When she and Ted walked into the formal living room of Ted’s parents’ house, she felt a familiar wave of anxiety hit. As though she had to remember to keep her knees together when she sat and to be careful of what she said. Then, she realized that she no longer had to play the part of the perfect girlfriend/fiancée. In fact, she never had.
She’d dressed with care, choosing a beige skirt that covered her knees and a blouse and cardigan. There was no point setting their backs up by wearing jeans.
She could tell Ted was nervous and had no idea how to help him.
Ted’s parents welcomed them and then led them into the living room.
When they walked in, the first thing she saw was her wedding dress. It hung on a dress form, looking like a ghost. She was taken back to that awful day in Evangeline’s chic showroom, when the seamstress had cursed the dress. Now it was here, in human shape, like something out of a horror movie.
Her mother was there before her, in a blue Chanel suit and her pearls. “The dress was only delivered this morning, with the final alterations. Isn’t that the most perfect timing?”
No, she thought. It was the worst possible timing. Ted’s parents headed to a sofa and sat stiffly, side by side. She chose a chair near her mother and Ted remained standing.
“We’re so happy you’re back,” her mother said. “Nothing’s been cancelled. No one will ever know about your little upset. It was pre-wedding jitters.” But she wasn’t even talking to Kate. She was addressing her remarks to Ted’s parents. She received a nervous smile from his mother and no reaction at all from his father.
“Well, Ted? What do you have to say for yourself?”
She knew it took all of Ted’s courage to face his father. Maybe he wasn’t a great man, or even a particularly good one, but she was fond of Ted. She rose and went to stand by his side, offering him her support.
He took a deep breath and she knew in that instant that he’d prepared a speech. “Mom, Dad, Mrs. Winton-Jones,” he began. “Kate and I had a long talk yesterday. While we deeply care for and respect each other, we’ve decided we aren’t suited.”
Her mother made an inarticulate sound.
“I’m sorry. We’re not getting married.”
There was thunderous silence for a moment and then they all spoke at once.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“But we’ve sent out the invitations. Gifts have begun arriving.”
“The dress. What about that beautiful dress? And Evangeline is coming to the wedding!”
“I’m sorry,” Kate said, speaking for the first time. “I know you’ve all put a great deal of effort into this wedding, but we’re not getting married.”
Ted’s father glared at her. “Do you want an apology young lady? Is that what you want?”
“No. I—“
He spoke over her. “Fine. I apologize. It showed poor judgment to hire someone to test your fidelity. I deeply regret any inconvenience. Now let’s move on.”
“Oh, no, please,” she was so flustered receiving an apology from a man who always spoke and acted like he was infallible that she wished she were a million miles away. Preferably on a different planet. She glanced helplessly at Ted but he looked as startled as she felt.
Every ounce of training and experience she had as a good girl rose up, trying to force her to give in, to comply, as she'd always done.
Her gaze rose and there was that dress. It was a beautiful dress: a stunning, stylish, gown. But it wasn't her dress. She felt that beautiful wedding gown almost like another person in the room. A stylish piece of clothing with no one in it, a little like a ghostly reminder of what could have been, of what would be if she didn't stand up for herself finally, once and for all.
She pulled in a breath, knowing that what she was about to say would change her future forever. Even though she'd already made her decision, saying it out loud to these very powerful people in her life was going to take all her courage.
"I'm sorry. This is a personal decision. Yes, you hiring a private investigator to prove that I would be faithful to Ted really upset me. But that's not the reason. Ted and I simply don't love each other and I thank you for helping us realize that." She glanced at Ted, wishing he had the courage to tell his folks that he was, in fact, in love with another woman. He didn't. And, she realized that was his battle to fight, not hers.
An antique, and no doubt priceless, clock chimed somewhere. Suddenly, Ted's father rose to his full height, which was impressive. He glared at Kate. "I never thought you were good enough for my son. You have cost this family a great deal of time and money and I, for one, will be happy to see the back of you."
He began to stride to the door. "No, Dad, wait,” Ted said, following him from the room.
His mother fluttered behind the two men. "Duncan, please don't be angry, think of your blood pressure. Edward, don’t aggravate your father."
As Millicent made to follow her men out of the living room, she glanced back. "Please see yourselves out," she said coldly.
"I think I need a minute," Kate said, sitting down on one of the blue silk chairs. She realized her legs were shaking.
Her mother rose and, holding a lacy handkerchief to the corner of her eye, said, "I never thought any daughter of mine would embarrass me like this."
Kate's mother always carried a lacy, meticulously ironed handkerchief with her. As much as Kate appreciated the environmentally friendly aspects of using a reusable handkerchief rather than disposable tissues, she knew that her mother did not use linen handkerchiefs to be green. She used them as weapons. The flutter of white linen and lace was, and always had been, a sign that Kate had once more let down her mother.
For once, she didn't jump to her feet to apologize. She kept her voice quiet, but she said, “It would have been nice, once, to have some support from my own mother.”
“I’m so upset, I can’t talk to you right now.” Her mother headed for the door. She hesitated before walking out of the room, Kate’s cue that this was her last chance to rush after her. But she didn’t. She let her mother leave.
The room was so quiet. Somewhere, a maid was vacuuming, and no doubt the three Carnarvons were huddled somewhere. She was alone with the wedding gown that she knew she would never wear. She rose and walked towards it. She traced the line of the seam where the dressmakers’ pins stabbed her at her last fitting. The blood spot was gone, of course, but she had the spooky feeling that even the dress had been trying to tell her not to go ahead with the wedding.
"I hope you find your bride," she said. She imagined someone as rich and chic is Evangeline herself floating down the aisle in this glorious concoction. She wondered, who would wear it?
A small silk bag with Evangeline's logo on it hung from the dressmaker’s dummy. Curious, she peeked inside and had to smile. Nestled like a pair of fat jellyfish were the gel pads that were meant to plump up her meager cleavage. She had never filled that dress properly anymore than she would have fit in Ted's world and Ted's life.
She heard someone come into the room. She turned and found Ashley, Ted’s cousin there. “Hi Kate. You’re back.”
“I am. Thanks for helping me out that night with the bike.” Which Ted had promised to return for her.
“No probs.” Ashley walked forward to stand in front of the dress. “Wow. Some dress.”
“Yes, it is. But I won’t be wearing it.”
Ashley didn’t look very surprised. “Wedding’s off, huh?”
“Yep.”
“Wow. That is going to cause some serious drama around here.” But she didn’t sound too upset. Perhaps she enjoyed the entertainment.
The bag containing the gel pads was in her hand. She went to hang them back up with the dress. Ashley said, “What’s in the bag?”
Kate passed the bag over and Ashley said, “Oh, I love these things. They take you up an extra bra size.”
“You want them?”
“Totally.” She glanced up and the light caught her diamond nose stud. ?
??Don’t you?”
“No. From now on, I’m being honest about every aspect of myself.”
“Not me.” And she began pushing the gel pads down the front of her top. She was wearing a tight white T-shirt and when she was done, she did look a bra size bigger.
“Thanks, Kate.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you around.”
Ashley glanced around. “I came to see Ted. I saw his car outside.”
“I think he’s talking to his parents. Everyone’s pretty uptight right now. You might want to come back later.”
“Good plan.”
She hoped very much that Ted found the courage to stand up for the woman that she thought he really did love. But she couldn't think about Ted and his love right now. She was more concerned with her own future—and her own love.
Chapter Seventeen