If I Fell

Stella Occasion

England 1 week later.

Heathrow airport was jam packed. A sardine can of human flesh.

I was tired. Jet lagged.  I was fed up and wanted for a long hot shower and bed but no oh no I wasn't to get much of either, as tonight, was my deb night.

I felt like maybe, being swallowed by the sardines, would be easier than facing tonight.

"Mum!!" Hailey slammed into me covering me with kisses, four days and I'm treated like we have been apart months, I soaked them all in. "Come on. Everything's set, Stella's fin, just need you!"

"Slow down what's Stella fin, done? What's set?" I trailed behind my overly confident and outgoing daughter like a pull along toy, bumping into loads of bustling oncoming travellers as she hurled me through the crowd at break neck speed.

"You'll see!" Hailey smirked tossing my luggage in the boot. She settled in the cab, nestled forward near the partition. I was ignored the whole way back to St. Johns Wood, as she chatted up the cute driver.

The my old home seemed the same from the street.

The same colours, smart white timber for the bottom level then a deep reddish-brown brick for the second and third storey, the high fence and smart maroon wooden gate, the wet slick slate like court yard that made my heels click and clack when I crossed it.

Three storeys of story's, like fairy tales or legend from long ago flooded my thoughts, my eyes, my senses.

All my yesterday's here today.

I held my breath as the gate opened, idly wondering if my room was very different to what it had been. Of course it would be, silly girl- get a grip. The window straight above the front door, the window I gazed out of more often in happiness than sadness, bade me silent hello.

No time was handed to me, no time to walk around reminiscing about the house, the stairs, the kitchen. No seconds to see how big the oak tree had grown, or check out the piano room, or even my old room. I was dashed into the oversized converted attic, feeling like Cinderella meeting the fairy god mother for the ball.

"Yay! Finally" Stella hurtled toward me with a measuring tape checking she had the dress perfect, and it was apparently. I tried to get by her to look at it but no, dismissed to the shower I was.

"Makeup Mum!" Hailey set to work after capturing me as I dried myself with the fluffy pink towel. Twenty minutes later my 1st fairy helper made me look like a dream, the Abby staring back was all high class from her hair to her lips "What do you think Mum?"

"What'd you do to the mirror?" I laughed watching Stella and Hailey survey their finished handiwork- my face; below I was still towel wrapped and slightly chilled.

"You look gorgeous. Much better than the wicked witch of the Aldershot" Stella smirked and bit her lip "Come on let's get you dressed Abigail"

I wasn't given a chance to pull her strange words apart, she had me standing in the centre of the converted attic in bra and panties then she brought the eye- catching gown over. I forgot all about Aldershot.

"Like it?" Stella was a genius, a world class genius of thread and fabric.

"It's spectacular" I touched the satin fabric gently, worried I would hurt the silky softness of it.

"Dad's gonna flip!" Stella popped the P and smiled as I shimmied into the gown, the zip, which was hidden down my side, slid up effortlessly.

Deep maroon edged in gold, nothing shown I was indeed covered head to toe but when I moved magic happened, a slit so long I felt myself blush thinking about the leg I revealed then disappear as if a magician had set it away. The back opened only if I moved a certain way, leaned toward to speak to someone. The front a peak a boo glimpse of skin, a clever mix of coy and sexy. Nothing flaunted but tantalising, teasing when the dress revealed its secrets.