J & P Book 6 - Remember Me And Smile

Prologue - 9 February 2018

Jenny stood and stared at the contents of her wardrobe, blankly. She wasn't really seeing the clothes in there. As had often been the case this past fortnight, she was staring past what was in front of her again, trying to look beyond it.

A few years ago, she'd hoped she would never have to do this. True, over the last few years, she'd known this would happen one day, but it was always one day, never a specific day in the future. Now, it was today. And she needed something to wear.

There was a gentle tap at the bedroom door, and she heard someone come into the room. She knew it was her stepsister Becky, who together with her mother May and her half-sister Aimee were already round here at this early time to support her today.

"If you need me, Jen, just shout," she said, sitting down on the bed.

Becky had always been Jenny's wardrobe planner, especially in the days they'd lived together at home before they'd each flown the nest and set up homes of their own. Jenny didn't acknowledge her stepsister, in the last few years they'd grown closer than they had been for a good decade, and she felt very much at ease with Becky. But thinking about what today represented, she knew Becky must feel a little daunted by the task in hand.

"Of course," Becky said, eventually, "You could just stay in those pyjamas. They're very fetching. Where did you get them from?"

"Primark," Jenny admitted.

"Well, I love a bargain from Primani once in a while, Jen," Becky quipped. "Although I had you down as more of an M&S sleepwear girl."

Jenny nodded. "Generally."

"What's Grace going to wear?"

"She's got that little red dress she wore to Bryony's christening last summer. Still fits her, and he really liked her in that."

"Is that how you chose it? Because he liked her in it?"

Jenny nodded.

"Well then," said Becky, getting up and standing next to her, "That helps."

She stepped forward and ran her hands through the rails of Jenny's wardrobe. "What about..."

She pulled out Jenny's all-time favourite skirt; it hadn't been worn for a good while but was probably the right size for her now, she'd slimmed down recently. "Let's find a black top to go with that, shall we? You know where I'm going with this, don't you?" Jenny did know; Paul had often told Jenny that he found her most attractive in outfits like that, a fact she'd communicated to Becky previously.

Jenny stepped forward and reached for an item. "I wonder..." She pulled out the perfect thing. Again, it was one of the oldest things in her wardrobe but would probably fit.

"This is what I was wearing on the second of September 2001, the night we first got together," she admitted.

"Oh, Jen..." Becky said. "Are you sure you want to wear it today?"

Jenny nodded. "It'll be perfect." She heard her voice wobble and collapsed against her stepsister in anguish, emitting tears which she suspected would be the first of many today.

***

It wasn't a particularly religious service, although there were prayers. Andrew had just addressed the service with a few words about his father; he looked so smart today in a suit especially bought for the occasion; he'd been so brave. Jenny looked across at him in admiration (he was sitting with Patrick and Claire just opposite) as he returned to his seat. He'd done his dad proud, as she knew he would continue to for the rest of his life.