Читать книгу Lady E - Jeanette Walker - Страница 5

AFTER BREAKING OFF with Richard, less than two weeks before the wedding, she then had the task of doing something she was really dreading - telling her mother and father.

At first, concerned she was just worrying over nothing and after telling her all would be okay on the day, her parents finally relented - much easier than she’d imagined possible.

“Well, dear,” her mother had said as she drew Jillian into a hug, “I’m very sorry it’s all over, but I’m not really surprised. And if you had to end it, I’m relieved you’ve been brave enough to announce it now, rather than go through with the wedding service just to please everyone else.”

Was she hearing right? She thought her mother would explode, instead she was in agreeance!

“Your mother’s right Jilly,” her father agreed. “Strange as it may sound, we’ve been concerned for some time now that all was not quite right. You know we like Richard, and probably always will as we’re so used to him being around. But you just didn’t seem to act like someone head over heels in love with the man with whom she was about to walk down the aisle.”

“Oh! Goodness me!” he exclaimed. “We’ve a lot of work ahead of us, and I hope we can cancel everything in the next few days. I hope the caterers haven’t put in their food orders yet.”

Turning towards the telephone, he became very business-like.

“Marge! Where did you put the phone number for the caterers? And we’d better contact the celebrant then cancel the cars … and the flowers. Thank goodness it was being held in a park as we’d have trouble canceling reception rooms. What else? Oh yes, the marquee and chair hire. Then go through the guest list and try to find telephone numbers for all the guests as it’s too late now to write to anyone.”

He stopped midway to his office where all the paperwork for the wedding had been spread out over the past few weeks.

“I’ll go next door and see if Richard’s folks can contact the guests on their side. They do know, don’t they Jill? Richard would have told them by now?”

Jillian smiled appreciatively at her father, and nodded. “Yes, I think so. Richard said he was going to do that straight away.”

“Oh Ben!” Jillian’s mother suddenly said. “What about Norma? Will we get in touch or just let her arrive next Friday as planned? She has an appointment with the doctor in Brisbane so has to come anyway….?”

“What do you think dear?” her mother said, releasing her hold on Jillian.

“No need to tell her,” Jillian decided. “She has enough to worry about at present, and may feel she should come down earlier to help us through this mess.”

Jillian walked into her room, then returned to find both her parents in the office, her father with the phone in his hand and her mother going through the address book.

“I’ve just had a great idea!” Jillian said, smiling. “I’d really love to get away for a while once we cancel all our bookings. As I’m already on leave from work and have several weeks to go, I might go and stay at Aunt Norma’s while she’s down here. It should only take a couple of days to sort everything out, and I could drive up to Hervey Bay on Thursday night to catch Friday’s plane to Lady Elliot. I’d have several days with her before she comes south. In fact, Aunt Norma could use my car to come back here and save her hiring one.”

Her mother and father looked at each other, and not finding a reason to disagree, shrugged their shoulders and said, “Why not?”

Jillian made herself a cup of much needed coffee and wandered back into her room. As she put her cup down on the dressing table, she caught sight of her wedding dress hanging behind the bedroom door. It looked fabulous, even encased in a large plastic bag! That was when her shoulders started shaking and the tears started to fall.

“Oh dear, it’s alright,” her mother said, coming into the room behind her and again taking Jillian into her arms.

“I don’t know why I’m crying,” said Jillian. “It’s so silly, I don’t think I even feel very upset,” she said between sobs.

“Don’t worry. You’ll soon get over it. It’s probably just reaction to all the excitement over the past few weeks, and now the let-down coming so suddenly. Your dad and I think you’re right about a couple of weeks away at Norma’s. By the time you’re back most people will have stopped talking about your wedding not taking place and will have moved onto other gossip. By then it will be a thing of the past.”

“Thanks Mum. I think I’ll just drink my coffee, then when I feel slightly steadier, I’d better ring Sophie. She might even come over and help us sort out a few things.”

As she said that, the doorbell rang, and her Mum said, “That may be Sophie now. I’ve already rung her at the police station and caught her just as she was finishing her shift. She said she was on her way. Dry your eyes dear, and I’ll let her in.”

“Too late, I’m already in. Mr B. has raced you to it. Now Jilly, what’s all this about?” And in walked a tall girl, with blonde shoulder length hair, slightly taller, but not quite as thin as Jillian, and still dressed in her police uniform. As she moved into the room, she dragged Jillian into her arms and hugged.

“You’re sure it’s all off Jilly, and not just momentary change of heart?” she said, holding Jillian at arms-length and studying her face.

“I’m sure,” said Jillian. “I should never have allowed all the arrangements to go so far, and the only thing I’m distressed about at the moment is we now have to cancel the preparations.”

“That’s the least of our worries dear,” her mother said moving to the door. “I’ll leave you two to chat for a while. Coffee Sophie?”

“Love one, thanks Mrs B. I’ll come out in a minute to get it though. You’d better help Mr B. find some phone numbers. He was ranting about finding his glasses as he let me in the door.”

“Sorry you won’t get to wear your bridesmaid dress. It’s such a pretty color,” said Jillian, picking up her cup. “I’ll get myself another coffee as I get your’s.”

“Don’t worry about the dress. I’ve planned to wear it in several weeks to a party, so no way will it be wasted. I’m just organized well ahead of time,” Sophie said with a smug look on her face, as she usually left organizing things like that until the last minute.

“In fact, it’s a work do, and …,” with a look of realization dawning, “now you’re through with Richard I can finally set you up with my partner Anthony. I’ve told you about him before, and he really is a dish. He’s away on assignment at the moment, but should be back by then.”

“Oh no, no, no! I don’t even want to think about another man at present, let alone go out with one.”

Moving towards the door Sophie again asked, “You’re really sure it’s all off?”

Jillian smiled at her and said, “Yes, I’m really sure. I just don’t love Richard, and I don’t think he ever really loved me. Now we’d best grab our coffee and start helping sort out this mess. Oh, and Sophie, thanks for coming over.”

“That’s okay Jilly,” Sophie said laughing. “What are friends for if you can’t use them to sort out a shambles for you occasionally. Just don’t make a habit of it!”