Designing Abigail Kilton's Dress - #1 The Wedding Dress

Chapter 17 - A Bad Storm on a Sunny Afternoon

"You're not coming up," Kayleigh declared to the man sitting on her doorstep.

Marcus looked forlorn and slightly dishevelled, but as he stood up, she saw a hint of dejection that almost broke her resilience. Her fingers tightened around the straps of her designer bag. It had been a long day, but she needed strength for this.

"Kayleigh, I just want to talk."

"You're not coming up," she tried again as she felt his genuineness shake her core.

"Why not?"

"Because..." Kayleigh pressed her lips together, pausing before letting her confession pass through them. "Because I don't know if I can go back either!" She inhaled from her nose to muster up her courage, wanting to stay strong even under the hopeful gaze that filled his eyes. "But I have to, and I want to, and whenever we're alone together, I seem to forget all that."

Marcus's shoulders sagged slightly, but he didn't contradict her. He looked away building a wall between them as he mulled over her words.

"How about we go for a walk?" she offered, praying she was doing the right thing. Kayleigh knew it was long overdue, and they would never truly move on before they talked. She only wished her voice didn't sound so scared and that her lips would stop trembling. 

"Yes," Marcus sighed with relief. "Yes, I'd like that. Do you want to go change or something?" he added looking pointedly at her heels. "I'll wait for you here."

"No, I'm fine," she shrugged, wanting to get this out of the way while she still had the nerve. "Let's go."

Marcus lifted a curious brow, but to her surprise, he didn't comment any further. They walked silently side by side until they reached the Jubilee Gates that led to Regent's Park. As soon as they stepped into Queen Mary's Gardens, Kayleigh felt her anxiety subside slightly. She counted her steps and fifteen paces in, her heartbeat became less erratic. Her pupils relaxed over the yellow-green grass and her heart gladdened at the sound of children laughing and running around. Her lips twisted into a sweet smile as the scent of roses hit her nostrils.

"You like this place, don't you?" Marcus mused watching her.

And Kay's smile grew. "It's my favourite place in London so far." 

"Really? Not Hyde's?" 

She rolled her eyes at the obvious shade in Marcus's question. She wasn't surprised by his pettiness, but it didn't thrill her either. "There are fewer tourists here to ask me to take photos of them," she shrugged.

"Photos? You're terrible at taking photos!" 

Unfortunately, Marcus wasn't just saying that because he himself had mad photography skills. Kayleigh was incapable of taking a decent picture despite her artistic and creative brain. She blamed it on poor coordination. Marcus blamed it on her lack of confidence.

You need to be sure of yourself, he used to tell her guiding her hands over his pro digital camera. As sure as the image in front of you.

"Yes, but they don't know that. I guess they figure I'm not likely to run off with their phones," she fired back.

A genuine laugh rumbled from Marcus's throat and Kayleigh yearned to throw her arms around him. She wished they were fourteen and eighteen again, when their relationship was simple, even if it didn't feel like it at the time. 

He was her brother's best friend. He was her best friend. Her other brother. The one who looked at her with undivided attention and made her world stop. The one who stopped whatever he was doing to come to her aid. Because she was his best friend's sister. She was his sister.