'Yes, Mum, I am.'
'Okay, darling. Well, it’s your wedding, and it’s your life. Odd if you ask me, but then you always like to do things in your own special way. Always been the same.'
'Yeah, I think it will be good. I’m really happy to have made this decision.'
'Good, darling, good to hear. As long as you’re happy, that’s all I’ve ever been worried about.'
Nina sighed again; that wassonot true. Her mum lived in a complete world of her own and didn’t really let a conversation go by where she didn’t tell Nina that Nina had always been, 'a bit different'.
'Look Mum, I better get going because the train is getting there and I’ll have to get off soon.'
'Okay, darling. I’ll tell your sister the news about the dress and let me know how it goes with Robby.'
'Will do. Bye, Mum. Love you loads.’
‘Bye, darling.’
28
Nina looked at the riverboat timetable on her phone as the train approached Lovely Bay, noted that there was one every twenty minutes because of the time of day, and decided to hustle towards the river so that she could get home quickly. As the train passed the moveable platform, she picked up the box with her wedding dress, slipped her phone into her handbag, put her handbag on her shoulder, waited for the doors to open, and stepped onto the platform.
Unlike the times of the day when she normally took the train, which weren't commuter times, the train platform was fairly busy. Only one trainspotter stood watching the moveable platform, and everybody else hustled towards the footbridge. Juggling the big box in her hands, she made her way over the bridge, down the other side, past the stationmaster’s office, and noting the closed door, wondered whether Nancy was on an evening shift. Slipping out of the side gate to take the shortcut towards the path leading down to the riverboat, she hurried along beside a couple of people she recognised as Lovelies.
As she got towards the jetty, she saw every other person standing in one of the blue wax Lovely coats. One of Colin and Clive’s assistants, also wearing one of the Lovely coats, stoodin the little shed at the end of the jetty, tapping away into his phone and looking downriver. Lost in a world of her own, she was suddenly aware that Nancy was at the top of the queue. She walked up to her and started to chat as they got onto the boat.
Colin greeted them. 'Hello. How are you two today?’ Colin pointed to Nina’s box. ‘Blimey, what on earth are you travelling with?'
Nina tapped the top of the box. 'A wedding dress.’
‘I thought that was the talk of the town and you had one.' Colin laughed.
Nancy interrupted. ‘Oh my! Have you found another one?’
‘Sort of.’ Nina laughed. 'I think I’ve found a solution to not loving that one I kept from the order.'
Nancy squinted and tapped the box. ‘What’s that then?’
‘My first wedding dress.’
‘So you’re wearing the wedding dress you’ve already worn once?' Colin’s eyes widened. ‘The first time?’
'Where did you find that?' Nancy asked.
'I’ve been up to my flat. Sophie suggested that I have something from the first wedding.’
‘Like what?’
‘Sophie meant a memento or something. Well, anyway, when I went into the loft to have a look, I found my wedding dress, and here we are.'
Colin nodded. 'It’s kind of romantic in a way, I think, maybe.'
Nancy didn’t look convinced. 'Does our Robby know about this yet?'
Nina shook her head. 'No. I think he’ll be fine.'
Colin nodded. 'Yes, you’re probably right. He’s not the kind of bloke that lets much worry him.'
'Why would it worry him?' Nina asked.
