Sweet Reflection (Truth)

by Henderson, Grace

  Julia chokes out words first, and starts to dry her eyes furiously, “You look beautiful, darling. So grown-up.”

  Jen nods her head in agreement, “I love it; it really suits you.”

  “It’s so gorgeous,” Emma pipes up.

  “Baby, your mother would be so proud. You look lovely.” My mother makes everyone’s eyes suitably wet and we’re all passing tissues round to each other. Cassie walks over to the mirror and tilts her head, her eyes running up and down the length of her and smoothing the dress down in places. “I think this is the one and I haven’t even tried any others on. Is that bad?”

  “No, most people go back to the first one they tried on. But I would try a few more on if I were you, just to make sure you are definitely happy.”

  We select a couple more to try but Cassie turns her nose up at them all. “Sorry, but it’s number one all the way. How much is it?”

  “Nope, I’m not telling you that. I told you it’s a present.”

  “Are we going to fall out about this?” She asks and has both hands on her hips, tapping her left foot.

  “I don’t know, are we?” I smirk and write down all the details so I can get her the right size in. “It should take a few weeks to come in, then we’ll book you in for a fitting.” She hasn’t said anything and I’m beginning to think she hasn’t heard when I look up from the desk and see tears streaming down.

  “Hey, stop it. We’ve had our tears, now it should be smiles and laughter.” I stand and walk round the desk so I can give her a hug. She sniffs into my shoulder and pulls away, breathing in steadily to straighten herself.

  “Right, I’m fine now. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, chick. He’s not going to know what hit him when he sees you. You’ll look amazing.”

  We all say our goodbyes apart from my mother who stays to help me clear up.

  “It’s a lovely thing you’re doing for Cassie.” I start to wash up the glasses and shrug a shoulder.

  “Yeah well she’s my best friend. And she’s found the love of her life. I want her to be happy.”

  Mum turns to look at me and cocks her head to the side, watching for my reaction, “And what about you? Anyone you’re interested in?”

  I turn round from the sink and stare back, “No, why is that?”

  “Oh, I just haven’t seen anyone around after Darren.” She leans her hip against the side of the table, “You need to put yourself out there again Laurel. It’s time. You can’t let him and what he did to you control your life anymore.”

  I sigh deeply and cut her off, “Mother…”

  “No honey, just hear me out. He hurt you. Badly. I get it. But he was a silly child really. I know that’s no excuse but don’t let it keep you from putting your faith in another man again. And I’m not talking about the men that you’re out with until all hours of the early morning. Yes, I hear you creep your way into the house at four a.m. You’re a big girl now, I realise that. And you can make your own decisions but I will tell you this: not all men are like him. Your father was the most amazing man I have ever met.” I snort indignantly because what they had was a once in a lifetime kind of love.

  “I’ll never find a man like daddy so why try?”

  She laughs at my scrunched up face and I realise I haven’t said the word ‘daddy’ in years but I miss him so much that it just fell out.

  “Yes, your father was a great man, but he was far from perfect. He was forgetful, and lazy and thoughtless sometimes. Even jealous at times. But we loved and trusted each other with our lives. What I’m saying is, every man is different, so please don’t judge them all in the same vain as Darren. Open up your heart again Laurel, because I want to see you happy. And I can tell you haven’t been lately.”

  She’s right there, but talking about my dad has brought the lump back and words are stuck behind it. If I try to speak, I’ll probably end up crying, so I nod and turn back round to carry on washing up.

  Half an hour later, we’ve finished tidying up the store and mum heads back out to go grocery shopping. For the rest of the day, in between the smiles and the laughter, the tears and the tantrums, I don’t stop thinking about her words and how much I’ve used what Darren did to me as a way of escaping the reality: I’m just one big scaredy-cat.

  It’s early evening at the store and I’m winding down and tidying up from my last appointment of the day when the bell chimes. I turn around expecting Sally to be back having forgotten something, but my heart leaps at the familiar face.

  James

  “Oh, hi. I wasn’t expecting you,” she says flatly, and I try to shake off my disappointment at her attitude because I know I deserve it.

  “I should hope not; I’m not getting married, and if I was, I wouldn’t be wearing a dress. No offence.” She laughs softly and her gaze drifts down to what I’m holding.

  “What’s that?” She nods curiously at my hands and I reach out and place it on the desk in front of her.

  “An olive branch.” I chuckle, “Actually, I didn’t have an olive branch so it’s just a regular branch from my garden but the meaning’s the same. I wanted to apologise.”

  She swings her hand up by her shoulder and shrugs, “It’s forgotten, don’t worry about it.” I wasn’t expecting it to be so easy, but if I know women, she really doesn’t mean that. She’s standing up a little too rigid to be completely at ease so I have a sense she’s hiding her real feelings.

  “We’re really okay then?” I ask, just to make sure.

  “Of course,” she replies and I have the urge to laugh, not because it’s funny, but because we’ve never really been okay so it feels stupid to even ask that question. I’m here to change that though. I wander over to the slightly shabby-looking sofa and sit down. Her neck moves as she swallows, and I see confusion on her face. We’ve stayed away from each other for a while on purpose, and it’s been way too long since we were alone. She looks back at the desk and then to me and chooses to stand still while she contemplates what to do.

  “Come and sit here.”

  Her eyes widen but she doesn’t move. It’s probably a good thing because I don’t know how much restraint I have around her anymore. Especially when she wears tight skirts and that little blouse that I just know is going to give me a sweet view if she bends over. I just can’t help myself though and I’m patting the cushion next to me before I can stop my arm from moving.

  “Come on. I just want to show you something. I’m not going to pounce on you.” Actually I might, but I’ll try really hard not to. I’ve caught her off guard, she probably wasn’t expecting any kind of flirting but it’s all I think about when she’s around. Well, that’s the clean version anyway.

  “Babe, seriously. I actually have something to show you.” I smirk, because her dirty mind has taken her elsewhere, I notice the little smile playing on her lips. “And it’s all business, I promise.” I add.

  “It better be, Dawson.” Her tone is playful but there’s a serious glint in her eye that makes me hesitate, but I force myself to carry on because I can’t take the ‘will we, won’t we’ Ross and Rachel drama anymore. It’s giving me whiplash.

  She struts over to the sofa and carefully places herself right at the very end so she’s the furthest possible distance from me. I shake my head; what I want to do is not going to work like that.

  “Nuh, uh. Closer.” She starts to object but I pull the papers out my bag. “Can you see these from over there?”

  “Well…no but…”

  “Well then nothing. Closer.” I crook my finger, laughing but she lets out a huff and moves right next to me, completely invading my senses. Her perfume fills my nose, the whole left side of her body is leaning against mine, I can hear her heavy breathing, and then my mind’s straight back in the gutter remembering the night I made her pant and scream and…shit, concentrate.

  “Now, don’t be mad but I’ve been talking to Cassie and she let me in on something that’s none of my business but I wanted to hel
p.”

  She frowns, “Okay, cryptic. What is it?”

  I’m feeling nervous as I open out the A3 papers on the table in front of us because I can’t predict her reaction. I watch her face intently as she moves her head closer to examine them. She tilts it to the side, and scans the pages, taking in every little detail.

  She looks back up at me with her mouth wide open. “Is this serious?”

  “Well yeah. I had some spare time and I just thought I’d start a few sketches and then it all kind of happened. I was just going to give you a few ideas but then I realised that if I drew plans for the whole refurbishment you could use them to get some funding and I’ve already talked to Blake and of course he’ll help out with the work. Plus, I know how to use a hammer so if you needed someone else to help, I can be your guy.” Then I realise I’m acting like a bumbling idiot so before I make even more of a fool of myself I snap my mouth shut.

  “What do you think?” I ask, because I’ve learnt that this particular female is perhaps the only one I ever have trouble reading.

  She lifts her shoulders and drops them with such force that I’m struggling to know whether I’ve even done any good here. “I’m at a loss for words.”

  Well, that gives me nothing to work with.

  “Okay, can you at least give me one? ‘Good’ or ‘Bad’.”

  She turns her head to look at me, and bites her lip. I almost lose it right there and kiss her but I find the discipline when I notice a tear in her eye.

  “Amazing.” She whispers and looks back down at the papers. “I can’t believe you’ve done this. It must have taken ages, there’s so much detail and you’ve even thought about all the materials and fabrics and priced them up for me.” I don’t tell her I haven’t slept for two days, I’d rather there be a bit of mystery or she think I use the same fairy dust that Santa uses when he has to get round the world in a night.

  “Nah, it didn’t take that long really. And they’re just suggestions. You know your business and customers better than anyone so we’ll sit down again and go through any changes you want before I draw up the final plans. But you like it?”

  “Of course I do. You really don’t have to go to any more trouble though. Honestly, you’ve done more than enough.”

  “Hey, it’s no trouble. I want to help out.” And I want her to forget all about Murphy. He may be able to change a few light bulbs but I can put that damn sexy smile on her face and that’s worth no more sleep for the rest of my life.

  She puts her soft hand on mine and gives it a gentle squeeze before letting it go. “Thank you. It means a lot.”

  “No worries. Anyway I better go. I’ll leave the papers with you to have a look at and we can meet up again, say Monday evening? Does that give you enough time?”

  “Yes that’s fine.”

  “Okay.” I’m aware that it’s time to leave but the legs don’t want to go. “Mine, at six?”

  “Yeah sounds good.”

  “Cool.”

  I still haven’t moved, I just can’t stop staring at her. She looks so cute with her hand on her hip and the little smile that’s trying to escape into full-blown laughter. The phone rings and she bites the inside of her cheek, “I should really get that.”

  I snap out of it and gesture towards the desk, “Go for it. I’ll see you Monday.” I lift up my hand to wave at her then walk out the door cursing myself. I just fucking waved at her, what a douche!

  Laurel

  Oh. My. God. I feel like jumping up and down and crying at the same time but somehow I manage to hold it all together as I answer the phone and reel off my usual greeting,

  “Good afternoon, Proposals. Laurel speaking, how can I help?”

  “It’s me.” The voice sings down the phone. “Has he been round yet?”

  “Hey Cassie. Who?”

  “James,” she says like I’m stupid for even asking.

  “Yeah he just left, why?”

  “Did he show you?” Her reply comes quickly and it’s obvious she’s done more than have a quick chat. And the more I think about it, the more I realise that she’s done this on purpose, not just to help me out but to become matchmaker extraordinaire.

  “Cass, you wouldn’t be trying to set us up again would you?”

  There’s silence at the end of the phone whilst I imagine she’s trying to gage how I really feel about it and whether I’m going to be mad at her.

  “Only if that’s what you want.” She laughs and tuts down the speaker, “Busted.”

  “No I don’t want that, thank you very much. But the plans are great so thanks for telling him about that. And it’s really nice of Blake to offer to help with the work. I just need some money now.”

  “Well I’m sure you can use your charms on Sam. Let me know what you decide to do.”

  “Sure, I’ll see you Saturday for Jen’s birthday thing yeah?

  “Yep, see ya then.”

  I put the receiver back down and slump back into my chair. It’s the longest we’ve spent together in a while and now I’ve got a reason to see him again. He’s never apologised before, granted the other day at the site was the worst he’s ever been, but today I saw something in his eyes that was real. Regret.

  Saturday comes around quickly and I decide to go into town and check out the new boutique on the high street my mum was talking about, to see if I can find something to wear for Jen’s party tonight. Before I go in I need some caffeine to wake myself up; the late nights I’ve had recently are taking their toll. As I stand in the queue, I get the intense feeling of being watched and as I look further down the line I see a woman staring in my direction. Even when she tries to busy herself at the side-table picking up the milk and sugar, I can feel her gaze on me. Her demeanour is familiar, but I search her face and can’t place it anywhere. I get to the front and place my order and while I wait, something about her scrutiny starts to make me uncomfortable. It’s like she knows who I am; but I’m completely at a loss.

  She’s sat down in the corner and I stand at the side-table myself trying to use the few minutes to search my memories but it doesn’t work. I briefly take in her appearance; she has long curly brown hair that’s pulled back in a ponytail and is wearing a simple but gorgeous bright red shift dress and heels with her Mulberry bag hanging off the empty chair next to her.

  “That’s a fabulous dress. I love the print.” Her voice startles me as I walk past, but she’s smiling at me and her head is tilted to the side, she obviously wants to start a conversation. I look down at my brown floral print dress that’s really nothing compared to hers and look back up.

  “Thanks.” Scanning the café I see the only empty table is the one right next to her so I smile and sit down in a chair that’s facing out, because if she’s going to continue to stare I at least want to know about it.

  I think she’s finally had her fill of me when I see her head rise from her phone out of the corner of my eye. “Excuse me, can I ask you something?”

  I have a feeling she’s going to anyway so we may as well get this over with, “Shoot.”

  “You wouldn’t be Laurel Matthews would you?”

  My heart starts racing as I try again to place this woman, and it gets me a little freaked out that she does actually know who I am. We’re in a crowded place though, and as I look her up and down again I figure I could take her.

  “I would be indeed. Sorry, do I know you?”

  She gets up, painting a big smile on her face and is over at my table in seconds, “Oh Laurel, it’s wonderful to meet you. I went by the store looking for you earlier and they said you had a day off. But this…this is a great coincidence. My name’s Alexandra Shaw, but everyone calls me Alex. May I?”

  In the time it takes her to collect her bag and sit down I realise she doesn’t have an engagement ring on; not a potential client, and is wearing Louboutins; clearly has money.

  “Please don’t be alarmed, I realise that this is an unorthodox meeting, and not very professional, but
I had resigned myself to the fact this may not happen for another week, so it is remarkable we’re meeting now. Anyway, please let me explain. I run Shaw Capital with my brother; we’re investors, angel investors. We find smaller companies that are of interest to us and give them the capital to expand. I haven’t been in the area long, I used to spend a lot of my time in London, but you’ve come up on my radar and I’d love to get to know you’re business a little better and talk to you about the possibility of us working together.”

  It takes a few seconds for what she’s saying to sink in, and I’m still not sure I’ve completely got it right. “So, let me get this straight. You’re talking about maybe investing in Proposals?”

  She nods and I feel like I’m going to faint. A week ago, it was all a pipe-dream and I was wishing I could just give the store a coat of paint. Now, I have refurbishment plans, and possible investment. It’s all too surreal.

  “I can see I’ve shocked you. I’m sorry, I should have made a proper appointment to speak with you, but I just thought I’d grab the opportunity; that is what I do after all.”

  “No, it’s fine honestly. It is just a very big surprise. I’ve only just recently considered the possibility of expansion so it’s come very quickly. But it’s great, and it definitely excites me.”

  “Fantastic. Well here’s my card. Have a look at my website, there’s a bit more detail about my company and the companies I’ve worked with – I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Call me, and we can discuss it in greater detail.”

  I look down at the card and still feel in a daze, “Of course, thank you.”

  “Good, don’t make me wait too long,” she says with a quick wink and is gone before I can even say goodbye. Wow, what a week. I forget going to the boutique because I’m way too distracted now and head home. Mum will be able to give me some good advice, she has a lot of business sense, just like my dad used to.