CHAPTER43
‘I’m here!’ Tara yelled from the patio. ‘Can someone tell me why there’s a tiki torch display on the beach? Are we having a luau?’
‘Seagull deterrent,’ Paul informed her. ‘They’re out in force and last thing we need is everyone getting shat on.’
‘Where have you been?’ Erin snapped as she flew to the patio doors. ‘How can you be the last one to arrive when you stayed here last night? Even the boys made it back from Cork before you!’
Tara kicked her boots off and walked into the living room. ‘One of life’s great mysteries I guess… Hey, Lily, I like your dress. Very emo.’
Lily had no idea what that meant but thanked her aunt Tara anyway.
‘It’ll take me fifteen minutes to get ready,’ Tara said. ‘It’s a no-fuss-no-frills kinda wedding. Remember?’
‘Though I have opted for frills,’ Becky interjected, showing the swishy, frilly nature of her skirt. ‘Julianne bought it for me and how could I not wear this? It’s perfection.’
‘Things still hot and heavy then?’ Tara asked, her eyes darting towards Lily to make sure she wasn’t listening. ‘No more love bites to show off?’
Becky blushed. ‘Things are going very well, thank you. And no. At least not where anyone can see them.’
‘Alex is in my room getting ready if you want to join her?’ Erin suggested in a tone which indicated it was more of a demand. Tara jumped up from the couch and obediently skulked through. She arrived just in time to help Alex zip her dress up.
‘Do they make these clothes for fucking orangutans?’ Alex asked. ‘No normal person has arms that long. King of the swingers isn’t the look I’m going for.’
With a little effort, Tara managed to fasten her in. ‘Done… I think.’
Alex picked and pulled at her dress making sure it sat correctly.
‘It’s nice,’ Tara said as Alex gave her a customary twirl. ‘Understated. And we did say no fuss or frills.’
Alex frowned as she preened in the mirror. She’d liked this dress when she’d tried it on in the shop; a simple full-length gown, high in the back, low cut in the front but nothing too revealing. The saleswoman had told her it was perfect for a wedding. Now she wasn’t so sure. ‘Jesus, I look like a middle-aged teacher who’s been forced to chaperone the school prom.’
Tara was already stripping out of her clothes. ‘No, I wouldn’t say that. It’s probably just more suited to an evening event. Maybe one held by the prison service.’
Alex started to laugh and cry at the same time, much to Tara’s amusement
‘Look, there’s at least four hundred dresses on the floor here. Rummage around. Find something more fun!
‘And is your dress fun?’ she asked, digging around on the floor. She picked up a simple pale pink gown and held it against her.
Tara unzipped the large clothes bag that hung on the back of door.
‘I’m the bride. Of course it is.’
* * *
‘Hey, Wednesday Addams, are you good to go?’
Lily nodded, turning off the television. As she turned to leave, she paused and looked Tara up and down.
‘Well?’ Tara asked. ‘Verdict.’
‘You don’t really look like a bride,’ she informed her.
Tara looked down at her dress. ‘I don’t? What do I look like then?’
Lily grinned. It was the first time she had seen a blue wedding dress, not to mention one which wasn’t particularly fancy. ‘You kind of look a fairy princess.’
Tara laughed. Maybe not quite the look she was going for but she’d take it. Her (something blue) maxi dress was not only pretty but the most comfortable thing she owned. It was paired with a daisy crown made by Becky (new), a silver necklace her mother had given her years ago (old) and Alex’s earrings (borrowed) which they’d decided looked better on Tara ten minutes earlier. On her feet, she wore pale silver heels.
Beth, in a fuchsia-pink dress, complete with puffball skirt, entered the room.
‘Now, I know we said nothing fussy, but this is the only dress that will contain my fat arse. I wore it to a Eurovision party and I’m never throwing it away. Hang on, Alex, is that my dress?’
Erin was the last to come down, both sides of her hair now matching.
‘Well, don’t you look like an absolute treat!’ Becky said. In fairness, Becky and her purple frilly skirt looked as delightful, but Erin’s peach, A-line dress was just as elegant as she was.
As Tara looked around the living room, she felt completely blessed despite that being a phrase she’d never normally use, becauseyuck. Her friends had done her proud.
‘Right lads, shall we go and have a wedding?’
