“Now come, Ellie,” Liz smiled, taking her by the hand. “Let’s get you into your dress so your friends can see it.”
She led Ellie to the fitting-room where her dress was hanging on a rail. Liz helped her into it and laced up the bodice. Ellie had done her hair in the style that she thought she would like on her wedding day. Much like Kate Middleton’s, she had pulled back the side sections into a high ponytail and then curled the long sections with a tongs. She wanted the veil to sit high on the back of her head and cascade down in layers. Liz knew exactly what she was aiming for and arrived back with a tiny tiara and the perfect veil. She also had a pair of the most beautiful satin shoes studded with seed pearls. Ellie gasped as she saw her reflection in the mirror. It was perfect, just perfect.
Coming out of the fitting-room she saw from the reaction on her friends’ faces that they thought so too.
“Oh my God, Ellie, it’s just beautiful!” Keisha exclaimed, her mouth opening in a wide O.
“It’s perfect, simply perfect,” Chloe gasped. “You’re like a fairytale princess, Ellie. Oh my God, I think I’m going to cry.” She rushed forward to hug her best friend, tears in her eyes.
“Careful!” Ellie cried, half laughing, half crying. This was exactly the reaction she’d hoped for.
“You absolutely have to have this dress,” Keisha said. “Nothing else will do.”
“I do love that veil, Ellie,” her mother observed, feeling emotional all over again.
“Me too,” Ellie replied, turning to look at it from every angle in the mirror.
“And Sandrine,” Marie-Noelle turned to her, giving her a sharp look, “what do you think of your sister’s choice?”
“It’s. . . lovely . . . quite lovely.” She sounded flustered. In fact, she was completely spellbound by how beautiful Ellie looked and all the old insecurities and jealousies assailed her once again. Ellie had always been the beautiful, charmed child – their parents’ pet and adored by everyone, even the nuns at school. Sandrine had always been second-bestwith them all, even though she was far more clever. It wasn’t fair! All Ellie had to do was flash her violet eyes, smile and show her dimples and she had everyone eating out of her hand. Now here she was, looking like a beautiful princess and about to marry her handsome prince. It just wasn’t fair! Sandrine felt tears of rage start to fill her eyes. Embarrassed and afraid she’d lose control, she went to hug her sister, who thought the tears were of happiness for her.
“Thank you, Sandrine,” she whispered, all former annoyance forgotten.
“Now then, girls! Time to think about the bridesmaids’ dresses,” Liz pronounced. “Any ideas anyone?”
“I think black would be fabulous – very dramatic,” Sandrine suggested, ignoring the dirty looks Ellie and the others were throwing in her direction. “What do you think, Liz?”
“God, no! Ellie is all about sweetness and light. Black would not match her personality at all. Something summery and pastel, I would suggest.” Liz wasn’t fooled. She dealt with brides all the time and she’d seen this type of sibling jealousy before. She’d noticed Sandrine’s reaction to Ellie’s appearance in her dress. And of course Sandrine would like black. It would suit her dark colouring, unlike that of the other two bridesmaids who were blonde and fair-skinned.
“I don’t know. Vera Wang has even started doing black wedding dresses,” Sandrine persisted. “I think it’s very sophisticated.”
“Yeuch!” Ellie grimaced.
Liz stared Sandrine down. “That might be all well and good for the Hollywood set who crave being different but I don’t think that’s what Ellie wants, is it,Ellie? And at the end of the day it’s her wedding.” She fixed Sandrine with a steely glare.
“Definitely not!” Ellie agreed. “I was thinking pale gold or something like that.”
“I have just the thing. It’s a pale buttery yellow – almost gold.” Liz went to the rail and took down a beautiful sleek dress in that colour.
“Oh, that’s gorgeous!” Ellie cried as the others crowded around her.
“You can have this material and colour made up in three slightly different styles if you wish – one-shouldered, strapless, whatever. What do you think?”
“It’s perfect, isn’t it, girls?” Ellie turned to the others excitedly.
“I love it,” said Chloe.
“Me too!” said Keisha.
“It’s perfect,” Marie-Noelle concurred. “And you could have the freesia and pale yellow roses you like so much for the flowers.”
“Yes, definitely. This is the colour,” Ellie decided.
Sandrine, sitting with a glum face, said nothing but nobody noticed or, if they did, they didn’t care. It was decided.
They spent the next hour trying on various dress styles until they decided on what looked best on everyone. These would then be made up in the pale yellow/goldmaterial.There was no problem with Chloe and Keisha who were as thin as whippets but to find a style that suited them while also flattering Sandrine’s ample frame took a little longer. Eventually it was decided that an Empress-line style was the best option for all.
The bridesmaids’ dresses wouldn’t be made up until the last moment.
“You have no idea how many times dresses have had to be cancelled because bridesmaids have either gained or lost weight or become pregnant, or even in a couple of cases fallen out with the bride,” Liz explained, laughing. “So we’ve learnt our lesson the hard way. We’ll fit the girls again about six weeks before the big day and have their dresses made up then.”
“That won’t happen with us,” Keisha and Chloe chorused.
Sandrine said nothing.
“I think that’s very sensible,” Marie-Noelle observed.
After much laughter and giggling the girls got dressed again and left, kissing Liz, who was now like an old friend. To Ellie’s surprise and delight, her mother insisted on paying for her wedding dress and Ellie put down a deposit on the bridesmaids’ dresses. They left to go for lunch in The Old Schoolhouse and to the relief of all Sandrine cried off, saying she had work to do in the office.
They had a great time and, two bottles of wine later, when the bill was presented, Chloe and Keisha insisted on treating Ellie and her mother.
“I just can’t wait for your wedding day,” Chloe said as she kissed Ellie goodbye.
“It will be brill,” Keisha agreed as they left to get the bus into Dublin, to go shopping.
37
Ronan drove around to pick up Fiona as arranged on Sunday morning. Although the off-licence would not open until half past twelve, he saw that Sam’s car was outside. He rang Fiona’s doorbell and she buzzed him up. To his surprise, Sam was there.
“Just thought I’d pop in to give you a hand,” he said to Ronan, after greeting him. “For a woman, she has surprisingly little ‘stuff’ – like shoes and bags, I mean.”
“Tell me about it!” Ronan replied, grinning.
They were in sympathy with each other, having both experienced women’s ‘stuff’.
“I love it here and I’ll miss it,” Fiona said sadly, looking around the livingroom.
“But you’ll be back after the baby is born, won’t you?” Ronan asked.
“Yes, but I’ll definitely take all my maternity leave. Now that Sam has you, I don’t feel as if I’m leaving him in the lurch. We’ll see.”
“You know you can come back anytime,” Sam told her affectionately. “Now, let’s get a move on.”
They spent the next hour carrying boxes up and down the stairs, refusing to let Fiona lift as much as a feather.
At last she stood and took a long look around the room.
“Just think, the next time I see this place I’ll have my son with me,” she said, a lump in her throat. Running her hand over the back of the leather sofa, she blew a kiss to the place and left.
“You’re going into Holles Street to have Buster, aren’t you?” Ronan asked her as they drove down to Blessington.
She laughed, rubbin
g her tummy. “Don’t let him hear you calling him that. Yes, Holles Street.”
“Will I be able to come and visit?”
“Well, I’d love if you could but they have very strict visiting. Grandparents are allowed in every evening so Mam will come in then. I’m allowed one green card for my partner or whoever I nominate. Obviously, as my partner has flown the coop, it won’t be needed for him,” she said, looking forlorn, “and unfortunately with Mam coming up every evening, my sister-in-law Frances won’t be able to come. She’ll have no one to look after the five kidswhile Mam is away. My two brothers are farmers and it’s a really busy time for them, but I could nominate you, if you’d like to visit that is,” she said shyly.
“I’d be delighted. Could I masquerade as your partner, do you think?”
Fiona looked at him to see if he was serious. “Would you, really?” she asked, her face breaking into a huge smile. “I’d love that, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“I’d be honoured.” He made a mock bow, as much as the steering wheel would allow.
“I don’t mind being a single mother but I would feel strange if all the other mothers have partners visiting.”
“I’ll be a perfect partner, I promise,” he stated, pleased that he could do this for her.
“You’re the best friend ever,” she said, throwing her arms around his neck.
“Whoa there!” he cried. “We’ll crash and you might be in Holles Street sooner than you think.”
“Sorry,” she said, but her smile told him that he’d made her day.
“Gosh, it’s lovely here. It’s like another world,” Ronan remarked as he got out of the car at her mother’s bungalow,which overlooked the lake in Blessington. He could almost feel the peace descend upon him.
Fiona’s mother, Doris, was a homely, plump woman who hugged him on being introduced.
“Fiona’s told me what a good friend you’ve been to her and what a nice man you are,” she said, her smile lighting up her face.
“Well, she’s been a good friend to me too,” he replied, warming to this lovely lady instantly.
“Come on inside. John and Brendan, Fiona’s two brothers, will be here shortly to unload the car. Come in, come in!” She linked her arm through his and led him inside.
The delicious smell of beef roasting assailed him. He closed his eyes and inhaled. “Aaahhh . . . this reminds me of my mother’s wonderful Sunday dinners when Iwas a kid.”
“Is she still alive?” Doris asked.
“Sadly not. She died ten years ago, just a year after my father.”
“Well then, I hope my dinner doesn’t disappoint.”
“Oh, I couldn’t stay for dinner,” he protested.
“Of course you can!” Fiona, who was now sitting on the couch with her legs up, cried. “It’s the least we can do, after all you’ve done for me.”
Seduced by the wonderful aroma coming from the oven, he didn’t protest anymore.
“I’m really happy she’s here under my roof now so that if anything happens, she won’t be alone,” Doris said. “You can’t be too careful with first babies.”
“Yes, I think it’s best for her.” He smiled at Fiona. “We were all getting a little nervous lately.”
“Well, she’s in good hands now.”
After lunch, he stayed much longer than he’d intended, chatting to Doris and John while Fiona went for a lie-down. Brendan had gone home for lunch with his family.
Later, driving back to Dublin, he felt warm and happy.
Doris had insisted that he come down again for lunch the following Sunday.
“I’ll do roast Wicklow lamb for you. You won’t get better,” she’d declared.
He didn’t doubt it!
He realised as he got ready for bed that night that he hadn’t thought about Louise all day. For some reason that made him feel good.
38
Ellie was bubbling as she arrived at the wine course on Monday night.
“They’ve accepted our offer on the house,” she told Rachel excitedly as they waited for the others to arrive. “And I found the perfect bridesmaids’ dresses too!”
“That’s great. I’m so glad things are going well for you. It’s a very stressful time, isn’t it?”
“You can say that again. My sister Sandrine is being a pain. She wants to run the whole show.” Ellie grimaced.
“Thank God I didn’t have that problem, but I’m sure you’ll cope with it. By the way, did you know that Ronan’s wife left him last weekend?”
“Oh, no!The poor guy! I noticed that he was very quiet last Monday. That’s terrible.” Ellie was shocked. “I didn’t like her very much, did you?”
“Not at all,” Rachel replied with distaste. “I don’t think they were happy together but, still, it must be tough on him.” She stopped as Zita arrived followed by the four young ones.
Finally, Ronan came in accompanied by Sam.
Rachel had no chance to talk to him until after the class which was, as usual, fascinating. The subject of the night was Spain and Portugal and they all agreed that the Spanish wines were a pleasant surprise.
“I didn’t think there was any more to Spain than Rioja,” Ronan remarked, “but this Priorat is fantastic.”
The others agreed and Sam noticed that, as usual, whenever the wine was exceptional, nobody bothered to use the spittoons. Yes, his little group were coming on in leaps and bounds. As he’d suspected initially, Ellie and Ronan had the best palates and were spot-on in their evaluation of the wine.
Ellie found herself walking with Ronan to the pub. “I’m really sorry about your wife, Ronan. Rachel told me about it. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, of course not. It’s not a secret.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m doing fine. We didn’t have a great marriage to be honest but it was still a shock when she walked out.”
“I can imagine,” Ellie said, linking her arm through his. “Rachel is very concerned about you.”
“That’s sweet of her but, honestly, I’m okay. Luckily Sam is keeping me busy. Otherwise, I don’t know what I’d do. And how about you? How are the wedding plans coming along?”
She told him excitedly about the house and her wedding dress, he smiling all the while at her enthusiasm. He hoped Ellie’s dreams would not turn sour. He hadn’t been very impressed with her fiancé the night of Rachel’s party but he sincerely hoped that he would make Ellie happy. She deserved it. She was a sweet girl.
Rachel invited all of them to come to supper the following Friday night. Ronan was grateful for her kindness. He needed friends right now. It was strange how quickly they’d all become friends and it seemed to him that it was Rachel who was the ringleader in this. This was odd as he’d assumed that she must have loads of friends but he was beginning to think, from the little things she said, that this wasn’t the case.
“Sorry, I can’t come. I’m going to a stag party on Friday night,” Sam said, rolling his eyes to heaven.
“And I’m afraid I’m working late next Friday,” Ellie said.
“Oh, dear, what time do you finish?”
“Nine.”
“Well, come along after work. You’re only five minutes away,” Rachel suggested.
“Thanks, I will,” Ellie agreed happily.
Zita said she’d come too. She was brimming with good humour and insisted on buying everyone a drink to celebrate her new promotion.
“Congratulations! I’m so happy for you,” Rachel cried, hugging her. “Carl will be pleased. He said he was going to ring you to see if he could intervene with the powers that be, but it looks like you made it on your own without his help.”
“Yes, thank you.” Zita didn’t blink an eye as she told the lie. It was obvious that Carl hadn’t mentioned to Rachel that he had contacted her and she wasn’t about to let the cat out of the bag. After all, she’d got what she wanted.
They all raised their glasses to her in congratulation.
�
�And to Ellie who has secured her new house and the perfect wedding dress!” Ronan added, raising his glass to her.
“To Ellie too!” they chorused, all laughing happily.
They stayed later than usual due to the happy atmosphere that pervaded and Rachel and Ellie were both a little tipsy by the time they left. As always, the alcohol had had no effect on Zita. She had quite an amazing capacity to hold her liquor, both Sam and Ronan were thinking privately. As they made their way home each one of them was thinking that it was a good day when they decided to join the wine club.
Carl was in bed when Rachel got home. She went straight to the bedroom where he was almost asleep.
“Hi, honey!” she called out, turning on the main light.
“Please, Rachel, turn off the light, I’m almost asleep.”
“Excuse me,” she grumbled, turning out the light.
“I’m sorry but I’ve had a heavy day and I’m shattered.”
“Well, I just wanted to tell you the good news. Zita has been promoted to producer.”
Carl was instantly awake. “That’s good,” he mumbled, waiting to hear if she’d heard that he’d had a say in it.
“So you don’t have to do anything about it now,” she added.
Carl let out a sigh of relief. Obviously Zita had had the cop-on to stay mum about his involvement in it. He had big plans for Zita and the less Rachel knew that they were in touch, the better. He figured this was one liaison that she was better off not knowing about.
“Thank you anyway, darling, for offering to help her,” Rachel said as she bent down to kiss him goodnight. “You go back to sleep. I’m just going down for a nightcap.”
She tiptoed out as Carl pretended to go back to sleep. He could tell that she’d had more than enough to drink already but he didn’t say anything. Thoughts of Zita now filled his mind. He felt himself getting aroused and when his erection wouldn’t subside he had to take care of it.
It was over an hour later when Rachel came to bed. He heard her stumbling about the room but feigned sleep, knowing better than to get into an argument with her when she was in that state.
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