple of days for work. One of the companies we’re representing has offices down there and I’m part of the team that has to go and see them.”
“Oh ok, that’s fine. I’ll miss you, but that’s not really bad news – you’ve gone away before.”
“Yes, but this will be in a couple of days. I won’t be back in time for New Year’s. They can’t get flights for us until the next day.”
“What? Oh that really sucks. What about that harbour cruise mum got all of us for Christmas? We’re going to miss out now.”
“No, don’t be silly. You go with your family. I’ll just make sure I’m on the phone with you when the clock strikes midnight.”
I drop of piece of cucumber in my mouth and lay my head on his shoulder. “I don’t want to go without you.”
“Yeah but Trina, your mum paid for the tickets and it’s not fair on her if we waste both of them. Go. You’ll have fun. Just no dancing with strange men. You’re mine ok?”
I laugh and sit up again. “Alright I’ll go and I won’t dance. I’ll just sit and Snapchat with you all night.
He raises his eyebrows. “That could be a very interesting night. I remember the last time you Snapchatted with me while I was away. They weren’t the kind of photos you can send from a harbour cruise filled with people.”
I tilt my head and shrug one shoulder. “I have my ways.”
Chapter Twenty
David
It’s New Year’s Eve. I’m sitting in a hotel room on my own. I’ve just had breakfast and given Trina a call to say good morning. She only has a half day at work today, so she’s going out to her mum’s as soon as she’s finished. They’ll all head into the city to get on the boat together.
I flick my way through the channels on the tv in front of me, although nothing catches my interest. I wish I was with Trina right now. I don’t like spending time away from her.
Katrina
I haven’t had to catch the train out to Penrith station for such a long time. Normally David and I drive out on the weekends when we visit.
And it’s hot. It’s ridiculously hot. I hate the train in the heat. Even though they’re air conditioned, the seats prickle me on the backs of my legs and no matter how I adjust my skirt, it doesn’t seem to stop.
Dad picks me up from the station in his old beat up ute. The white paint is peeling off in sections, but it still runs well so he refuses to get rid of it.
“How was the train ride princess?” he asks as I climb in the cab.
“It was fine,” I laugh. “So you’re calling me princess now too?”
“Yeah, well – it’s catchy and you’re my daughter, so of course you’re my princess.” He curls his mouth up on one side and starts to drive.
My father isn’t a man of many words, but he’s unusually quiet as we drive along Castlereagh Rd, back towards my childhood home.
“Is everything ok dad?”
“Oh…yeah. I’m just a bit nervous of this cruise thing. You know I don’t like crowds, plus it’s hot and I’ll have to wear a suit.”
“It’ll be fun dad. You’ll see. Besides, it’ll be cool on the water.”
When we arrive home, it’s almost 4pm. Mum and Jenny are in the family room with another woman getting their hair done.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“Oh this is Jenny’s friend Liz. She’s doing our hair for the cruise. It’s formal you know.” My mum states.
“Yes I know. I have a formal cocktail dress – see?” I tell them holding up the garment bag with my emerald green knee length flowing chiffon dress with a band of beading just below the bodice. “I even have ridiculously high heels to wear.”
“That dress is beautiful Katrina. You’re going to look gorgeous in it.” Jenny says. “Do you want your hair done too? Liz – can you fit in one more?”
“Oh I don’t want to be any trouble,” I say to Liz who smiles and tells me that it’s no trouble.
“It won’t take long. I’m just about finished your mum so I can do yours in about ten minutes.”
“Ok, well I’ll have a quick shower so I don’t stink of sweat all night,” I inform them, heading to the bathroom and grabbing a towel from the linen press.
My hair isn’t very long, so Liz pins curls around the base of my head so it looks like my hair is longer. It looks like a low thick bun. She pulls the hair back softly from my face, but still enough of it falls forward so my scars are covered.
“That looks really nice. Thank you Liz,” I say as she shows me all the views of it between two mirrors.
“You’re very welcome.” She tidies up the tools of her trade and wishes us all a good night, although I can’t help but wish David was coming.
I’ve sent him a bunch of Snapchat messages today but the app tells me when he’s seen them, and they’re all unopened. I take a selfie of my hair and curl my tongue up so it’s touching my top teeth in one of those silly seductive poses girls like to take of themselves. I know that if David looks at it, he’ll have a good laugh.
Once we’re ready, we all pile into Tom’s car and head to what I expected to be the train station but he keeps driving through.
“We’re driving into the city? On New Year’s Eve? Are you crazy?” I ask him.
“Relax sis,” he says. “Me and Jenny have a hotel room for the night, so we’re going to park there and walk to boat.
“In our formal wear?”
“Yes, in our formal wear.”
> “It’s really not that far. Plus there’ll be the whole boat full of people dressed up. We won’t be the only ones,” Jenny tells me.
“True, I’m just wishing I wore lower heels now.”
By the time we get into the city and park the car, it’s almost 7pm, which is when we’re supposed to board the boat. We all walk as quickly as three women in heels can, and reach the small cruise boat that looks beautifully decorated, even from where we stand on the wharf.
We walk up the ramp leading from the wharf onto the boat and enter what appears to be a reception hall or dining room. I’m surprised when I look around and see… no one.
“I thought we were running late? Where are all the people?” I ask. It was that moment that the well-known notes of Bruno Mars’ song Marry You starts to play. “What the hell?” I mutter, looking around the grandly decorated dining room. My eyes land on the tall man standing at the doors leading out to the deck at the bow of the boat. “David?! You’re not in Melbourne? What…? Does this mean? Oh my god! Is it today? We’re getting married today?!” I’m squealing and bouncing up as I watch him grin and nod. I rush over to him and throw my arms around his neck, raining a shower of kisses over his face out of my excitement.
“I can’t believe it, how did you do all of this? This is amazing!” I gasp. It’s then that I notice that his eyes are closed. “What are you doing? Open your eyes,” I laugh.
“I can’t see you before the wedding,” he smiles, keeping his eyes firmly closed. “It’s bad luck.”
“David. Don’t go all traditional on me now. You chose the dress. I don’t think that stuff matters anymore.”
“No, I didn’t choose the dress. Well, not technically anyway. I chose the style and our mother’s decided on the final one.”
Noticing movement over his shoulder, I see his mother and her partner standing and smiling, watching us excitedly. Her hands are clasped in front of her like she’s praying and she has tears in her eyes.
“Surprise!” she says to me when our eyes meet.
I move over to hug her and then rush around the room, hugging everyone. I’m jumping like an excited school girl. I can’t believe this is finally happening!
When I finish attacking everyone with my excitement I return to David. “So what do we do now?”
“Now we get ready. You have one hour.”
I’m whisked away to a private room where my dress is hung up and waiting. It’s white silk and has a heart shaped strapless bodice, which is gathered around the bust and has a strip of gold beading, just below the breast line. The waist gathers toward the right and swirls around the dress before meeting on the left hip and falling into a full skirt, covered with evenly spaced trails of beautiful gold flowers and vines. They fall where the skirt curves, extending the length and down the mermaid train. It’s the most exquisite thing I’ve ever seen.
“Do you like it?” my mother asks, looking slightly worried as she watches me run my fingers over the detailing.
“No. It’s absolutely breathtaking. You chose well,” I tell her turning to embrace her. “You both chose well,” I say to David’s mum over my mother’s shoulder before I move over to her and hug her as well. “Thank you Helen. Thank you mum. Thank you both so much. I don’t know how you all managed not to talk about it, but I really had no idea. This is just amazing.” The excitement suddenly starts to overwhelm me and I start to choke up.
“Oh don’t cry, you’ll ruin your makeup and we’ll have to start again.” Helen says, dabbing at the tears that are forming in the corners of my eyes.
“I’m just so happy. I can’t believe this is finally happening.” I look upwards to stop my tears and wave my hands frantically at my eyes.
“Alright, calm down. We’ll help you into your dress and then I have to go and check on David.”
I have to step into the dress so my hair doesn’t get ruined, so I hold onto my mother’s shoulders as she and Helen hold the dress open for me. When it’s on and zipped up, I turn to admire it in the mirror. It’s fits like a glove and is more than perfect. I look like a princess.
“I love it so much,” I gush, turning from side to side and drinking it in. I swish the skirt, feeling a little silly but not caring one little bit. I’m deliriously happy.
“Perhaps you’d like a champagne to calm you down a little,” my mother suggests laughing at my antics.
“That would be wonderful,” I sing song, still spinning around in my dress.
“Oh! Before I forget. Since you don’t have a maid of honour, I thought I should cover all the superstitions for you,” my mother says, fetching her handbag and reaching in to pull out a small velvet box.
When she hands it to me she explains. “This is your something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”
Opening the box, I gasp at the beautiful antique looking hair comb that’s contained inside. It’s silver, and is decorated with small flowers. Each one has intricate petals and leaves that are dotted with sapphires and emeralds for colouring.
“I got it at an antique store, so it’s old. And since I bought it only a week ago, it’s still new. Unfortunately, I can only lend it to you for today so it’s borrowed – but I’ll give it to you for your birthday,” she says the last part behind her hand in a lower voice, like the wedding police might call her out and say it doesn’t count. “And of course the sapphires make it blue.”
“It’s beautiful mum. Can you help me?” I ask, removing it from its box and holding it out.
“I thought it would look really pretty, just above your curls.” She removes the comb from my hand and slides it in above the pinned curls. I twist my head from side to side to see. She’s right – it does look really pretty there.
“Thank you. This is perfect. Everything is perfect,” I tell her. I think I may need to pinch myself.
David
“Is she ready? Is she ok?” I ask at lightning speed as my mother enters the room I’ve been given to dress in. Her partner, Alex, has been sitting with me and trying talk to keep me calm, but I’m so obscenely nervous that I feel like I might need to take another shower.
“Just relax darling. She’s fine - she’s dressed and will be ready soon. How are you doing?”
“I just… has she got the flowers?” I ask, now that it’s all coming to a head, I’m petrified I’ve forgotten something or that something will go wrong.
“I’m going to take them to her once I leave here.”
“It’s just that the timing has to be perfect mum, or this is all going to blow up in my face.”
“I know. I know. It will be ok. Everyone knows the time. We’re going to be ok.”
She smooths her hand over the side of my face and straightens my silver and royal blue striped tie.
“You look gorgeous,” she says to me, kissing me lightly on the cheek and then rubbing it with her thumb to remove the lipstick she shared with me. “I’ll go and get everybody into their places.”
She leaves the room and I blow out some air so I can suck more in. I’m so nervous I might need a paper bag soon.
Katrina
A gentle knocks sounds at my door and my mother rushes over to see who it is.
“It’s your father,” she says opening it and letting him in.
“Oh hi dad,” I say, walking over to him and giving him a hug. “I guess I understand why you were so nervous now.”
“Well, it’s not every day your only daughter gets married. You look beautiful honey. A real vision.”
I thank him while I take his hand in mine and squeeze gently. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my dad look so proud.
He clears his throat. “Well, I think it’s almost time for us to go out there,” he says.
“Not without these,” David’s mum says as she opens the door, carefully sliding inside so she doesn’t drop the flowers she’s carrying.
“Oh Helen! They’re beautiful. Is this my bouquet?” I ask, moving over to the white orchid and blue delphinium ar
rangement. “It’s just gorgeous!”
Helen smiles kindly at me as she hands over my bouquet.
“I must sound really funny today,” I laugh. “All I’ve done is gasp and giggle since we got here.”
“I’d be worried if you didn’t” she imparts, rubbing her hand down my arm before taking my hand in hers. “If I don’t get the chance to say it before tonight is through – I’m so glad that you’re going to be my daughter. I know it’s kind of been like that all along, but I’m really glad that it’s becoming official.”
“Thank you Helen, that means a lot to me.”
“Ok, well your dad knows what to do so he’ll take you out there soon,” she says moving towards the door.
“See you soon honey, you look absolutely beautiful,” my mother says, her eyes sparkling with happiness as she clasps her hands together and then follows Helen out.
“Champagne?” I ask my dad.
He checks his watch and shrugs. “Sure, we’ve got time.”
David
Everyone we’ve invited is gathered around, waiting for Trina to appear. We’re all set up on the deck at the bow and so far everything looks perfect. The sun has recently gone down and there are still slight hues of pink and orange in the sky. It’s the perfect setting for a wedding. I just hope it’s enough of a fairy tale for Trina - I want this all to be perfect.
One of the staff members is standing near the door on the lookout for Trina and her father. He raises his hand to signal that they’re there, and the coordinator looks at me with a raised eyebrow. I nod, butterflies fly about madly in my stomach. She’s coming.
Music floats through the air and everyone quiets down to shift their attention to the door.
I steel my breath and wait.
Chapter Twenty-One
Katrina
Commitment: The Beauty in Between (A Beautiful Series Novella) Page 8