happy.
Now she was employed getting a low life off the hook. She was going to be Philip’s wife.
But to draw back now…
The morning stretched on. She sat on the floor of her second bedroom and thought and thought and thought.
Her mother rang close to midday. ‘You ready, darling?’
‘Ready?’
‘Sweetheart, don’t joke,’ her mother said sharply. ‘This is your afternoon, like Thursday night was Philip’s night. Philip’s mother and I will be by to collect you in half an hour. Don’t wear any of your silly dresses now, will you, dear. You know I hate them.’
Her silly dresses.
She meant the ones she’d made herself. The ones that weren’t grey or black or cream.
This was a wedding celebration. Why not wear something silly? Polka dots. Her gorgeous swing skirt with Elvis prints all over?
‘I’ll drive myself,’ she told her mother. ‘I’ll meet you at the golf club.’
‘You won’t be late?’
‘When am I ever? Oh, and Mum?’
‘What?’
‘I’m bringing my dog.’
There was a moment’s grim silence. Her mother would know what she was talking about. The whole town would know. She’d expected her mother to have vented her disapproval by now.
‘Hasn’t Philip talked some sense into you about that yet?’
‘About that?’
‘Abrahams’ dog. Of all the stupid…’
‘I’m keeping him.’
‘Well.’ Her mother’s breath hissed in and Abby waited for the eruption. But then suddenly Abby could hear her smile. There was even a tinkling laugh. ‘That’s okay,’ she said and Abby realised she was on speaker phone, and her mother was also talking to her father. ‘Philip will cope with this.’ Then, back to her… ‘They don’t let dogs in the club house.’
‘They do on the terrace as long as I keep him leashed. It’s a gorgeous day. I’m bringing him.’
‘This is between you and Philip, not you and us,’ her mother said serenely. ‘Philip will talk you into sense, and we can cope with a dog for one afternoon. But don’t be late. Isn’t this exciting? So many plans, finally come together.’ She disconnected.
So many plans, finally come together.
Abby stood and stared at the phone. How could she do the unthinkable?
How could she not?
‘I’m ready.’
Sarah looked beautiful. Hippy beautiful. There was a shop behind the main street catering for little girls who wanted to be fairies or butterflies and adults who wanted to be colourful. It suited Sarah exactly.
The woman who ran it thought Sarah was lovely. She rang Raff whenever a new consignment arrived and he’d wave goodbye to half his weekly salary. It was worth it. Sarah’s joy in her pretty dresses and scarves and her psychedelic boots made up…well, made up in some measure for the rest.
She’d woken with another of her appalling headaches. It had finally eased but she was still looking wan, despite her smile. Pretty clothes were the least he could give her.
‘Can you drive me to the golf club now? I don’t want to be late,’ she said, anxious. She’d been looking forward to this week for months. Abby’s pre-wedding parties. Abby’s wedding itself.
‘My car is at your disposal,’ he said and pulled on his policeman’s cap, tipping it like a chauffeur. She smiled.
‘Tell me again why you’re not coming.’
At least that was easy. ‘It’s girls only. I’d look a bit silly in a skirt.’
Sarah giggled, but her smile was fleeting. ‘If it wasn’t only girls, would you want to come?’
Sometimes she did this, shooting him serious, insightful questions, right when he didn’t need them.
‘Abby’s mother doesn’t like me,’ he said, deciding to be honest. ‘It makes things uncomfortable.’
‘Because of the accident?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh, Raff,’ she said and walked over and hugged him. ‘It’s not fair.’
‘There’s not a lot we can do about it, Sares,’ he told her and kissed her and put her away from him. ‘Except be happy ourselves. Which we are. How can we help but be happy when you’re wearing a bright pink and yellow and purple and blue skirt-and your purple boots have tassels?’
‘Do you like them?’ she said, giggling and twirling.
‘I love them.’
He was making Sarah happy, he thought as they headed to the golf club to Abby’s pre-wedding party. At least he could do that.
No one else?
No one else.
Philip was sailing. He’d gone out with his supermarket-planning mates. Even now he was cruising round Banksia Bay, discussing the pros and cons of investment opportunities.
How did you tell a guy you’d made the biggest mistake of your life when he was out at sea?
How did you go calmly to your pre-wedding party when you’d made a decision like this?
How did you call it off-when you hadn’t told your fiance first?
All those wedding gifts, coming her way. She’d be expected to unwrap them. Aargh.
But by now the gifts would already be in cars heading towards the golf club. It didn’t make any difference if she said,
That’d be her penance. Sending gifts back.
That and a whole lot else.
She drove towards the golf club slowly. Very slowly. Kleppy lay beside her and even he seemed subdued. She turned into the car park. She sat and stared out through the windscreen, seeing nothing.
Someone tapped on her window. She raised her head and dredged up a smile. Sarah was peering in at her, looking worried.
‘What’s wrong? You look sad. Do you have another headache? Oh, Abby, and on your party day.’
Raff was right behind his sister. In civvies. Faded jeans and black T-shirt, stretched a bit too tight.
‘No, I… I just didn’t want to be the first to arrive.’ She climbed from the car and sent Raff what she hoped was a bright smile, a smile that said she knew exactly what she was doing.
‘Collywobbles?’ he asked and it was just what she needed. It was the sort of word that made a woman gird her loins and stiffen her spine and send him a look that was pure defiance.
‘Why on earth would I have collywobbles?’
‘I’d have collywobbles if I was marrying Philip.’
‘Go jump.’
‘Philip’s really handsome,’ Sarah said. ‘Almost as handsome as Lionel.’
‘Lionel?’ They said it in unison, distracted. They looked at each other. Looked back at Sarah.
‘Lionel’s cute,’ Sarah said. ‘So’s your dress, Abby. I love the Elvises.’
‘So do I,’ Abby said, thinking she had one vote at least. She loved this dress-a tiny bustier, a full-circle skirt covered with Elvises-black and white print with crimson tulle underneath to make it flare. It was a party dress. A celebration dress.
What was she celebrating?
‘And you’ve made Kleppy a matching bow.’ Sarah scooped up the little dog and hugged him. ‘He’s adorable.
