Chapter Forty-Three
She just had time to put on a clean top before her sister arrived, full of beans and on a mission.
‘Tom’s put me on the insurance of his car,’ she said excitedly, having kissed Hattie and refused use of the facilities. ‘Isn’t that just lovely?’
Hattie and Luke had put each other on their car insurance quite a long time ago; it seemed practical and it somehow lowered their premiums. It hadn’t felt romantic at the time.
‘It’s a lovely car,’ said Hattie, smiling. Her efficient, businesslike sister getting soppy over car insurance. It was adorable!
‘It is! Now, remind me which way Cheltenham is again?’
Leonie may have been hazy about where Cheltenham was but once there she knew exactly where she wanted to go.
The sisters paused on the threshold of a lovely shop and Hattie looked in the window with wonder and joy.
Instead of the elegant taupe, biscuit and ecru colours that her sister usually favoured, here was turquoise, Schiaparelli pink, orange, scarlet and yellow the colour of the dawn.
And the styles were flowing, generous, not the sharp well-cut suits that Leonie usually loved.
‘This is a surprise, Lennie!’ said Hattie as they went in.
‘I’m not always the sensible sister, you know,’ said Leonie. ‘Sometimes I’m positively giddy!’
The woman in charge of the shop – who turned out to be the owner – was friendly and helpful but didn’t interfere until Hattie, exhausted by trying find something her mother would find acceptable that she also liked, flopped into a chair. She refused to buy something she would never wear again.
‘Can I lead you over here?’ she said. ‘These are on this sale rail because so far no one has bought them. But I think they’re lovely and definitely worth a look. They’re well reduced too.’
‘Now, Hattie! No buying anything weird just because it’s cheap!’ said Leonie, looking at jumpsuits, unaware she may have been sounding rude.
‘I love a bargain,’ Hattie breathed to the woman as they moved through the shop.
‘Me too! Now look at this. It’s unusual, but I think it might just be you.’
Superficially it was a long sleeveless dress with a fairly deep round neck and Nehru jacket, very elegant, stylish, much more Leonie than Hattie.
But then the owner took it off the hanger and revealed the jacket lining.
It was exquisite: a blue filigree pattern on a white background.
‘Try it on,’ said the owner of the shop. ‘There’s a matching scarf—’
Suddenly feeling light-headed, Hattie allowed herself to be guided to the ample changing room.
‘Let me know if you need any help,’ said the owner. ‘But I think it will be perfect for you.’
As if in a waking dream, Hattie slipped on the dress, which was the perfect length, and then the jacket.
She slung the scarf round her neck and emerged into the shop.
With a deep breath and a big smile she admired the outfit, particularly the lining.
She felt as though a cloud had been lifted.
It was the fabric she had seen in her vision about Luke: she no longer had to worry; she was the woman in the vision.
The owner instantly came forward and adjusted the scarf. ‘There,’ she said, in the satisfied tone of an artist who was happy with their picture.
‘Lennie?’ said Hattie. ‘What do you think?’
Leonie didn’t speak for a few seconds. ‘It’s absolutely fabulous! It could have been made for you, designed for you, it looks so amazing. But it’s far too perfect to waste on my engagement party. Keep it for the wedding!’
In her mind’s eye, Hattie saw Luke in his suit, smiling at her in the vision. She beamed at the owner, whom she wanted to hug. ‘I’ll take it. But now can you find me something less amazing?’
‘You’re looking surprisingly happy for someone who’s just spent so much money on new clothes when usually you stick to charity shops and Vinted,’ said Leonie as they drove back to Luke’s house.
‘Well, you do have to splash out for special occasions, don’t you?’ said Hattie breezily.
‘You’ve never thought that before! Is your business doing extra well or something? Or is living with Luke giving you financial security?’
Hattie considered everything that was good about living with Luke: financial security didn’t seem an important factor.
‘I don’t think it’s that,’ she said, aware she couldn’t possibly tell her sister why she was suddenly full of joy. She couldn’t wait to see Luke.
Hattie didn’t invite her sister in, she just got out of the car and retrieved her shiny carrier bags from the back and ran into the house. She found Luke in the kitchen. She threw her bags on to a chair and ran up and put her arms round his waist; she hugged him, her head on his chest.
‘Hey!’ he said, returning her embrace. ‘What’s all this about?’
‘I’ve bought a wonderful outfit for the wedding and it’s making me so happy!’
‘Whose wedding? Ours? Is there going to be one? That’s wonderful!’ He took her into his arms properly now and kissed her so thoroughly she had to push him away so she could finish what she was saying.
‘Actually, I was talking about Leonie’s wedding.’
‘Damn it!’ said Luke. He looked down at Hattie, who was looking up at him adoringly. ‘We could have a wedding too, couldn’t we?’
Hattie nodded. ‘One of us would have to propose though.’
Luke grinned. ‘Hattie, will you marry me?’
Hattie stared at him, almost unable to breathe with the joy of loving him so much and knowing he loved her back.
Before, she’d tried to keep her feelings in check and hadn’t allowed herself to be completely happy in case it was all going to be taken away from her.
She had no doubts now. ‘I absolutely will!’