They spent the next hour trying on
various dress styles until they decided on what looked best on everyone. These would then be made up in the pale yellow/gold
material.
There was no problem with Chloe and Keisha who were as thin as whippets but to find a style that suited them while also flattering Sandrine
’
s ample frame took a little longer. Eventually it was decided that an Empress-line style was the best option for all
.
The bridesmaids
’
dresses wouldn
’
t be made up until the last moment.
“
You have no idea how many times dresses have had to be cancelled because bridesmaids have either gained or lost weight or become pregnant
,
or even in a couple of cases fallen out with the bride,
”
Liz explained, laughing.
“
So we
’
ve learnt our lesson the hard way. We
’
ll fit the girls again about six weeks before the big day and have their dresses made up then.
”
“
That won
’
t happen with us,
”
Keisha and Chloe chorused.
Sandrine said nothing.
“
I think that
’
s very sensible,
”
Marie-Noelle observed.
After much laughter and giggling the girls got dressed again and left, kissing Liz
,
who was now like an old friend. To Ellie
’
s surprise and delight, her mother insisted on paying for her wedding dress and Ellie put down a deposit on the bridesmaids’ dresses. They left to go for lunch in The Old Schoolhouse and to the relief of all Sandrine cried off
,
saying she had work to do in the office.
They had a great time and
,
two bottles of wine later, when the bill was presented, Chloe and Keisha insisted on treating Ellie and her mother.
“
I just can
’
t wait for your wedding day,
”
Chloe said as she kissed Ellie goodbye.
“
It will be brill,
”
Keisha agreed as they left to get the bus into Dublin
,
to go shopping
.
37
Ronan drove around to pick up Fiona as arranged on Sunday morning. Although the off-licence would not open until half past twelve
,
he saw that Sam
’
s car was outside. He rang Fiona
’
s doorbell and she buzzed him up. To his surprise, Sam was there.
“
Just thought I
’
d pop in to give you a hand,
”
he said to Ronan, after greeting him.
“
For a woman, she has surprisingly little
‘
stuff
’
– like shoes and bags, I mean.
”
“
Tell me about it!
”
Ronan replied
,
grinning.
They were in sympathy with each other
,
having both experienced women
’
s
‘
stuff
’.
“
I love it here and I
’
ll miss it,
”
Fiona said sadly, looking a
round the living
room
.
“
But you
’
ll be back after the baby is born, won
’
t you?
”
Ronan asked.
“
Yes, but I
’
ll definitely take all my maternity leave. Now that Sam has you
,
I don
’
t feel as if I
’
m leaving him in the lurch. We
’
ll see.
”
“
You know you can come back any
time,
”
Sam told her affectionately.
“
Now, let
’
s get a move on.
”
They spent the next hour carrying boxes up and down the stairs
,
refusing to let Fiona lift as much as a feather.
At last she stood and took a long look around the room.
“
Just think, the next time I see this place I
’
ll have my son with me,
”
she said, a lump in her throat. Running her hand over the back of the leather sofa, she blew a kiss to the place and left.
“
You
’
re going into Holles Street to have Buster, aren
’
t
you?
”
Ronan asked her as they drove down to Blessington
.
She laughed, rubbing her tummy.
“
Don
’
t let him hear you calling him that. Yes, Holles Street.
”
“
Will I be able to come and visit?
”
“
Well, I
’
d love if you could but they have very strict visiting. Grandparents are allowed in every evening so Mam will come in then. I
’
m allowed one green card for my partner or whoever I nominate. Obviously
,
as my partner has flown the coop
,
it won
’
t be needed for him
,”
she said, looking forlorn,
“
and unfortunately with Mam coming up every evening
,
my sister-in-law Frances won
’
t be able to come. She
’
ll have no one to look after the five kids
while Mam is away. My two brothers are farmers and it
’
s a really busy time for them, but I could nominate you
,
if you
’
d like to visit that is
,”
she said shyly.
“
I
’
d be delighted. Could I masquerade as your partner, do you think?
”
Fiona looked at him to see if he was serious.
“
Would you, really?
”
she asked, her face breaking into a huge smile.
“
I
’
d love that, if you wouldn
’
t mind.
”
“
I
’
d be honoured.
”
He made a mock bow, as much as the steering wheel would allow.
“
I don
’
t mind being a single mother but I would feel strange if all the other mothers have partners visiting.
”
“
I
’
ll be a perfect partner, I promise,
”
he stated, pleased that he could do this for her.
“
You
’
re the best friend ever,
”
she said, throwing her arms around his neck.
“
Whoa there
!”
he cried
. “
We
’
ll crash and you might be in Holles Street sooner than you think.
”
“
Sorry,
”
she said, but her smile told him that he
’
d made her day.
“
Gosh, it
’
s lovely here. It
’
s like another world,
”
Ronan
remarked as he got out of the car at her mother
’
s bungalow
,
which overlooked the lake in Blessington. He could almost
feel the peace descend upon him.
Fiona
’
s mother, Doris, was a homely, plump woman who hugged him on being introduced.
“
Fiona
’
s told me what a good friend you
’
ve been to her and what a nice man you are,
”
she said, her smile lighting up her face.
“
Well, she
’
s been a good friend to me too,
”
he replied, warming to this lovely lady instantly.
“
Come on inside. John and Brendan, Fiona
’
s two brothers, will be here shortly to unload the car. Come in, come in
!”
She linked her arm through his and led him inside
.
The delicious smell of beef roasting assailed him. He closed his eyes and inhaled.
“
Aaahhh . . . this reminds me of my mother
’
s wonderful Sunday dinners when I
was a kid.
”
“
Is she still alive?
”
Doris asked.
“
Sadly not. She died ten years ago, just a year after my father.
”
“
Well then, I hope my dinner doesn
’
t disappoint.
”
“
Oh
,
I couldn
’
t stay for dinner,
”
he protested.
“
Of course you can
!”
Fiona
,
who was now sitting on the couch with her legs up, cried.
“
It
’
s the least we can do, after all
you
’
ve done for me.
”
Seduced by the wonderful aroma coming from the oven, he didn
’
t protest any
more.
“
I
’
m really happy she
’
s here under my roof now so that if anything happens, she won
’
t be alone,
”
Doris said
. “
You can
’
t be too careful with first babies.
”
“
Yes, I think it
’
s best for her.
”
He smiled at Fiona.
“
We were all getting a little nervous lately.
”
“
Well, she
’
s in good hands now.
”
After lunch, he stayed much longer than he
’
d intended, chatting to Doris and John while Fiona went for a lie-down. Brendan had gone home for lunch with his family.
Later
,
driving back to Dublin
,
he felt warm and happy.
Doris had insisted that he come down again for lunch the following Sunday.
“
I
’
ll do roast Wicklow lamb for you. You won
’
t get better,
”
she
’
d declared.
He didn
’
t doubt it!
He realised as he got ready for bed that night that he hadn
’
t thought about Louise all day. For some reason that made him feel good.
38
Ellie was bubbling as she arrived at the wine course on Monday night.
“
They
’
ve accepted our offer on the house,
”
she told Rachel excitedly as they waited for the others to arrive.
“
And I found the perfect bridesmaids
’
dresses too
!”
“
That
’
s great. I
’
m so glad things are going well for you. It
’
s a very stressful time, isn
’
t it?
”
“
You can say that again. My sister Sandrine is being a pain. She wants to run the whole show.
”
Ellie grimaced.
“
Thank God I didn
’
t have that problem, but I
’
m sure
you
’
ll cope with it. By the way, did you know that Ronan
’
s wife left him last weekend?
”