I rolled my eyes. The diary and pen had evidently been strategically placed.
“When next week?” Mum said. “And where?” She licked her finger, before using it to flick through to the required page. After writing the wordsWEDDING VENUEand underlining them, she sat poised, ready to record the details.
“Mum, why do you need to know this?” I asked.
“So I can come with you, of course. Unless you don’t want me there?”
“Well…”
She let out a pitiful sigh. “I mean, as you keep telling me, I’monlythe bride’s mother.”
Throughout all our discussions, those wordshad never left my lips. However, as I opened my mouth to tell her that, the woman looked so pathetic I couldn’t bring myself to speak. Of course, I knew her demeanour was a ploy, but that didn’t stop me from feeling guilty. Mum took such pleasure from my wedding plans and having not seen her that excited in years, raining on her parade yet again didn’t sit right. A little voice reminded me that I needed to push back. That my upcoming marriage wasn’t about her.
“I thought we were here to talk wedding dresses,” Sal said, coming to my rescue. She picked up the champagne bottle and poured herself another glass. “Because Tess has…”
“You’re right,” Mum said. Placing the pen and pad to one side, she straightened up in her seat and took a deep breath. “Tessa, darling, I have a surprise for you.”
Terror enveloped me. “What kind of surprise?”
She rose to her feet. “Could you come with me, please.”
“Where are we going?” Panic-stricken, I turned to Sal. My eyes pleaded for more assistance, but none was forthcoming. Wearing a hint of a smile, my sister simply shrugged, as if there was nothing more she could do. “Some matron of honour you are,” I said, keeping my voice down.
Mum took my arm and led me out into the hall. “You first,” she said, indicating we head upstairs.
With an idea as to the horror about to befall me, my feet felt like lead.
“Chop, chop!” Mum said, nudging me forward.
I put my hand on the banister and began making my ascent. Step by step, it felt like I was marching to a death knell.
We reached the landing and as Mum indicated her and Dad’s bedroom, I stalled, not wanting to enter.
Mum grabbed the door handle and swung it open for me, making it clear I didn’t have a choice. “After you,” she said.
Steeling myself, I crossed the threshold, only to realise that my fears did not do the situation justice. Speechless, I stared at the massive explosion of fabric hanging against the wardrobe door and while Mum squealed in delight, I’d never seen anything so appalling. “Incredible,” I said, at last.
Mum clapped her hands in excitement. “I knew you’d love it.”
I let out a whimper.
Pulling me further into the room, Mum’s happiness continued. “I did that too when I first saw it. Perfection can have that effect.” She placed an arm around my shoulders, preventing me from doing a running jump at the window. “And when I first put it on…” Mum came over all wistful. “I felt just like a princess.”
“This isyourwedding dress?” I asked. Talk about putting me in a predicament.
Mum nodded, while I wanted to cry. “And now it’s yours,” she said, whether I wanted it or not. “I always hoped to pass it on to you or your sister. You know, like a family heirloom that goes from generation to generation.”
She reached out to touch the fabric, then turned to me, her expression earnest. “To have you walk down the aisle in my own gown would be an absolute honour.”
Chapter 17
Mum had left me to change in private and as I stood there alone in the silence, I stared at my reflection, lost for words. Mum’s freestanding mirror demonstrated all too well the gown’s full effect and it wasn’t pretty. Despair overwhelmed me as I took in the vision of awfulness. I looked like a head and two arms poking out of a humongous pearl and sequinned meringue. The dress’s bodice was frilled with lace, while yet more flounces adorned the neckline and sleeves. As I frowned at the embroidered heart motif decorating the chest, it seemed everything about the dress was wrong.
My gaze settled on the reflection of the veil lying on the bed behind me. Goodness knew what I’d turn into when that went on.
My eyes widened as one of the world’s most iconic moments suddenly flashed through my mind. “Please, God, no.” Horrified, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Mum, you can’t do this to me.”
A tap on the bedroom door diverted my anguish and I spun round, desperate. Without the right words to let her down gently, the last thing I wanted was Mum telling me how beautiful the ensemble was.
