For The Love Of A Stranger

Chapter one- Ava

"Breathe, just breathe Ava, it's all going to be fine!" Ava stands staring at herself in the mirror, wearing a strapless, flowing, pastel blue bridesmaid dress with her long, golden blonde locks in a braided style, fresh flowers carefully placed between the strands. How did it get to this point?

Ava had been dreading her sisters wedding for the last six months, and now the day had finally arrived, she couldn't help but feel nauseous at the thought of her nosey family members questioning why she was still single and unmarried herself.

Unfortunately feigning illness wasn't an option, her mother, Carol, had seen through every lie she had told since she had told her that she absolutely did not kiss Bobby Green in her fathers greenhouse when she was ten years old! And finding a date just for one day to a wedding was an absolute no, Ava was an independent, strong willed woman and she shouldn't have to lie in order to gain acceptance from those that love her.

No, she had decided early on that she was going to make a stand and go it alone, a decision in which now ghe day had come, she absolutely regretted.

Ava wasn't against Callie marrying, in fact she loved Stuart like he was a brother. She couldn't have been happier for her sister, but she realised as soon as Callie showed off her ring at the big summer family barbecue, that Callie's wedding wasn't Callie's wedding, it was the wedding her mother never had.

Carol, Ava's mother had fallen pregnant whilst dating her father, Richard. This meant that they had to quickly marry in a small registry office just outside of London. As you can imagine it was quite the scandal and much to Ava's grandmothers distaste.

Enter Ava's marvellous big brother, Chris. Chris had always been the golden child of the family and had grown up to be quite the established businessman. He was a very handsome, tall, strong man and you could tell just by taking a glance at him that he looked after himself. He owned a chain of restaurants and cafes in and around London and had made quite a name for himself. The family overlooks the fact that at 33 he's unmarried and without children, because he's male and has enough money to buy their mother enough gifts to keep her quiet!

Ava had always sounded resentful of yer brother, but that couldn't be further from the truth. She adored her big brother, he was probably the only person she had ever been really close to and one of the only people that hadn't passed judgment on her life choices. For the past few months they had had had great fun teasing Callie about her wedding, choice of husband and lack of backbone to stand up against their mother.

Middle child Callie was quite the spoilt little princess and had completely and utterly earned that title. She was the complete opposite of Ava. In her 30 years of existence she had never once made a big life decision for herself, their mother had moulded her into a mini version of herself and no doubt would refer to her as her greatest achievement.

What to say about perfect little Callie? Well let's start with the fact that she was beautiful, the kind of woman you would see front and centre on the cover of a magazine. Petite, feminine, dark, stunning features and she knew full well how beautiful she was. Growing up with Callie as a sister wasn't exactly a confidence boost for Ava, she was so popular and nobody quite understood why Ava wasn't on the same level as her.

When Callie proceeded to bring perfect Stuart Price home, Ava's mother couldn't get enough of the perfect couple. Stuart was gorgeous. Hazel eyes, olive skin, a face that should have been plastered on every billboard, plus he was a very well established lawyer and had just made partner in the law firm that he worked for. It must exhausting to be such a perfect couple, and perfect they were!

That brings us onto Ava, the runt of the litter and the disappointment of the family. Ava had never excelled in any one of the careers thatshehad triedher hand at. She wasn't engaged or married to a big time hot shot, and she certainly didn't live up to her mother's standards.

Ava did in fact work for her brother, as a manager in one of his little cafes. At the age of 26 she rented a tiny flat that barely fitted all of her belongings in and to top it off her only company was a clumber spaniel called Hero. She had also to her mothers despair been single for the last five years. She was as her mother words it, a walking disaster and Ava wouldn't have it any other way.

Richard, Ava's father, and her favourite person, had told Carol many times to back off and leave the poor girl alone. Ava could see the pity and sympathy in her father's eyes when she would go at Ava across the dinner table every Sunday afternoon. Her father was the complete opposite of her mother. He would quite often tell Ava that all he wanted was to see her happy and that she should be true to herself. He was a marvellous surgeon, professor and in Ava's eyes, genius. She had always been grateful for the way he was so patient with her and so non judgmental, she genuinely believed that there should be more people like her father in the world.

"Ava, are you ready yet? I know you're in no rush with anything else in life, but could you at least arrive to your sister's wedding on time?" Ava snaps back to reality as soon as she hears her mother's firm voice bellowing through the door. This was the very reason that she refused to get ready with the rest of the bridal party, the thought of a whole morning of her mother picking at every detail isn't one she enjoyed in the least. Swinging the door open, Ava looks up to see mother glaring at her, impatient as ever.

"Must you shout about everything mother? I am ready, I will be on time and I won't embarrass you, okay? Where's Chris? He said he'd give me a lift to the church."

"Ava, you are travelling with the rest of us. How ridiculous will it look if the maid of honour arrives without the bride. I have put too much hard work and time into this wedding, you will not ruin this for me."

Please lord give me patience today, please!

"For you? I'm so sorry mother I didn't realise you were the one getting married today." Ava tries her hardest to hide the smile that's creeping onto her face, after all it wouldn't be worth the backlash from her mother.

Ava's mother looks up sharply and glares at her with furious eyes that she had seen so many times before.

"You know exactly what I mean Ava. Now go downstairs, get into that car, and for goodness sake's don't go anywhere, do you understand me?"

Ava rolls her eyes but follows her mother's instructions. After all it's not worth the argument and she knows that she wouldn't win anyway.

The ceremony and reception were beautiful and even Ava has to admit that when the vows were being exchanged, she was starting to tear up, like many of the other guests. As much as Callie's perfect life and the high standards that she had set out for Ava annoyed the hell out of her, she was so glad her sister had found somebody to spend her life with and that she was happy.

Ava had downright refused to do any kind of speech as maid of honour and instead, had sat and smiled through every other too long, sickening speech that had been made. Her mother had unsuccessfully attempted to introduce her to every single man in the building and Ava had successfully managed to worm her way out of every conversation with them. Who knew there were so many single men around? It almost made Ava feel like a competitor in the Olympic slalom, dodging hurdles and objects whilst just trying to make it to the end of the wedding. It wasn't that Ava was against meeting somebody, after all nobody wants to be alone forever, it was just that she wanted to get through the evening and leave with no complications.

"Ava, Ava let me introduce you to..." Ava turns to see her mother heading throygh the crowd toward her with yet another single and uncomfortable victim. Ava needed to make a note to self, next time definitely bring a date. A wave of panic crashes over Ava and in that split second she decides to do both herself and her mothers helpless victim a favour and as fast as her feet can carry her she grabs a bottle of champagne and catapults herself through the venues kitchen and out of the back door to safety.

Ava manages to make it out of the back door safe and unseen by anybody. That's enough for one night. She's sure no one will notice if she slips away early, after all she had kept her promise and done all of her maid of honour duty's for the day. She leans against the fire exit door and breathes in a fresh, clear sigh of relief.

Ava takes a sip of the champagne she stole from the reception. Behind her she hears a strong, confident voice.

"Well don't you look like a woman that's had one hell of a day?"