Eden Forest (Part one of the Saskia Trilogy) by Aoife Marie Sheridan Page B
Authors: Aoife Marie Sheridan
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Not looking at all the couples hanging all
over each other.”
“Well, if you change your mind, you have my number.”
Christine gives me a hug. “Thanks.”
When three o’clock comes, I get my bag and jacket from the
back and say good-bye to Christine and Susan. Susan is staying
on until four so at least Christine only has an hour and a half
without us.
I drive home and start getting ready. First thing, I jump in
the shower and take my time with my hair, especially making
sure I condition it really well. Once I’m dried, I slip into my
nightgown and head downstairs to blow-dry my hair only
slightly, just to take the heaviness out of it. After that, I go back
upstairs and put on my dress and shoes. I check the time on
my phone. Still an hour left. So I take great care applying my
makeup, foundation, some simple lip-gloss and tint of a blusher
along my cheeks, eyeliner and finally, mascara. Done. I check
myself in my full-length mirror attached to my bedroom door.
I look beautiful.
Leaving the mirror, I go downstairs to the sitting room,
where Jessica and Dad are waiting on me. Walking in, I give
them a twirl, causing the bottom of my dress to spread out.
“You look like a princess,” Jessica says while rising off the
couch to come over and inspect me further.
My dad smiles, but it is a sad smile. He is thinking of Mum.
“You are beautiful, darling.” He lands a gentle kiss on my
forehead. Tears prickle my eyes. Mum should be here.
The doorbell rings and Dad volunteers to get it, anything to
distract him from this sad moment. I clear my throat to pull
myself together. Looking at Jessica, I can see the sadness on her
face. “I miss her too,” she whispers, barely audible. I hug her so
tightly she squeals slightly.
Josh walks in the door then and I have to say he looks so
handsome. He’s in an all-black suit with a white shirt, making
his tan stand out. His eyes are practically sparkling. “Wow, you
look stunning,” he says while leaning in and giving me a kiss
on the cheek.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.”
Jessica inhales a sharp breath. “Don’t be so mean, Sarajane.”
When I look at my little sister, she looks truly angry. I turn to
Josh and roll my eyes. “You look dashing, Prince Josh.” Jessica
is still angry, as she knows I am being sarcastic.
“Okay, kids, stand together for a photo.”
Josh places his hand around my waist and gives it a little
squeeze. I look at him with a smile, but his face is so serious that
my smile falters as it feels like his brown eyes are searing into
my very heart. I know Josh cares for me, but there is so much
more than care on his face right now. Then I hear the click of
the camera.
Dad lowers it. “Come on, kids, smile.” This time we both do,
but I know our smiles will be strained when we get the photo
developed.
I give Dad a kiss and he hugs me tightly. “I love you. Have a
great night. You deserve it.”
Tears fill my eyes. “I love you too.”
We reach the ball fifteen minutes later. We don’t speak on the
way, which leaves me feeling awkward.
The room that the ball is being held in is already full with
couples. The room is lit by hundreds of fairy lights. No overhead
lights are on, only the fairy lights and small tea lights on all the
tables light the room. The music is soft. It’s spectacular and everyone looks amazing.
We descend the stairs and enter the ballroom. Josh gets us
drinks, his mood picking back up a bit. I stand just by the stairs,
clutching my purse. A few ladies give me scowls as their partners
eye me up. I feel such relief when Josh returns and hands me a
glass of champagne. Now a lot of girls are giving looks, and it’s
not because their men are looking at me. It's because they’re
looking at Josh and wishing they were with him.
“To us. May we have a wonderful and magical night.” I click
my glass with his, causing his face to break into a smile. The
smile I
over each other.”
“Well, if you change your mind, you have my number.”
Christine gives me a hug. “Thanks.”
When three o’clock comes, I get my bag and jacket from the
back and say good-bye to Christine and Susan. Susan is staying
on until four so at least Christine only has an hour and a half
without us.
I drive home and start getting ready. First thing, I jump in
the shower and take my time with my hair, especially making
sure I condition it really well. Once I’m dried, I slip into my
nightgown and head downstairs to blow-dry my hair only
slightly, just to take the heaviness out of it. After that, I go back
upstairs and put on my dress and shoes. I check the time on
my phone. Still an hour left. So I take great care applying my
makeup, foundation, some simple lip-gloss and tint of a blusher
along my cheeks, eyeliner and finally, mascara. Done. I check
myself in my full-length mirror attached to my bedroom door.
I look beautiful.
Leaving the mirror, I go downstairs to the sitting room,
where Jessica and Dad are waiting on me. Walking in, I give
them a twirl, causing the bottom of my dress to spread out.
“You look like a princess,” Jessica says while rising off the
couch to come over and inspect me further.
My dad smiles, but it is a sad smile. He is thinking of Mum.
“You are beautiful, darling.” He lands a gentle kiss on my
forehead. Tears prickle my eyes. Mum should be here.
The doorbell rings and Dad volunteers to get it, anything to
distract him from this sad moment. I clear my throat to pull
myself together. Looking at Jessica, I can see the sadness on her
face. “I miss her too,” she whispers, barely audible. I hug her so
tightly she squeals slightly.
Josh walks in the door then and I have to say he looks so
handsome. He’s in an all-black suit with a white shirt, making
his tan stand out. His eyes are practically sparkling. “Wow, you
look stunning,” he says while leaning in and giving me a kiss
on the cheek.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.”
Jessica inhales a sharp breath. “Don’t be so mean, Sarajane.”
When I look at my little sister, she looks truly angry. I turn to
Josh and roll my eyes. “You look dashing, Prince Josh.” Jessica
is still angry, as she knows I am being sarcastic.
“Okay, kids, stand together for a photo.”
Josh places his hand around my waist and gives it a little
squeeze. I look at him with a smile, but his face is so serious that
my smile falters as it feels like his brown eyes are searing into
my very heart. I know Josh cares for me, but there is so much
more than care on his face right now. Then I hear the click of
the camera.
Dad lowers it. “Come on, kids, smile.” This time we both do,
but I know our smiles will be strained when we get the photo
developed.
I give Dad a kiss and he hugs me tightly. “I love you. Have a
great night. You deserve it.”
Tears fill my eyes. “I love you too.”
We reach the ball fifteen minutes later. We don’t speak on the
way, which leaves me feeling awkward.
The room that the ball is being held in is already full with
couples. The room is lit by hundreds of fairy lights. No overhead
lights are on, only the fairy lights and small tea lights on all the
tables light the room. The music is soft. It’s spectacular and everyone looks amazing.
We descend the stairs and enter the ballroom. Josh gets us
drinks, his mood picking back up a bit. I stand just by the stairs,
clutching my purse. A few ladies give me scowls as their partners
eye me up. I feel such relief when Josh returns and hands me a
glass of champagne. Now a lot of girls are giving looks, and it’s
not because their men are looking at me. It's because they’re
looking at Josh and wishing they were with him.
“To us. May we have a wonderful and magical night.” I click
my glass with his, causing his face to break into a smile. The
smile I
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