Second Thoughts (3 page)

Sara looked past Serena towards the woman who was holding onto the bar to prop herself up, then glanced up at Serena. Was this her future? Bar-hopping and making out with women she barely knew? The mere thought of it made her feel bereft and desolate.

There was only one thing for her to do.

She downed the rest of her JD as she unsteadily rose to her feet.

“You coming with us?” Serena asked excitedly.

Sara put her empty glass on the table then reached down and grabbed her bag. “Nope, I’m going to England.”

Serena’s forehead creased with deep lines. “What?”

A smile lifted the corner of Sara’s lips. “You heard me. I’m going home. If I can catch a last minute flight I should be able to make it in time.”

“Are you crazy? What about your experiment?”

Sara didn’t respond. Could she seriously just walk away from her job right in the middle of an experiment? What if she got all the way to London and Melissa wanted nothing to do with her, then what? Come back to the States with her tail between her legs like the last time? The alcohol in her system was enticing her to do things that on a normal day she would brush off and move on. But for now, all she could think about was seeing Melissa again and nothing else mattered. She couldn’t let Melissa get married without letting her know how she still felt about her, could she? As she asked herself the question, her heart yelled out the answer – No she couldn’t. Sara decided to follow her heart’s instructions – all the way to England.

Eli looked down at the large white cardboard box that sat on her dining table. In one swift movement she ran the tip of a kitchen knife along the centre of the parcel tape, causing the flaps of the box to flip open. A smile grew on her face as she withdrew some of the contents one at a time. Bride-to-be sashes, a pink flashing L-plate, a miniature bride-to-be hat as well an assortment of party games.

Satisfied all the items were present for the night’s do, she absent-mindedly twisted a strand of ash brown hair around her finger and stared down at the box. It wasn’t every day your little sister got married and she was pulling out all the stops to make sure Melissa had the best hen party ever. After all, she was only going to be married once – she hoped so anyway.

Eli’s hand fell from her hair as her eyes were drawn to a photograph taken at Melissa’s graduation four years earlier. Melissa looked so much like their mother – the quick easy smile, her eyes, the colour of river mist, the glossy blonde gelded hair that fanned her elfin features. Pangs of regret tore at her heart knowing that it had taken the loss of their parents to bring them a little closer together.

A movement behind her caused her to let out a hysterical shriek. She didn’t know why she was so jumpy, given there was only one other person living in the house the sisters had inherited from their parents – her partner Scott. Melissa had refused to move back into the property after their parent’s death, the memories were too raw for her. Whilst Eli understood her sentiments, she would have loved nothing more than to have lived with her sister, even if it had only been for a little while.

“Sorry to scare you, gorgeous. You looked so deep in thought I didn’t want to disturb you.” Scott encircled her small waist with his thick hairy arms.

“It’s okay.” She drew a deep breath. “I was just thinking about my parents missing the wedding. My dad would have been so proud walking Melissa down the aisle.”

Scott looked forlorn; the spotlights above gleaming off his slightly wrinkled face. For a man of sixty he still looked good for his age. Although his thick hair was mostly grey, Eli knew he was grateful it was all his own. Most of his friends were sporting a bald patch by now.

“I know it won’t be the same,” he said quietly. “But I’ll be just as proud to do the job.”

“I’m sorry, Scott. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

He squeezed her gently. “Shhh. I know you didn’t. The main thing is someone who loves Melissa very much is going to be there on her big day.”

“Yes, you’re right. And I’m sure she’s going to be eternally grateful you offered to stand in to fill the void.” She wrapped her arms around his.

Scott snuggled his face in the crook of her neck. “You’ve got to stop handling Melissa as if she’s as delicate as a piece of bone china. She’s a strong woman, give her some credit.”

Eli turned around in his arms, staring up at him momentarily. “You always seem to sum Melissa up to a T.”

Scott stood tall and dragged his hand through his hair. “I guess I’m just observant.”

“And I think I’ve picked up my mum’s habit of worrying about nothing,” she said earnestly.

Eli remembered Melissa as a quiet child who always kept matters close to her heart, worrying their mother to no end. Her mother thought having Melissa at the age of thirty-five, was a mistake, mainly because she wouldn’t grow up with a sibling nearer her own age. She had confided in Eli that she worried the reserved and insulate child would never let anyone get close to her in adulthood and for this reason, she would have difficulties with personal relationships.

Thankfully that hadn’t happened. Melissa had met Bettina. Wonderful, kind, loving Bettina who had persisted along a rocky unstable road in order to win Melissa’s heart. Many had started with the first few steps but had fallen to the wayside when they saw how far they had to go. In the end, fate had played its part and everything was how it should be.

“Is everything ready for tonight?” he asked jerking his head towards the table.

“Yep, it’s all sorted.” She put her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. “Everything is going exactly to plan,” she said with a satisfied smile.

Bettina glanced at the coffee table one more time before she would allow herself to sit down. The table was laden with wine, crisps, dips, and chocolate truffles – all the things she needed for her night in whilst Melissa hit the town for her hen do.
Thank god it’s only one night.
She shuddered at the thought of Melissa’s original plan. A long weekend with Faye and a group of old university friends in Lesbos. Not that she didn’t trust Melissa; it was Faye she was wary of. She was too, what was the word,
flighty
and in Bettina’s opinion that was something she could do without. She liked solid people who knew where they were going in life and had purpose. Since Melissa had introduced them, Faye had moved home four times and had been through seven different jobs. Currently she was unemployed and poncing off her long suffering partner Chrissy. Bettina felt sorry for the woman. She couldn’t imagine what a successful, professional person like Chrissy saw in Faye.

Bettina didn’t like anything that threatened to rock her stable lifestyle and if she didn’t rein Melissa in, it wouldn’t be long before she picked up some of Faye’s habits.

Melissa entered the living room wearing tight-fitted black jeans and an off the shoulder black silk top. Bettina whistled as she eyed her from head to toe. Melissa was one sexy woman even if her opinion was biased. Though she knew there were younger, prettier women out on the scene who would have snapped Melissa up in a second, she didn’t feel insecure. She was safe in the knowledge that Melissa loved her and would never cheat on her. That’s why she’d proposed. She wasn’t getting any younger and it seemed like her biological clock was ticking like Big Ben.

“I’m ready. How do I look?” Melissa asked, twirling round on the spot.

Bettina reached out and pulled her close, wrapping her arms around her bum. “Absolutely gorgeous as always.”

“Why thank you. You sure know how to make a girl feel good.” Melissa giggled and leaned down to kiss Bettina on the lips, leaving a red sticky residue behind. “Hopefully I won’t be back too late.”

Bettina’s mood soured and she withdrew her arms. “If Faye has anything to do with it, I won’t see you until the early hours of the morning. It’s not going to look too good if you turn up to see Scott with a hangover and stinking of booze.”

Melissa chuckled. “I’m only picking up some menus. I’ll be in and out in minutes. Besides, I’m not planning on drinking that much tonight.”

She would have liked nothing more than to totally forbid Melissa seeing Faye again but she knew that would only backfire. Melissa was like a loyal dog to those she valued. Bettina hoped that once the baby arrived their friendship would gradually fade to nothing and Melissa would start mixing with some more level-headed people. She pulled a face. “Like I haven’t heard that one a million times before.”

Melissa inclined her head. “Maybe I should have had a hen night like the one you had. A nice meal with friends and a clear head the next day.”

Bettina nodded. “I’m not going to say I told you so, but you were the one who let Faye talk you into all of this.”

“Well you knew what the alternative was.”

“It doesn’t matter, because I would never have allowed it.”

“I think Faye knew that, otherwise she would have enticed Eli into booking a package deal weeks ago.” Melissa grabbed her bag off the sofa and peeked inside.

Bettina’s phone rang. Picking it up, she groaned when she recognised the caller. “It’s the DJ. How much do you want to bet he’s cancelling us?”

“He might not be.”

Bettina answered the phone, within seconds their conversation was over and she disconnected the call. “Just like I said. Cancelled. Some bullshit about his wife having to go abroad to see a sick relative. I bet he got a better gig. Now I’m going to have to spend the whole evening trying to replace him.”

“Not everyone lies, Bettina. He might be telling the truth.”

She dismissed Melissa’s comment with the wave of her hand. “I beg to differ.” She should have known better than to think she could have relied on the cocky prick who thought he was the best thing since sliced bread. When she’d seen his spiky hair and sleeved tattoos she should have sent him packing there and then, but he talked a good talk and she had been taken in by him. Next time she was going to trust her instincts. In her role as a head hunter, her gut instinct on first impressions was worth its weight in gold. She couldn’t help but use the same tool to judge everyone she came into contact with.

Melissa shrugged. “I’d better go; I don’t want to be late for my own party. I’ll see you later.” She blew her a kiss and headed out, leaving a trail of sweet perfume behind.

Bettina’s eyes followed her as she disappeared behind the door. She gave a slight shake of her head and smiled at the thought of the woman she had fallen in love with the second she’d laid eyes on her. The path towards a romantic relationship with Melissa had been a difficult one to navigate. Of course, Bettina hadn’t expected it to be easy. The hard blows life had dealt the young woman in such a short space of time would be trying enough for the toughest of people let alone a twenty-one year old. She had taken in a lost child and watched proudly as she grew into the woman she was today.

That Melissa had embraced her idea about having a baby together gave her hope that the past was well and truly under the bridge and they could now move on to the next phase of their lives.

At thirty-eight, Bettina was at an age when many people considered her too
old
to be getting married and starting a family. To her it was all
bah humbug
. What was the point of settling down before you met the right person? Had she stayed with her ex-partner all those years ago, she would have missed out on meeting Melissa and that in itself would have been a tragedy.

She poured herself a large glass of wine and slouched back against the sofa, a wry smile on her face. Sometimes you had to take fate into your own hands – that was the only way to get what you wanted. Bettina knew that from first-hand experience, because that’s exactly what she had done all those years ago.

By early evening, the venue Eli had chosen for the hen do was alive and kicking with loud music from the eighties and high-pitched female chatter.

“Down the hatch!” Faye shouted out, encouraging the group of women crowded around a large table to down the shots they held in their hands.

“Down the hatch,” the women called back, raising their small glasses in the air before knocking them back.

Melissa gritted her teeth as the liquid slid down her throat and warmed her chest. She didn’t know why she drank shots, even when she knew they made her sick. But she couldn’t sit there drinking Coke all night. Faye would never let her live it down. She put the glass down before standing. “Hey, you guys,” she said, addressing the twenty friends from secondary school and university Faye had managed to gather for the party. “Thank you so much for coming tonight. I really am grateful you made the effort. It’s great to see you all again.”

It was weird that only four years ago, she had seen most of the women on a daily basis. Though they’d all made promises to stay in touch with monthly gatherings, nothing ever materialised. The group had drifted apart and moved on with their lives. But she was happy that they had all made the effort for a day that meant so much to her.

Justine laughed. “Let’s see if you’re still thanking us by the end of the night.”

“I’m getting a little worried now.” Melissa cast her eyes around the table with a nervous smile. Though the party had been arranged by Eli and Faye, she still felt some apprehension. She knew Eli was a soft touch and Faye could talk her into anything.

“Drink up,” Maddie, a petite blonde, shouted beside her. “You can tell Bettina your naughty antics were all down to the drink.”

The women roared with drunken laughter.

Melissa picked up another shot and downed it. As the liquid burned the back of her throat, she dropped back into her seat and inwardly groaned as she caught sight of a waitress in a black tuxedo with slick black hair, filling up their tray with more drinks at the bar.

“You having a good time?” Eli slurred in the seat beside her.

They’d only been there an hour and already Eli looked worse for wear. She scanned the table for a jug of water and poured a glass for Eli. “Yes, brilliant. Thank you so much for helping to organise all of this.”