Postby KP Presents » Wed Nov 19, 2014 3:47 am
“Good morning sleepy heads.”
I opened my eyes to see Mum standing over us with Mrs Boyle.
“Time to get up, and come down to have breakfast – we have an incredibly busy day ahead of us,” she said as we were untied, and peeled the tape away from our mouths. “The hairdresser will be here at nine, so get yourselves together and come down.”
“How are you feeling, Louise,” I said as I looked at her.
“Like my tummy is all knotted up,” she said as she looked at me. “Can you understand that?”
I nodded as I rubbed my arms. “Come on then – let’s get washed and go down.”
The three of us were soon going into the dining room, where Mrs Cork was picking at some slices of toast.
“You too, Louise,” she said as she looked up, Louise nodding in reply as we all sat down.
“Hey there,” Bobby said as he came in with Freddie and Sam. Freddie looked almost as nervous as his mum and his sister to be, as they sat and quietly ate their breakfasts.
“How are you feeling this morning Gail,” Mister Boyle said as he came in and kissed his sister.
“How do you think – this is worse than when Freddie and I got married,” she said with a smile.
“Ah you’ll be fine,” he said with a smile, “so when does the beautification begin?”
“In about twenty minutes – what are you going to do?”
“Well, there is the small matter of the caterers needing to set up in here,” he said, “but once Rebecca and I have that started, Freddie and I need to go and join your husband to be.”
The ring on the door bell meant Mrs Boyle had to go up and answer it, before we heard her say “In the front room ladies.”
“Sounds like the hairdressers are here,” Mrs Cork said, “I need to…”
She then ran from the room as Freddie looked at Mister Boyle.
“Nerves – don’t worry,” he said as Mum went to see if she was all right, and we finished our breakfast.
“Right – you three come with me,” Mrs Boyle said, “into the front room.”
As we went in, four chairs had been set up, and we saw the hairdresser standing and waiting.
“Hop onto a chair girls,” she said as she looked at us, “we can make a start on all three of you before the star of the day comes and joins us…”
“This is getting exciting,” Fiona said as she looked at me, but I was looking at Louise, who was looking decidedly nervous.
“Hey,” I said, “it could be worse?”
“How?”
“Frank could be watching you right now.”
“Oh god – I never thought of that,” Louise said before she burst out laughing.
“Right – sit still young lady,” the hairdresser said as she fastened a poncho around her body, “we need to work magic...”
We were sat there for an hour and a half, our hair been teased into curls and fixed into place, as Mrs Cork came in and took her seat beside her, one of the juniors starting to prepare her hair.
Eventually we were allowed to get up and go for a drink, before Mum said “all right you three – let’s go and make you look more beautiful than you already are.” She led us back up to my bedroom, and sat us on the bed as she started to use blusher on our cheeks, and then apply the eye shadow and lip gloss.
“There,” she eventually said as she stood back, “I think you’re ready now. Time to get into your dresses.”
As Fiona and Louise headed next door, Mum took the dress I was going to wear out of the wardrobe. It was made from pale blue silk, and had a square neckline and elbow length sleeves, a long skirt that was gathered at the waist and had a lace underskirt, and a sash tied round my waist with the bow at the side. I also had a matching pair of short gloves, and satin heels.
“Oh my,” Mum said as she looked at me, “you really are growing up aren’t you?”
“Well, I am thirteen in a few weeks, mum,” I said quietly, but as I looked at myself in the mirror I had to admit I did look a bit more grown up. I just hoped Brian liked what he saw later – he and Colin were coming to the wedding with their parents.
“Right – you go downstairs and wait for the rest of us,” Mum said as she held her back, “I need to go and get myself ready.”
As she went to mum and dad’s room, I went downstairs and sat in the front room. The hairdressers were heading off, and Mrs Boyle came in as well, wearing a new red jacket over a grey dress and heels.
“Nervous, Suzie,” she said as she put a pair of earrings in.
“A little – not as nervous as I was when Sarah and Brian got married, but a little.”
“Well, that’s good,” she said as Louise and Fiona came in. They were wearing ivory dresses with a round neck, and a cream sash tied round their waists with bows at the back, the skirt flowing out and just covering their matching kitten heels.
They both had floral headbands – but I wasn’t having one this time. Instead, there was a small bouquet of flowers waiting for me on the table, with posies for the other two.
“Well, I can see there are four very beautiful women in here,” Mr Boyle said as he came in. He was wearing a dark suit, and a white shirt with a grey tie.
“Flatterer.” Mrs Boyle went over and kissed him as Mum came in. She was wearing a light green coat dress with a pair of heels, and a matching jacket.
“Right, we need to be on our way,” Dad said as he came in with Bobby, both of them wearing suits and ties with their shirts. “We’ll see you all at the church, good luck Gail.”
“Thanks,” Mrs Cork said as she came in, Louise gasping as she stood there. She was wearing a royal blue silk dress, with a v-shaped neckline, and a floor length skirt. The sleeves were slightly puffed at the shoulder, and looped over her middle finger. She didn’t have a veil – Mum had explained that as this was her second wedding, the veil was usually left off.
“Wow,” Louise finally said, “you look wonderful.”
“So do you Louise,” she said, “you all too. Did Freddie get away on time?”
“He did, Gail,” Mr Boyle said, “I made sure he got there to be with Jack and they will be waiting for us.”
He looked out of the window and smiled as he said “the cars are here, but before we go, I want to do something.”
He opened a bottle of champagne and poured it into glasses, while Mrs Boyle poured some lemonade into glasses for the three of us.
“Mum and Dad would have been very proud to see you today Gail – annoyed it wasn’t in the synagogue, but very proud all the same.”
“Yeah – I hope they’re watching, and they approve of what I’m doing.”
“Of course they would,” Mr Boyle said as he raised a glass. “A toast – to Gail Hobson. May she be truly happy.”
“I know I will be,” she said as we drank, and then Mr Boyle went to open the door. There were two limousines waiting – a large grey one, and Mister Bridges was standing beside Granddad’s Rolls Royce.
Opening the door, he took Mrs Cork’s hand and helped her to sit in, before allowing Mr Boyle to sit with her and closing the door. We went with Mrs Boyle in the other car, the caterers going in and out as we headed down the driveway.
As we pulled up outside the church, I could see the grey stone through the branches of the trees, the leaves having fallen off, but I could also see the Craigs heading up the driveway. The twins were being carried by Mr and Mrs Craig, while Jenny and Cassie were talking to each other. As they went in, the driver let us out, and Mrs Boyle made sure the headdresses were still in place for Louise and Fiona before we walked up to the door of the church.
“Well, the bridesmaids are here,” Brian said as he saw us from just inside the door. “Have fun – I need to be with Sarah and the kids.”
He slipped inside as Mister Bridges parked and opened the door to the car, Mister Boyle taking the hand of his sister as they walked up the church door.
“I didn’t think I’d be this nervous,” she said as she looked at Louise, who was pale. “But you are as well, aren’t you?”
She nodded slowly as Mrs Boyle said “time for me to go in, good luck.” She kissed her husband on his cheek, and then walked into the church.
“All right girls – Fiona, you’re first, then Louise, then Suzie, and we bring up the rear. Listen for the organ playing, and then we head off.
That was the moment the music started so Fiona took a deep breath and walked off, Louise and me following her.
The church was full of our friends and families, smiling at us as we went down. I could see Fiona’s mum, standing with Cassie’s aunts and her uncle, and then Mum and Dad standing with Aunt Anne and Uncle Simon.
At the front of the chair stood Louise’s dad, wearing a dark grey suit, white shirt and a tie in the same colour as the dress Mrs Cork was wearing, and next to him stood Freddie, dressed in the same way. Both of them were grinning as we walked down, but their eyes were not on us – they were on Freddie’s mother and Mr Boyle.
“Dearly beloved,” the minister said as Mister Hobson stood next to Mrs Cork, “we are gathered here today to see this man and this woman joined together in holy matrimony...”
“By the authority granted to me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
“Gladly,” Mister Hobson said as he kissed the new Mrs Hobson, to the sound of applause from the guests. I glanced to my side and saw that Louise was crying. Glancing at mum, she nodded and handed me a paper hankie, which I then handed to her.
“It’s too late now you know,” Fiona whispered, “Freddie is your brother.”
“I don’t see you complaining too much,” Louise whispered back as her parents took a seat, and the reading was done by Dad. After the minister had said something, they disappeared into the back, Brian slipping out of his seat and going in with them.
“They need two adult witnesses – Freddie’s too young,” I heard Mum whisper as they went into the back room, and then came out, Freddie taking my arm as we walked back up the aisle behind them.
“Well, can I say something now.” Louise said as we stood in the entrance to the chair.
“And what’s that love,” her father said.
“Hi mum,” Louise said as she hugged the new Mrs Hobson, and was hugged in return.
“Right – into the cars and off for photos,” Mr Boyle said as he opened the door.