Page 35 of Always the Bridesmaid

Carrie grins. ‘Well, I’m pleased you do because I ordered this in especially. This is my wedding gift to you, if you’ll take it.’

As Jess deservedly admires herself in the mirror one more time, I notice she is wearing the sparkling aquamarine earrings I bought her.

‘Okay, which one of you is going to try your dress first?’ Jess asks.

‘Since I’m the only one not mid-blowing my nose, why don’t I go,’ Izzy suggests.

Whilst Carrie helps Izzy into her bridesmaid dress, I watch Becky place her untouched glass of bubbles on the glass coffee table in front of the sofa.

‘While it’s just us,’ she says, ‘I want to say thank you, for helping me out at the table on Tuesday night and being subtle about it.’

I discard my tissue into the wastepaper basket next to the sofa, the presence of which tells me that crying is a completely normal reaction to have in this store.

I take hold of Becky’s hand. ‘You’re welcome. I won’t ask for details unless you choose to tell me, but are you happy?’

Becky's eyes fill again and she reaches for another tissue, looking to the ceiling, mocking her own emotional meltdown.

‘I’m pregnant. I guess I should get used to this.’

She nods, part laughing, part crying, and reaches for another tissue.

‘I had only taken a test before dinner on Tuesday night and hadn’t told Drew yet. I told him yesterday in the hot air balloon. He was ecstatic, though pretty annoyed that I had decided to go up in the balloon whilst pregnant.’ She laughs harder now. ‘All’s well that ends well, right?’

I chuckle. I can just imagine Drew’s face. He is extremely protective when it comes to his friends and family, especially so when it comes to Becky.

‘Can I be honest with you, Sarah?’ she says, already knowing the answer, I hope. ‘I feel really mixed about it. I am thrilled at the thought of having a baby with Drew but I’m terrified, too. I lost a baby once, in the past, with my ex-husband. I suppose looking back, it was for the best but it still would’ve been my baby, you know?’

I squeeze her hand tighter. ‘I’m so sorry, Becky, and I think your emotions are more than valid. But I have such a good feeling about this. I think you and Drew are going to have the most beautiful baby and I think you’re going to be a remarkable mummy.’

Becky just about manages to nod her head as she blows her nose and wipes mascara from under her eyes. Then, coughing and snotty, she tells me, ‘You’re going to be the most fantastic auntie.’

Before I can melt alongside Becky, Izzy springs from behind the changing room curtain and strikes a dazzling red-carpet pose.

Izzy’s dress is so very her. From the thin spaghetti straps that show her toned shoulders and arms, to the long, flowing, bright-pink silk that matches her baby-blonde hair and vivacious personality.

Becky tries on her dress next and has similarly chosen well. Her dress has capped sleeves and layers of sunshine-yellow fabric. It’s a great fit to go with Izzy’s and it seems symbolic to me that the mum-to-be wears a color as happy as a sunbeam.

So far, the dresses have all fit without need for adjustment and as I step into the dress that has been made for me, I am nervous that I might be the one who ruins the clean sweep.

Though Jess gave us girls free rein on what we would like to choose to wear for the big day, knowing how much Jess loves aquamarine, I have chosen an aquamarine dress.

It’s a satin halter neck, held and fastened around my neck with a silver necklace. The fabric clings to my body but in only the right places, hiding my indiscretions. As I feared, when I slip on the shoes I have brought with me to wear on Saturday, the dress is slightly too long.

Rather than make a fuss, I subtly ask Carrie to let me try a taller heel and with that, the dress needs no adjustment.

Each armed with a dress in a dress bag – and me with a new pair of shoes hanging in a bag over my shoulder – we head to a fine dining restaurant I have pre-booked, for overpriced salads and more bubbles.

Becky, as designated driver for the afternoon, seems relaxed and happy, perhaps relieved to have confessed her wonderful news to me, and maybe too because driving has given her the perfect excuse to drink soda water and lime.

According to its website, the restaurant is new age while being sympathetic to the local area of outstanding natural beauty. It uses only locally produced goods to make an exquisite dining experience. It was the outdoor area with its 360-degree panoramic views that I found most enticing, though the rosette awards were also attractive for a week I want to be perfect for my friends.

We are seated around a mosaic-topped table and all decide on having the three-course set lunch and a bottle of local white sparkling wine to share. I take my shades from my handbag and shield myself from the very welcome sun, which has cast a happy glow across the abundance of lush green land we can see in the distance. It’s a far cry from the hustle and bustle, concrete buildings and loud traffic of Manhattan.

When we fall silent, we can hear chirping birds in the trees and overhead. Gentle orchestral music plays at a very low volume in the background. This is serenity at its best. Food for the soul, as much as any spa or meditation experience might have been.

I close my eyes and raise my face to the sky, breathing in the fresh air.

‘This place is great, Sarah, thank you,’ Jess says.

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