Are You Ready? (16 page)

‘I know they are difficult, Mum, but they are my sisters and I want them as bridesmaids. Sarah gave me the names of places to check out, so tomorrow we'll try to find them – and me – something good.'

‘Oh, don't worry about them, love, we'll look for you first, it's your big day. Did you get any appointments?' her mum asked as she sank into Ali's oversized couch.

‘Yes, I did, we've the first in The Wedding Boutique at 10 a.m., then Ciara Bridal, followed by Bridal Wraptures and Pronuptia. It will be a busy day, but they have all warned me that appointments can only last a maximum of half an hour. No fairytale bridal bliss day out, then. It's all very businesslike, in and out. So we should have plenty of time to look for the girls also. Even if they are acting like Cinderella's two selfish, ugly sisters!'

Ali spent hours fighting with her sisters over dress colours – she wanted baby pink and they wanted anything but. They kept explaining to Ali how their different hair colours and slightly different heights meant they could never wear matching dresses; but eventually they all put their differences aside and enjoyed a nice evening of food, wine and TV. The next morning, though, that wine must have gone to their heads, as Ali couldn't get Jill or Kate up.

‘Five more minutes,' Jill kept on whispering.

‘Jill, if we don't make this appointment by 10 a.m. then I'll have to wait two weeks for another one. That's not fair, get up.'

Kate was the same, and Ali got upset, as the day she had looked forward to all week was about to turn into a disaster.

Eventually her mum went in and shouted at the girls. ‘If you two lazy lumps do not get up, then not only will Ali make me the bridesmaid but you won't be allowed to go on the hen night, or mingle with any
of the groomsmen on the day. I'll make sure you are kept so busy you won't even know there are any men at the wedding.'

The fear of not meeting men must have scared Ali's two single sisters, as suddenly the girls were flinging on their tracksuits and running to the car. They were still late for their appointment, but only by ten minutes.

They arrived in the renowned Wedding Boutique bridal shop and saw the queues of girls and their mothers.

‘You see, people are not only here early for their appointments, but others who don't even have appointments are hopeful that someone might not show at their allotted time, because then they might get to try on our fabulous dresses,' the sales assistant said.

‘I was about to cancel yours, but I suppose you have made it just in time,' she added snootily, looking Ali up and down. Ali wished she had put on make-up and not worn her runners, but she had wanted to be comfortable, and ready for a day of walking all around town.

As she walked into the bridal chamber, she was stunned by the range of dresses. They were beautiful, like masterpieces. Each could paint a different picture, tell a different story. They were made of lace, silk, chiffon; they were sparkly, simple, over-the-top, short, long, and in more shades of cream and white than Ali knew existed. The range here suited the range of different girls that would walk through the door, Ali thought. No two girls are the same, so I guess no two dresses should be, either.

The dresses were surrounded by beautiful veils,
tiaras, bags, shoes and wraps. ‘There's everything you could possibly need,' Jill gasped. The last time they had tried to go bridal-dress shopping they had not even been allowed to look at the clothes, so they were amazed to see these once-in-a-lifetime dresses up close and personal. Ali's head spun, how could she choose the right one for her? Which type should it be?

A different sales assistant steered Ali into the extra-large changing room. ‘It's to fit in all the layers, trains and veils,' the assistant laughed. She explained that it looked like there were hundreds of dresses, but really there were only about five styles.

‘So, what style do you like: fishtail, A-line, column, empire or ball gown?' She showed Ali some and Ali's mum thought the two-piece A-line was the nicest. The girl then brought them all to a rail with this style of dress.

‘Pick out four, and I'll be back in two minutes,' she said.

‘Two minutes to pick your wedding dress? Is she mad?' Jill laughed. ‘This is the most important thing you will ever wear, we need more than two minutes.'

But they did do it, and then Ali and the assistant went back into the changing room.

‘You need help getting a wedding dress on. There are so many layers, and they are all so fragile, so never try one on when you are alone.' The girl nattered on. Ali was too much in shock, starting at her reflection. She couldn't believe she was seeing herself in a wedding dress.

‘I'm really getting married,' she said out loud, by accident.

The assistant laughed. ‘Most girls say that. It is a bit of a shock, you never believe it until you are in the dress. But wait until you have the veil, shoes, jewellery and your hair done. You will float down that aisle with excitement.'

As the assistant laced up the back of the two-piece, Ali felt like ringing Robin to thank him for asking her to marry him. She wanted to tell him what she was up to, but knew it was bad luck to even discuss the dress, let alone show it to your fiancé.

As she walked out of the dressing room, her mum started crying. ‘My beautiful baby girl is getting married. I don't believe it.'

Kate held her mum's hand, while Jill went to take a photo. ‘So we can look back later and see what ones we want.'

‘Oh no! No cameras. You are not allowed to take pictures of these designs. I'm sorry, but please take that camera out of your hand,' the assistant almost shouted.

Blushing, Jill put the banned camera down.

‘You look gorgeous,' Kate congratulated Ali. ‘Robin will die when he sees you walking up the aisle!'

Ali tried the four dresses on, all variations on the first. They all looked amazing, so pretty, but none of them compared to the first, so Ali tried it on again. The sales assistant passed her shoes and a bracelet, and attached a small veil to her hair.

‘No one ever forgets the first dress they try on. Some
people could try on hundreds of dresses, but will come back to the first one. Something about seeing yourself in a wedding dress for the first time makes you love that moment – and that dress – for ever.'

As Ali sized up how she looked, she could really see the wedding happening: she could imagine walking up the aisle; her father passing her to Robin, and all the love, fun and excitement that would follow. She could not wait for the big day.

As she showed the dress to her mum and sisters again, she could see Jill pretending to text someone on her phone while really trying to take a photo with her camera phone.

‘You look like an angel, honey, so beautiful. But sure, you would be beautiful in a sack.'

‘I would love to see you walking up the aisle in a sack,' laughed Kate. ‘Let's go and get some Coca-Cola, it's roasting in here and you are taking ages.'

Ages? Ali thought. She had only tried on four wedding dresses, and had maybe hundreds more to try on. She knew her sisters were not going to have the stamina and patience for this.

‘We will meet you two useless lumps outside, leave myself and Ali alone,' her mother said, as she shooed the girls out the door. ‘Ali, is this the one you like? We could get it. It is perfect, wait until your father and Robin see you in it.'

Ali looked at the price tag. ‘Oh my God, it is five thousand euros! Is that normal? This is crazy. It is far too much,' she said as she started to take the dress off.

‘Ali, your dad and I've the money for this wedding,
and want you to have whatever makes you happy, so if you want the dress we could get it. Forget the rest of those places and appointments.'

Ali looked at the two-piece corset and skirt. ‘No, let's just take the dress details, and go check some others out. Anyway, I'm too hot to decide. These dresses are all so heavy. I'll need a mini-fan built into one of them on the wedding day, or else I'll collapse before the altar.'

As Ali walked out of the shop, she took one last look around at all the dresses and eager fiancées, and saw the dress she loved being hung back on the rail, ready for someone else to squeeze into. Hopefully no one else will like it, she thought, as she headed to the car and on to the next shop.

It had been a week since Joe O'Connor had had his heart-attack. Ben felt like his whole life had been on hold. He had barely left the hospital. He had had to bring his laptop in once or twice and email some older reports to work, from the hospital canteen, as you were not allowed computers on the wards, and apart from running home every night to sleep and eat, himself and his mother had mainly stayed right at Joe's bed.

Joe's operation had been successful, they thought, and he had awoken briefly, but then, after complications he had had to be operated on again. Now he was just back out of theatre, and sleeping.

Maura looked like a shadow of herself: she had not only managed to age in one week, but to lose weight – and her spirit, it seemed. Maura went through phases of telling Ben every story possible about Joe: wonderful ones about when they first married, as well as funny holiday anecdotes. But then, other times, she barely
spoke for hours, seeming to focus on just looking at Joe, wishing him to awaken and be better.

Ben thought his dad's heart-attack had maybe made his mum aware of her own mortality, made her realize none of them would live for ever, that the older you got, the less time you had. The experience had made Ben feel like that, too. Made him realize he had no one apart from his parents to sit beside his own hospital bed if he got sick; no one to will him better. He needed to change that: his young single days were wasting time that should be spent with someone he could love and care for, and who would love him back.

Ben had gone down to the canteen to buy some sandwiches for lunch, and after negotiating a long queue made his way back to his father's room, with lunch for himself and his mum. When he got back he saw his mum had made a big list of things on an A4 page.

‘What is that, Mum?'

‘It is all the things your father does and organizes that I don't have a clue about. A list I don't know how to cope with. How will I manage if he never recovers? I don't even know which health policy I'm on, or when the golf club memberships renewal date is, or how much they cost, or who we've our house insurance with, or when my car tax is due. I'm lost, Ben.'

Ben didn't know what to say, but started looking through the long list. It reminded Ben how much his dad took care of everything in their house, from mortgage payments to plumbers, from paying the car
insurance to credit card bills. Ben himself didn't know the answer to half the questions. What have I been doing? he thought. Living in a bubble, oblivious to real life and grown-up responsibilities, while his dad had carried all the stress. Ben felt guiltier than ever.

Ben was talking to his mum about when he would have to go back to work, when suddenly he heard his dad whisper.

‘Maura, Maura?'

‘Joe, oh my God, Joe, are you OK?' Ben's mother cried.

‘I don't know what is happening, I feel like I've been dreaming. Am I really in the hospital? I remember trying to talk before, but it seems like years ago,' Joe replied.

‘No, Dad,' Ben answered, ‘that was a few days ago, you had a heart-attack a week ago, and have been into surgery twice. We were so worried. Mum has been here all this time, and so have I.' Ben hugged his dad, tears of joy and relief in his eyes.

Maura filled Joe in on what had been happening, and explained how she had found him. ‘You scared me half to death. Joe, you know I can't live without you, don't ever let anything like that happen again.' And she started crying.

Joe looked at Ben, and Ben felt guilt burning inside him.

‘I am so sorry, Dad, it's all my fault. I should have mowed the lawn, and should have told Mum about that day on the golf course when you felt ill. I'm so sorry. I'll never forgive myself.'

Joe took Ben's hand.

‘You are my own son, my only child, I love you, and am not upset with you. I'm a foolish old man who should have known better. Thank you for looking after your mother for me.'

They talked for a few more minutes before Joe fell back asleep; they knew he was in for a long recovery and they were not out of the woods yet. As his mum chatted to the nurse, Ben walked into the corridor to answer his mobile phone.

‘Ben, it's Jeremy. How's your dad?' Ben filled him in on the good news.

‘That's great, I'm delighted. And I hate to ask you this now, but I need to know when you will be back for work.'

Ben knew he had to go back, and if his father was improving he had no excuse.

‘I will be back tomorrow morning. I still might need to take a few holiday days, but tomorrow I'll be in first thing, I promise.'

‘That is great, Ben, thanks. And another thing, are you still coming to the wedding? Have you booked your flights?'

Jeremy was getting married in Spain, and Ben had completely forgotten it was next week. He had booked
his flights ages ago, and even though it would be great fun, a holiday, he knew his mother would not be able to cope without him yet.

‘Jeremy, I'm so sorry to do this, but I'm going to have to cancel. I really am. I'll make it up to you, I promise.'

Jeremy went quiet, but then said he understood, and said they could discuss it more in the morning, and with that was gone. Ben felt a pang of annoyance that he was going to miss the wedding of the year in Marbella. All his friends would be going, but then when he saw his father still asleep and hooked up to machines he knew he had made the right decision. It was time he stepped up and became the person his father knew he could be.

Molly was so distracted: at work, at home with her family, or out with her friends. She and Luke were not getting on, and her mind was preoccupied the whole time with thoughts about them and whether they had a future. She was in a daze, and even though what she cooked, baked and made was good and perfectly edible, she knew she could do better. Her mother, who was working in Heavenly for just one day that week, noticed straight away that Molly was troubled.