‘There’s not shutting her out and being a complete roll-over, Leila.’
‘True.’
They giggled. ‘Anyway, enough about Mammy. I want a completely different style of dress this time and need you there to be honest with me but in a nice way, okay?’ She pinned her gaze on her friend, already hearing Moira in her head, ‘It makes you look like a milk bottle with a red top and freckles, Ash, get it off.’
Leila raised two fingers to her temple, ‘I promise to do my best, Brownie’s honour.’ Her smile however drooped at the realisation Aisling’s insistence everything be different this time around meant she could say goodbye to the beautiful bridesmaids’ dresses previously picked out.
Aisling registered the disappointed look on her friend’s face. ‘I’m sorry, Leila, I know you look gorgeous in soft blue but we’re going for a whole new look for all of us. I don’t want any reminders, okay?’
‘Fair play to you, although they were divine. You don’t have to pay for mine either. You’re spending enough as it is and, speaking of money...’
Were they? Aisling thought finding the topic distasteful.
‘I am keeping a running total of your expenditure, here.’ Leila produced a notebook in which was a handwritten tally of columns with deposits put down and a note as to the balance and when it was due. She pushed it toward Aisling who gazed at it blankly before sliding it back to Leila.
‘It’s a good idea to check-in with this regularly, Ash. So you don’t get any nasty surprises.’ She snapped the book shut. ‘It’s amazing how costs for a wedding can escalate and these days bridesmaids don’t expect the bride to cover their dresses.’
Aisling had no choice but to spring for Moira’s dress and as such it was only fair she did the same for Roisin, who wasn’t cashed up either. As for Leila, she was grateful to her for coming to the rescue with the organising of her day on such short notice. The dress was her way of saying thank you to her friend. ‘I want to.’
‘Well, I appreciate it, Ash, but promise me you won’t go overboard alright? You’re the star of the show. And we don’t want anything short either, alright? Or, we’ll all have fecking goosebumps in the photographs, and can we have a cape or jacket of some description so we don’t freeze our arses off? I saw some horrendous photos of a winter wedding the other day where the bridal party was all lined up with the bridesmaids’ headlights on full beam. Imagine passing it around the family?’ She shuddered.
Aisling grimaced. ‘Uncle Colm would love it! He’d probably ask if he could have the negatives.’
Leila laughed. She’d been targeted for a kiss from Uncle Colm on the dance floor at Roisin’s wedding reception. ‘And, are we still on for next Saturday night, too?’
Aisling nodded although she could do without it, to be honest. A hen night was at the bottom of her list of priorities but Moira had insisted on organising it and with Roisin coming to stay for the weekend, there was no getting out of it. ‘Yes, and I’ve told Moira I will not be wearing an Alice band with glittery purple willies bobbing about on it, or carrying a blow-up doll called Seamus around town like she was planning last time around. I said we’re all older, and wiser and I’d wear a veil at a push.’
‘I don’t blame you.’ Leila smiled, knowing Aisling could say what she liked to Moira. It would make no difference and she’d organise exactly what she wanted regardless of her sister’s wishes. She was glad because to be frank, Aisling was so tightly wound she could do with letting her hair down and having a little fun.
‘How’s Bazzer? He’s definitely on board to do the photographs isn’t he?’ Aisling grinned across the table. He was in demand for his photography skills but thanks to Leila he’d fitted their date in and offered a discount. Leila had told her Bearach didn’t come cheap, even with the discount, and she shouldn’t feel obligated to use him because she was dating him. He didn’t expect them to. Aisling had barely listened to her. She was focussed only on the fact he was one of the best in the city. Her justification for using a top gun at his game was the discount he was going to give them.
Leila scowled at her. ‘Bearach thank you, is grand. And don’t you dare call him Bazzer on the day or he’ll take loads of unflattering pics and still charge an astronomical fee. Repeat after me Bearach.’
‘Bearach.’ She followed it up with a whispered, ‘Bazzer.’ And got a kick under the table.
‘Sorry, I can’t seem to help myself. I don’t know why because he doesn’t look like a Barry.’
‘Because he’s Bearach.’
‘Yes, but he might as well be seeing as it means Barry.’
‘What’s wrong with Barry anyhow?’ Leila frowned popping a piece of chicken in her mouth.
‘Do you Leila take the Bazzer?’
Leila couldn’t help herself, she laughed. ‘Don’t make me laugh when I’m eating. I could choke and, alright, I get your point but we’re hardly about to march down the aisle. And he’s grand, thank you. Although I did want to ask your advice about something.’ She noticed Aisling’s gaze was fixated on the remainder of her croutons once more and she quickly forked them up along with the rest of her salad.
Aisling waited patiently for her to swallow, lamenting the loss of the croutons as she watched Leila chew.
‘Bearach’s asked me to go down to Connemara to meet his parents and I don’t think it’s a good idea.’
‘Why not? Connemara’s one of my favourite places in Ireland. It’s beautiful.’
‘I know that but, Aisling,’ Leila voice had the intonation of an exasperated parent trying to explain something to a small child. ‘Meeting your boyfriend’s parents is akin to announcing
