The Wedding Dress.
This was a writing exercise in which I attempted to combine several short stories, all linked by a common thread, in this case, a wedding dress.
o0o
“And just what’s going on here?” Deidre stood in the doorway, staring at the couple on the bed.
They sprung apart. “Deidre darling, It’s not what it looks like” the man babbled.
“No,” Le-anne gasped. “I was just helping Tony with … with …”
“His trousers? Really, Le-anne. The bridesmaid is supposed to assist the bride on her wedding day, not the groom.”
The contempt in Deidre’s voice cut through the air like a laser.
Tony grabbed Deidre. “Darling, listen to me. This is all a horrible mistake. I love you.”
Deidre’s self control snapped. “Well I don’t like your way of loving,” she shouted. Putting every ounce of her weight behind her balled fist Deidre swung hard and punched Tony in the face. Tony staggered under the blow. Wide eyed, Le-anne ducked out of sight behind the bed.
“I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth, you … you…” Deidre screamed.
“Deidre darling. Just listen to me.” Tony rushed after Deidre as she ran down the hall pulling at her wedding dress, struggling to get it off.
“There goes the bride. There goes the bride. Dum-dum-de-dum-dum. There goes the bride” Le-anne hummed as, smiling, she walked over and closed the door on the shrieking turmoil down the hall.
o0o
The two women looked at the wedding dress in the window of the bridal hire shop.
“No! I won’t wear a second-hand wedding dress. I’d feel like Second-hand Rose.”
“Tania, face facts. Your dress was lost in transit. It’s two days to your wedding, we can't get another dress made in time and none of the others you’ve tried on suit you.”
Tania glowered at her mother, not wanting to listen.
“This shop is our last hope if you want to get married on Saturday. You do want to get married, don’t you Tania?”
“But not is someone else’s dress” she muttered.
“Tania,” her mother said. “This dress has the love and happiness of the bride who wore it. It will be a lucky charm for you.”
Tania brooded as she stared in the window. “What do you say, love? Shall we go inside?”
“Nothing’s going right for my wedding” muttered Tania. “It’s an omen, I just know it.” Near tears, she followed her mother inside.
“The weather is just perfect for your wedding day, Tania. And you look beautiful in your wedding dress” Rita, Tania’s mother said as she stood behind her daughter and tucked a wayward curl under Tania’s veil. Tania surveyed her reflection. She had to admit she did look special.
When the wedding party arrived the small church was full of friends and well wishers. The groom and his two attendants, Tania’s brothers, entered and stood in front of the minister.
Aged organ pipes reverberated to the cords of ‘here comes the bride’ as everyone craned to get a look at the bridal party entering the church.
A tiny golden-haired flower girl dressed in white taffeta led the way. She clutched a white satin basket while her small, chubby fingers reached in and gathered red rose petals to scatter.
The two bridesmaids followed, dressed in long, blue satin gowns. They stepped slowly in time to the organ music, staring ahead, bodies rigid, their bouquets quivering in their trembling hands.
All eyes turned to Tania as, head bowed, face hidden behind her wedding veil, glided down the aisle, holding the arm of her proud father.
A woman running late quietly sat down in the last pew and leaned forward to watch the ceremony.
“Dearly beloved,” the minister intoned. The warmth of the afternoon sun and the heavy fragrance of the blooms was having a sleepy effect on the congregation.
“…and if there is anyone here who has reason why this wedding should not proceed. Let them speak now, or forever hold their peace.” The minister paused and glanced at the congregation.
“Yes, I do. I have a reason why this marriage should not proceed” a voice from the back of the church called.
“What!” the minister’s jaw dropped in astonishment.
Heads turned, staring at the woman walking down the aisle and who now stood in front of the bridal pair. Whispers started from the congregation, growing louder. “Who is she? What did she say? What’s happening?”
Jeffrey’s face was chalk white as he stared at the newcomer. Tania looked from Jeffrey to the woman and back to Jeffrey before asking “Do you know her, Jeffrey? Well, do you?”
“Answer your bride, Jeffrey” the woman said. “Tell her who I am.”
Jeffrey’s mouth opened several times but no sound came out. His gaze slid from one woman to the other.
“I’m sorry to spoil your wedding day,” the stranger said to Tania. “My name is Lenore Delaney. I am Jeffrey’s legal wife.”
“But Jeffrey never said he’d been married,” said Tania.
“And still is” Lenore answered.
“Oh, Mum,” wailed Tania turning and running to her parents.
Tania’s brothers reacted quickly. “Outside Jeffrey” they said grabbing the groom and frog-marching him toward the door. “We have something to discuss with you.”
o0o
Pauline ran her left hand down the long, white satin skirt while she studied her reflection. Her well-formed breasts swelled and thrust out as she took a deep breath. Fascinated by her reflection, she pirouetted and watched the long satin skirt swirl before the weight of the pearls at the hemline settled it back into place. It’s a beautiful dress, she thought. I wonder who wore it before.
Pauline played with the pearls at the neckline as she watched her image. Too bad it’s only for him, she thought. She smiled at her reflection. The old fool can’t last forever though. As long as I play the dutiful wife and keep him happy until he kicks the bucket the money will be all mine. Who says you can’t have it all, she gloated.
Turning to the assistant, Pauline said “Yes. I’ll take this one.”
“Oh, madam looks wonderful in it” the assistant gushed as she helped Pauline out of the gown. “That dress fits as if it was made for you.”
Pauline nodded her mind already on other things.
“Well, my dear. Did you find your wedding dress?” the old man asked when Pauline entered the room. Smiling, she nodded and kissed his cheek as she sat down beside him. “I hope you’ll let me buy it for you. It’s not every day a woman gets married.”
“Oh, Malcolm, don’t be upset with me, but I wanted to purchase my own wedding gown.” Plenty of time to spend up big on me after we’re married Pauline thought.
She took has hand and looked at it. Her thumb traced the bony ridges showing through the thin, parchment like skin of the back of his hand. With all that’s wrong with him, I wonder how much longer he’ll last, she mused.
Malcolm patted her hand. “You’ve given me a new lease on life,” he said.
Oh, yes, she thought. Just wait until you see the ‘equipment’ I’ve bought for our wedding night. If you survive the first week of our marriage, you deserve to keep all your money.
“Now my lawyer, Charles, will be here tomorrow with the marriage celebrant. Are you sure you don’t have anyone to invite to our wedding?”
Pauline shook her head. Not likely, she thought. I’m not letting my bloodsucking relatives know I’m marrying money.
“Then Charles and Mrs Turner will be our witnesses.”
Pauline smiled. “You are so capable Malcolm. You think of everything.”
“And I have a little wedding present for you, my dear. It was to be a surprise but I want to share it with you now. I instructed Charles to draw up a contract and bring it with him for my signature.”
“No, Malcolm. It isn’t necessary” Pauline murmured.
“I know. I know” he said. “But tomorrow you will have a sizeable blue-chip portfolio of property and shares as my wedding present to you.”
“Oh, Malcolm” she whispered. “You are so good to me.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Oh, boy, she thought. Santa’s coming early.
Pauline was awake before her alarm rang. She lay in bed and smiled as she looked at her wedding dress. No more second-hand, cast-off clothes for me, she thought. Her mind wandered to the luxury she would indulge in after she became Mrs Malcolm Granger.
Insistent tapping on her door brought her out of her reverie as the housekeeper, Mrs Turner, hurried in. “Oh, Nurse Andrews, Rueben said to bring you right away to Mr Granger’s room. The doctor is already on his way.”
Pauline hurried after Mrs Tuner. “What is the matter with Malcolm? Has he had another turn? Why didn’t someone call me sooner?”
Mrs Turner was flustered and near tears. “Rueben brought Mr Granger his early morning tea, like he always does. It was he who found …”
Pauline rushed to Malcolm. She felt for his pulse. Then she put her ear to his chest, but she already knew. Malcolm was cold, very cold; as cold as death. Pauline rested her head on his body and wept.
“I will notify My Granger’s lawyer of the tragedy” Rueben said. “He will attend to matters.”
Pauline hardly heard him. “Oh, Malcolm, you said you loved me. Couldn’t you have waited another day” she whispered.
o0o
The assistant’s eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped as she stated at the two walking into the store.
Oh, it’s Ronald McDonald, she though relieved. It must be some sort of promotion. Then she looked at the other male.
He thrust his pelvis provocatively toward her as she stared at the bulge in his very small, very tight purple leather shorts.
“Like what you’re seeing?” he asked and blew her a kiss. Shocked, her gaze quickly swung to his friend.
“Why, you’re not Ronald McDonald,” she accused.
“No!” he said, feigning surprise. He touched his lime green calf length satin pants. “Would Ronald be as well dressed as me?” he asked.
“Well you’ve got the same hair colouring as him” she retorted.
“But he can’t cook hamburgers, dearie, and doesn’t like children” his friend said. “No, we’ve come to select a gown.
Well, Nigel has. I’m going to help him.”
“What! Is this some sort of joke?”
“No, it’s no joke. We‘re going to the Gay Mardi Gras in Sydney and we’re on a float. I’m going as a fairy queen. I’ve found my dress, a lovely pink frothy one. Now we’re looking for Nigel. He wants to be a bride.”
“You can’t hire one of our gowns.” The assistant was outraged. These are for proper brides. Not for some … some ….
I won’t hire you one. You’ll have to go as something else.”
“Ohhh, did you hear that, Nigel?” He blew the assistant a kiss. “Well, you’ve got no choice, dearie. The law says you must.” Frustrated and angry the woman watched as a gown was selected.
