Page 57 of Pillow Talk
‘If it wasn’t expected of you, would you have agreed?’
She thought about it. ‘I needed the job. I had rent to pay.’
‘And while you were working, did you ever apply for any otherjobs or work towards opening your bridal shop?’
She narrowed her eyes at him. ‘I knew I couldn’t work anywhere else because I was obligated to the shop and yes, I did save money to open my bridal dress shop.’
He sat forward as if he wanted her to hear him loud and clear because she was on the other side of the room.
‘But no one told you that you couldn’t apply for a new job or start your own business?’
‘No.’
He stood up, went over to her and gently put his hands on her shoulders.
‘Promise you won’t get upset by my next comment.’
She smiled. ‘Will it be your closing argument?’
He grinned. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘So you didn’t just do the whole lawyer thing just now?’
He held up his hands in defence. ‘Nope. I just did the friend slash lover thing.’
She scrunched up her nose. ‘Ewww don’t say lover. It sounds so…’
‘So what? I am your lover. Am I not?’
‘Stop it, Sen! It’s making me feel icky!’
He started laughing. She joined in.
And then he stopped and looked at her. Her eyes met his. And in that moment, Shona knew something had changed. She couldn’t put a name to it because she didn’t know what it was, but she knew something was happening.
‘Can I start my closing argument?’
She smiled and nodded.
‘Is it possible that your father assumed you never wanted to leave the shop, that it was your job, and he couldn’t fire you? After all, you weren’t making any real known attempt to move on…out of the shop,’ he said.
Shona took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘It is possible.’
They stood looking into each other’s eyes, not saying a word.
Shona then broke the silence. ‘Sen, I think I’m ready for option one now.’
‘As your lover, I…’
‘Senthil! Just kiss me already.’
Two days later, Sen’s advice played in Shona’s mind. His points made a lot of sense, but they still didn’t answer why her parents hadn’t made contact. Should she do it? She didn’t want to –not yet. Her emotions were still raw and she didn’t want to go to them angry and frustrated. She needed time. Maybe they needed time? Sen was right. She did need to talk to them. Just not right now.
A bride was due to come at 10 o’clock to discuss a veil. Shona rarely met clients in person because the majority of her orders were placed online and came from all over the country. But this bride lived in Rally.
Shona put on a simple, yellow sundress and remained barefoot. Her hair was up in a ponytail. The summer temperatures were still extremely high and, although she desperately needed the cool air generated by the air-conditioner in her apartment, she could never get the setting right. She usually ended up shivering when it was switched on.
Her doorbell rang at exactly 10am and Shona welcomed Esha inside. Esha had been two years ahead of her at school and their parents were also friends. The short woman, sporting a slick bob hairstyle and rimless spectacles, came in carrying a flat garment box.
