by Ruth Hay
Maria began to comprehend the reason behind the strange behavior she had witnessed.
“Really!” she exclaimed. “I had no idea they were planning this.”
“It caught Anna by surprise too,” agreed Susan. “Bev figured this trekking back and forth across the Atlantic would have to end sometime and they chose to make the relationship permanent.”
“That sounds very practical, though not very romantic. What kind of wedding will it be and when?”
“Anna says we need to talk to Bev about the plans, but Bev has arranged the date for this weekend so we can all travel to Scotland from Italy and Anna will arrive from Canada.”
“Are you serious? All the Sambas will be there? I can’t believe a wedding can be organized so fast, even by Anna. You’d better get me some food. I think I’m imagining things!”
Susan and Lucy clattered dishes in the kitchen and with the aid of the microwave, managed to produce a scratch meal of reheated pasta and vegetables, and wedges of bread spread with the local butter.
The delay helped Maria come to terms with the change of plans and the food gave her the energy to summon up some enthusiasm for the work that was involved. Between mouthfuls of food she stated, “If this is going to happen so quickly, we need to change our flights home and you will have to contact the airlines too, Susan.”
Susan nodded. “I’ve been thinking about that and wondering if Angela can come with us. I hate to cut Jake’s therapy short when he is gaining so much strength. Do you think that’s too much to ask, Maria?”
“I can’t answer for Anna, but you know how generous she has been. We’ll ask her as soon as possible. It all depends on where everyone is going to stay.’
Lucy was anxious to get to the important parts of the Scottish adventure. “What will I wear?
What will the weather be like? And will there be any guys there?”
Maria did not know where to start with Lucy’s questions. “When we get more information from Bev I’ll be able to tell you something, Lucy. At the moment I know less than you do. Let me finish this delicious food and I’ll call Anna to get Bev’s number.”
“Let me do that, Maria, you have had enough to cope with for one day. Get off to bed and I’ll sort out what needs to be done.”
Maria gratefully accepted Susan’s offer. Her head was still swirling with fashion trends for spring and summer 2011 and now this change of plans added a new layer of involvement. Hopefully, a good night’s sleep would make everything seem more possible.
Lucy had to be content with this lack of information, but the issue of clothing was still foremost on her mind. She did not have a big choice among the casual items she had packed for Italy and she could not imagine that any of them would be suitable for a wedding event. She decided to run upstairs while her mother was talking to Aunt Susan so that she could arrange every bit of her clothing on top of the bed for inspection. She would have to be extremely creative to put something together for this emergency.
Susan borrowed Maria’s cell phone and used the directory to access Anna’s number in Canada.
* * *
“Hi Susan! I’ve been expecting your call. How did Maria take the news?”
“Well, she’s a bit overwhelmed at the moment but Lucy’s over the moon with excitement. She can’t wait to get to Scotland.”
“What can we do to make things easier for Maria?”
“If we can coordinate travel plans between us, Anna, then Maria can spend more time with Lucy before we leave here.”
“We’ll do that. How is everything going with Lucy?”
“I can really see a difference in her now. I think it was a good move to separate her from all the usual teen influences. She is much more considerate of her mother and Maria is more relaxed with Lucy, which helps enormously.”
“I am so pleased to hear this. Is Lucy keeping busy?”
“Strange that you should ask that, Anna; she does have a project underway. I can’t reveal the nature of it. You’ll see it soon.”
“Good! I had a little chat with Lucy before she left London. I asked her to give serious thought to her future career choices and mentioned I would help her in any way I can with the education aspects.”
“Ah! I see! I wondered what was going on.”
* * *
Susan tucked this information away for later consideration and turned to the topic of accommodations in Scotland. Anna had been thinking about this and thought she had a workable plan. Bev was already staying at Alan’s with Eric, and James would join them there before the wedding, if possible. It could be a bit tight in the cottage at first until Bev and Alan left on their honeymoon to Skye. Kirsty would leave right after the wedding, accompanied by her relatives, to move into the charming Seniors Residence Home by the sea in Skye, to which she had always intended to retire. Bev and Alan intended to see Kirsty well settled there before they returned to the mainland.
Susan, Jake and Angela could join Anna in the McCaig farmhouse, which pleased Susan immensely as she had not yet had the chance to see the site of so much change in Anna’s life.
She thought it was just like Anna to have included Angela without being asked. She had obviously realized how vital Angela’s therapy had been to Jake.
Maria and Lucy could stay at a hotel in Oban although Anna thought they might prefer to split up and Lucy stay with Fiona in her wee cottage, giving the girl a close look at how Fiona had created a career out of less-than-the-best circumstances, while Maria could get to know Jeanette, George and baby Liam in their new Victorian home on the hill above the town.
* * *
“That sounds very organized, Anna. I couldn’t have managed half as well. Thank you so very much for thinking of Jake that way. Every day with Angela’s influence has such a positive effect on his health. One thing though, will there be enough space for us? I imagine Alina will stay with you at the farmhouse?”
* * *
There was a pregnant pause on the line and Susan immediately suspected something was very wrong.
* * *
“I didn’t want to introduce this subject in the midst of all the wedding preparations, Susan, but I am glad you asked. Alina won’t be joining us in Scotland.
She has had some sad news about her eyesight lately. It turns out that her mother had AMD, that’s macular degeneration, and it has caught up with Alina.”
“Good God, Anna! What a shock! I had no idea her sight was affected in any way.”
“Well, neither did we! It’s a long story for another time.
Don’t mention it to anyone else, Susan. Alina has just started on a medical trial program for a new drug at the University’s Research Centre. She can’t interrupt the initial trial period at the moment, so I’ll make Alina’s excuses for now and we can work out the details when we get home to London. I really don’t want to spoil Bev’s special day with this news.”
“Oh, I understand. Please tell her my thoughts and prayers are with her.”
“I will certainly do that, Susan. Give Bev a call. She’s on your time zone. I’ll give you her cell number.”
* * *
The call resumed with the practical details, but Susan could not get the shock about Alina’s eyesight out of her mind. It seemed as if Susan was the recipient of secrets these days and it was not the most comfortable of positions to be in. Normally she would share worries with Jake but he was still in a fragile state of health and she was reluctant to burden him further.
In any case, it would be so good for the Samba friends to be together at such a happy occasion for Bev. Susan was looking forward to meeting Alan, about whom she had heard so much. She figured he had to be something very special to winkle Bev out of her solitary state after many years as a single mother.
These thoughts reminded her that contacting Bev was the next priority, so she settled down in the kitchen chair and dialed Bev’s number.
* * *
“Hello! Bev here.”
“Oh, it’s s
o good to hear your voice, Bev, and to congratulate you on your wonderful news.”
“Susan! I was just sitting here thinking about you. How is Jake? Anna says he will likely make it to the wedding and I couldn’t be more pleased for both of you.”
“I know. He’s doing well now. It feels like we’ve come through a long dark tunnel and emerged into the daylight at last. Now what about your major excitement!
You should have seen Lucy dancing around the villa with a tea towel shouting that she was off to a wedding in Scotland! Honestly, Bev, how did you pull this together so fast?”
“It really wasn’t as difficult as you might imagine, Susan. I suspect Kirsty was half-expecting to hear the news and had plans laid already. It all seemed to come together so easily. First of all, it won’t be some fancy event with cake, church and reception dates scheduled months ahead. We’ll be married in an Oban hotel by a minister who knows Kirsty’s family and the same hotel will cater a meal for us. I don’t want a lot of fuss and bother. It will be a simple ceremony but I can’t tell you how happy I am my Samba friends will be there.
Alan’s family from Skye will be the majority of the guests and I don’t know how many of them will turn up on the day. Oh, that reminds me, Susan! It’s the custom here to hold a ceilidh, a kind of dance and music party, after the ceremony, so tell Lucy to bring her dancing shoes. It will be a wild night if I know anything about these islanders.”
“It sounds wonderful, Bev! I can’t wait to meet Alan.”
“Well, he’s not a Canadian, Susan. It takes time to get to know him, but I can assure you, it’s time well spent. He is a lovely man in so many ways and he is so good for my boys.”
“Your voice changes when you speak of him, Bev. That’s a fine recommendation as far as I’m concerned.”
“Thanks Susan. You’ll love him too.”
“Oh, my dear girl, I didn’t mean to take up your time this way. You must have plenty to do, despite what you say. We’ll be with you the day before the wedding, if at all possible. Much love from all here. Goodbye for now, Beverley.”
* * *
Susan could feel tears gathering after that emotional talk with Bev. It was amazing to think that the Sambas would have a wedding to celebrate. Kudos to Bev and Alan for taking the plunge
later in life. It was a brave move for Bev to settle in a new place, in a new country and in a very different lifestyle, but it was what she wanted, with the man she wanted, and that was a very good start, as far as Susan was concerned.
Chapter Thirteen
Maria’s plan to flop into bed had to be set aside as soon as she saw Lucy’s entire travel wardrobe spread across their bed.
“Oh, there you are, Mom! Please help me decide what to wear to this wedding. I can’t see any prospects in this rubbish.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your clothes, Lucy, but if you can’t find a suitable outfit, with your creative talents, I don’t know what the rest of us will do.”
“It’s no joke, Mom! I can’t turn up at a wedding in distressed jeggings and these glitter sneakers. Did you bring any scarves or belts or stuff from Milan in those carrier bags? I need some inspiration.”
Maria looked at Lucy’s slim jeans with the ripped sections over the knees and refrained from saying ‘I told you so’. She had never liked the style, preferring something more feminine, but she knew better than to suggest that to her daughter.
“It will be November when we get there, Lucy, and Scotland is farther north than south-west Ontario. I don’t think you will need anything too light or floating, for a start, but I agree that those jeans won’t do.”
With some reluctance, Maria reached for one of the bags she had brought back with her. The items inside had been intended for Theresa as a compensation for missing the holiday. The beautiful, full, wool skirt in a subtle plaid and the soft leather jacket, fitted to the waist, would suit either one of her daughters in colouring and size. She would just have to find something even more gorgeous in Toronto for Theresa.
“Well, Lucy, I didn’t buy any accessories on this trip. I always get a huge selection at The Clothing Show in Toronto in the fall, but I do have this lovely outfit. Do you think it’s your style, Lucy?”
Maria stepped back and allowed Lucy to take the clothes out of the designer bag. The prestigious label was not lost on Lucy but she pretended to be uninterested in the source while she held the skirt and jacket against her and examined the effect in the big old dresser mirror.
“Obviously, it’s something quite different for me but I think it might suit the occasion quite well,” she conceded in an understated way.
Inside Lucy was jumping for joy. She knew her mother must have dropped a bundle of cash on this fine wool and ultra-soft, wine-coloured leather. She began to plan what she would wear underneath the jacket; something jazzy perhaps for the unexpected contrast if, or when, the jacket would be removed.
Maria knew the problem was solved as soon as Lucy fell silent and contemplated the clothes with that look of concentration that indicated her creative mind was at work.
Finally, she turned to Maria and said, “I think this will do very nicely. It’s really beautiful, Mom. Thank you so much. Now, what are you going to wear to the wedding?”
A heated discussion ensued. Maria stated she was happy with the navy business suit she had worn to Milan. Lucy insisted it needed some sparkle for a special occasion and produced an emerald-green, silky, tank-style top with shoulder details that Maria instantly recognized as something from her own closet.
“Where did you get that young lady?” she asked, accusingly.
“You know where, Mom! I thought it might just come in handy on our trip and see how right I was! It will lift that suit into another dimension.”
Maria couldn’t argue with her daughter. The top was perfect.
Exhaustion overcame Maria all at once. She had just enough energy left to undress while Lucy hung up her clothes. As soon as the bed was cleared she pulled a nightdress out from under her pillow and was asleep before Lucy emerged from the washroom and put out the light.
Susan insisted on a fashion show the next morning. She wanted to see what she was up against. Taking the role of poor relation was not what she wanted. There were few members of Bev’s family attending this wedding and it was incumbent on the Sambas to support the Canadian team.
Susan’s packing for Italy had not included any dressy outfits. She had rightly assumed Jake would not be feeling like nights on the town after his days at the clinic.
The only spot of comfort Susan could derive, after she had surveyed the remaining sad candidates hanging in the wardrobe in the villa’s bedroom she shared with Jake, was that she had the assistance of two of the most fashionable and smart women she knew. If they couldn’t come up with something appropriate for her to wear, it was a hopeless cause, indeed.
Saying nothing of this, she sat back and watched the parade of Maria and Lucy’s chosen outfits on the terrace. Rain had brought a cold snap overnight and the leaves on the vine above the table had crisped and turned yellow. Maria’s navy suit with a draped back panel, brought her dark hair and the touch of emerald at the neck into sharp relief against the golden leaves.
She had found a tiny fur-trimmed hair attachment that she perched to the side of her elegant chignon and the effect was glamorous and yet understated. Maria would be a credit to Bev for certain.
Lucy pranced onto the terrace wearing a spectacular wool skirt that swirled around her hips with every movement, and made Lucy look so sophisticated that it was easy for Susan to see a job as a runway model in her future. She had paired the skirt with knee-length brown leather boots with high wedge heels. The maroon leather jacket that hugged her curves was the perfect finishing touch and Lucy had left the jacket open to show a glimpse of an amber-coloured, satin top that picked up a similar thread in the plaid skirt and brought out the highlights in her shoulder-length hair.
“Heaven help me!” thought Susan, �
��I can’t compete with this pair of fashionistas! And I can’t borrow anything from them. I am much closer to a fourteen while both of them are size ten or less.”
Maria saw the expression on Susan’s face and recognized a mix of pleasure and perplexity.
She took Susan’s hand and suggested a trip into Bologna to purchase something for Jake and Susan to wear. “It will be our last chance to pick up items before we leave for Scotland, Susan.
Lucy and I will be glad of the opportunity. Please come!”
“Oh, Maria, I can’t afford clothes at the moment. I owe Anna for expenses already and, frankly, there’s not much left in the pot after the plane tickets are bought.”
“Now, don’t worry about all that. This is a very special event and I insist we all travel in style.
I can get discounts in Bologna and there are wonderful places to get excellent bargains. I will kit you out head to foot, Susan, and we’ll figure out something appropriate for Jake too. It will be my pleasure to do this. Now don’t dare protest!”
Maria could see the objections colour Susan’s face and she cut them off before Susan could start.
“Sambas stick together, remember? I have always wanted to buy something for you, Susan, and this is the right time, for sure. Please?”
Susan could hardly refuse Maria’s generosity when she used that wheedling voice. Her lovely face showed how sincere she was and Susan felt a feeling of relief that she would not have to worry about this part of the wedding plans. She found a smile somewhere and pulled Maria into a firm embrace so that she did not have to answer. Her throat was restricted by the emotions she felt for her friend.
“That’s settled then!” declared Maria. “We’ll all spend the day in Bologna tomorrow and see what we can find. It’ll be fun to show you around, Susan. Lucy and I have our favourite places already.”
