The Red Velvet Dress

Doreen folded the exquisite dress neatly and gently placed it back into the tissue paper wrapping before carefully laying it into the beautiful box where she kept it. She had only worn it once for her daughter’s graduation all those years ago. Where had the time gone? She hoped to wear it again, one day.

Bob had been gone for nearly two years now. What would he have thought about the current situation? She wished with all her heart that he were here now to talk things through with her.

On the mantlepiece sat the gold-edged embossed invitation to her daughter’s wedding. It was tomorrow at eleven o’clock and was being held in some fancy country house hotel with parkland vistas. There were over one-hundred-and-fifty guests and doubtless a bill to make your eyes water at the end of it all. She had offered to pay for some of the celebrations, being as she was the mother of the bride, but she felt cheated and knew that the rift between her and her only child had been seismic. A cup of tea was in order. She needed to think things through.

When Annabelle had first mentioned Chris in passing, Doreen thought she had never heard her daughter sound so happy. Gradually, Chris’s name was dropped into the conversation more and more until eventually, Doreen asked when they would get to meet him. That was when the bombshell was dropped. Chris was Christine.

Bob had gone into shock and the fact that his daughter was happy, whether it be with a man or a woman, then he had to accept that. Doreen felt very differently and wanted to meet this person. It had all been very awkward but slowly she came round to the idea of her daughter finding love with another woman. Living together was one thing, but getting married…

Saturday morning dawned and Doreen hadn’t slept a wink. She thought about all the times she had imagined her daughter’s wedding day and how it would all pan out. Today, as she sat alone in her lounge at home staring into space, she couldn’t have ever imagined feeling this sad and lonely. Bridesmaids and page boys would be milling around in their beautiful dresses and outfits; champagne flowing, hairdressers, make-up artists, and florists would be fussing over her daughter. But she wasn’t a part of it.

Guests would be asking where the mother of the bride was. At home. Alone. Drinking tea. If only Bob were here, she thought, tears welling up and threatening to engulf her.

When the big double doors opened into the room where the wedding ceremony was to take place, Annabelle scanned the guests for any sign of her mother. There was none.

The first few bars of Canon in D by Pachelbel began, and it was time to embark on the next phase of her life, leaving the old one behind her. Forever.

A commotion stopped her in her tracks. Behind her in the ante room, stood her Mum in the red velvet dress she had worn for her graduation. She looked radiant with a beautiful matching fascinator and clutch bag. She was even wearing a spray of Lily of the Valley. Annabelle thought her heart would break in two at such a wonderful sight.

Doreen came forward and asked the young man at Annabelle’s side if he wouldn’t mind stepping to one side.

“If you don’t mind, Annabelle, I would like to give you away to Chris.”

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This story was first published on Medium. Thank you for reading. You can join me at Rosy's Ramblings and coming soon on Rosy's Ramblings, podcasts read by me, Rosy. I look forward to welcoming you aboard.