Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia
Wendy Miller rigidly held her tears in check when her eldest daughter, Natalie, slipped on her beautiful wedding gown. The strapless A-line style suited Natalie’s slim figure perfectly, but the prospect of her daughter walking down the aisle without her father brought a massive lump to Wendy’s throat.
Wendy’s husband, Greg, had suffered a fatal heart attack four years earlier, and although the pain she felt whenever she thought of him had lessened to a dull ache, it was moments like these that brought it rushing back.
“How does it look, Mum?” Natalie stood in front of the full-length mirror, peering over her shoulder at the back of the gown, while Roxanne, the gown’s creator, adjusted the straps.
“It’s perfect, sweetheart. You’re going to be a gorgeous bride.”
Relief filled Natalie’s face. “Thank you.”
“Your father would have been so proud to walk you down the aisle in this,” Wendy added in a wistful tone.
“Mum! You need to stop saying that. It’s hard enough as it is.”
Wendy bit her lip. Natalie was right. They were both struggling, and Natalie didn’t need constant reminders that her father wouldn’t be there on her special day when it no doubt was on her mind anyway. Wendy reached out and rubbed Natalie’s arm. “I know, sweetheart, I’m sorry.”
Natalie stood completely still while Roxanne inspected the gown, making the odd adjustment here and there. Dressed in an oversized multi-coloured loose-fitting shirt, purple tights and yellow sneakers, the young woman didn’t look like one of Sydney’s top fashion designers, but Roxanne Alexander was a multi-award winner eagerly sought after by the well-to-do, and they’d been fortunate to engage her services. “I won’t do the final adjustments until the week before the wedding, but other than that, I think it’s done,” Roxanne said as she straightened.
Natalie beamed. “I love it so much. Thank you. Now all I have to do is eat salad for the next three months.”
Roxanne laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about that. A few extra pounds won’t matter.”
“Great! I wasn’t looking forward to starving myself.”
Wendy chuckled. Her daughter was as thin as a rake, even though she had a voracious appetite. “I don’t think there’s any chance of that. Come on, get dressed and I’ll buy you lunch.”
While Roxanne helped Natalie out of the gown, Wendy inspected the bridesmaids’ dresses, which Roxanne also had designed. Paige, Wendy’s youngest daughter, had been less than co-operative and showed little interest in her sister’s wedding, turning up only once for a fitting. Wendy sometimes wondered if she’d even turn up for the wedding. She sighed heavily. It wasn’t helpful comparing her children, but Natalie and Paige were so different. And then there was Simon…
“See you next time.” Roxanne waved as Wendy and Natalie headed for the door.
“We’ll look forward to it.” Wendy smiled and then followed Natalie to the lift. While they waited, Wendy slipped her arm around Natalie’s waist. “I’m sorry I get teary so often. It’s…well, you know?”
“It’s okay Mum. I understand. I wish Dad was here, too.”
“I know you do, sweetheart.”
The lift arrived and the doors opened. Stepping inside, they rode down the four levels, emerging into the foyer of the high-end building in downtown Sydney.
“Where would you like to go?” Wendy asked.
Natalie shrugged. “I don’t mind, your choice.”
“Okay. I know just the place.” Wendy linked her arm through Natalie’s and together they headed out into the bustling city. Taxis honked, moving like snails through the congested streets. Shoppers strolled along the footpath, chatting, pausing to look in shop windows, oblivious of the office workers weaving around them, hurrying to grab a quick mid-day meal before returning to their respective offices for the afternoon.
The aroma of freshly baked pizza wafted from an Italian restaurant, mingling with the scent of hot dogs piled high on a vendor’s cart at the corner of Edward and King. “I wouldn’t mind pizza,” Natalie remarked, looking longingly over her shoulder while they waited for the lights to change.
“That’s not really what I had in mind,” Wendy said.
“What’s wrong with pizza?”
Wendy laughed. “Nothing. Nothing at all. You know how much I love Italian food. I was just thinking of your waistline and your wedding dress.” Wendy paused and then leaned in close to her daughter. “To be quite honest, I’m mostly worried about the mother-of-the-bride dress!”
The lights changed and Natalie giggled as they joined the crush of pedestrians crossing to the other side. They walked on in comfortable silence, Natalie seemingly content to follow Wendy, and several minutes later, they arrived at one of Wendy’s favourite restaurants. One she and Greg had dined at often. Maybe it wasn’t the wisest choice, but she couldn’t think of a nicer place to lunch with her daughter.
When the maître d’ greeted them, Wendy asked for an outdoor table.
“Of course, Mrs. Miller, follow me,” the smartly dressed young woman replied.
Natalie raised a brow at her mother and walked beside her to the table on the balcony that the maître d’ chose for them. After the young woman settled them in and promised to send a waiter to take their orders, Natalie leaned forward. “We didn’t have to come here, Mum. It’ll cost a fortune!”
“It’s okay, darling. I wanted to spoil you,” Wendy replied, trying hard to keep her voice steady. The restaurant had one of the best views of the harbour and the Opera House, and on this perfect spring day, the water glistening in the sunshine was just glorious. Just like the days when she and Greg came here…
“You don’t need to,” Natalie replied. She grew silent for a few seconds, her face paling. Grabbing Wendy’s arm, she asked, “Are you okay, Mum?”
Wendy frowned. “Of course I am. What makes you think I’m not?”
“You look tired, that’s all. And bringing me here…” Natalie’s voice trailed away, but Wendy could see fear in her daughter’s eyes.
“You wonder if I’m sick?”
“Yes.”
Wendy squeezed Natalie’s hand. “I’m fine. Nothing to worry about. Honestly.”
“Are you sure?” Natalie asked, frowning.
“Positive!”
A male waiter approached and stopped beside the table. The two women grabbed their menus and quickly perused them.
“Are you ready to order, ladies, or shall I come back?” the well-groomed, dark-haired young man asked politely.
“Could you give us a few minutes, please?” Wendy removed her designer sunglasses and smiled at him.
“Of course.” He poured two glasses of water from the jug on the table and stepped aside.
“There’s no pizza on the menu,” Natalie whispered loudly.
Wendy laughed. “You don’t need pizza, Natalie.”
“I know.” Natalie chuckled. “Shall we share the paella instead?”
Wendy set her menu on the table and smiled lovingly at her daughter. “Good choice.” She waved the waiter over and placed the order. After he left, she slipped her sunglasses back on, sipped her water, and studied her daughter. What would she do without Natalie? Soon, her eldest daughter would be married and have less time to spend with her mother. The thought saddened Wendy, but she knew she had to deal with it. She couldn’t, but more importantly, wouldn’t, impose on Natalie and Adam. The first year of marriage was such a special time. Even now, after all the years that had passed, memories of her first year with Greg filled her with such warmth. They’d had a wonderful marriage. But it was no good constantly reminiscing. Although he’d be waiting for her in the life to come, he was gone from this earth, and she had to accept that fact and try to build a new life on her own.
“Have you spoken to Simon lately?” Natalie asked.
Wendy blinked and returned her attention to Natalie. “Not for a few weeks. He’s replied to a few texts, but I think he’s super busy with work. Did you know he got a promotion?”
Natalie frowned again. “No. He’s always busy when I call. Makes me think he doesn’t want to talk to me anymore.”
“You know your brother. When he doesn’t want to talk, he doesn’t want to talk. But when he chooses to, you can’t stop him.”
“Yes, but surely he can find time to talk to you at least once a week. You’re his mother, after all.”
“I’ve come to the conclusion that we have to give him space,” Wendy replied as positively as she could, because, the truth was, she also wondered why Simon found it so hard to keep in touch, but she was his mother, and she wouldn’t speak ill of him with his sister.
Natalie crossed her arms. “If he keeps this up much longer, I’m going to drive to his house and make him talk. I mean it!”
“Don’t be like that, sweetheart. He doesn’t like it when we pressure him, you know that.”
“I don’t understand him! You’d think with Dad gone, he’d be more attentive of you.”
“I can look after myself. But I agree, it’d be lovely to see more of him.”
The waiter approached and set the paella on the table between them. “Would you like me to serve?” he asked.
Wendy flashed an appreciative smile. “We’ll be fine, thanks. It smells wonderful.”
The waiter nodded, refilled their glasses, and wished them bon appétit before leaving them to their meal.
“Pass your plate, Mum,” Natalie said, holding her hand out.
Wendy complied and Natalie heaped several spoons of the colourful dish onto the middle of the plate. Wendy held her hand up. “That’s plenty, darling. Thank you.”
“Are you sure? There’s a lot here.”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Natalie filled her plate and then quickly scooped a huge spoonful into her mouth, releasing a pleasurable sigh. Wendy was glad the conversation about Simon had been dropped. His lack of communication did worry her, and she often wondered if something was wrong, but didn’t want Natalie concerned about him with her wedding fast approaching. Wendy decided to call him again when she got home.
After making quick work of the paella, Natalie leaned back in her chair and placed her hands across her stomach. “So, what have you decided about the trip?”
Wendy sipped her iced tea and released a long sigh. Greg’s grandmother, who lived just south of London, was turning ninety, and Wendy had booked a trip to the U.K. to attend the celebration. She’d also invited her friend, Robyn, to accompany her, but now Robyn couldn’t go because her mother had taken ill, and Wendy was considering cancelling. She set her glass on the table and toyed with her fork. “I don’t think I’ll go.”
“Oh Mum, I think you should. Since Dad’s death, you’ve hardly taken a holiday—I think it’ll do you good.”
“But on my own?”
Natalie chuckled. “You never know, you might meet a handsome gentleman who’ll sweep you off your feet!”
“Natalie!”
“Sorry…” A playful grin had spread across Natalie’s face. She leaned forward, crossing her arms on the table. “Seriously, I think you should go. You’ve travelled a lot, you’ll be fine. You need to go, Mum.”
Wendy sighed heavily. “I’ll give it some more thought. If I stay home, I can help more with the wedding preparations.”
“You’ve already done more than enough. It’s all in hand,” Natalie replied with just a hint of exasperation in her voice.
“I know. But it seems strange to think of travelling to the other side of the world without your dad. It won’t be the same.”
Natalie squeezed her mother’s hand. “I know. But go. Do it for Dad.”
Wendy grimaced and swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ll think about it, but right now, I think I’d like coffee. Would you like one?”
“That would be lovely. Thank you.”
Wendy beckoned the waiter over and ordered two cups.
“And can I tempt you with the dessert menu?” He quirked a brow as he held out two.
Wendy smiled politely. “Thank you, but no. Coffee will be fine.”
Natalie leaned forward again after the waiter left, her face filled with disappointment. “I was going to order something,” she said in a sulky tone.
Wendy chuckled, shaking her head. “You do take after your father with your sweet tooth.”
“I can’t help it,” Natalie replied defensively, but then she laughed.
“I guess not. But even though Roxanne said it didn’t matter, you should still watch what you’re eating.” Wendy quickly bit her lip. She shouldn’t have said that. Natalie was a grown woman and could make her own decisions about what to eat and what to avoid. Thank goodness Natalie had an understanding nature. Paige would never have let her get away with saying anything like that. “I’m sorry darling. Have whatever you want.” Wendy smiled and beckoned the waiter again.
