Shopaholic Ties the Knot (by Sophie Kinsella) 2 page

‘Yes, well. We weren’t going to tell you, were we? Now!’ Mum snaps back into businesslike mode. ‘Did Luke tell you we’ve found a date? You know, it wasn’t easy! Everywhere’s booked up. But I’ve spoken to Peter at the church, he’s had a cancellation, and he can fit us in at three on that Saturday. Otherwise it would be a question of waiting until November.’

‘November?’ I pull a face. ‘That’s not very weddingy.’

‘Exactly. So I told him to pencil it in. I’ve put it on the calendar, look.’

I reach for the fridge calendar, which has a different recipe using Nescafe for each month. And sure enough, as I flip over to June, there’s a big felt-tipped ‘BECKY’S WEDDING’.

I stare at it, feeling slightly weird. It really is happen­ing. I really am going to get married. It’s not just pretend.

‘And I’ve been having a few ideas about the marquee,’ adds Mum. ‘I saw a beautiful striped one in a magazine somewhere, and I thought, “I must show that to Becky” ’.

She reaches behind her and hauls out a stack of glossy magazines. Brides. Modern Bride. Wedding and Home. All shiny and succulent and inviting, like a plate of sticky doughnuts.

‘Gosh!’ I say, forcing myself not to reach greedily for one. ‘I haven’t read any of those bridal things yet. I don’t even know what they’re like!’

‘Neither have I,’ says Mum at once, as she flicks expertly through an issue of Wedding and Home. ‘Not properly. I’ve just glanced through for the odd idea. I mean, they’re really just adverts mainly...’

I hesitate, my fingers running over the cover of You and Your Wedding. I can hardly believe I’m actually allowed to read these now. Openly! I don’t have to sidle up to the rack and take tiny, guilty peeks, like stuffing a biscuit into my mouth and all the time wondering if someone will see me.

The habit’s so ingrained I almost can’t break it. Even though I’ve got an engagement ring on my finger now, I find myself pretending I’m not interested.

‘I suppose it makes sense to have a very brief look,’ I say casually. ‘You know, just for basic information... just to be aware what’s available...’

Oh sod it. Mum’s not even listening, anyway, so I might as well give up pretending I’m not going to read every single one of these magazines avidly from cover to cover. Happily I sink into a chair and reach for Brides, and for the next ten minutes we’re both completely silent, gorging on pictures.

‘There!’ says Mum suddenly. She turns her magazine round so I can see a photograph of a billowing white and silver striped marquee. ‘Isn’t that nice?’

‘Very pretty.’ I run my gaze down interestedly to the picture of the bridesmaids’ dresses, and the bride’s bouquet... and then my eye comes to rest on the dateline.

‘Mum!’ I exclaim. ‘This is from last year! How come you were looking at wedding magazines last year!’

‘I’ve no idea!’ says Mum shiftily. ‘I must have... picked it up in a doctor’s waiting room or something. Anyway. Are you getting any ideas?’

‘Well... I don’t know,’ I say vaguely. ‘I suppose I just want something simple.’

A vision of myself in a big white dress and sparkly tiara suddenly pops into my head... my handsome prince waiting for me... cheering crowds...

OK, stop. I’m not going to go over the top. I’ve already decided that.

‘I agree,’ Mum is saying. ‘You want something elegant and tasteful. Oh look, grapes covered with gold leaf. We could do that!’ She turns a page. ‘Look, identical twin bridesmaids! Don’t they look pretty? Do you know anyone with twins, love?’

‘No,’ I say regretfully. ‘I don’t think so. Ooh, you can buy a special wedding countdown alarm clock! And a wedding organizer with matching bridal diary for those special memories. Do you think I should get one of those?’

‘Definitely,’ says Mum. ‘If you don’t, you’ll only wish you had.’ She puts down her magazine. ‘You know, Becky, one thing I will say to you is, don’t do this by half-measures. Remember, you only do it once–’

‘Hellooo?’ We both look up as there’s a tap on the back door. ‘It’s only me!’ Janice’s bright eyes look through the glass, and she gives a little wave. Janice is our next-door neighbour and I’ve known her for ever. She’s wearing a floral shirtwaister in a virulent shade of turquoise, and eyeshadow to match, and there’s a folder under her arm.

‘Janice!’ cries Mum. ‘Come on in and have a coffee.’

‘I’d love one,’ says Janice. ‘I’ve brought my Canderel.’ She comes in and gives me a hug. ‘And here’s the special girl! Becky love, congratulations!’

‘Thanks,’ I say, with a bashful grin.

‘Just look at that ring!’

‘Two carats,’ says Mum at once. ‘Antique. It’s a family heirloom.’

‘A family heirloom!’ echoes Janice breathlessly. ‘Oh Becky!’ She picks up a copy of Modern Bride and gives a wistful little sigh. ‘But how are you going to organize the wedding, living in New York?’

‘Becky doesn’t have to worry about a thing,’ says Mum firmly. ‘I can do it all. It’s traditional, anyway.’

‘Well, you know where I am if you want any help,’ says Janice. ‘Have you set a date yet?’

‘June 22nd,’ says Mum over the shriek of the coffee grinder. ‘Three o’clock at St Mary’s.’

‘Three o’clock!’ says Janice. ‘Lovely.’ She puts down the magazine and gives me a suddenly earnest look. ‘Now Becky, there’s something I want to say. To both of you.’

‘Oh yes?’ I say, slightly apprehensively, and Mum puts down the cafetiere. Janice takes a deep breath.

‘It would give me great pleasure to do your wedding make-up. You and the whole bridal party.’

‘Janice!’ exclaims my mother in delight. ‘What a kind thought! Think of that, Becky. Professional make-up!’

‘Er... fantastic!’

‘I’ve learned such a lot on my course, all the tricks of the trade. I’ve got a whole book full of photographs you can browse through, to choose your style. In fact I’ve brought it with me, look!’ Janice opens the folder and begins to flip over laminated cards of women who look as though they had their make-up applied during the Seventies. ‘This look is called Prom Princess, for the younger face,’ she says breathlessly. ‘Now, here we have Radiant Spring Bride, with extra-waterproof mascara... Or Cleopatra, if you wanted something more dramatic?’

‘Great!’ I say feebly. ‘Perhaps I’ll have a look nearer the time...’

There is no way in a million years I’m letting Janice near my face.

‘And you’ll be getting Wendy to do the cake, will you?’ asks Janice as Mum puts a cup of coffee in front of her.

‘Oh, no question,’ says Mum. ‘Wendy Prince, who lives on Maybury Avenue,’ she adds to me. ‘You remember, she did Dad’s retirement cake with the lawnmower on it? The things that woman can do with a nozzle!’

I remember that cake. The icing was lurid green and the lawnmower was made out of a painted matchbox. You could still see ‘Swan’ through the green.

‘You know, there are some really amazing wedding cakes in here,’ I say, tentatively holding out an issue of Brides. ‘From this special place in London. Maybe we could go and have a look.’

‘Oh, but love, we have to ask Wendy!’ says Mum in surprise. ‘She’d be devastated if we didn’t. You know her husband's just had a stroke? Those sugar roses are what’s keeping her going.’

‘Oh, right,’ I say, putting down the magazine guiltily. ‘I didn’t know. Well... OK then. I’m sure it’ll be lovely.’

‘We were very pleased with Tom and Lucy’s wedding cake.’ Janice sighs. ‘We’ve saved the top tier for the first christening. You know, they’re with us at the moment. They’ll be round to offer their congratulations, I’m sure. Can you believe, they’ve been married a year and a half, already!’

‘Have they?’ Mum takes a sip of coffee and gives a brief smile.

Tom and Lucy’s wedding is still a very slightly sore point in our family. I mean, we love Janice and Martin to bits so we never say anything, but, to be honest, we’re none of us very keen on Lucy.

‘Are there any signs of them...’ Mum makes a vague, euphemistic gesture. ‘Starting a family,’ she adds in a whisper.

‘Not yet.’ Janice’s smile flickers for a moment. ‘Martin and I think they probably want to enjoy each other first. They’re such a happy young couple. They just dote on each other! And of course, Lucy’s got her career–’

‘I suppose so,’ says Mum consideringly. ‘Although it doesn’t do to wait too long–’

‘Well, I know,’ agrees Janice. They both turn to look at me – and suddenly I realize what they’re driving at.

For God’s sake, I’ve only been engaged a day! Give me a chance!

***

I hurry back into the kitchen, dying to tell Mum what I just heard, but it’s empty.

‘Hey, Mum!’ I call. ‘I just saw Tom and Lucy!’

I run up the stairs, and Mum is halfway down the loft ladder, pulling a big white squashy bundle all wrapped up in plastic.

‘What’s that?’ I ask, helping her to get it down.

‘Don’t say anything,’ she says, with suppressed excitement. ‘Just...’ Her hands are trembling as she unzips the plastic cover. ‘Just... look!’

‘It’s your wedding dress!’ I say in astonishment as she pulls out the white frothy lace. ‘I didn’t know you still had that!’

‘Of course I’ve still got it!’ She brushes away some sheets of tissue paper. ‘Thirty years old, but still as good as new. Now Becky, it’s only a thought...’

‘What’s a thought?’ I say, helping her to shake out the train.

‘It might not even fit you…’

Slowly I look up at her. Oh my God. She’s serious.

‘Actually, I don’t think it will,’ I say, trying to sound casual. ‘I’m sure you were much thinner than me! And... shorter.’

‘But we’re the same height!’ says Mum in puzzle­ment. ‘Oh go on, try it, Becky!’

Five minutes later I stare at myself in the mirror in Mum’s bedroom. I look like a sausage roll in layered frills. The bodice is tight and lacy, with ruffled sleeves and a ruffled neckline. It’s tight down to my hips where there are more ruffles, and then it fans out into a tiered train.

I have never worn anything less flattering in my life.

‘Oh Becky!’ I look up – and, to my horror, Mum’s in tears. ‘I'm so silly!’ she says, laughing and brushing at her eyes. ‘It’s just... my little girl, in the dress I wore...’

‘Oh Mum...’ Impulsively I give her a hug. ‘It’s a... a really lovely dress...’

How exactly do I add, but I’m not wearing it?

‘And it fits you perfectly,’ gulps Mum, and rummages for a tissue. ‘But it’s your decision.’ She blows her nose. ‘If you don’t think it suits you... just say so. I won’t mind.’

‘I... well...’

Oh God.

‘I’ll think about it,’ I manage at last, and give Mum a lame smile.

We put the wedding dress back in its bag, and have some sandwiches for lunch, and watch an old episode of Changing Rooms on the new cable telly Mum and Dad have had installed. And then, although it’s a bit early, I go upstairs and start getting ready to see Elinor. Luke’s mother is one of those Manhattan women who always look completely and utterly immaculate, and today of all days I want to match her in the smartness stakes.

I put on the DKNY suit I bought myself for Christ­mas, brand new tights and my new Prada sample sale shoes. Then I survey my appearance carefully, looking all over for specks or creases. I’m not going to be caught out this time. I’m not going to have a single stray thread or crumpled bit which her beady X-ray eyes can zoom in on.

I’ve just about decided that I look OK, when Mum comes bustling into my bedroom. She’s dressed smartly in a purple Windsmoor suit and her face is glowing with anticipation.

‘How do I look?’ she says with a little laugh. ‘Smart enough for Claridges?’

‘You look lovely, Mum! That colour really suits you. Let me just...’

I reach for a tissue, dampen it under the tap and wipe at her cheeks where she’s copied Janice’s badger-look approach to blusher.

‘There. Perfect.’

‘Thank you, darling!’ Mum peers at herself in the wardrobe mirror. ‘Well, this will be nice. Meeting Luke’s mother at last.’

‘Mmm,’ I say non-committally.

‘I expect we’ll get to be quite good friends! What with getting together over the wedding preparations...’

Extract 4

I arrive at La Goulue at one o’clock on the dot, but Elinor isn’t there yet. I’m shown to a table and sip my mineral water while I wait for her. The place is busy, as it always is at this time, mostly with smartly dressed women. All around me is chatter and the gleam of expensive teeth and jewels, and I take the opportunity to eavesdrop shamelessly. At the next table to mine, a woman wearing heavy eyeliner and an enormous brooch is saying emphatically, ‘You simply cannot furnish an apartment these days under one hundred thousand dollars.’

‘So I said to Edgar, “I am a human being,” ’ says a red-haired girl on my other side. Her friend chews on a celery stick and looks at her with bright, avid eyes.

‘So what did he say?’

‘One room, you’re talking thirty thousand.’

‘He said, “Hilary–” ’

‘Rebecca?’

I look up, a bit annoyed to miss what Edgar said, to see Elinor approaching the table, wearing a cream jacket with large black buttons, and carrying a match­ing clutch bag. To my surprise she’s not alone. A woman with a shiny chestnut bob, wearing a navy blue suit and holding a large Coach bag, is with her.

‘Rebecca, may I present Robyn de Bendern,’ says Elinor. ‘One of New York’s finest wedding planners.’

‘Oh,’ I say, taken aback. ‘Well... Hello!’

‘Rebecca,’ says Robyn, taking both my hands and gazing intently into my eyes. ‘We meet at last. I’m so delighted to meet you. So delighted!’

‘Me too!’ I say, trying to match her tone while simultaneously racking my brain. Did Elinor mention meeting a wedding planner? Am I supposed to know about this?

‘Such a pretty face!’ says Robyn, without letting go of my hands. She’s taking in every inch of me, and I find myself reciprocating. She looks in her forties, immaculately made up with bright hazel eyes, sharp cheekbones, and a wide smile exposing a row of perfect teeth. Her air of enthusiasm is infectious, but her eyes are appraising as she takes a step back and sweeps over the rest of me.

‘Such a young, fresh look. My dear, you’ll make a stunning bride. Do you know yet what you’ll be wearing on the day?’

‘Er... a wedding dress?’ I say stupidly, and Robyn bursts into peals of laughter.

‘That humour!’ she cries. ‘You British girls! You were quite right,’ she adds to Elinor, who gives a gracious nod.

Elinor was right? What about?

Have they been talking about me?

‘Thanks!’ I say, trying to take an unobtrusive step backwards. ‘Shall we...’ I nod towards the table.

‘Let’s!’ says Robyn, as though I’ve made the most genius suggestion she’s ever heard. ‘Let’s do that.’ As she sits down I notice she’s wearing a brooch of two intertwined wedding rings, encrusted with diamonds.

‘You like this?’ says Robyn. ‘The Gilbrooks gave it to me after I planned their daughter’s wedding. Now that was a drama! Poor Bitty Gilbrook’s nail broke at the last minute and we had to fly her manicurist in by helicopter…’ She pauses as though lost in memories, then snaps to. ‘So you’re the lucky girl!’ She beams at me and I can’t help beaming back. ‘Lucky, lucky girl. Tell me, are you enjoying every moment?’

‘Well–’

‘What I always say is, the first week after you’re aged is the most precious time of all. You have to savour it.’

‘Actually, it s been a couple or weeks now–’

‘Savour it,’ says Robyn, lifting a finger. ‘Wallow in it. What I always say is, no-one else can have those memories for you.’

‘Well, OK!’ I say with a grin. ‘I’ll... wallow in it!’

‘Before we start,’ says Elinor, ‘I must give you one of these.’ She reaches into her bag and puts an invitation down on the table. What’s this?

Mrs Elinor Sherman requests the pleasure of your company…

Wow. Elinor’s holding an engagement party! For us!

‘Gosh!’ I look up. ‘Well... thanks. I didn’t know we were having an engagement party!’

‘I discussed the matter with Luke.’

‘Really? He never mentioned it to me.’

‘It must have slipped his mind.’ Elinor gives me a cold, gracious smile. ‘I will have a stack of these delivered to your apartment and you can invite some friends of your own. Say... ten.’

‘Well... er... thanks.’

‘Now, shall we have some champagne, to celebrate?’

‘What a lovely idea!’ says Robyn. ‘What I always say is, if you can’t celebrate a wedding, what can you celebrate?’ She gives me a twinkling smile and I smile back. I’m warming to this woman. But I still don’t know what she’s doing here.

‘Erm... I was just wondering, Robyn,’ I say hesi­tantly. ‘Are you here in a... professional capacity?’

‘Oh no. No, no, nooooo.’ Robyn shakes her head. ‘It’s not a profession. It’s a calling. The hours I put in... the sheer love I put into my job...’

‘Right.’ I glance uncertainly at Elinor. ‘Well, the thing is – I’m not sure I’m going to need any help. Although it’s very kind of you–’

‘No help?’ Robyn throws back her head and peals with laughter. ‘You’re not going to need any help? Please! Do you know how much organization a wed­ding takes?’

‘Well–’

‘Have you ever done it before?’

‘No, but–’

‘A lot of girls think your way,’ says Robyn, nodding. ‘Do you know who those girls are?’

‘Um–’

‘They’re the girls who end up weeping into their wedding cake, because they’re too stressed out to enjoy the fun! Do you want to be those girls?’

‘No!’ I say in alarm.

‘Right! Of course you don’t!’ She sits back, looking like a teacher whose class has finally cracked two plus two. ‘Rebecca, I will take that strain off you. I will take on the headaches, the hard work, the sheer stress of the situation... Ah, here’s the champagne!’

Maybe she has got a point, I think, as a waiter pours champagne into three flutes. Maybe it would be a good idea to get a little extra help. Although how exactly she’ll co-ordinate with Mum...

‘I will become your best friend, Becky,’ Robyn’s saying, beaming at me. ‘By the time of your wedding, I’ll know you better than your best friend does. People call my methods unorthodox. But when they see the results...’

‘Robyn is unparalleled in this city,’ says Elinor, taking a sip of champagne, and Robyn gives a modest smile.

‘So let’s start with the basics,’ she says, and takes out a large, leather-bound notebook. ‘The wedding’s on June 22nd...’

‘Yes.’

‘Rebecca and Luke.’

‘Yes.’

‘At the Plaza Hotel...’

‘What?’ I stare at her. ‘No, that’s not–’

‘I’m assuming that both the ceremony and reception will take place there?’ She looks up at Elinor.

‘I think so,’ says Elinor, nodding. ‘Much easier that way.’

‘Excuse me–’

‘So – the ceremony in the Terrace Room?’ She scribbles for a moment. ‘And then the reception in the Ballroom. Lovely. And how many?’

‘Wait a minute!’ I say, planting a hand on her note­book. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Your wedding,’ says Elinor. ‘To my son.’

‘At the Plaza Hotel,’ says Robyn with a beam. ‘I don’t need to tell you how lucky you are, getting the date you wanted! Luckily it was a client of mine who made the cancellation, so I was able to snap it right up for you then and there...’

‘I’m not getting married at the Plaza Hotel!’

Robyn looks sharply at Elinor, concern creasing her brow.

‘I thought you’d spoken to John Ferguson?’

‘I have,’ replies Elinor crisply. ‘I spoke with him yesterday.’

‘Good! Because as you know, we’re on a very tight timescale. A Plaza wedding in less than five months? There are some wedding planners who would simply say, impossible! I am not that wedding planner. I did a wedding once in three days. Three days! Of course, that was on a beach, so it was a little different–’

‘What do you mean, the Plaza’s booked?’ I turn in my chair. ‘Elinor, we’re getting married in Oxshott. You know we are.’

‘Oxshott?’ Robyn wrinkles her brow. ‘I don’t know it. Is it upstate?’

‘Some provisional arrangements have been made,’ says Elinor dismissively. ‘They can easily be cancelled.’

‘They’re not provisional!’ I stare at Elinor in fury. ‘And they can’t be cancelled!’

‘You know, I sense some tension here,’ says Robyn brightly. ‘So I’ll just go make a few calls...’ She picks up her mobile and moves off to the side of the restaurant, and Elinor and I are left glaring at each other. I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

‘Elinor, I’m not getting married in New York. I’m getting married at home. Mum’s already started organizing it. You know she has!’

‘You are not getting married in some unknown back­yard in England,’ says Elinor crisply. ‘Do you know who Luke is? Do you know who I am?’

‘What’s that got to do with anything?’

‘For someone with a modicum of intelligence, you’re very naive.’ Elinor takes a sip of champagne. ‘This is the most important social event in all our lives. It must be done properly. Lavishly. The Plaza is unsurpassed for weddings. You must be aware of that.’

‘But Mum’s already started planning!’

‘Then she can stop planning. Rebecca, your mother will be grateful to have the wedding taken off her hands. It goes without saying, I will fund the entire event. She can attend as a guest.’

‘She won’t want to attend as some guest! It’s her daughter’s wedding! She wants to be the hostess! She wants to organize it!’

‘So!’ A cheerful voice interrupts us. ‘Are we re­solved?’ Robyn appears back at the table, putting her mobile phone away.

‘I’ve booked an appointment for us to see the Terrace Room after lunch,’ says Elinor frostily. ‘I would be glad if you would at least be courteous enough to come and view it with us?’

I stare at her mutinously, tempted to throw down my napkin and say no way. I can’t believe Luke knows anything about this. In fact, I feel like ringing him up right now, and telling him exactly what I think.

But then I remember he’s at a board lunch... and I also remember him asking me to give his mother a chance. Well, fine. I’ll give her a chance. I’ll go along and see the room, and walk around and nod politely and say nothing. And then tonight I’ll tell her equally politely that I’m still getting married in Oxshott.

‘All right,’ I say at last.

‘Good.’ Elinor’s mouth moves a few millimetres. ‘Shall we order?’

Extract 5

Let’s get serious here. Of course I’m not going to get married in New York. Of course I’m not. It’s un­thinkable. I’m going to get married at home, just like I planned, with a nice marquee in the garden. There’s absolutely no reason to change my plans. None at all.

Except...

Oh God. Maybe, just maybe, Elinor has a point.

I mean, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, isn’t it? It’s not like a birthday, or Christmas. You only have one wedding day. So if you have the chance to have it somewhere really amazing, maybe you should just grab it.

And it would be amazing. Walking down that aisle in front of four hundred people, to the sound of a string orchestra, with fantastic flower arrangements everywhere. And then sitting down to some incredible dinner. Robyn gave me some sample dinner menus, and I mean, the food! Rosace of Maine Lobster... Fowl Consomme with Quenelles of Pheasant... Wild Rice with Pignoli Nuts...

I mean, I know Oxshott and Ashtead Quality Caterers are good – but I’m not sure they even know what a Pignoli nut is. (To be honest, I don’t either. But that’s not the point.)

And maybe Elinor’s right, Mum would be grateful if we took the whole thing off her hands. Yes. Maybe she s finding the organization more of a strain than she’s letting on. Maybe she’s already wishing she hadn’t volunteered to do it all. Whereas if we get married at the Plaza, she won’t have to do anything, just turn up. Plus Mum and Dad wouldn’t have to pay for a thing... I mean, it would be doing them a favour!

So, as I’m walking back to Barneys, I take out my cellphone and dial my parents’ number. As Mum answers I can hear the closing music of Crimewatch in the background, and I suddenly feel a wave of nostalgia for home. I can just imagine Mum and Dad sitting there, with the curtains drawn and the gas-effect fire flickering cosily.

‘Hi, Mum?’

‘Becky!’ exclaims Mum. ‘I’m so glad you’ve phoned! I’ve been trying to fax you through some menus from the catering company, but your machine won’t work. Dad says have you checked your paper roll recently?’

‘Urn... I don’t know. Listen, Mum–’

‘And listen to this! Janice’s sister-in-law knows some­one who works at a balloon-printing company! She says if we order two hundred or more balloons we can have the helium for free!’

‘Great! Look, I was just thinking about the wedding, actually...’

Why do I suddenly feel nervous?

‘Oh yes? Graham, turn the television down.’

‘It was just occurring to me... just as a possi­bility...’ I give a shrill laugh, ‘that Luke and I could get married in America!’

‘America?’ There’s a long pause. ‘What do you mean, America?’

‘It was just a thought! You know, since Luke and I live here already...’

‘You’ve lived there for one year, Becky!’ Mum sounds quite shocked. ‘This is your home!’

‘Well yes... but I was just thinking...’ I say feebly.

Somehow I was hoping that Mum would say, ‘What a fantastic idea!’ and make it really easy.

‘How would we organize a wedding in America?’

‘I don’t know!’ I swallow. ‘Maybe we could have it at a... a big hotel.’

‘A hotel?’ Mum sounds as though I’ve gone mad.

‘And maybe Elinor would help...’ I plough on. ‘I’m sure she’d contribute... you know, if it was more expensive...’

There’s a sharp intake of breath at the other end of the phone and I wince. Damn. I should never have mentioned Elinor.

‘Yes, well. We don’t want her contributions, thank you. We can manage very well by ourselves. Is this Elinor’s idea, then, a hotel? Does she think we can’t put on a nice wedding?’

‘No!’ I say hastily. ‘It’s just... it’s nothing! I was just...’

‘Dad says if she’s so keen on hotels, she can stay at one instead of with us.’

Oh God. I’m just making everything worse.

‘Look... forget it. It was a silly idea.’ I rub my face. ‘So – how are the plans going?’

We chat for a few minutes more, and I hear all about the nice man from the marquee company and how his quote was very reasonable, and how his son was at school with Cousin Alex, isn’t it a small world? By the end of our conversation Mum sounds completely mollified and all talk of American hotels has been forgotten.

I say goodbye, turn off the phone and exhale sharply. Right. Well, that’s decided. I might as well call Elinor and tell her. No point in hanging around.

I turn on my mobile again, dial two digits and then stop.

On the other hand – is there any point in rushing straight into a decision?

I mean, you never know. Maybe Mum and Dad will talk it over this evening and change their minds. Maybe they’ll come out to have a look. Maybe if they actually saw the Plaza... if they saw how magical it was all going to be... how luxurious... how glamorous...

Extract 6

‘Hey, guess what,’ I say, suddenly remember­ing. ‘Suze and I are going to choose a wedding dress tomorrow!’

Luke looks at me in surprise.

‘I thought you were going to wear your mother’s wedding dress.’

‘Yes. Well.’ I pull a sorrowful face. ‘The thing is, there was this awful accident...’

And all I can say is thank God. Thank God for Suze and her well-aimed cup of coffee.

As we approach the window of Dream Dress on Madison Avenue the next morning, I suddenly realize what Mum was asking me to do. How could she want me to wear her frilly monstrosity, instead of one of these gorgeous, amazing, Oscar-winner creations? We open the door and silently look around the hushed showroom, with its champagne-coloured carpet and painted trompe l’oeil clouds on the ceiling – and hang­ing in gleaming, glittery, sheeny rows on two sides of the room, wedding dresses. I can feel overexcitement rising through me like a fountain. Any minute I might giggle out loud.

‘Rebecca!’ Cynthia has spotted us and is coming forward. ‘I’m so glad you came. Welcome to Dream Dress, where our motto is–’

‘Ooh, I bet I know!’ interrupts Suze. ‘Is it “Live out your dream at Dream Dress”?’

‘No. It’s not.’ Cynthia smiles.

‘Is it “Dreams come true at Dream Dress”?’

‘No.’ Cynthia’s smile tightens slightly. ‘It’s “We’ll find your Dream Dress”.’

‘Oh, lovely!’ Suze nods politely. ‘I thought mine were better,’ she whispers in my ear.

Cynthia ushers us into the hushed room and seats us on a cream sofa. ‘I’ll be with you in a moment,’ she says pleasantly. ‘Have a browse through some magazines meanwhile.’ Suze and I grin excitedly at each other – then she reaches for Contemporary Bride, and I pick up Martha Stewart Weddings.

Date: 2014-12-29; view: 727