Bob pulled the car up outside what looked like an ordinary bungalow. The only sign of the business which operated from it was a discreet needle and thread design on the front gate. Sarah waved to Bob, then walked up to the front door.
‘Just in time,’ said a middle-aged woman with glasses perched on the end of her nose. ‘She’s in the dress and waiting for you before she comes out.’
Sarah followed the woman into the house. They walked through a kitchen and into a large conservatory. Where the rest of the house was tidy and bland, in the conservatory colourful fabrics hung from every surface. A large sewing machine sat centre stage in the room, surrounded by faceless mannequins. A silk curtain partitioned off a corner of the room.
‘Hello, dear,’ said Joy. Sarah hadn’t noticed her sitting in an old rocking chair.
‘Oh, hi, Joy, I didn’t realise you’d be here too.’
‘I couldn’t resist the chance to get a sneak peek at Kate in her dress.’
‘Thank God you’re here,’ came Kate’s voice from behind the curtain.
‘Yes, sorry I’m late. We had a disaster with a broken freezer and I couldn’t leave till we had transferred all the food to another one. Fran drove like an F1 driver on the way to Bodmin.’
Joy tutted. ‘As much as I love Fran, I’d never risk getting in a car with her. It’s more than my life’s worth.’
‘I think you’re onto something there, Joy,’ said Sarah.
‘Ready?’ said Kate.
‘Put us out of our misery,’ said Joy.
‘Ta da!’ Kate emerged from behind the curtain, a vision in vintage lace. Sarah found herself lost for words. She looked over at Joy, whose cheeks were wet with tears.
‘What do you think?’ asked Kate, looking from Sarah to Joy.
Sarah fought the lump in her throat. ‘You look incredible. I can’t believe you got that dress so cheap.’
‘I’ve always had an eye for a bargain,’ laughed Kate, turning to see herself in the full-length mirror. ‘How about you, Joy? Do you think my Nan would have approved?’
Joy dabbed her eyes with a hanky. ‘She would have been crying more than I am. You’re so beautiful, that Bob’s a lucky man. Now, dear, there’s something I’d like you to have. I won’t be offended if you don’t want it, but I thought it might finish the outfit.’ Joy reached into her bag and pulled out a package wrapped in tissue paper. She handed it to Kate.
‘Is this… is this…’ Now it was Kate’s turn to brush away tears.
‘I know it’s not the same as having an heirloom from your own grandmother, but it seemed silly keeping my veil all these years. It’s not like my son’s ever going to wear it.’
Kate rushed over to Joy and wrapped her arms around her. Sarah looked on with envy. Joy may not be related to Kate by blood, but Sarah couldn’t imagine replicating this scene with her own family. When she’d been planning her own ill-fated wedding to Mark, all Cynthia had wanted to do was take over, imposing her own ideas as if it were her getting married. Sarah wondered if Kate knew how lucky she was.
The dress maker stepped forward and took the veil from Kate’s hand. ‘Here,’ she said, pinning it to the back of Kate’s head. ‘It’s perfect.’
‘Thank you so much,’ said Kate. ‘You’ve done such a good job with these alterations. And thank you too, Joy. You don’t know how much this means to me,’ said Kate, running her fingers over the antique lace adorning her hair. ‘Now, Sarah. I have a little surprise for you.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes.’ Kate’s eyes glinted. ‘Have a look in that box.’
Sarah looked at the large box Kate was pointing to. Was Kate about to present her with a bridesmaid dress? Sarah had longed to be a bridesmaid ever since she was a little girl, but with no family members of marrying age, and no friends, she’d long given up on the dream.
‘Go on,’ said Kate, clapping her hands like an excitable child. ‘Open it.’
Sarah reached down to the box with trembling fingers. She lifted the lid to reveal a layer of pink tissue paper. Her eyes filled with tears. This was the moment she had always dreamed of. Her whole body shook as she peeled back the top layer of paper.
Sarah’s heart plummeted. She pulled the fabric from the box and held it to the light, lost for words.
‘Try it on,’ said Kate, grinning.
Sarah slipped the fabric over her head.
