It was hard to believe that this time last year she had been a complete wreck, trying to keep that disastrous relationship going. It seemed like a million miles away now, she felt like a completely different person, and she wasn’t sure how she’d react if she were to encounter Roan again now.
Regardless, Jenny thought, rolling over and snuggling closer to Mike. She was in Dublin and Roan was in New York.
She wouldn’t have to worry about bumping into him anytime soon.
44
Karen glared at her reflection with absolute horror. She scowled at Jenny who was outside the bridal shop fitting room, crumpled over with laughter.
“I’m trapped!” she moaned, trying to lift the heavy skirt over her head, but to no avail.
Jenny had persuaded her to try on what could only be described as the flounciest, fluffiest ‘meringue’ they had ever seen. Karen wasn’t convinced but had done so just to pacify her.
Shehatedthis palaver of trawling through the shops looking for the ‘perfect dress’. She had hoped to just wander into a bridal shop and pick something up off the rack.
A store attendant had nearly choked with shock when Karen had told her the date of the wedding. “June? You mean June, twelve months?” the woman gasped, eyes wide.
“No. I mean June – six weeks.”
“But … but,” the sales assistant spluttered, “our gowns need to be ordered at least a year in advance. You’ll need to first make your choice – and this takes time to ensure it truly is theperfectdress for you,” she added reverently as if the decision was on par with choosing the husband. “Fittings for you and your bridal party at various intervals in the run up to the big day, the dress will need to be ordered and additional adjustments to be made and …”
“It’s only a bloody dress. You’d swear it was a work of art,” Karen complained, muttering expletives to Jenny as they trawled the city looking for a more easygoing option.
It was only through sheer desperation that she’d been persuaded to deviate from her quest for a simple satin sheath. Hence the meringue.
“You’re right, it’s woeful,” Jenny chuckled, eyes watering and hand over her mouth. With her chest, the style made Karen look like an overgrown marshmallow. “You look like a, a …”
“She looks like aprincess. Oh, that has to be the one! It looks amazing on you. Wait, I’ll go get a veil. Now stay right where you are - don’t move.” The sales assistant scuttled off eagerly.
“Jen!” Karen hissed. “Get me out of this yoke –quick!”
Jenny was laughing so much she could barely get the zip undone. Karen wrenched the dress over her head, quickly put her clothes back on and hurried out of the cubicle, nearly knocking over another bride-to-beoutside the changing room preening at herself in the mirror.
An older lady, presumably her mother, reverently placed a tiara on her head, and both were moved to tears by the glorious vision in satin and lace.
“I’d be crying too if I had to wearthatto my wedding,” Karen muttered under her breath, as she and Jenny sped past them and out of the shop, laughing uproariously.
A little later, exhausted from battling the crowds and still without a dress, to say nothing of the ‘perfect’ one, the two nabbed a precious free table in a packed city cafe.
“It’s hopeless. I haven’t seen anything that could work as a prospect and we haven’t even started on bridesmaid dresses. What if I don’t find something in time?”
“Of course you will.” Jenny put her mug down and looked at Karen thoughtfully. “Though we’ve been looking in the same places and there’s not much variation. We don’t we try somewhere different – like Belfast maybe?”
“Up North?”
“Why not? The sterling exchange rate’s good at the moment and the shopping’s supposed to be excellent, as good as London even, Rebecca said. ”
“Rebecca? The famous ex?” Karen asked, startled.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell you yet,” Jenny beamed. “We all met up recently. She’s great.”
Karen shook her head in admiration. “You know, Ihave to say I’m very proud of you Jen – you’ve come so far since this time last year.”
Her friend shrugged, her face flushed with pride. “I suppose we both have, haven’t we?”
She was right. They were both in a good place now, planning their futures and it felt wonderful. Karen was walking on air and looking forward to marrying the love of her life, and Jenny was as happy as she’d ever seen her. They’d grown up together and had gone through a few ups and downs over the years, but remained firm friends throughout it all. The one thing they’d always been able to count on was their friendship.
Karen squeezed Jenny’s hand and smiled.
