Altogether unusual

Kiss and make up?

'I don't hate you... I just don't like that you exist.'

Gena Showalter

The news of Eve getting married was my mother's undoing in the motherhood world. She insisted she helped me with picking up a dress for the event, which in turn brought no less than two weeks of constant window shopping, talking to seamstresses and buying fashion magazines, all in the attempt of finding the perfect dress.

"Mom, you do know I am not the one getting married!" I said at a certain point feeling drained of power and will.

"A mother can only hope, my child. Look, isn't this amazing?"

"You said that about the last three dozen dresses. Can we just pick one?"

"You start drawing now, we'll create the perfect dress." My mother decided, of course, that no dress was good enough, so we'd create one from elements we liked here and there.

On my part, I was not concerned with this detail, because I didn't really think it was important. A dress is a dress. I was worried because Eve had told me to be there three weeks ahead the wedding to help out, since I had offered so generously. And of course I was happy to help, but just thinking I'll have to do that together with Jonathan was not even remotely ideal.

"Clarisse, what do you say about a blue dress?"

"Hmm, no."

"Green? Not the hard colour, but the minty, happy green?" My mother's eyes are big with happiness at the thought of me in a bright colour.

"Don't think so."

"Red, pink, silver?"

"No, no, no, mom."

"Clarisse, you have to give me something here. There is not a lot one can do with black."

"Mom, you can invent whatever dress you want, and I'll wear it as long as it can be black." Her smile falls at my words, but she cannot actually be defeated. She'll have me be a lady at Eve's wedding whether I want it or not. "You know you don't have a lot of time. My plane ticket is already bought. In two weeks' time I'll be in Dublin."

"We'll be ready, don't you worry. And stop behaving like I exaggerate. It's not like I always get the chance to spend girly time with my daughter. How do you say it: suck it up?"

This only meant long, long days at the seamstress, being transformed or whatever. It helped some with my dread of seeing Jonathan. When I left Australia I was actually glad to be away. Not that I don't love my mother, of course I do, but I've never given much thought to elegant clothes and weeks of doing that wasn't actually my coup of tea.

So imagine the expression on my face when, just arrived in Dublin, Eve let me know with the biggest grin on her face that I'm on duty for shopping and dress fitting. For her and for Sandy. Yey me, the fashion guru!

Not being able to at least use my bike seemed to worsen the situation. The sheer amount of things Eve actually bought required for a big space, which only a car could offer. If you must know, I passed this friendship test with flying colours and as a present Eve sent me one week ahead to the castle in the countryside where the wedding is about to take place. All the lights, the decorations, the flowers and any other thing you might think it would fit into the perfect marrying event is sent there. I am to be there to receive everything and in the end coordinate the team in charge with the arrangements.

I thought I will hate doing all these, since I am not a very good organiser, but the place where this castle is can only be described by the words "fairy tale". Green all over, fresh cold air in the mornings, which I enjoy with my morning runs, and silence. After being forced to talk and stay among people and shops, smiling and giving my opinion on happy things like dresses and weddings, I kind of needed some peace and quiet. The castle is small, built from stone, with ivy all over the outer walls. When Eve has said we'll be going to a castle for their union I thought about a big castle, something overboard, like she usually does. But this is more of a mansion with battlements and windows looking towards the sea. It is the ultimate escape place and I am really not sure how exactly Eve found it, but I am grateful to her for offering me this week which, even with all the commotion, is what I wished for.