The Wedding Date

You What?

"You look beautiful, Dotty," her mum's voice was soft in her ear as she stared in the full length mirror in front of her.

"Penny hired a celebrity make-up artist and these dresses cost my entire year's salary so I better look drop dead gorgeous," she smirked, though she found herself agreeing with her mum's statement as she took in her reflection.

It was the morning of the wedding and the green bridesmaid dress fit her curves perfectly.  Her hair was curled softly, pulled up in a way that made it somehow look tousled but not messy. She was used to getting dolled up for Strictly, but her make-up now accentuated her features in a more natural way. In a way she hoped would turn heads...well, one head in particular.

She'd been thinking of Joe's reaction to her appearance all morning, and even though she had an inkling she'd be pleased with his reaction, given that he complimented her appearance even when she looked half dead in the mornings, there was still part of her that was preoccupied by his odd behavior yesterday.

She shook her head quickly to get rid of her obtrusive thoughts. She was surely just overthinking, as usual. Joe had seemed just fine when he'd kissed her goodbye on the beach the night before. And when she'd crawled into bed after an exhausting few hours of finishing Penny's centerpieces, he'd pulled her close and whispered "I missed you" in her ear before falling asleep wrapped around her - a position she was becoming accustomed to after the last several nights of unintentional cuddling.

Now though, it was all intentional. The looks. The touches. The kisses. Joe wasn't just the stranger she was paying to be there to protect her from her family's judgment.

Now he was...well, she wasn't exactly sure what he was, but she had to admit she was very excited he was staying longer so they could continue figuring that out. He seemed to be on the same page as her...or at least, he did, up until he walked back from the beach hut alone, frowning as if he was holding the entire world's weight on his shoulders.

"I need a drink!" Penny's shrill voice echoed from across the bridal suite, causing Dianne to flinch out of her thoughts.

"No more alcohol honey, wait until the reception," Dianne's Aunt Caroline replied smoothly, handing her daughter a bottle of water.

"Mum!" Penny shrieked, tossing the bottle on the sofa. "It is MY wedding! I'll drink champagne if I WANT TO!"

Dianne took a deep breath, before pasting a smile on her face and turning around to face the rest of her family and the bridezilla, "How about a few sips of water per glass of champagne, Pen? Don't want you passing out at the altar."

"I don't have an altar, Dot--"

"Arch!" Dianne interrupted, smoothly pressing the water bottle back into her cousin's hands. "Sorry, beautiful stunning flower arch, that's what I meant to say."

Penny stared at the water with disgust, before rolling her eyes and beginning to sip.

"You're a lifesaver," Aunt Caroline whispered in Dianne's ear, pulling her back toward her mum and other cousins.

Dianne grinned, "She's just a little--"

"High strung?" Caroline smirked. "Honestly Dot, thank you. You've just been such a wonderful help with everything this week. Penny has just been so grateful that you're here."

Dianne shrugged, grabbing her own water, "Just doing my Maid of Honor duties."

"You've done more than that," Caroline raised an eyebrow. "And you know it. The centerpieces, the dance lessons...you've gone above and beyond."

Dianne smiled, secretly pleased her family had actually noticed how much time she'd put into this wedding. Though they drove her crazy, she did love them. Joe had been right about that one.