Breaking All the Rules

by Rachael Richey

  “So?” Jenny prompted her. “Why the panic text?”

  “I realised I was enjoying myself too much. I liked his company far more than Richard’s. I suddenly realised I was getting married in three weeks and I was on a date with another man.”

  “But you told him about Richard? Kate, tell me you told him.”

  Kate raised dark-rimmed eyes that spoke volumes.

  “Oh, god, Kate, why didn’t you tell him? Didn’t he ask if you had a boyfriend?”

  “Yeah. He asked if I was seeing anyone.” Kate took a slurp of coffee. “I said I was. But that it wasn’t serious.”

  “Jesus Christ! No wonder you had a panic. You know he’ll find out, don’t you? How could you possibly keep it secret? You live in the same village.”

  “I know, I know. You don’t need to rub it in. I feel really guilty and really scared.” She looked up at Jenny, the ghost of a smile on her lips. “But it was fun. And he walked me home through the park and across the field. In the moonlight.”

  “Good grief, this gets worse and worse.” Jenny ran a hand through her hair. “Whatever were you thinking? Do you still like him, then? I thought you were over him.”

  “I dunno. It was nice. It felt fun and different, and I had to go just to see what a date with Sam Somerville would be like. He really hasn’t changed since school. He looks just the same.”

  Jenny was staring at her in consternation. “Kate, this is dreadful. You mustn’t have feelings for him. You have to marry Richard.”

  “I know.” Kate sighed. “I know. He’s not really a good bet for a relationship. He wants to go off travelling again. I doubt he’ll ever settle down.” She gave another little smile. “But he understands my need to be an explorer. Richard doesn’t.”

  “How did that come up?”

  “Oh, it doesn’t matter. It just did. Anyway, I know I can’t have him, and he probably doesn’t want me anyway.” She tried to push the memory of the kiss to the back of her mind. “So let’s go and have the Hen day. Where are we going?”

  Jenny stared at her for a moment. “This isn’t over. But yes, we need to get going. I’m not telling you, but you do need to be dressed, and you might want to do something with your hair. It looks like a haystack.”

  ****

  “Jen, this is brilliant. Thank you so much for organising this. It’s so relaxing. Just what I needed.” Kate stretched out her legs and wiggled her toes. They had just had pedicures and were waiting for the manicurist to take over. Kate had had her toenails painted bright green to match the dress she was planning to wear for the evening.

  “My pleasure.” Jenny smiled sleepily. “Just doing my job as chief bridesmaid. It’s supposed to relax you, ready for partying tonight.”

  “Well, it’s really working. Are we going back home after this?”

  “No. Oh, I may as well tell you now. We’re having lunch at that new wine bar you like; then this afternoon we’re having massages.”

  Kate stared at her in surprise. “Massages? Jen, that’s brilliant. I’ve never had a massage before. What a great idea. Now I know why you’re my best friend. Thank you.”

  Jenny smiled smugly. “Well, hopefully it will remind you that getting married is a good thing, and get you in the mood for tonight.”

  “I am in the mood for tonight.” Kate smiled at her. “And so far managing not to panic about last night. I do need your help, though.”

  “What for?” Jenny narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

  “To tell Sam I’m engaged.”

  “I’m not doing that! It’s your mess; you need to sort it. If you’re going to tell such an enormous lie as that, you have to take the consequences.”

  “No, you have to help me,” Kate wailed, grabbing Jenny’s hand. “Please. I can’t tell him now. It would be weird.”

  “Oh, so it wouldn’t be weird if your best friend told him?”

  “Well, maybe, but I can’t. And I’m…” She bit her lip.

  “You’re what?”

  “Nothing. I’m just embarrassed about it. Please, you tell him. Today.”

  “Of course I can’t tell him today! When on earth will I have time to do that? And that wasn’t what you were going to say.”

  “Yes, it was. Okay, then, tell him tomorrow morning. Please, Jen, if you love me.”

  Jenny looked suspiciously at her for a moment, then shrugged. “Maybe. If I see him. But I’m more concerned about why you lied to him. You are still going to marry Richard, aren’t you?”

  “Of course I am.” Kate forced the words out, her body beginning to tingle as she remembered Sam’s arm around her shoulders, and the touch of his lips on hers. “Of course I am. I love Richard. Sam was only ever a crush. I’m too old for crushes now.”

  “Okay. But I’m not convinced you’re telling me everything. We still need to talk more about this. I can’t risk you leaving Richard at the altar.”

  “I won’t do that.” Kate giggled slightly. “I love Richard. You know I do. And I don’t mind that he’s a bit boring. It’s probably safer that way. He’ll keep me grounded. Stop me going off to be an explorer.”

  “That’s another thing we need to talk about.” Jenny smiled as the manicurist arrived. “I really can’t understand this new obsession of yours.”

  ****

  The girls arrived back at Kate’s house just after five and let themselves in the front door. Helen appeared in the hall and beamed at them.

  “Have a nice day, girls? Would you like a cuppa before you get ready?”

  “That would be lovely.” Jenny smiled her thanks. “We had a lovely time. Well, I did—I hope Kate feels the same?”

  “It was awesome.” Kate gave her friend a hug. “And all thanks to Jen. You really are the best friend ever. And we still have tonight, as well.” She followed her mother into the kitchen. “I don’t want tea, though. They gave us that at the nail parlour and the massage place. I’m all tea’d out. Jen, you must be getting old.”

  “Just lining my stomach before tonight.” Jenny pulled out a chair and sat down. “Wouldn’t hurt for you to do the same.”

  “Oh, stop fussing. I’ll be fine. Milk’s better to line your stomach anyway. I’ll have a glass of that, to keep you happy.” She fetched a glass and poured herself a drink of milk. “So are you going to tell me where we’re going, then?”

  “No. It can all be a surprise. I will tell you we’re going to several places, though. It’s going to be a busy evening.”

  “I hope none of you are driving.” Helen placed a cup of tea in front of Jenny.

  “No, we have a taxi booked for the whole evening. It’s a people carrier, so we can all fit in. It’s just going to be Kate, Vicky, and I, and Hannah, Maria, and Chelsea from school. The taxi firm gave me a very good deal.”

  “You must let me contribute.” Helen reached for her purse. “How much was it?”

  “No, Helen, it’s fine.” Jenny shook her head. “All the girls have chipped in. You and Peter are paying for the wedding—I’ve got this covered. It was a good deal, anyway, like I said.”

  “Well, if you’re sure.” Helen replaced her purse and smiled at the girls. “I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time. When is the taxi booked for?”

  “It’s picking us up here at seven, and we’re meeting the other girls at the first stop. Except Vicky, of course. She’s coming here too.”

  “Oh, god. I forgot that.” Kate leaned forward and rested her forehead on the table. “And I was having such a nice day.”

  “Oh, she’ll be fine tonight. Get a few drinks in her, and she’s quite different.” Jenny looked guiltily at Helen. “Sorry, Helen, not something you want to hear about your daughter.”

  “Oh, I know what my girls are like.” Helen gave a small smile. “Both of them. Now off you go. I expect you’re both wanting showers, and I know how long Kate takes to do her hair.”

  Muttering under her breath, Kate picked up her milk and followed Jenny upstairs to her bedroom. It was pretty m
uch as she had left it that morning, and looked like a bomb had gone off. The bed was unmade, her clothes from the night before were strewn around the room, and all the cupboard doors were open.

  “Jesus, Kate, what on earth were you doing in here?” Jenny automatically began to pick up the clothes and dump them on the bed.

  “I had to rush this morning, remember?” Kate tossed the clothes into the cupboard and pushed the doors shut. Then she quickly made the bed and grinned at Jenny. “There, that’s all it needed. Now, what are you wearing tonight? I’m going to wear that new green dress. The one from New Look.”

  “I like that dress. What shoes will you wear?”

  “These.” Kate picked up a pair of very high black sandals and waved them in the air. “They’re hell to walk in, but they look awesome.”

  “I love those.” Jenny sat down on the bed. “You’ll look great. And of course I have a few other things for you to wear, too.”

  “Oh, no!” Kate tossed the shoes into the corner and shook her head. “You’re not dressing me up. No way. I want to look nice tonight.”

  “You will. Don’t worry. But this is your Hen Night. It’s tradition. I have some lovely—very tasteful—things to add to your outfit. We’ve all got something to wear. You won’t be alone.”

  “Well, it better be tasteful. I’m not going clubbing, or whatever we’re doing, in my underwear.”

  “It’ll be fine. Chill out. We’ll get you dressed up when Vicky gets here. Now hurry up, into the shower, and let’s get ready.”

  Kate threw her a suspicious glance but peeled off her jeans and grabbed a towel. She stepped into the shower and turned the water on full, standing directly underneath and letting it cascade all over her body. She always found the shower a good place to think and sort out her problems, and she wondered if it was worth giving the Sam situation some thought. She poured shampoo onto her head and rubbed vigorously. No, Sam was not for now. Tonight was about her. And Richard, of course. It was about her wedding to Richard. Which was in three weeks. Tonight was all about her wedding.

  Kate stuck her head under the water and washed the shampoo out. Her wedding. She suddenly realised just how scared she was. She was committing herself to Richard for life. Well, it was meant to be for life, and no one should go into a marriage assuming they could end it whenever they liked. What would be the point of that? But she had accepted his proposal because that was what she wanted.

  Hadn’t she? In fact she had rather pushed him into proposing, if truth be told. She had started to drop hints, and he had picked up on them rather faster than she had anticipated. It was definitely what she wanted. Until she realised just how boring he was. Until Holly said what she’d said about explorers and astronauts.

  Until Sam Somerville had come back into her life. And kissed her.

  Angrily Kate rubbed conditioner into her hair and screwed her eyes tightly shut as it ran down her face and into her mouth.

  Why had he had to come back?

  Why had she been so stupid as to go out with him, and why did she want him to kiss her again?

  She rinsed her hair and pulled the towel down to dry her face. She needed to face this. She wanted Sam to kiss her again. Properly this time. A real, proper, long kiss.

  She felt her lips tingle at the thought, and stepped out of the shower. She needed to concentrate on tonight. She would sort out the Sam issue tomorrow. Or rather, Jen could do that for her.

  She hung up her towel, took a deep breath, and walked back into the bedroom. Jenny was sitting in front of the mirror straightening her hair, and she glanced up as Kate entered.

  “Nice shower? Did you work out what to do about Sam?”

  “What? What d’you mean?”

  “You always sort out your problems in the shower. You always have.”

  “Well, not this time.” Kate wriggled into her bra. “Tonight is my Hen night. Nothing to do with Sam. Tonight is all about me.”

  “And your wedding. To Richard.”

  “Yes, and my wedding to Richard. Which is happening in three weeks, and nothing is going to stop it. Certainly not Sam Somerville.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Jenny was watching Kate in the mirror. “So you’re ready for some fun, then?”

  “Too right.” Kate pulled her dress over her head. “Can you zip me up? And when do I get to see this stuff you’re going to make me wear? Will I look really stupid?”

  “You’re going to look amazing, Kate. You always do. There you go. This dress is really tight. You won’t be able to eat much in that!”

  “Just for once, I’m actually not hungry,” Kate admitted with a grin. “I think I’m a bit nervous. Could do with a wine, though. We should have had some while we got ready.”

  “Plenty of time for wine later.” Jenny returned to the hair straighteners. “Don’t want you pissed before we even leave the house. We’ll dress you up when Vicky gets here.” She glanced at her phone. “Which should be any minute, actually. It’s nearly six.”

  Kate wandered over and looked out the window. The road below was quiet, and she watched as a small red car turned into the cul-de-sac and headed towards their house. “She’s here,” she said with a sigh. “Hope she behaves herself. I really wish she wasn’t coming.”

  “She’ll be fine. I’ll keep her under control. Right. Help me do this top up, will you? I need to breathe in while you fasten it.”

  Kate moved over and helped her, then glanced up as her sister appeared in the doorway.

  “Hi. You actually look quite nice, Kate.” Vicky walked in and sat down on the bed. “For now.”

  “What d’you mean?” Kate sighed.

  “When we’ve finished dressing you up, you’re gonna look very different.”

  “Vicky! Don’t, or she won’t agree to wear any of it. I’ve told her it’s all very tasteful.” Jenny frowned in annoyance. “Look, now you’re here, we can dress her up.” She pulled a large bag towards her and unzipped it.

  “I really want my dress to show.” Kate peered uncertainly into the bag. “I’m not wearing anything that covers it up.”

  “Stop fussing.” Jenny produced a pink sash with “Bride To Be” emblazoned on it and slipped it over Kate’s head. “Now you can’t object to that, can you? And Vicky and I have sashes with ‘Bridesmaid’ on them, and the others have them saying ‘Hen Party.’ All very tasteful, just like I said.”

  Kate looked down at the sash and ran her fingers over it. “Okay. This is fine. It’s quite nice, actually. Is this all?”

  “Not quite, but you need to do your hair first. Hurry up. The taxi’ll be here in half an hour.”

  By the time Kate was satisfied with her hair, and Jenny and Vicky had added L Plates and a short veil to her costume, the taxi had arrived, and the three girls made their way outside. Kate’s parents were standing in the garden to wave them off, and Peter thrust a twenty-pound note into Kate’s hand.

  “Have a good time, love,” he murmured, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. “You look lovely. Enjoy your last fling.”

  “Last fling? Dad, I’m not getting married for three weeks.”

  “I know, but isn’t that what the Hen Party is? A last chance to let your hair down as a single woman? Go on, have a great time, and don’t get too drunk.”

  “As if I would, Dad.” Kate climbed into the back of the taxi. “I’m a good girl.”

  “Not like me!” Vicky leaned over her and grinned at her father. “I’m already drunk.”

  “Sit down, Vicky.” Jenny pulled her back into her seat. “You okay, Kate? Ready for this?”

  Kate nodded, her mouth suddenly dry with nerves as she watched her house and her parents disappear behind them.

  What on earth was wrong with her? She was going out on the town with her friends. She was going out for a brilliant night, and suddenly all she wanted was to be tucked up at home in her PJs, with a bar of chocolate, a bottle of wine, and a good film. She gave herself a mental shake and summoned up a smile.

/>   “Yep. I’m ready. Now will you tell me where we’re going?”

  “Okay,” Jenny relented. “We’re starting out at a really cool Italian restaurant in Exeter. Then we’re going to a club—they’re really good at Hen nights—and after that we’re making our way back here with a pub crawl. I think we’re going to about…six is it, Vicky?”

  Vicky nodded. “Yeah, something like that. Not sure we’ll have time for them all. Depends how good the club is, I reckon. I think we should just stay there, personally.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s not your Hen do. Kate, would you rather stay at the club, or do the pub crawl as well?”

  “I’ll go along with whatever you decided.” Kate smiled. “I think a pub crawl all the way back from Exeter sounds cool, actually. Clubs are fun for a while but can get a bit boring. Sounds like the perfect evening. Thanks, Jen.”

  “My pleasure.” Jenny raised an eyebrow at Vicky. “Knew you’d like it. Now try and relax. It’s about half an hour to Exeter, and definitely time for some of this.” She produced a bottle of Prosecco from her bag and waved it in the air. “I even brought plastic glasses. You hold those, Vick, while I open it.” With a practised movement, Jenny uncorked the bottle and poured the foaming wine into the cheap plastic glasses. She raised hers in the air. “To Kate. For a final fling as a single girl. And for a very happy married life.”

  They all swigged back the wine, and Kate wrinkled her nose as the bubbles tickled it. “Thanks, guys. Although I’m not sure about this final fling thing. That’s what Dad said. It all sounds so—well, final.”

  “Like death.” Vicky raised her glass again, her eyes glinting.

  “For god’s sake, Vicky.” Jenny scowled at her. “What a thing to say! She’s getting married, not facing a firing squad.”

  “Well, she doesn’t look very happy about it. In fact, she looks positively terrified.”

  Kate finished her wine and held out her glass. “Is there any more? That was nice.” She glanced at her sister. “Not terrified, just feeling a bit odd. Everything in my life is about to change. It’s a strange feeling. It seems like I shall be a different person after I get married, and sometimes that’s a bit hard to deal with.”