Chapter Seven
June 2025
Finally, Caz felt like herself again. Standing in front of the mirror, she adjusted the jacket of her suit and the collar on her shirt.
“I don’t know why you haven’t been snapped up by a hot lesbian,” Grace said from over her shoulder. Once more, they watched each other through the glass. “I mean, you’re literally everything a girl would want: Kind and loyal, funny…” She winked. “Sometimes.”
“Hey, I am funny all the time.”
“Maybe that’s the problem—your jokes put them off,” Grace laughed, “whereas, I’ve known you for so long, they’re quite endearing now.”
“Cheek of it.” Caz smiled at her.
The air grew still as they continued to stare at one another, a comfortable silence between them. There were moments during their friendship when Caz did wonder if they’d be able to cross that line. It was the subtle stuff, nothing too loud, just a little echo of something she could never quite label, but it was there. She was sure she hadn’t imagined it.
She’d always ignored it, pushed it away, and not allowed her curiosity to ruin their friendship. But every now and then, Grace would say something. It wasn’t so much what she said, but the way she said it, and it would pique a question: Did Grace have the same curiosity?
“Right, enough faffing, we have a party to attend.” Grace grinned and headed for the door. She stopped and looked back. “Come on, we’ve already given them enough time to imagine what we’ve been up to.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
Grace stopped and frowned. “What?”
“I mean…people…people like your mum and dad, imagining what we’ve been up to…it’s a tad creepy, isn’t it?”
The frown turned into a grimace. “Well, when you put it like that.”
Caz laughed. “I need a drink to wash that thought away.”
“You’ve already had two beers and a scotch and Coke.”
“Ooh…married for all of…” she checked her watch, “five hours, and she’s counting my drinks already.”
Grace hit her playfully. “Dead right, I am. You snore when you’re drunk.”
“I do not,” Caz said in mock offence as she yanked the door open. “How dare you suggest such a thing.”
“I’ll record you ton—”
“Alright, lovebirds, what you been up to, eh?” It was one of Grace’s cousins, slightly worse for wear, so it was clear what he’d been doing.
Grace smiled at him, then very demurely said, “Just watching TV, Ken.”
He laughed nervously but said nothing more when Caz raised her brows at him.
“Don’t be mean,” Grace said, tugging her hand.
“What? I said nothing.”
Grace pulled her close. “You didn’t have to. You know how easily you intimidate people.”
Caz grinned.
“Only when you’re the reason,” Dani said, sneaking up and poking her head between them. “She’s not interested otherwise.”
“Oh, really, it’s just my honour she defends?” Grace went along with the gentle ribbing. “I didn’t know that. I thought she was grouchy with everyone.”
“Nah, only those daring to give you any—”
“I am not intimidating, they are intimidated. There is a difference,” Caz said, just a little defensively.
Grace flung her arms around her and said, “I’m not complaining.”
“See, grouchy?” Dani chuckled.
“Why are you here?” Caz asked her friend. “This isn’t your floor.”
“I was just nosing around, seeing how the other half live.” Dani winked. “Posh init?”
Caz ignored her, and Grace smiled. It was posh, that was true.
“Well, I’m going to get a drink while you two work out which one’s getting the grouchy version of me next.” Caz poked out her tongue and turned away.
Dani laughed. “That’ll be me, then.”
“Make mine a double,” Grace called after her.
They stood together, Caz’s two closest friends, and watched as she walked towards the bar.
“It was a lovely service,” Dani said. “You looked beautiful, by the way.”
“Thanks. I don’t remember much. It was all just a blur of focusing on not falling over and saying the right lines.” Grace chuckled. “It’s all so serious.”
“Worth it though, right? You two look so happy, it makes me wonder if I should settle down.”
Grace smiled, her line of sight still on Caz. Someone had stopped her and she was laughing at whatever they said. Those candid moments, when Grace saw sides of Caz she’d never really paid much attention to before, always made her feel...home?
“Honestly, it might be the most sensible thing I’ve ever done,” Grace admitted. “Would you excuse me? I just need to powder my nose, as they say in the movies.” Because she needed a moment, away from it all, and not watching her wife.
They’d cut the cake, eaten more buffet food than anyone possibly should, and danced their socks off, all the while sinking glasses of alcoholic beverages and telling everyone that asked just how happy they were, and not once did they slip up.
But now, at ten to midnight, Caz slurred, “Think we should go up?”
“Yes.” Grace sagged against her. “I am so tired.”
“Come on then.” Caz took her hand and tugged, almost knocking someone over as she staggered. “Oops, sorry,” she laughed, “taking my wife to bed.”
A chorus of rowdy responses followed, and Grace even had the decency to blush, but she didn’t stop to respond, following Caz up the stairs again, just like they’d done a few hours ago.
At the door to their room, Caz fell against it and fumbled in her pockets for the card.
“Can’t find it,” she said.
Grace rolled her eyes. “It was in your pocket.”
“I know but…can’t…find…”
Slapping her hands away, Grace moved in, delving the fingers of her right hand into Caz’s pocket, holding her upright with the other hand.
“Will you stand still?” Grace giggled.
“You’re tickling.” Caz wriggled. Eventually, Grace pulled the card free and shoved it into the lock. The tiny click unlocked the door and she pulled the handle, the door opening and Caz almost toppling into the room.
“Am so drunk.” Caz chuckled. She staggered towards the bed and landed on it, face down. “Sleep here.”
“Oh no you don’t,” Grace said, moving to shut the door and then cross to where Caz lay with her feet hanging off the bed by a foot. “Not quite how I planned my wedding night all those years ago, but…” She sighed and grabbed the first of Caz’s shoes. Yanking it free, she dropped it to the ground and pulled off the other one.
“Come and cuddle,” Caz said, though her face was mushed against the bedding and it sounded a lot more like, “Um and uddle.”
“You need to get undressed and into pyjamas.”
When Caz rolled over, Grace thought she might be getting somewhere, but no, Caz just lay there until the snoring began.
“Caroline Iris Madden, you wake up right now and get undressed,” Grace said sternly, hands on hips.
Caz jumped up. “Huh, what?”
Laughing, Grace repeated what she’d said, minus the full name part, but it did make her giggle again.
“Alright, I’m getting—” Her arms came up and the jacket was shrugged half off. One arm free, she started unbuttoning her shirt haphazardly.
“Dear God, this is tragic,” Grace said, finally swooping in to slap Caz’s hands away again and finish the job.
Caz grinned at her. “You’re my wife.”
“I know and am already reconsidering it.” Grace laughed as the last button came undone and she pushed the jacket and shirt all free.
“If you wanted…to get me naked, you only had…to ask, not…marry me.” Caz laughed. Holding her left hand up to admire the plain gold band, she fell back with the support gone.
Grace shook her head. “You’re going to have a big headache in the morning.” Nimble fingers made light work of Caz’s belt and trouser button, yanking the pants free. When she was in nothing but her underwear and socks, Grace gave up on the idea of getting her into pyjamas. “Okay, into bed.”
“Was I really?” Caz asked, scooting under the covers and flopping down onto the pillow.
“Really what?” Grace asked, making her way around the bed and stripping out of her own clothes.
When no answer came, she guessed Caz was asleep again and thought nothing more of it until she slid under the duvet and Caz said quietly, “The best kiss…er you…eve…r had?”
Grace closed her eyes and remembered back to that night. There’d been too much alcohol, again, when she’d stumbled into the dark room looking for the loo and found herself in Caz’s arms with no time to speak before lips were on hers and a tongue pushed into her mouth and… ”Yeah,” she admitted, just before the loud snore reverberated around the room.