by Sarah Hope
‘WE’LL TAKE IT IN A little bit here too. Like this.’ Taking a pin out from the small red pin cushion, she pinched a piece of fabric together and slipped it through. ‘You see, it gives you more definition.’
Natalie twisted one way and the other, looking into the wooden mirror Gina had brought down from upstairs. ‘It does, doesn’t it? It completely changes the shape of the dress.’
‘It shows off your figure.’ Gina peered over the rim of her coffee mug.
‘Right, let’s look at the length next. Have you chosen your wedding shoes yet?’ Leaning back on her haunches, Chrissy surveyed her work. It looked better already.
‘Yes. Gina, can you grab them, please? They’re just behind the sofa.’ Natalie turned back to Chrissy. ‘It’s a nightmare hiding anything from Graham. He’s such a big kid, I can never keep anything as a surprise from him. Hence why I have my wedding shoes behind the sofa!’
‘Sounds like he’s excited about the wedding, then?’
‘Yes, he is.’ Natalie smiled into the mirror. ‘For someone who has spent years telling me he doesn’t need a big wedding to show the world how much he loves me, he’s really getting into it. He’s ordered the transport to the church himself, it’s a surprise so I’m just hoping I won’t be arriving on a motorbike or something.’ Laughing, she knelt down and lifted the turquoise lid off the shoe box.
‘They’re stunning.’
‘I fell in love with a pair similar to these when we first got together. So when I saw them, I knew it was meant to be.’ Natalie held up a pair of diamanté encrusted silver stilettos. ‘I’m not sure how I’m actually going to walk in them, though. I haven’t worn heels like these since before Adam was born!’
‘As long as you can totter down the aisle in them, you can take them off at the reception.’ Gina took one of the shoes, holding it to the light. ‘You should get the photographer to get some close-up shots of these, I saw that in one of your wedding magazines. They looked really effective, and these are absolutely gorgeous.’
‘Some people change into pretty pumps after the ceremony. It might be an idea.’ Chrissy coughed, a lump catching in her throat. That’s what she had done, she’d commissioned some pumps from a local crafter who had painted them with Mr & Mrs and stuck crystals across the top.
‘I might just look into that idea.’
‘Already on it.’ Gina pulled her phone from her handbag.
‘Ok, slip these on and I’ll measure the length.’
Stilettos on, Natalie straightened again.
Bending her head, Chrissy gently pulled the fabric taut, pinning it to the correct length.
‘Hello? Anyone home?’ A deep voice echoed through the house, followed by footsteps. ‘Hey, Nat. You look gorgeous! Hi, Gina, how are you?’
Jerking her head up, Chrissy froze. It was Luke.
‘Alright, bro. Do you like it?’
‘I love it! Graham will be made up.’ Leaning over, Luke kissed Natalie on the cheek.
‘Damn.’ Chrissy pushed the pin in further than she thought. ‘Sorry, did I get you?’ She’d never done that before.
‘No, I’m fine.’ Grinning down at her, Natalie indicated to Luke. ‘This is my brother, Luke. Luke, this is...’
‘Hey, Chrissy. How’s your shoulder?’
‘Fine, thanks.’ Chrissy lowered her head, she could feel her skin heating up already. It only took a couple of seconds for her to go from pale to bright red.
‘You’ve already met?’
‘Yes, Chrissy was the one that broke my dream of making a mint on old Lowen’s cottage. She’s the brave one that’s moved into Corner Cottage.’
‘I don’t know about brave, I think naïve is more fitting.’ Chrissy laughed, despite herself.
‘Yes, I wondered what you’d have to say about that when I heard.’ Natalie thumped him playfully on the arm. ‘You might just have to get a proper job now.’
‘A proper job? You do realise I earn more now that I buy, do up and sell on property than I ever did working in that stuffy corporate office?’
‘Even so, it just seems as though you’re never doing anything.’
‘You’re just jealous.’ Luke laughed and looked down at Chrissy. ‘Anyway, how come you’re sticking pins into my sister’s wedding dress?’
‘Luke, to be honest, it’s all been an utter nightmare.’ Gina walked across to them, picking a grumbling Poppy up as she went. ‘Natalie’s dressmaker has upped and left, leaving us with a half-finished wedding dress. Chrissy, here, luckily stepped in and has agreed to finish the job.’
‘A woman of many talents.’
‘Right, I think that’s all done. Did you want to take it off and we can go through the detailing you want? Or we could leave that until a better time?’
‘Can we do it today? If you’ve got some time, of course. Don’t worry if you’ve got somewhere else to be.’
‘No, no it’s fine. Have you got some paper so I we can sketch some ideas?’
‘Yes, I’ll grab some from the boy’s playroom on way. Gina, did you want to stick the kettle on again, please? I think there might be a packet of biscuits in the cupboard too.’
‘Will do. Here, Poppy come and say hello to your Uncle Luke.’ Gina passed Poppy to Luke.
‘Hello, Popsicle.’ Luke stuck his tongue out, making Poppy giggle in his arms.
‘Thanks again for your help yesterday.’ Chrissy perched on the edge of the sofa.
‘You’re more than welcome. Have you heard from Lowen about fixing the window yet?’ Luke joined her on the sofa, his thigh touching hers.
‘Not a sound.’ Shuffling across, she made more space for him.
‘Ah. I’ll get one of my contractors to come and have a look for you, if you like?’
‘That'd be great, please? Do you know how much it might be? Roughly?’
‘I’m sure I can sort something out.’ Luke lifted Poppy up in front of him, her little legs kicking against his stomach. ‘Uncle Luke will be able to pull a few strings, won’t he, Popsicle?’
‘If you’re sure?’
‘I am. If you’re lucky, we might have chance to finish that massage too.’ Nudging her shoulder and winking, Luke suddenly pulled away. ‘Ooh lovely, a nice cuppa. Thanks, Gina.’ Luke sat Poppy on his knee, gently leaning her back against him and took the mug with his free hand, being careful to hold it out of Poppy’s short reach.
‘Thank you.’ Chrissy wrapped her hands around her mug. Was he flirting with her? Or was he being genuine? Shaking her head, Chrissy laughed at herself, why would someone like him flirt with someone like her? No chance.
‘Are you guys ok budging up?’ Natalie, back in her signature jeans and jumper, slid onto the sofa into the small gap between the arm and Chrissy, forcing Chrissy and Luke closer still. ‘I’ve got the paper.’
‘OK, great.’ Taking the paper and a pencil, Chrissy began to sketch a silhouette of the wedding dress. ‘Why don’t you talk me through the design you had made up with the dressmaker and we’ll see how we can go forward with it?’
Chapter 5
‘Alright, Star. Let me get in first.’ Shaking the rain from the umbrella, Chrissy slipped into the hall, shutting the door firmly on the dark clouds outside. She was glad she’d made the twins take their coats to school, despite Sophia complaining that hers was too tight over her blazer.
‘Come on then, let’s get you a treat.’ Slipping her boots off, she pushed the living room door ajar just as the doorbell rang. ‘Or not.’
With Star circling her legs, Chrissy made her way back to the front door, pulling it open. ‘Luke, hi. What are you doing here?’
‘Thanks for the nice welcome. There’s nothing better than feeling wanted.’ Laughing, he picked up a pane of glass leant against his shin. ‘I’ve come to fix your window.’
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just surprised to see you. I thought you were sending one of your contractors over.’ Tucking her hair behind her ears, Chrissy smiled apol
ogetically.
‘Nah, they were all tied up today and what with the storm supposed to be hitting on Friday, I thought I’d best come and get it sorted.’
‘OK, thank you. Here, come in out of the rain.’
‘Thanks.’ Shifting his tool bag on his shoulder, he lifted the sheet of glass up before following her into the living room. ‘How’s it going with my sister’s wedding dress, then?’
‘Well, as you know, we’ve got the designs all done. I’m going to pop into the next town to get some supplies and then I’ll get started.’
‘You think you can transform it into how she wants it? It all sounded a bit complex to me.’ Luke pulled at the plywood covering the hole in the window. ‘Have you glued this on?’
‘Yes, I found some old wood glue in the shed.’
‘Right.’ Luke closed his eyes, trying not to laugh and grabbed a chisel from the bag. ‘It’s a good job I have the muscles to prise it off then, isn’t it?’
‘In my defence, I needed to cover it quickly and I couldn’t find any nails.’
‘No worries. I’ll sort it. So, the dress?’
‘Oh, yes. Yes, I should be able to sort it for her. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, just some detailed embroidery and beadwork. It’ll be time-consuming but it’s doable.’
‘That’ll please her, then. I don’t know why they’re bothering to get married now, to be honest.’ With one last tug, Luke pulled the plywood off and began lining the metal window frame with putty.
‘Why not?’ Chrissy lowered herself to a beanbag and pulled her knees towards her.
‘Well, they’ve been together for so long now, what difference is it going to make? Why now? I don’t know, they’ve got a young family and better things to waste their money on, if you ask me.’
‘I don’t know.’ Chrissy shook her head. ‘I’m probably the last person you should ask. My idea of marriage isn’t all that great at the moment.’
‘How do you mean?’ Luke looked back at her over his shoulder, his pale blue eyes meeting hers.
‘It doesn’t matter.’ Chrissy shrugged, it didn’t feel right, her taking money from Natalie to finish her wedding dress while at the same time belittling the whole concept of marriage, but it’d be even worse telling her brother that she agreed with him and felt, no knew, that marriage was just a piece of paper, something that could be eliminated with a few words. She couldn’t tell him that she felt that buying a house together was more of a tie than getting married. It had certainly taken her and Andrew longer to sell the house than for him to emotionally walk out on their marriage.
‘It sounds like you have some pretty strong views on it.’
‘Yes, well. I’m sure Natalie and Graham are doing it for the right reasons. And maybe they’re the ones doing it right, waiting all this time to get married. At least they know each other properly now. Maybe that’s the successful way to go into marriage.’
‘Maybe.’
‘Anyway, I’ll go and grab you a cuppa.’ Pushing herself to her feet, Chrissy escaped to the kitchen before he could ask her any other difficult questions.
‘THERE YOU GO. WHAT do you think?’ Luke wiped the last of the excess putty from the frame and turned towards Chrissy.
‘It looks great. Thank you so much.’
‘Now, shall I finish that massage for you?’ Luke grinned.
Chrissy shifted from foot to foot and counted to three, the time it took for the warm glow to travel up her neck and across her face, knowing that it would colour her skin, filling the gaps between her freckles. ‘Is that your phone?’
‘Drat. Yes.’ Bending down, Luke rummaged through his tool bag before pulling out his mobile. ‘Sorry, it’s one of my contractors. I’ll catch you later?’
Nodding, Chrissy held the door open for him. Not sure if she was disappointed or relieved that he had to go. There was definitely chemistry between them, but this probably wasn’t the right time in her life to get into anything new with anyone, even if it was just casual.
‘MUM?’
‘Yes, Evie?’ Chrissy twisted around, potato peeler in hand.
‘Dad rang.’
‘Ok. Has he settled into his new place?’ Is this what her future would be like? The twins relaying a conversation they’d had with the previous love of her life, the person she’d thought she'd be with forever? Would she always be tempted to ask questions to try to get a glimpse of his new life? Would the simple fact that they had been able, allowed, to talk to him always sting, always feel as she’d been kicked in the stomach, been disregarded and forgotten?
‘Mum, he said that the woman we met the other week will be there when we go on Friday night.’ Evie’s lips trembled.
‘Come here.’ Taking the few short strides towards Evie, Chrissy wrapped her arms around her, Evie’s small shoulders shaking as she began to cry. ‘What woman? What did he mean, sweetheart?’
‘When he took us out to the farm park the other week, when we were still living together but you stayed home, one of his work friends came with us. Daddy told us it would be better if we didn’t tell you. So we didn’t. I’m sorry, Mummy. We should have, shouldn’t we? I wanted to, but Daddy had said that it didn’t matter.’ Evie pulled away, looking up at Chrissy, her eyes welling with tears.
‘It’s ok. Was she blonde?’
‘Yes.’ Evie nodded before burying her head back in Chrissy’s cardigan.
‘It was Susan.’ He had introduced his mistress to the twins and made them lie to her. Taking a deep breath, Chrissy stared at a small crack above the doorframe.
Evie’s head bobbed up and down. ‘Yes. And now she’s at his house.’
‘Is she living there?’ Chrissy’s voice was barely above a whisper. He wouldn’t have moved her in, not so soon. Surely? He would have told her. He would definitely have told her if he was planning on living with his mistress.
‘Yes, she is. He said that she’s his girlfriend. That’s not true, is it? You and Daddy are supposed to be getting back together. He doesn’t really have a girlfriend, does he?’
‘Oh, darling. Yes, I’m afraid he does. Susan is his girlfriend now.’ Kissing the top of Evie’s head, Chrissy cursed Andrew. They had agreed that they would leave it a few months before they told the twins about him and Susan. They had both agreed that the girls needed to settle into their new life and new routines before they had any other big changes to process. ‘But he still loves you, you know that, don’t you?’
Evie nodded. ‘That’s what he said. He said to tell you that he’s going to pick us up on Friday at six. But I don’t want to go. I don’t want to meet Susan again. It won’t be the same.’
‘I know, sweetheart. It will be different, but you want to see Daddy, don’t you?’
‘Yes, I want to see Daddy, but I don’t want to see her. I don’t even know her, how can I spend the weekend with a stranger?’
‘I think you need to give her a chance, Evie. I’m sure she’ll be lovely. Your Daddy wouldn’t be with someone who isn’t nice.’ Why was she sticking up for him? And for the woman who had destroyed her marriage? Chrissy bit down on her bottom lip, what else was she supposed to do? If she had her way, she’d let the twins stay with her, she’d rather they didn’t have any contact with their cheating father or his mistress, but for them, she knew she had to put her feelings aside. He was still their father, even if he was only her husband until the divorce came through.
‘Ok, I will if you want me to.’ Evie lifted her head and wiped her eyes with the palms of her hands. ‘But I would rather stay with you.’
‘I’d rather you stayed with me too, Evie, but he’s your Daddy and he loves you so much.’ The all too familiar lump appeared in her throat. This weekend would be the longest she’d ever spent away from the twins but she had to be strong, for them.
‘Why don’t you go into the living room and you and Sophia can choose a film for us to watch?’
‘She’s not in the living room.’
‘Oh, where is
she?’
‘She locked herself in the bathroom after she put the phone down on Daddy.’
‘Oh, ok. Well, why don’t you go and choose a film while I see if I can coax her out?’
‘Ok.’
‘Evie?’
‘Yes, Mummy.’ Evie paused by the door.
‘I love you and I promise everything will be ok. Things might feel a bit weird at first, but they will be ok.’
‘I love you too, Mummy.’
‘SOPHIA.’ CHRISSY KNOCKED gently on the bathroom door. ‘Sophia, it’s Mummy, open up please.’
‘No.’
‘Oh, darling. Please open up.’
‘Go away.’
‘Sophia, I’m not going anywhere. Open up so I can talk to you, please?’
‘I said no, now leave me alone.’
She leant her forehead against the cool wood of the door before lowering herself to the floor, her back against the bathroom door. ‘Evie told me what Daddy said.’
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘Ok, just listen then.’ Chrissy ran her fingers across the wooden floorboards, tracing a scratch in the varnish. ‘You know Daddy still loves you, don’t you?’
‘Why are you asking me questions? You said I just had to listen!’
‘I’m sorry. I did.’ Chrissy leant the back of her head against the door. ‘He’s still your dad. I know it will be strange with her living there, but he wants to spend time with you two.’
‘It’s not fair though, Mum. We’re his family, not her. Why is he living with her when he left us?’
‘Oh, darling. He didn’t leave you, he left me, not you and Evie. He still loves you both exactly the same as he did when we were all living together.’
‘No, he doesn’t. We would still be living in our old house, all together, if he cared about me and Evie.’
‘Sometimes adults fall out of love with each other and so they don’t want to live together anymore. But they still love their children, exactly the same. It’s just the other adult they are moving away from, not their children. Do you understand?’
