Post by PamA on Jun 18, 2009 17:22:26 GMT 1
The Wedding
You are cordially invited
To the wedding of
Dr. Lily Hassan and Dr. Heston Carter
R.S.V.P.
To the wedding of
Dr. Lily Hassan and Dr. Heston Carter
R.S.V.P.
“It’s hideous!” Lily looked at herself in the mirror, scarcely able to believe the reflection that glared back at her. “It is everything I didn’t want. I hate it and I’m not wearing it!” She turned round and the look she gave Julia was so venomous that Julia actually pulled back slightly, as if afraid that Lily would attack her.
“It’s not hideous.” Julia’s tone was as conciliatory as she could make it. “You look beautiful, really you do. Heston will be bowled over.”
“He will be bowled over,” Lily said emphatically, “he will be bowled over because this, this,” she searched for the right words, “this monstrosity of a dress will probably sweep him off his feet! Did I not make it quite clear that I wanted no huge skirts and no great puffy sleeves? What bit of that did you not understand?”
“You did leave it to us, you know, to organise the wedding. You gave us carte blanche – made it quite clear that you simply wanted to leave it all to someone else, not have to be bothered with all the arrangements.”
“Well, yes, I did, but for goodness sake Julia, did you really think I’d want to wear a meringue to my wedding! I doubt I’ll fit through the door of the registry office.”
“Ah!” Julia bit her bottom lip and gave Lily a somewhat guilty look.
“You have remembered to book the registry office, haven’t you?”
“Um, not exactly. You see Heston was most adamant that you’d want the full works.”
“The full works being what?” Lily raised her eyebrows and gave Julia a quizzical glance.
“Church -a big church wedding – flowers, bells, choir, the lot. It was meant to be a surprise. Heston said that you’d be overwhelmed.”
“Heston said what? I’d be overwhelmed? Well he got that right. I am completely overwhelmed. My wedding day and it is everything I never wanted my wedding day to be! And, what is that?” Lily pointed to the seemingly yards of net that Julia was holding.
“Your veil.”
“My what?”
“Veil. Oh, and look,” Julia reached behind her and picked up a tiara, “Apparently Heston’s mother wore this on her wedding day so he thought it would be….”
“It’s horrible. I am not going to wear it.” She took it from Julia’s hands and turned it round and round as she examined it. It was big, about 5 inches high at its highest point and was covered in glass beads shaped like teardrops.
“You have to,” Julia insisted, “or Heston will be bitterly disappointed. Sit down, let me put it on you and you’ll see that it’s actually quite pretty when it’s in place with the veil.”
Lily obediently sat, sighing deeply as she did so. Julia brushed and pulled at her hair and finally placed the offending article firmly on Lily’s head. “There,” She said, a note of satisfaction in her voice, “it looks fine. Look in the mirror.”
Lily did as she was bid. Julia had piled her hair high on the top of her head and the tiara sat firmly in position round the pile of curls that Julia had fashioned. A positive cascade of net fell from the back of the tiara and flowed over the floor for a good few feet beyond the bottom of the dress.
“I can’t wear this Julia, I just can’t. I look like a footballer’s wife or…… I just can’t.” Lily sounded like she would burst into tears at any moment.
“We have to go now,” Julia said, looking worried, “or we won’t make it to the church on time.”
“Who’s giving me away? I haven’t got anyone to give me away.” Lily smiled triumphantly. “There’s no point in going, no witnesses, no-one to give me away.” She made to take the head-dress off but Julia forestalled her.
“It’s all taken care of Lily. I’m giving you away.” Julia removed the dressing gown she’d been wearing. Underneath she had on a bright orange dress covered in huge pink roses. “See, I’m all dressed and ready. And how about this for a hat?” The hat was purple and huge, so huge that when she put it on her face was almost invisible, and the only way she could see Lily was by putting her head back as far as she could and peering underneath the brim. “Now, come on, Lily your carriage awaits.”
“Carriage? Please don’t tell me we’re going by horse and carriage.” One look at Julia’s face, or what she could see of Julia’s face, confirmed that yet another of her worst fears was about to become a reality. “We are, aren’t we? Oh Julia, how could you?”
“It’s not that bad Lily, for goodness sake just enjoy yourself. It’s not every day you get married and it’s nice to have a really special day – one that you’ll never forget. Now let’s go. We don’t want to keep Heston waiting do we?” Julia took hold of Lily by the elbow and began to lead her from the house. “You wait, once we get you into that carriage and you’re on your way to the church, it will all seem, well, wonderful.”
“I seriously doubt that.” Lily muttered to herself as they made their way outside. “Oh no!” she exclaimed as they arrived on the pavement. “What is that meant to be?”
Standing in the road was an elaborate golden coach drawn by six white horses. A coachman in full regalia held the reins. “I can’t…” Lily pulled away from Julia and started to make her way back to the house.
“Lily, just get in.” Julia grabbed hold of Lily and forced her toward the coach. Before she knew it she was inside, “oh, and I nearly forgot,” Julia added, “here’s your flowers.” The flowers were lying on the seat opposite to the one that Julia had pushed Lily into.
“My flowers? There, um, different I suppose.” The bouquet of flowers was extraordinarily colourful, a riot of colour - purples, reds, yellows, pinks, orange, in fact every colour one could think of. It was also very large and Lily guessed that when she picked it up it would almost cover the front of the dress, providing, of course, that she would be able to pick it up as it did look rather heavy.
“Right,” Julia beamed, “we’re on our way.”
The coach began its journey to the outskirts of Letherbridge. Much to Lily’s dismay the pavements were lined with people cheering as they went by.
“What on earth’s going on?” She asked Julia. “Why are all these people cheering us?”
“We let all the patients know, “Julia explained. “We thought it would be nice for you to see how much you’re appreciated. I can’t believe how many have turned out.” Julia smiled and waved out at the crowd. “Come on Lily, give them a wave.”
Lily reluctantly raised her hand and gave a half-hearted wave.
“You can do better than that. Come on, enjoy it Lily. It’s like being royalty.” Julia waved even more enthusiastically. “Wave Lily! Wave!”
Lily did her best but could not summon up Julia’s level of enthusiasm. Suddenly the carriage came to a halt. “We’re there. We’re at the church Lily.”
To be continued…………………………