to tell really, as she is dressed in a navy mac, hiding most of her features – but she bends instantly to help pick them up.
‘This would never have happened if we had left on time,’ the blonde complains.
Her companion sends an apologetic grin in Jack’s direction. All he can see is her eyes, but he can tell by the way they crinkle at the corners that they’re full of amusement – she is obviously used to this complaint.
‘My brother is always saying the same to me.’ He smiles at her over Brides and Setting Up Home, but she is too busy picking up papers to notice.
‘I can’t apologise enough,’ he continues to the angry woman who by now has managed to retrieve most of her pile of magazines. ‘I feel really bad. Can I help you to get somewhere?’
‘No thanks,’ she comments abruptly, but then appears to reconsider. ‘Thanks anyway. We’re here now.’ She indicates the bridal boutique to the side of them and pulls open the door.
‘Good luck with that!’ Jack mutters under his breath, but oblivious she dashes into the shop.
He is sure he hears the friend respond, ‘You said it,’ as she follows behind, but her words are drowned by the tinkling of the shop bell and the passing traffic. He’s left looking at her retreating back, wondering if he imagined it. He watches them in the shop for a split second, laughing at something, both the picture of excitement in spite of their wet gear. He is struck by their hopeful happiness. He looks at his watch and braces himself for Sam’s usual rant about how he’s always late.
Inside the shop, Jess gingerly deposits her magazines on the ornate desk.
‘What a terrible afternoon.’ Valerie, the assistant, bustles towards them.
‘Awful. I hope we don’t have weather like this on my wedding day,’ says Jess, indicating the sodden and crumpled magazines.
‘They look a bit worse for wear,’ Val remarks, ‘but don’t panic, I’ve plenty more where those came from.’ She goes to the back of the boutique and returns with a veritable mountain of shiny new glossies.
‘Thanks so much.’ Sophia throws her wet mac on a nearby stand.
‘Now make yourselves comfortable, my dears. Would you like a lovely glass of bubbly or a hot cup of tea and we’ll get started on some more designs you like the look of?’
Within minutes they are happily ensconced on the chaise longue, sipping from long elegant flutes of champagne whilst checking out gowns in the magazines.
‘Now I know you had a couple of favourites last time you were here, but I do have a few that are new in only this week,’ Val says, appearing from the back room under a mound of frothy fabric and lace.
‘Ooh I like the look of the one on top there,’ says Jess.
‘You have great taste – that’s a Bella Morilee. Very simple, with a gorgeous circular train.’
‘I love the simple styles,’ states Sophia, ‘rather than too much decoration. Makes a bit of a statement, don’t you think?’
‘Maybe,’ Jess muses, contemplating the satin dress on its fabric-covered hanger. ‘I’ll try it on.’
Soon there’s a lot of muffled grumbling and expostulating coming from the changing room. ‘I’ve got the strap stuck round my arm and I can’t move,’ calls Jess. Val deftly rearranges the thin strips of fabric so Jess can actually move, then she wafts out of the fitting area, the simple dress curving effortlessly out from her waist. ‘What do you think?’
‘I don’t know,’ says Sophia, her head on one side. ‘What do you think?’
They both look at each other for a second; words aren’t really necessary. ‘I’m not sure,’ they both say at the same time.
‘Maybe it’s a bit too plain,’ Sophia says. ‘Even though I like the diamante belt.’
‘I agree.’ Jess swoops off to try another new style, kindly handed to her by the ever-patient Val.
‘Your wedding dress has to be absolutely right,’ she tells Jess. ‘You’ll know when it’s the one.’
Jess returns in a sheathed robe with a plunging neckline.
‘Wow,’ Sophia says. ‘That’s pretty spectacular.’
‘I don’t know,’ says Jess, turning this way and that and peering at her reflection in the mirror. ‘It feels a bit too, well … revealing. Don’t you think it is?’
‘Maybe. But you look incredible in it.’
‘I just think I’ll be worrying everything is going to fall out in the middle of the service.’
They both giggle. ‘Maybe not then,’ Sophia admits. ‘We don’t want to upset the older guests.’