like there’s anyone on your side tohelp, is there?’
Violet clenched her fists on her lap but didn’t reply. She was probably wrong about her desires for the wedding. She was usually wrong about everything else.
But he had brought her parents into the argument so she sulked as well. The remainder of the journey was spent in sullen silence, with Sebastian continuing to ignore her once they were outside the church.
It was quitea smart occasion, despite being held in a tiny church. Violet felt dowdy in her normal black batwing top and trousers. Even her sparkly jewellery did little to liven up the outfit. Everyone else was in lovely, bright dresses and fascinators.
The bride and groom had also been blessed by glorious end of May sunshine. It was like a mini heatwave and Violet could feel the sweat beginning to formunder her arms and around her waist. She prayed it didn’t show through the top.
Sebastian’s colleagues stood around, braying at each other. The men were all going on about their jobs. She had no idea what they were talking about. But worse were the looks from the women: a mixture of envy and pity. She shuffled from foot to foot and wished she had called off sick so she could hide at home.
Thankfully,it was soon time to sit down and concentrate on the service.
Sebastian was still making a point of ignoring her so Violet stared down at the Order of Service. It was a thick, cream card with gold embossed swirls for the edging. It looked and felt expensive. But Violet preferred the home-made ones she had seen in a bridal magazine. She wasn’t certain how Sebastian or his parents would cope withhome-made.
Everyone stood up for the bride as she appeared. As well as the posh stationery, it appeared she hadn’t skimped on her dress either. It was a beautiful but elaborate gown, embroidered with sparkling beads. The strapless bodice clinched in her tiny waist before cascading into a massive, full skirt with an extra-long train. It swamped her tiny frame but she looked beautiful.
Violetfelt a stab of panic as everyone murmured their approval. They were all saying how wonderful the bride looked. What on earth would they say about her in seven months’ time?
She took a deep breath. It was OK. It would be fine.
Sebastian kept his eyes on the altar and didn’t turn to look at her, even though she knew he could feel her watching him.
The service was lovely, everyone remembered theirlines and the only slight hitch came as the vicar declared them husband and wife. The handsome groom stepped forward to kiss his beautiful bride. But he never got the chance.
She hissed at him, ‘You’re standing on my bloody dress!’
Hardly a serene bride but Violet put it down to nerves.
Afterwards, everyone stopped for photographs outside the church. Again, as she hid at the back of the group,she was filled with panic at the idea of being the focus of everyone’s attention.
They made their way back to the hotel and everyone got stuck into the booze. Violet sipped nervously at her non-alcoholic drink whilst everyone else downed their alcohol at an alarming rate. Especially the father of the bride, who told everyone in his speech exactly how much the wedding had cost him, including havingto pay for his daughter’s new silicon breasts.
Violet thought that she would have wanted the ground to swallow her up if that had been her. But the bride, also a little drunk by now, didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she roared with laughter and jiggled her new chest up and down to show everyone that it was money well spent.
By the time the disco started, the bride was so drunk that she screamedacross to her husband, ‘Maaarrttttiiiinnn! It’s our first dance! Come on!’ Then they proceeded almost to consummate their marriage on the dance floor while Westlife crooned over the speakers.
It was hideous and Violet was desperate to get out of there. But Sebastian was in his element, knocking back the wine and laughing uproariously with his
Violet clenched her fists on her lap but didn’t reply. She was probably wrong about her desires for the wedding. She was usually wrong about everything else.
But he had brought her parents into the argument so she sulked as well. The remainder of the journey was spent in sullen silence, with Sebastian continuing to ignore her once they were outside the church.
It was quitea smart occasion, despite being held in a tiny church. Violet felt dowdy in her normal black batwing top and trousers. Even her sparkly jewellery did little to liven up the outfit. Everyone else was in lovely, bright dresses and fascinators.
The bride and groom had also been blessed by glorious end of May sunshine. It was like a mini heatwave and Violet could feel the sweat beginning to formunder her arms and around her waist. She prayed it didn’t show through the top.
Sebastian’s colleagues stood around, braying at each other. The men were all going on about their jobs. She had no idea what they were talking about. But worse were the looks from the women: a mixture of envy and pity. She shuffled from foot to foot and wished she had called off sick so she could hide at home.
Thankfully,it was soon time to sit down and concentrate on the service.
Sebastian was still making a point of ignoring her so Violet stared down at the Order of Service. It was a thick, cream card with gold embossed swirls for the edging. It looked and felt expensive. But Violet preferred the home-made ones she had seen in a bridal magazine. She wasn’t certain how Sebastian or his parents would cope withhome-made.
Everyone stood up for the bride as she appeared. As well as the posh stationery, it appeared she hadn’t skimped on her dress either. It was a beautiful but elaborate gown, embroidered with sparkling beads. The strapless bodice clinched in her tiny waist before cascading into a massive, full skirt with an extra-long train. It swamped her tiny frame but she looked beautiful.
Violetfelt a stab of panic as everyone murmured their approval. They were all saying how wonderful the bride looked. What on earth would they say about her in seven months’ time?
She took a deep breath. It was OK. It would be fine.
Sebastian kept his eyes on the altar and didn’t turn to look at her, even though she knew he could feel her watching him.
The service was lovely, everyone remembered theirlines and the only slight hitch came as the vicar declared them husband and wife. The handsome groom stepped forward to kiss his beautiful bride. But he never got the chance.
She hissed at him, ‘You’re standing on my bloody dress!’
Hardly a serene bride but Violet put it down to nerves.
Afterwards, everyone stopped for photographs outside the church. Again, as she hid at the back of the group,she was filled with panic at the idea of being the focus of everyone’s attention.
They made their way back to the hotel and everyone got stuck into the booze. Violet sipped nervously at her non-alcoholic drink whilst everyone else downed their alcohol at an alarming rate. Especially the father of the bride, who told everyone in his speech exactly how much the wedding had cost him, including havingto pay for his daughter’s new silicon breasts.
Violet thought that she would have wanted the ground to swallow her up if that had been her. But the bride, also a little drunk by now, didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she roared with laughter and jiggled her new chest up and down to show everyone that it was money well spent.
By the time the disco started, the bride was so drunk that she screamedacross to her husband, ‘Maaarrttttiiiinnn! It’s our first dance! Come on!’ Then they proceeded almost to consummate their marriage on the dance floor while Westlife crooned over the speakers.
It was hideous and Violet was desperate to get out of there. But Sebastian was in his element, knocking back the wine and laughing uproariously with his
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