'Everything is fine. I went up to look at some stuff, actually, in the loft.'
'What’s that then, darling?' Nina’s mum asked with a mildly interested tone.
Nina swallowed. 'I went to have a look at some of the stuff from the wedding.'
Nina’s mum's voice sounded confused. 'I didn’t realise you had anything there for the wedding.'
'No, no, not that wedding, I mean not this wedding, my other wedding.'
'Sorry darling, do you mean to Andrew?'
'Yes, Mum, I do.'
'Sorry, what were you doing that for?' Nina’s mum's voice sounded very uneasy.
'Well, it was Sophie's suggestion because I’ve been thinking a lot about Andrew the last few weeks because of the anniversary and everything. Sophie thought that perhaps we could encompass something from him into the wedding, like a little memento or my veil or something like that.’
‘Hmm, really?’
Nina didn't like the sound of her mum's voice; clearly, her mum didn’t think it was a good idea at all. ‘Yep.’
'Right, I’m not sure about that darling, like you know how sad you were. Of course, anyone would be and it’s taken a long time for you to get over it, so I’m not sure if that’s a good idea or not. No, I’m really not convinced…'
Nina shook her head. Her mum didn’t get it. She was never going to get over it nor did she ever want to. Shehatedit when people said she should be over it. Her mum was never going to understand that. Not many people did. 'No, no, Mum, it’s fine. I think it’s a good idea. It will make me feel okay about it all.'
'But what about Robby? What does he think?' Nina’s mum asked.
'We’ll find out.'
'I’m not so sure, darling. I’m not sure if I like the idea at all. Isn’t it a bit morbid and strange? Won’t it just make everybody sad? Yes, it’s on theghastlyside. Awful, actually. Morbid.'
Nina shook her head; her mum was sometimes quite dramatic. She rolled her eyes, inhaled, and leant her head back on the seat. 'Well, this is what I’m thinking. I’m not just going to have a small memento, I’m actually going to wear my first wedding dress.'
Nina's mum made a noise between a squark and a howl. 'What? You’ve got to be joking! You can’t do that! Why would you do that? No. Flat no.'
'I’m not joking.’
‘Darling, I need to digest what you are saying for a second. Gosh. You were always odd, but this…’
‘I think it’s a good idea,' Nina replied. 'I’ve just been to the flat, I got it out and everything just felt right. It’ssucha beautiful dress.'
Nina’s mum made a funny sound. 'That huge dress with the train that you married Andrew in?' Her mum's voice faded. 'Darling, I’m really not sure this is a good idea, as I’ve said a few times now. Maybe you should go and see a counsellor or something. Is that grief group you used to go to still up and running?'
Nina stopped herself from tutting. 'I’m not going to wear the train and all the bustle at the back. If you remember, that bit popped off. Underneath it, it’s just a plain dress with an amazing cut.'
'Actually, darling, I do remember that. We thought it was a good idea at the time. Little did I ever think that it could be, well, you know, used in something like this. Repurposed. I mean thatisall the trend these days, I suppose. Saving the planet and all that.’
‘Mum, it looks like a completely different dress.'
'Anyway, darling, can I just ask this? I’m not being rude, but surely you don’t fit in that anymore. I mean you’ve eaten your fair share since Andrew…'
Nina rolled her eyes. Couldn’t make it up with her mum. 'It’s fine, Mum. It just doesn’t do up across the back where my bra goes. I think it’ll be easy to adjust it. It has a zip underneath a line of tiny faux buttons, so I think it might work.'
‘What about that one you got from that online place? That one looked lovely.’
‘I know but it wasn’t…’
'Darling, so between now and the wedding, you’re going to get the dress adjusted and you have to talk it through with Robby about whether or not he’s fine with it. Is that what you’re telling me?'
