Becky's Dress Disaster (8 page)

Chapter Ten

Max's dad agreed to the plan practically before Max had got the words out, he reported grumpily the next day. His dad was delighted that the triplets had decided to try and sort things out, and really keen to get back together with their mum. Max was talking only to Becky, and doing his best to pretend that Annabel, and even more so Katie, just didn't exist.

“Good. So what are you going to do on Saturday? Are you going to stay with someone?”

Max's scowl deepened. “My grandma. I'll be looking at my cousins' baby photos all day. Dad had better be grateful.”

Becky turned to David, who was standing behind her looking shifty, and gave him a meaningful stare. He rolled his eyes at her, but the stare only intensified.

“Oh, all right,” he muttered. “Max, my mum says you can come over to ours on Saturday afternoon if you want. She said maybe we could go to LaserQuest. Don't feel you have to, or anything…” He trailed off, trying not to sound too inviting. He didn't really get on with Max, and he was only doing this because Becky had begged him, and then threatened, and then begged again.

Apparently, even LaserQuesting with someone who was clearly not that eager to have you was better than endless photos of baby cousins. Max agreed as keenly as his dad had.

Becky grinned at them both happily. Finally it felt like she'd done everything she could to make the wedding a success,
and
make things up to Mum – now, hopefully, all they had to do was enjoy the day.

 

It felt weird and exciting waking up on Saturday morning in a hotel room. Becky scrambled out of bed and dashed to the window. Yes! Perfect blue sky, just a few little puffball clouds. She looked out over the hotel gardens, which were so tidy she would have sworn the gardeners cut the grass with nail scissors. The wedding photos were going to be beautiful here. There was even a peacock stalking across the lawn as though he owned the place.

Annabel joined her at the window, yawning. “It's not raining, is it?” she asked worriedly.

“No, look – Auntie Jan's so lucky. We haven't had a day this nice the whole year so far.”

“I said it would be,” pronounced Annabel smugly. “I suppose we shouldn't start getting ready quite yet, what do you think?”

“Bel! The wedding's not till three! At least can't we have breakfast?” Becky protested.

“Mmm. S'pose.”

Breakfast turned out to be a bit of a trial. Katie had hardly moaned all week about the dressing up she was going to have to do (well, only a couple of times a day, anyway), but now she was sitting across the table from their gran, Mum and Auntie Jan's mum, who was not being particularly tactful. Even their grandad was trying to signal with his eyebrows as Gran prattled on.

“Oh, it'll be so lovely, seeing you three in little matching frocks. There's nothing prettier than my little granddaughters when you're dressed right. Proper dresses, not jeans and those horrible football shirts. I haven't seen you in a dress for years, Katie dear.”

Katie, wearing jeans and a football shirt, was looking less and less like someone who would be happily walking down an aisle in a pretty dress a few hours from now. She laid her half-eaten piece of toast on her plate and glared at Gran.

Grandad diplomatically intervened by prompting Gran to tell Auntie Jan which hat she'd decided to buy in the end. The answer, together with full descriptions of all the hats Gran
hadn't
bought, took the rest of the meal.

Despite the wedding not being until three, Mum and Auntie Jan really did seem to think that getting ready should start right after breakfast. Katie was looking distinctly woebegone – although Annabel, listening to the timetable of hairdressing, manicures and full makeovers, seemed positively blissed out.

“We don't need to get our hair done right now, do we?” wheedled Becky. “The hairdresser could do Annabel first?”

“I suppose so…” said Mum, looking thoughtfully at Katie. Maybe it
was
asking for trouble to make her sit in the room with perfect hair for any longer than necessary.

“Right.” Becky dashed over to her bag, grabbed something, and then seized Katie's hand. “We'll be back in an hour, OK?”

“Where are we going?” wailed Katie, as Becky raced her down the corridor to the lift.

“Did you read the hotel brochure?”

“No!” Katie sounded somewhat disgusted. She'd been avoiding the wedding as much as possible, Becky knew that.

“Well, it's got a swimming pool, and a whirlpool thing – I thought you'd like that more than watching other people having their hair done. Come on, I brought our cozzies, but we haven't got long!”

The swimming had been a brainwave. The two of them splashed and chased each other till they were completely out of breath, and then floated in the whirlpool till they felt well and truly relaxed. They even peeped into the sauna, but they couldn't see the attraction in burning your bottom on a hot bench in a room where you could hardly breathe.

When they got back, Annabel was sitting regally in a chair, wearing a somewhat-large white towelling robe, gazing happily into a mirror while her hair was coaxed into a complicated updo complete with trailing curls. She grinned at Katie. “It's OK. You don't have to have your hair like this if you don't want. I persuaded Auntie Jan it would be nice if our hair wasn't
exactly
the same. I think Gran going on and on at breakfast made her think that us all being totally identical would be a bit scary.”

Katie breathed a deep sigh of relief. She wasn't sure Annabel was even going to be able to
see
with her hair like that. She was feeling so deliciously floppy after the swim, though, that the whole beauty routine was almost bearable. She could shut her eyes and float away for a lot of it, anyway.

Becky smiled to herself. Mission accomplished – one de-stressed Katie, as ready as she'd ever be to be zipped into a gorgeous dress.

An hour and a half later, after a hurried sandwich lunch from room service, and then the finishing touches of make-up, the dress-bags were taken out of the wardrobe. Auntie Jan was in her own room getting ready, so it was just Mum, who was already in her wedding outfit, helping the triplets.

They held their breath as she brought out the first dress – Annabel's, the original rat-customized disaster. What would she say?

Mum unzipped the bodice and held the dress for Annabel to step into – there was no way she was risking that hairdo by slipping it over her head. Then she zipped it up, and stood back to admire.

“You look beautiful, Bel. This dress is so pretty.” She held her head on one side. “There looks to be something different about it today, but I can't think what. It must be that lovely hairdo. OK, come on, Becky.”

The triplets exchanged amazed, relieved glances. If Mum hadn't even noticed, they couldn't have messed the dresses up that badly!

Once she'd got all three of them into the dresses, Mum popped next door to see how Auntie Jan was getting on, leaving the triplets with strict instructions not even to move unless they had to.

“I can't believe she didn't notice!” Annabel sounded almost disappointed.

Katie smiled grimly. “Don't worry. Auntie Jan will.”

Becky wasn't listening. She touched Katie's elbow gently. “Look!” she breathed. The wardrobe had a big mirror on the door, and Becky had just caught sight of their reflection.

“Wow!” Katie murmured, all thoughts of horrified aunts disappearing from her mind.
“Wow!
”

It was pretty amazing. Although their hair was different, and they'd followed Fran's idea and worked slightly different colours into the beading on each dress, the triplets' outfits were almost identical – and they looked wonderful. Far better than they had at the fittings, now that they had the hair and make-up, shoes and bags – and Katie wasn't scowling.

The three of them stared, awestruck, and that was how Auntie Jan found them when she and the photographer came to fetch them for the first photos. They were so entranced, even Katie, that they jumped when she appeared in the mirror behind them. They'd forgotten all about the altered dresses, and they beamed round at her delightedly as she put her arms round the three of them.

“You match us very nicely,” said Annabel, sounding as purry as a cat.

“Bel! Other way round!” scolded Becky. “The dress is beautiful, Auntie Jan.”

“So are yours. But – where did the beads come from? I'm sure they were plain when we picked them up from the dressmaker, weren't they, Sue?” She turned to the triplets' mum, looking confused.

“Oh! So that's what it is. I couldn't work it out.”

Mum and Auntie Jan looked at the triplets questioningly, and Annabel poked Becky. It was definitely up to her to explain!

“I'm sorry, Auntie Jan, I know you wanted the dresses plain, but we had a – a sort of
accident
…”

“Huh,” muttered Annabel.

“My rats escaped and they ate Annabel's dress,” Becky blurted out – it was easier than pussyfooting around.

“The beads are to disguise the holes,” Annabel added helpfully, as Auntie Jan had gone white under her make-up. “Look.” She twirled. “You can't see them at all. And I think the dresses are prettier, this way. I do, honestly.”

“You girls did this?” Auntie Jan sounded as though she couldn't believe it.

“Uh-huh. Saima and the others helped though. It's nice, isn't it? We worked out the design ourselves and everything.”

“I'm amazed.” Auntie Jan shook her head. “I'm almost grateful to your rats, Becky – the dresses were beautiful before, but now they're really special. You should be so proud of yourselves.”

The photographer coughed meaningfully from the doorway, and Auntie Jan grinned. “Come on, you three – smile!”

 

A little while later (the photographer was really good, and the photos actually
hadn't
taken that long) the triplets and Auntie Jan and Grandad were gathered in the church porch, giggling with nerves. It was so funny – all those people in there waiting for them! Then the music started, Auntie Jan shook out the skirt of her dress one last time, Grandad grinned at the triplets, and they were off, walking slowly down the aisle.

Annabel was in her element, with everyone staring, but even Becky and Katie rather enjoyed it. Somehow the hair and make-up, and above all the wonderful dresses, made them feel like different people, people who didn't mind being the centre of attention.
I
wouldn't like it all the time
,
Becky thought.
But it's very nice just once in a while!

Suddenly Annabel nudged her gently. “Look!” she whispered, out of the corner of her mouth.

Becky looked where Annabel was looking. It was Mum – and Jeff was standing next to her, both of them beaming. The plan had worked! As they came up to the front, Becky exchanged satisfied smiles with the other two, and then kept a small, very contented smile of her own. There had been disasters along the way, but here they all were at last. Auntie Jan was going to have the best wedding ever!

Have you read all the
Triplets books?
Turn the page for a sneak peek
of the first book in the series!

 

It was half-past seven on the first morning of the new school year – and things were not going to plan in the Ryan house.

“Mum! Where's my pencil case?”

“And my PE kit?”

“And my other shoe?”

Three excited and slightly panicky voices spoke at once, and Mrs Ryan looked round from the kitchen counter in horror. “What on earth's happened? You had everything yesterday – it can't all have disappeared overnight.”

Sometimes, generally when all the floor-space in the house had disappeared under piles of washing, Mrs Ryan wondered how her daughters managed to cause at least ten girls' worth of confusion. What was it about the triplets that made them seem like three blonde hurricanes? She looked at the girls scurrying round the kitchen in a panic and laughed. At least she got more than three times the fun as well!

“Your shoe's there, Becky, under the table, look.”

“I definitely didn't leave it there – I wish you'd play football with your
own
shoes, Katie. It's always mine that end up kicked into stupid places.”

“I'm
wearing
my shoes, silly. You shouldn't leave them lying around – it's too tempting. Where is that pencil case, I know I had it…”

Katie rummaged around on the kitchen table, rootling through Mrs Ryan's newspaper, and threatening to disturb the large pile of her mother's filing that was towering in the middle of the big pine table.

“Oh, Katie, I was reading that! And please don't knock that pile over, I'd just sorted it – oh, well,” Mrs Ryan sighed. “Look – your pencil case is here, in your bag where you put it last night. Honestly, you three, I think you all need glasses. Annabel, what did you say you'd lost?”

“My PE kit, but I haven't, Orlando's sitting on it. Get off, you great lump!”

Annabel tugged at her purple PE bag, trying to dislodge the fat ginger cat who'd decided that her tracksuit and trainers were definitely comfier than his expensive cat basket. Orlando yawned, and stretched, and then shook out his fearsomely clawed paws as slowly as he could. He gave Annabel a look of total contempt and strolled over to Becky to see if he could get a second breakfast out of her.

“Come here, Orlando,” said Becky, picking him up and rubbing her face against his ears, starting a rumbling purr from somewhere deep inside him. “Ignore that awful Annabel, she doesn't love you at all, does she?”

“Huh. When that cat apologizes for being sick on my best T-shirt, then I might just decide to like him again. But I'm still waiting. Fleabag!” Annabel hissed, mock-furiously.

Orlando hissed back, and then turned his “I'm starving” face on Becky, and gave a piteous little mew.

“Uh-uh,” said Becky. “I'm not falling for it today, puss. I know
I've fed you. It's your own fault if you ate the whole bowl in ten seconds flat.” She tapped his nose with one finger firmly. “No more food!”

Orlando wriggled crossly till Becky put him down, and then stalked off to sulk in next door's garden. Maybe today would be the day that all his hours of watching their bird table finally paid off.

“Sit down and eat your breakfast, you three. You need to have plenty to keep you going. I should think you'll be running about all over the place,” said Mum, sipping her coffee.

“I'm really glad that we went to the Open Evening,” said Katie. “At least we know where we're going. I think I do, anyway.”

“Well, I can't remember anything,” said Annabel. “Except that all the corridors had paint the colour of sick.”

“Uurrgh! Bel, that's disgusting. I was going to have some muesli and now you've really put me off.” Becky pushed her bowl away, shuddering. Her stomach wasn't happy anyway, as all her nervousness about the new school seemed to be having a party in there, but now she felt even worse.

“I don't know how you can eat that stuff, anyway. It looks
exactly
like the mix you give the guinea pigs. It's probably just the same thing in a different packet.”

“Except I think the guinea-pig food costs more,” put in Mum. “Your zoo in the shed is eating us out of house and home, Becky.”

Becky grinned. She knew Mum didn't mean it. She loved having all the animals around. It wasn't just Orlando and the guinea pigs – there was Pixie, the little black cat who'd turned up in the garden one morning two years ago, and stayed, and every so often a bird that Becky had rescued, generally from Pixie, who was a ruthless hunter. Becky thought it might be because Pixie had lived as a stray – she wasn't used to two delicious bowls of Whiskas a day, and she liked her food on the move.

“How about some toast instead?” Mum offered.

“OK. I'll put some on – anyone else?” said Becky, jumping up. Perhaps a piece of toast would help her feel less weird.

Annabel looked longingly at the loaf that Becky was waving at her in a tempting fashion. “Nope,” she said finally. “Can't manage it.”

“I'm not surprised. You practically inhaled that cereal,” said Katie. “I'll have some, please, Becky. Can you pass the peanut butter, too?”

Mrs Ryan started to assemble three packed lunches from the fridge. “So you think you know where your classroom is, Katie?” she said.

“Yes, I think so. And the hall. And I definitely know how to get to the playing fields. They looked excellent. Loads more space than our old school. I can't wait.”

Annabel looked at her sister sadly. “Mad. Probably got hit on the head by a football – a tragic case.”

“Huh. Well, at least I've got some clue where I'm going. Can you remember anything? Oh no, course not – there's no clothes shops at school. And Becky'll only know where there's a bird's nest in the playground. It'll be me looking after the two of you,
as usual
.”

Katie was quite right. She was much the most organized of the triplets, and she did tend to lead the other two around. The triplets might look identical, but their characters were totally different. Katie, confident and a bit bossy, Annabel, a head-in-the-clouds, happy-go-lucky show-off, and Becky, the shyest and most thoughtful of the three.

And of course
,
thought Mrs Ryan, as she surveyed the fridge,
they
would
all like different food
. Had she got it all in the right boxes? One purple and silver lunchbox with cheese sandwiches, one Manchester United lunchbox with ham, and one blue box with a kitten on, with cheese
and
ham. At least they all liked granary bread – this week, anyway!

Mrs Ryan finished her coffee, then noticed the time and panicked. “You'd better have one last check that you've got everything, girls, and then put your jumpers on. It's nearly quarter-past eight.”

Becky and Katie licked toast crumbs off their fingers and went to put their plates in the sink.

“Are you working at home today, Mum?” asked Annabel, running her spoon round her cereal bowl for the last few drops of milk. Mrs Ryan worked as a translator, translating books in French and German into English, and the other way round. Most days she worked at home, but about once a week she went into an office. It was a good system, as it meant she was able to fit in work and looking after the triplets.

“Yes, I'll be here all day. I'm in the office for a meeting on Thursday. I've got a lot to do this week.”

“Excellent. Does that mean we get to cook dinner?” asked Annabel. She loved to cook – especially cakes that she could decorate afterwards – and then eat! The others loved to cook, too, but it generally ended up with Becky doing the washing up, after Katie had fought with Annabel to try and make her clean up her own mess.

“Mmm, I could certainly do with some help. Of course, I'll have to fit in the shopping first. Any requests?”

“Fish fingers. Can we have them for tonight's tea?” asked Katie.

“We're nearly out of crisps, too. And can we have some more of those minty biscuits?” added Annabel.

“You're such a junk-food freak,” said Becky. “Don't forget the cat food this time, Mum.”

“Hang on, hang on, I need to write this down. Biscuits, yes,” muttered Mrs Ryan, grabbing a pad from by the kitchen phone. “Cat food…”

“Come
on
,
Mum, if you're sure you really want to come.” Katie had her arms folded, and was looking impatient.

“Of course I'm coming with you on your first morning! Get your things together, girls, we'd better be off. Manor Hill is a bit further away than your old school.”

“I'm glad we can still walk though,” said Katie, closing the front gate behind her, and patting Pixie, who'd managed to squash herself on to the gatepost. “Watch it, Pixie – move one paw a centimetre and you'll be in a real state. I don't know how
she can sit there like that – it can't be comfy.”

“I think she's just proving she can!” giggled Becky, as they all headed up the road towards their new school.