A Wedding in December

If it weren’t for the circumstances, she could almost have relaxed.

Rosie floated next to her, eyes closed.

“Are you mad with me?”

Rosie opened her eyes. “No. But sometimes it’s a little frustrating that you still treat me like a child.”

“Not true.” Katie wiped the water out of her eyes. “Maybe it is true, but I think that’s because you’re my baby sister.”

“I’m twenty-two.”

“You’ll always be my baby sister, no matter how old you are, in the same way we’ll always be Mum’s children even when we’re fifty.”

How would Rosie react if Katie confided in her? Not only about the attack, but her doubts about her career choice?

She noticed Rosie looking at her shoulder again and took off across the pool, swimming laps until the sun dipped in the sky and someone came to tell her the salon was ready for her.

She showered and changed quickly, then sat placidly allowing the hairdresser free rein.

“Can I add a few highlights around the front?”

“Anything,” Katie said. “Whatever you think would look best.”

“I’ll be doing your hair the morning of the wedding,” Becca said, “so it’s good to have a chance to work with your hair before then. Is there anything you love? Anything you hate?”

“She’s conservative.” Rosie unscrewed the cap from her water bottle. “Don’t do anything radical.”

“Maybe radical would be good.” Katie stared at herself in the mirror. Did she really look that pale? She needed to wear more makeup. Or find a way of getting more sleep.

Rosie took a sip of water. “Do you have anything to wear dancing?”

“No. I’m going to raid your wardrobe and pretend I’m a teenager again.”

Three hours later all evidence of the use of kitchen scissors had been erased and Katie’s hair fell in soft layers around her face.

“You look amazing.” Rosie stroked Katie’s hair back. “All you need to do now is stop frowning.”

“Am I frowning?”

“Always. You’re always serious.” Rosie hugged her. “This is my wedding. You’re not allowed to frown at my wedding.”

“Where are we going tonight? I don’t want to bump into our parents and invade their second honeymoon.”

“That isn’t going to happen. We’re going to a place that has the best DJ around. It’s very cool. And I have the perfect dress for you. I bought it to wear to a party in the summer.”

“A frostbite dress. Yay. Do I need to point out that there are several feet of snow on the ground?”

“I’ve messaged Dan. He is going to drive us there, and pick us up after so we won’t be outdoors for long. And you can wear your coat.”

Back in the tree house, Rosie delved into the suitcase she’d quickly packed at the lodge. “Here.” She pulled out a dress. “Try it. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it.”

“Like you did with Dan?”

Her sister laughed. “I guess so. Only he’s a whole lot warmer than that dress.”

Katie pulled the dress over her head. “I am too old to wear this.”

“No, you think you’re too old and you act too old, but tonight you’re going to leave your overdeveloped sense of responsibility behind and throw your young and sexy self onto that dance floor.”