Commitment: The Beauty in Between (A Beautiful Series Novella) (9 page)

Christmas has come and gone and we’re now back at work,
leading up to the New Year. While we did exchange gifts at Christmas, nothing
compared to the gift Trina had already given me – she wants to have a baby.

I think I have this permanent grin attached to my face
lately, as everything is falling into place.

And the wedding is soon. The wedding is really soon.

“Oh my goodness. What a day!” I sigh as I drop my bag on the
dining room chair and kick my heels off. I had to work overtime so it’s almost
8pm, but it’s still light and still hot, so I head straight for the air
conditioner in the lounge room, and stand under its gust while I shake my
sleeveless blouse to circulate the air.

David is sitting on the couch, his glasses perched on the
end of his nose and a book on his lap as he watches me. His lips are curved up
as though he’s amused and I pause my movement and turn to face him.

“What are you grinning about?”

“Nothing. I just like watching you.”

“Is that so?” I ask as I move towards him. He’s shirtless
and wearing only pair of short khaki cargo pants, his bare foot hangs over the
side of the couch’s arm. Even though it’s hot outside, it’s cool in here, so I
slide myself onto his lap and kiss him hello.

“Mmm. So tell me. What happened at work?”

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe the amount of people we’ve had
starting divorce proceedings this week. It’s like they woke up Christmas
morning and decided they couldn’t stand each other anymore.” I shake my head,
thinking about it.

“Since you’re surrounded by divorce and family drama all the
time, does it ever make you worry that we won’t make it?” he asks after a
moment of thought.

“No David. Never. My life is incomplete without you in it.”

I lean closer and kiss him to show him I mean it. He chuckles
happily, then taps his hand twice on my thigh and asks me to hop up. “You
hungry?”

“Famished,” I reply, standing up and then following him into
the kitchen where he pulls a plate of cold bbq chicken out of the fridge and a
bowl of salad.

I grab the dressing and two bottles of apple cider, then
follow him to the table where the plates and cutlery are waiting for us.

“So I have a little bit of bad news,” he starts as he places
chicken on both of our plates. I pause spooning out the salad and look at him
with my brows risen in question. “I have to go down to Melbourne for a couple
of days for work. One of the companies we’re representing has offices down
there and I’m part of the team that has to go and see them.”

“Oh ok, that’s fine. I’ll miss you, but that’s not really
bad news – you’ve gone away before.”

“Yes, but this will be in a couple of days. I won’t be back
in time for New Year’s. They can’t get flights for us until the next day.”

“What? Oh that really sucks. What about that harbour cruise
mum got all of us for Christmas? We’re going to miss out now.”

“No, don’t be silly. You go with your family. I’ll just make
sure I’m on the phone with you when the clock strikes midnight.”

I drop of piece of cucumber in my mouth and lay my head on
his shoulder. “I don’t want to go without you.”

“Yeah but Trina, your mum paid for the tickets and it’s not
fair on her if we waste both of them. Go. You’ll have fun. Just no dancing with
strange men. You’re mine ok?”

I laugh and sit up again. “Alright I’ll go and I won’t
dance. I’ll just sit and Snapchat with you all night.

He raises his eyebrows. “That could be a very interesting
night. I remember the last time you Snapchatted with me while I was away. They weren’t
the kind of photos you can send from a harbour cruise filled with people.”

I tilt my head and shrug one shoulder. “I have my ways.”

It’s New Year’s Eve. I’m sitting in a hotel room on my own.
I’ve just had breakfast and given Trina a call to say good morning. She only
has a half day at work today, so she’s going out to her mum’s as soon as she’s
finished. They’ll all head into the city to get on the boat together.

I flick my way through the channels on the tv in front of
me, although nothing catches my interest. I wish I was with Trina right now. I
don’t like spending time away from her.

I haven’t had to catch the train out to Penrith station for
such a long time. Normally David and I drive out on the weekends when we visit.

And it’s hot. It’s ridiculously hot. I hate the train in the
heat. Even though they’re air conditioned, the seats prickle me on the backs of
my legs and no matter how I adjust my skirt, it doesn’t seem to stop.

Dad picks me up from the station in his old beat up ute. The
white paint is peeling off in sections, but it still runs well so he refuses to
get rid of it.

“How was the train ride princess?” he asks as I climb in the
cab.

“It was fine,” I laugh. “So you’re calling me princess now
too?”

“Yeah, well – it’s catchy and you’re my daughter, so of
course you’re my princess.” He curls his mouth up on one side and starts to
drive.

My father isn’t a man of many words, but he’s unusually
quiet as we drive along Castlereagh Rd, back towards my childhood home.

“Is everything ok dad?”

“Oh…yeah. I’m just a bit nervous of this cruise thing. You
know I don’t like crowds, plus it’s hot and I’ll have to wear a suit.”

“It’ll be fun dad. You’ll see. Besides, it’ll be cool on the
water.”

When we arrive home, it’s almost 4pm. Mum and Jenny are in
the family room with another woman getting their hair done.

“What’s this?” I ask.

“Oh this is Jenny’s friend Liz. She’s doing our hair for the
cruise. It’s formal you know.” My mum states.

“Yes I know. I have a formal cocktail dress – see?” I tell
them holding up the garment bag with my emerald green knee length flowing
chiffon dress with a band of beading just below the bodice. “I even have
ridiculously high heels to wear.”

“That dress is beautiful Katrina. You’re going to look
gorgeous in it.” Jenny says. “Do you want your hair done too? Liz – can you fit
in one more?”

“Oh I don’t want to be any trouble,” I say to Liz who smiles
and tells me that it’s no trouble.

“It won’t take long. I’m just about finished your mum so I
can do yours in about ten minutes.”

“Ok, well I’ll have a quick shower so I don’t stink of sweat
all night,” I inform them, heading to the bathroom and grabbing a towel from
the linen press.

My hair isn’t very long, so Liz pins curls around the base
of my head so it looks like my hair is longer. It looks like a low thick bun. She
pulls the hair back softly from my face, but still enough of it falls forward
so my scars are covered.

“That looks really nice. Thank you Liz,” I say as she shows
me all the views of it between two mirrors.

“You’re very welcome.” She tidies up the tools of her trade
and wishes us all a good night, although I can’t help but wish David was
coming.

I’ve sent him a bunch of Snapchat messages today but the app
tells me when he’s seen them, and they’re all unopened. I take a selfie of my
hair and curl my tongue up so it’s touching my top teeth in one of those silly
seductive poses girls like to take of themselves. I know that
if
David
looks at it, he’ll have a good laugh.

Once we’re ready, we all pile into Tom’s car and head to
what I expected to be the train station but he keeps driving through.

“We’re driving into the city? On New Year’s Eve? Are you
crazy?” I ask him.

“Relax sis,” he says. “Me and Jenny have a hotel room for
the night, so we’re going to park there and walk to boat.

“In our formal wear?”

“Yes, in our formal wear.”

“It’s really not that far. Plus there’ll be the whole boat
full of people dressed up. We won’t be the only ones,” Jenny tells me.

“True, I’m just wishing I wore lower heels now.”

By the time we get into the city and park the car, it’s
almost 7pm, which is when we’re supposed to board the boat. We all walk as
quickly as three women in heels can, and reach the small cruise boat that looks
beautifully decorated, even from where we stand on the wharf.

We walk up the ramp leading from the wharf onto the boat and
enter what appears to be a reception hall or dining room. I’m surprised when I
look around and see… no one.

“I thought we were running late? Where are all the people?”
I ask. It was that moment that the well-known notes of Bruno Mars’ song
Marry
You
starts to play. “What the hell?” I mutter, looking around the grandly
decorated dining room. My eyes land on the tall man standing at the doors
leading out to the deck at the bow of the boat. “David?! You’re not in
Melbourne? What…? Does this mean? Oh my god! Is it today? We’re getting married
today?!” I’m squealing and bouncing up as I watch him grin and nod. I rush over
to him and throw my arms around his neck, raining a shower of kisses over his
face out of my excitement.

“I can’t believe it, how did you do all of this? This is
amazing!” I gasp. It’s then that I notice that his eyes are closed. “What are
you doing? Open your eyes,” I laugh.

“I can’t see you before the wedding,” he smiles, keeping his
eyes firmly closed. “It’s bad luck.”

“David. Don’t go all traditional on me now. You chose the
dress. I don’t think that stuff matters anymore.”

“No, I didn’t choose the dress. Well, not technically
anyway. I chose the style and our mother’s decided on the final one.”

Noticing movement over his shoulder, I see his mother and
her partner standing and smiling, watching us excitedly. Her hands are clasped
in front of her like she’s praying and she has tears in her eyes. 

“Surprise!” she says to me when our eyes meet.

I move over to hug her and then rush around the room,
hugging everyone. I’m jumping like an excited school girl. I can’t believe this
is finally happening!

When I finish attacking everyone with my excitement I return
to David. “So what do we do now?”

“Now we get ready. You have one hour.”

I’m whisked away to a private room where my dress is hung up
and waiting. It’s white silk and has a heart shaped strapless bodice, which is
gathered around the bust and has a strip of gold beading, just below the breast
line. The waist gathers toward the right and swirls around the dress before
meeting on the left hip and falling into a full skirt, covered with evenly
spaced trails of beautiful gold flowers and vines. They fall where the skirt
curves, extending the length and down the mermaid train. It’s the most
exquisite thing I’ve ever seen.

“Do you like it?” my mother asks, looking slightly worried
as she watches me run my fingers over the detailing.

“No. It’s absolutely breathtaking. You chose well,” I tell
her turning to embrace her. “You both chose well,” I say to David’s mum over my
mother’s shoulder before I move over to her and hug her as well. “Thank you Helen.
Thank you mum. Thank you both so much. I don’t know how you all managed not to
talk about it, but I really had no idea. This is just amazing.” The excitement
suddenly starts to overwhelm me and I start to choke up.

“Oh don’t cry, you’ll ruin your makeup and we’ll have to
start again.” Helen says, dabbing at the tears that are forming in the corners
of my eyes.

“I’m just so happy. I can’t believe this is finally
happening.” I look upwards to stop my tears and wave my hands frantically at my
eyes.

“Alright, calm down. We’ll help you into your dress and then
I have to go and check on David.”

I have to step into the dress so my hair doesn’t get ruined,
so I hold onto my mother’s shoulders as she and Helen hold the dress open for
me. When it’s on and zipped up, I turn to admire it in the mirror. It’s fits
like a glove and is more than perfect. I look like a princess.

“I love it so much,” I gush, turning from side to side and
drinking it in. I swish the skirt, feeling a little silly but not caring one
little bit. I’m deliriously happy.

“Perhaps you’d like a champagne to calm you down a little,”
my mother suggests laughing at my antics.

“That would be wonderful,” I sing song, still spinning
around in my dress.

“Oh! Before I forget. Since you don’t have a maid of honour,
I thought I should cover all the superstitions for you,” my mother says,
fetching her handbag and reaching in to pull out a small velvet box.

When she hands it to me she explains. “This is your
something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”

Opening the box, I gasp at the beautiful antique looking
hair comb that’s contained inside. It’s silver, and is decorated with small
flowers. Each one has intricate petals and leaves that are dotted with sapphires
and emeralds for colouring.

“I got it at an antique store, so it’s old. And since I
bought it only a week ago, it’s still new. Unfortunately, I can only lend it to
you for today so it’s borrowed – but I’ll give it to you for your birthday,”
she says the last part behind her hand in a lower voice, like the wedding
police might call her out and say it doesn’t count. “And of course the
sapphires make it blue.”

“It’s beautiful mum. Can you help me?” I ask, removing it from
its box and holding it out.

“I thought it would look really pretty, just above your
curls.” She removes the comb from my hand and slides it in above the pinned
curls. I twist my head from side to side to see. She’s right – it does look really
pretty there.

“Thank you. This is perfect. Everything is perfect,” I tell
her. I think I may need to pinch myself.

“Is she ready? Is she ok?” I ask at lightning speed as my
mother enters the room I’ve been given to dress in. Her partner, Alex, has been
sitting with me and trying talk to keep me calm, but I’m so obscenely nervous
that I feel like I might need to take another shower.

“Just relax darling. She’s fine - she’s dressed and will be
ready soon. How are you doing?”

“I just… has she got the flowers?” I ask, now that it’s all
coming to a head, I’m petrified I’ve forgotten something or that something will
go wrong.

“I’m going to take them to her once I leave here.”

“It’s just that the timing has to be perfect mum, or this is
all going to blow up in my face.”

“I know. I know. It will be ok. Everyone knows the time.
We’re going to be ok.”

She smooths her hand over the side of my face and
straightens my silver and royal blue striped tie.

“You look gorgeous,” she says to me, kissing me lightly on
the cheek and then rubbing it with her thumb to remove the lipstick she shared
with me. “I’ll go and get everybody into their places.”

She leaves the room and I blow out some air so I can suck
more in. I’m so nervous I might need a paper bag soon.