3. Elle
“Come on Gisele,” I groaned at my little sister. “A girls only weekend is a great idea!”
“I agree chickee, but next weekend is a no go for me,” Gisele replied calmly, both annoying me and scaring me. Gisele was not known for her calmness in fact it was the exact opposite. I think her relationship with Jami was doing something to my sister. Something good.
Giving up on Gisele, I turned to Claudia, “What about you Claude, can you make next weekend?” I asked hopeful that at least Claudia was in for some fun without men being involved. How was it that both my sisters didn’t want to go to a big city for a weekend of shopping and some night life?
“I’m not sure if Josh has anything planned for us next weekend, I’ll have a chat with him and get back to you, chickee.” Claudia answered me without lifting her eyes from the invoices she was working on. All three of us had our own speciality skills when it came to the family business, Gisele dealt with the front counter work and ordering. Claudia oversaw invoices and incoming accounts, and I was the money person. Banking, salaries, and outgoing bills. Basically, I made sure we kept the lights burning and money in our pockets. Individually, Claudia and I also had our own personal businesses to tend to as well. Seeing as though Claude and I had other sources of income; our share of Grocery and Sundry was less than Gisele’s share.
She enjoyed the shop more than Claudia and me, even with all her blustering, Gisele had a knack for dealing with customers where I hated them. Receiving rent from the two buildings I owned in town was simpler for me. I was not a people person unless they belonged to my family. Immediate family, not ones like Jake’s parents and his siblings.
My divorce from Jake was well and truly on the way to becoming final. He sensibly didn’t fight the application, nor did he ask for anything. If he had of, I might have taken to him with a very sharp instrument. I had not laid eyes on my husband since he left Blessings and was reported ‘missing’ and I had no intention of changing that. My solicitor had everything under control, she kept me informed by email about the divorce proceedings and about the criminal trial concerning the break-in at my house. Everything else about Jake’s criminal offenses had nothing to do with me.
Thank God.
Groaning, I dropped my head to the shop counter, frustrated with my sisters. I understood that Gisele was still in the new relationship phase and Claude was busy trying to get herself knocked up but come on ladies. What was one weekend away from their men, three measly days for crying out loud.
“Ask mum,” Gisele suggested happily, “She mentioned a couple of days ago that she needed some new bras and knickers.”
“Really Gisele your great idea is to take Georgina with me on a girl’s only weekend?” I asked her not believing the stupidity of my own sister. The horror I would experience lingerie shopping with our mother will stay with me forever.
“I’m trying to get over one trauma in my life not increase them,” I said with disgust and sheer fright. Recovery after any amount of time spent with my mother included alcohol, alcohol, and more alcohol.
Complaining didn’t seem to be getting me anywhere, once Gisele hooked up with Jury, I knew she was lost to love. Claudia was always in to be my wing woman until she got the baby bug again.
“I’m sorry chickee,” Claudia apologised trying to soften the blow, “but there is nothing to say you can’t go and get your freak on. You can get the legal work signed and tied up then go out and celebrate even if it is just on a shopping spree. Indulge yourself Elle, you deserve it.”
Tossing around ways to get back at my sisters for dumping me in favour of their men, I grudgingly agreed that Claudia was right. I did deserve some pampering after the shit Jake pulled, maybe some me time was a good idea. It wasn’t going alone that I was worried about, I had no issues with my own company, my people skills were in question unless it was close friends and family. I didn’t have to get my freak on as Claudia put it, but a shopping spree did sound like therapeutic fun.
“Fine, I’ll go by myself,” I announced hotly, not yet willingly to forgive them for ditching me. “Actually, I might ask Dani if she wants to come.” The new idea suddenly coming to me, Dani might technically be Gisele’s best friend, but in essence we all had a great friendship group. Dani wasn’t as attached to her long-time spouse, and she wasn’t trying to get pregnant, and she loved to shop.
Perfect!
With the recent upheaval in my life, I think I needed to let loose … just once.
Dani wasn’t much of a drinker so she would make the perfect wing woman.
No trouble, no hassles.
Feeling happy with the plan forming for the next weekend, I relaxed enough to let my sisters off the hook.
“You’re both forgiven for this time, but next trip you two are going. Compulsory, got it.” I said challenging either of them to say anything but yes with a deadly glare to both sisters.
“Whatever you say, chickee,” Gisele agreed readily.
“We’ll see,” Claudia challenged back, but her eyes sparkled.
“Brat.”
Claudia poked out her tongue, but I knew she wouldn’t let me down next time.