“Mornin Evie.” He said in a half-asleep slur as I walked back into my bedroom.
“Hey.” I paused hesitantly, “look, thank you for last night and looking after me, but this really cannot happen. You shouldn’t be in my bed and that was wrong of me for letting you”.
“It’s ok Evie, I would never take advantage of you. I just wanted to look after you. Do you want to talk about your dream?”
“It’s nothing, honestly, just a few bad memories” I paused for a moment, “I need you to go”. I had a look of sincerity in my eyes, I needed him to know I was serious. That he couldn’t be here with me.
“Look Evie”,
I interrupted him. “No I am sorry, I really am, but my life is pretty fucked up as it is and I can’t have you here. I need you to go. Please”. I didn’t want him to go, but he had too. I couldn’t have this moral debate with myself. Rational reason had prevailed. Connor sleeping in my bed was wrong.
The hurt in his eyes pained me. I wanted to take back my words, but I couldn’t. I wouldn’t do this to Henry or myself.
Conner stepped out of my bed and walked to the spare room. I heard him dress and walk back along the hall, the footsteps stopped outside my bedroom door.
“I’m here if you need me Evie”, then he left.
I heard the front door close and I knew that was it. He was gone.
Chapter 8
I walked downstairs into the lounge and flipped open my laptop.
1 new emaiclass="underline"
To: Everline Cross
From: Henry Webber
21st September 2012
11.58pm
Hey Baby,
Just to let you know I got arrived here well. I have arranged the booking of the wedding. It will be on October 18th at Botleys Mansion, Mother has contacts. While I am away why not go dress shopping and organise the bridesmaid dresses. Mother is sorting the caterers and flowers, you just need the dresses.
Love You
He means next month, four weeks until we get married, is he kidding me.
To: Henry Webber
From: Everline Cross
22nd September 2012
8.38am
Hi Henry,
Are you referring to our wedding being next month? In 4 weeks? It’s a little fast wouldn’t you say? Can we do it perhaps next year?
Where are you staying?
Love me
He must have got it wrong, he must mean next year. There is no way that could be right. Surely?
I wandered into the kitchen and flicked on the kettle, as it boiled I poured some cereal and began munching on my juvenile chocolaty pops. I strolled into the front room with my freshly made hot cup of tea and flicked on the television. Day time tv, urgh, nothing worse. Chat shows discussing who is doing who, who hates who or who’s the daddy…. My laptop alerted me to a mew message.
To: Everline Cross
From: Henry Webber
22nd September 2012
9.06am
Yes next month, what is the point of waiting? Mother informs me you have an appointment at the bridal shop on Wellington Street at 11am, Lucy and Alexis will meet you there, it has all been arranged If you feel it is too soon then perhaps you don’t want to marry me, do you Everline?
Staying in Goa
Love You
To: Henry Webber
From: Everline Cross
22nd September 2011
9.10am
Hi Henry,
Sorry of course I want to marry you. I was just more aware of the time restraints, as wedding’s can take years to plan.
Love me
I bet ‘mother’ has arranged everything, interfering old hag.
I walked along Wellington Street until I arrived at the bridal shop Henry’s mother had organised to meet me at. As I stood in front of the boutique I wanted to turn and run in response. It was a ghastly, over the top designer wedding dress shop. Goudy white mock pillars adorned the entrance. A line up of meringue style dresses lined the full length glass windows. The only thing that would keep me sane today is the company of Lucy and Alexis.
As I walked inside I was greeted by the pretentious ‘Susie’ as her name tag clearly displayed.
“Hi I’m Suzie, darhling, Henry and Vivienne said that you need a ready to wear dress for next month. Vivienne has whittled down her choices, if you got through to the changing room you can start trying them on.”
I walked through to the changing room, confused as to how ‘mother’ was picking out my wedding dress.
I slipped on the first dress. Slipped was to polite a word. It was in reality, rustle, squeeze and manoeuvre the twenty layers of tulle and organza over my slight frame. When I saw my reflection in the mirror I couldn’t contain myself. Laughter spilled from my lungs. I look absolutely ridiculous. 1980’s toilet roll cover, had nothing on this dress. All I needed was a poodle perm and I would be ready. It was huge, tacky and covered in little crystals, everywhere.
“Everything alright in there Evie?” I heard Lucy call, “What’s so funny?”
As I stepped out of the changing room into the viewing area a surge of laughter filled the room. Lex and Luce were quite literally in fits of gut wrenching laughter at the sight of me. I couldn’t help it but I surcame to their behaviour and started poking fun at the horrendous dress. ‘Mother’ was not impressed, she was clearly livid with our behaviour and Suzie, the shop keeper, seemed to share her thoughts.
“Why don’t you try on something else darhling.” Susie interjected, trying to diffuse the ridicule of laughter. I glanced through the rails of dresses. They were not me. They were not too far from hideous. I couldn’t bear to fight into another of these dresses.
I walked back into the changing room and pulled the layers of fabric from my skin as quickly as humanly possible. Slipping back into my clothes and walked out of the changing room.
“Vivienne, it was lovely to see you, but none of those dresses are quite ‘me’, I am going to take my bridesmaids and confer wedding plans over a light lunch with lots of alcohol. Do excuse us”.
Vivienne looked like she was ready to gouge my eyes out. Her mouth tight and eyes staring straight into me. I took the opportunity to swiftly walk out of the bridal boutique with Lex and Lucy running behind me giggling like mindless school girls.
“Where to bridesmaids?”
“Let’s go back to mine, I have a bottle of wine and we can order in Chinese, who needs light lunches”. With that we walked to my car and headed to Lex’s.
Chapter 9
“Sooooo, and don’t say nothing, as that is not going to cut it. How the hell did Connor end up back at yours?”
I nearly choked on my chow mein, “What, how? How did you know? Nothing happened.” I hastily added.
“Evie, we know nothing happened, we know you aren’t like that but you sure did something to Connor. Travie said he came home in a foul mood. What’s up Evie, what happened?” Evie and Alexis both looked at me with excitement in their eyes. Bloody gossips.
“He escorted me home because he thought it wasn’t safe for me to go alone.”
A unanimous “aaahh” came surging from both of them.
“I said he might as well stay because he had was going to walk back home. In the spare room of course. Then I woke up screaming…”