Chapter Thirty-Seven
I stand in the bridal area of my flat in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, feeling wonderful.
My reflection practically glows. When I’d finished my dance I’d shut the front door, leaned my back hard against it and slid to the brown carpet, flooded with reassurance.
Literally floored by my feelings for Donal Kearney.
Of course, he’s right that it’s such early days but there is something really honest between us and I can feel it. This time, I am listening to my gut!
I’d taken a minute, gathered myself, then taken the rickety stairs up two at a time.
I’d jumped straight into the shower again, whistling a happy tune as I’d scrubbed the day, and the past, off me with my loofah and scented body wash.
After, I’d turned the jets to ice-cold for a few invigorating seconds, then stepped out, lathered coconut body oil all over and dried off naturally in the warm air.
I still had traces of make-up on from earlier, but most of it had basically slid off between the distress, the embarrassment, the heat and the traffic fumes.
I’d padded into the bathroom and gathered what I needed.
Poured a glass of water and with the little stand-alone round mirror on my kitchen table set about making up my face.
I’d wanded on more mascara and deeply lined my eyes in dark pencil, with a cat flick, removing the smudges from earlier with a cotton bud.
Squeezing on some creamy foundation to mask the redness, I’d blended it in and then lined a red lip.
I’d blow-dried my heavy mop of hair and then run the straighteners through it so it was sleek, hair-sprayed it down and rounded out the dark red lipstick.
No jewellery was required with the statement straps, so I’d opted out of my staple hoop earrings.
‘Looking good girl.’ I’d puckered up and blown my reflection a soft kiss.
I’d padded barefoot towards my neatly stocked and stacked concertina boxes by the wardrobe. I knew exactly which Cinderella dress I needed.
‘One, two, three, four, five.’ I’d tipped my finger off each one, releasing the fifth carefully, the old box that housed my Brothers Grimm costumes.
Unstacking the second-skin skinny jeans and waistcoat from the Rumpelstiltskin costume, I laughed at how I wasn’t triggered into missing Logan.
In fact, I’d felt the complete opposite.
If closure came in a box, I was kneeling right over it.
I felt the chiffon fabric of the dress I wanted and gently unfolded it from the cellophane.
Not the wondrous Cinderella ball gown, but my pre-ball, Prince Charming, Cinderella creation, in perfect condition.
The oh-so-plain, light-blue, full-length chiffon dress with silver-chain spaghetti straps.
The dress is perfect for a wedding guest. Understated, so as not to show up the bride or the bridesmaids.
It falls in the most flattering way, and the light blue complements my deep summer tan.
The thin, chain spaghetti straps are so delicate, they are a standout feature of the dress.
I never thought I’d wear it. Yet here I am.
Life has a way of throwing up the most unexpected and this realisation fills me with excitement.
The dress feels like I made it for this very moment.
Now, in front of the full-length mirror, I take a risk.
Perfume in hand, I spray a generous amount of Daisy by Marc Jacobs into the air and step into it, allowing the droplets to settle on my skin. I inhale the sweet scent.
‘All ready for your prince.’ I raise my water glass to the mirror and blush as I wait for Donal’s cab to ring my buzzer. I know I can rely on him; I know he will send a cab right on time.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
As always, reliable.
*
Howth sprawls out in front of me. A picturesque, historic fishing village on the north peninsula of Dublin.
We drive along the rugged coastline with its bustling harbour and the view is breathtaking.
I crane my head to look out over the stunning sight of Howth.
I see the red-and-white light of the lighthouse flash in the distance.
When we arrive, Donal is standing on the granite steps like something out of a Tom Ford advert. The taxi comes to a slow halt as Donal takes the steps down two at a time and opens the back door for me.
‘These views,’ I say, clasping my white-satin clutch under my arm. He takes my hand as I alight from the cab, like a pro . . . for once.
‘Welcome.’ He kisses my cheek. ‘You look beautiful. The dress is stunning on you, what a talented designer you truly are.’ He takes my other hand, my clutch gripped under my right arm.
I want to lean forward and kiss him so badly, but I refrain. ‘Thank you,’ I say instead.
‘Just wait until you see inside how she’s decked the room out, it’s like stepping back in time.
I dunno if they told you, they’re all obsessed with Downton Abbey?
In fact I think they’re possessed! They’re out of their minds with joy in there.
They used to watch The Remains of the Day on repeat on DVD. ’ He rolls his eyes.
‘I’m still nervous,’ I tell him as he squeezes lightly.
There is no drama. It’s a quiet, safe squeeze that reassures and calms me instantly.
It just feels so right. We feel so right.
It’s hard to fathom that we met ten days ago.
It feels like a lifetime. But I guess you only have to meet ‘your one’ once, right?
Maybe Belinda is right, there is no the one, it’s finding your one that matters.
I’m a very lucky girl. Our stars aligned.
The entrance upstairs is bursting with beautiful white flower arrangements. A jazz quartet serenades from the back of the room, and I can’t help myself, I bend and inhale the centrepiece.
‘There she is!’
My head flies up from the flowers and I see Amanda bounding straight over, back in her in penguin slippers.
‘Grace Algar!’ Denise screeches in her bare feet as Kathleen spins around and they all circle me.
‘Back up a bit. Give her room to breathe.’ But Donal laughs as he picks off two colourful cocktails from the tray held up high above a passing waiter’s head. I take mine, gratefully.
‘That dress! D’ya make it yourself?’ Amanda gloats over it.
I swish a little. ‘I did. First time to wear it, though.’
‘It’s so pretty on you! This is all mad, isn’t it?’ Denise approaches with a very handsome man in a tweed suit who puts his arm around her waist. ‘This is my husband, Noko, he didn’t recognise me when he saw me in this dress!’ Denise beams, as does a laughing Noko.
‘Nice to meet you.’ I extend my hand and he takes it warmly.
‘And you. I’ve heard a lot about you,’ Noko tells me.
‘When ya know, ya know, right?’ The sisters part and Belinda steps in to face me.
‘Congratulations . . . and this venue is beautiful.’ I raise my glass and circle it to indicate the architecture of the room.
Belinda eyeballs me.
‘Class, right?’
‘Yeah.’ I nod, rapidly, holding her eye, because that might have a double meaning. I know I have to face what she has to say to me, and I will take it on the chin, so I look her straight in the eye. ‘I’m so sorry what I said about Donal. It was shit and I didn’t mean it. Not one word.’
‘Sure I called him a wet fish! But now you see what I said was true? There doesn’t have to be fireworks or ba-ba-boom heart-stopping nonsense!
I hope I wasn’t too rude to you at the church.
I’m just very protective of him. But I apologise for jumpin’ to conclusions – it’s the one thing we do not do in this family.
We were brought up the hard way and truth and loyalty and facts are our backbones. ’ Belinda holds her head up high.
‘I get that,’ I tell her.
‘He’s amazin’, hun.’ Now Belinda’s eyes are glittered with tears.
‘But then again, so are you. I knew it from the very first day I met ya. You’re real, Grace Algar, of that I’ve no doubt.
There’s not a trace of bullshit about you.
You’re one of us. You look like a total knockout by the way. Yer like Cinderfuckinrella!’
We fall into a warm hug.