Contractually Ever After

I'm sat both curious and nervous as to why Uncle Gary has invited my parents and I to Slate Towers for a personal meeting. The building itself is quite impressive, beautiful cream and bronze polished marble steps as you embark up to the main doors of the building, I've been here plenty of times, I've just never truly appreicated its magnificence. That's where my thoughts drifted off to when I heard my father clear his throat to get my attention as Uncle Gary walks into the room. "As you know, it's coming to the time where I want to retire so myself and Diane can relax more." Gary starts off. "Here, here time to start planning some r&r in the carribean with very good friends." my dad joins in with my mum coyfully giggling along. "So time has come for me to pass my empire on, but in order for me to do that, things must be put in motion. Bill, I know we've already had a talk about the upcoming nuptials arranged, but have you informed our beautiful young Ava ?" Upcoming Nuptials, what the hell is going on. Mum and dad haven't told me of any wedding, and why do I need to be informed. "Avs Honey," my mother pulls away from the thought train. "we've had a long-standing agreement with Gary that when you're of age, you're to be wed. It's all set and you'll meet your groom on 8th March at 11.30 am." "Mum, that's just over a week away, and I'm getting married !" the shock evident as my knuckles whiten from holding onto the marble table like I'm about to pass out. "I don't even know who too," "It's fine honey, it'll be a quiet ceremony, and he's a fine young man who'll take great care of you." "But I'm only 20 mum, and I thought the idea of betrothed marriage went out of fashion decades ago." "We just want to make sure you're taken care of with someone we know and approve off" "What so you, dad, Uncle Gary and Auntie Diane can piss off sunning it up in St Lucia." I received a pointed look off my father to not embarrass him in front of his longest friend, my uncle Gary, and to respectfully know my place in the family. "Wonderful, so it's all settled. Does anything need to be finalised for the big day, Gar ?" My dad says, grinning as he's stands up to shake hands with his best friend. "No, no, I believe Dianna and Julia have it all sorted. All that's left is a nice day for us dad's at the golf club." I am absolutely floored. Everyone knows and has had part to play in this scheme for years and I'm finding out a f*****g week before I'm due to be shipped off, like a prized cow. I stand, go and give uncle Gary a hug and tell my parents I'll wait for them in the car, excusing myself. I am bloody outraged ! Mum saunters behind me, with a worried look on her face. "Dad and Gary are going out to pick up suits. After golf, he'll be home later." "Mum, this honestly can't be happening, 9 days until I'm married, 9 pissing days !" "Language Ava! besides, we've got a girly day ahead of us anyway. We're going to meet Auntie Diane for brunch and go off to Aurora and Pearl to pick you a dress." She seems so excited to have a girls' day even though it's at my expense, I can't help but roll my eyes and agree. Mum gleefully claps her hands and ushers me into the car. We soon arrive at The Velvet Scone, excellently known for their passionfruit martinis, Diane's favourite ! I gingerly exit the passenger side of mums Audi and flatten down my chiffon mid calf skirt, the nervously fussing with my baliaged blonde curls. No wonder she told me to make an effort today, and luckily, it's a rather mild day for the end of February. "Darlings" Auntie Diane gushes over us as we hand our jackets to the cloakroom attendant. " Now we have precisely an hour and a half until we've got the dress fitting so plenty of time to fill you with liquid courage gorgeous girl." she beams at me. we're gestured to our private booth already stocked with breakfast pastries and enough drinks to run a whetherspoons. I glance behind me to catch Auntie and Mum standing back whispering. Oh my, what do they have planned for me. I am getting a feeling I'm going to need a lot more than liquid courage with these 2 around. "scoot over b***h" I craine my neck to be greeted by my bestest friend Penny. "what the f**k are you doing here ? do you know ? and do you know who the hell I'm marrying ? spit it out, you could have pre warned me. And when did you get back from Rome?" A dirty giggle escapes her. "Ofcourse I knew and before you start you fiery minx I was sworn to secrecy, you know what mum is like but no I don't know who too. That I swear" "God your such an awful liar Pen ! I've known you for 13 years give a girl a break..." "Two tequilas please Jaun" Penny cuts me off clearly I've had all the information she's willing to give. The hour and half drones on of talk of a wedding I've had no hand in planning. No information on the man I'm due to marry. On the plus side the tequilas and martinis are starting to make us all wobbly and giggly, I would hope to sneak information out of my pose but I know I'd have more luck getting national secrets from MI6. These women planned a surprise joint birthday party for dad and Gary for a whole year. Lips are sealed ! As we make our way down to Aurora and Pearl, I break away from the group to shoot my brother Nate a text. Do you know ? My phone pings back and I recieve curious wobbles of my girls. Not happy Av, but it is what it is. Great, nice one Nate, as I quickstep back to my captors. Ping my phone goes off again. Nice try hoe ! your brother won't spill x Penny kindly sent with 3 laughing emojis immediately following. I shoot her a death stare as she holds onto her mums arm. Bitch I mouth and she just laughs it off. We enter the gorgeous bridal shop thats embellished with pearls and crystals as far as the eye can see, whilst mum and Diane speak to the receptionist, Penny pulls me aside. " Please Avs try to enjoy this ! Pick a dress for you, that'll make you look and feel like a goddess." "But Pen..." she just gives me a soft compassionate shrug of her shoulders, like it's out of her hands as much as it is mine. I get handed a glass of crystale and led into a dressing room full of rails upon rails of beautiful gowns and at least I have this choice by myself whilst my bridal party is escorted to the viewing area. " We've been made aware already by your mother about colour and length of your dress, so we've brought them in here for you to pick a couple." All Brilliant white, floor length and none strapless clearly intended to preserve my modesty and to show I'm intact for my groom to be. One stands out, only one and I know instantly from it being on the hanger this is the one, I need look at no more. But I do manage to sneak off into the bridesmaid section and pick out a gorgeous sage green satin , 1 shoulder dress with a knee high slit in for my best friend. "Oh well in for penny in a for a pound" I chuckle to myself. I seem to float out onto the viewing platform, mum and Diane swoon at the sight of my dress. Chantilly lace adorns my arms to my elbow and across my chest where it meets the bodice, then the classic ball gown satin skirt with a short train. "Ooh the back, I love the back Avs. Very sexy!" Penny exclaims wagging her eyebrows. "This is it, this is the one." "But the back Ava" Diane starts, I was cautious about the back or should I say the lack of. It joins the bodice and skirt just at the bottom of my spine with 15 pearl buttons. " Let her have this one mum, please." " I agree Di, its gorgeous looks like it was made for her, her waist, her chest, looks unreal." Mum agrees with an excited gleam of pride in her eyes. "So are we saying yes to the dress?" my bridal assistant Cherry asks. "Yes" we squel. "But I have one more surprise for penny waiting in the dressing room" I rush out before I forget. Penny disappears, curiosity getting the best of her and returns sashaying up to the viewing area the sage radiating her skin tone, making her look like a gretican goddess in the bridesmaid dress I sneakily picked out for her. "What's this?" Our mums enquire insync. " Penny will you join on this mystery wedding and be my bridesmaid please ?" "Girls" Diane, Penny's mum warns. "Oh mum you can't possibly say no, this is so gracious of Ava." my mum laughs, knowing we've got Auntie Diane where she can't refuse. "Fine, you pair of sods." She chuckles agreeing. Our measurements are taken again, mum and Auntie picked out their outfits also in very similar styles just different colour patterns, they've always been like long lost twins when it comes to their fashion sense. We leave the bridal store all light and cheery, I'm finally starting to just accept my fate after all there's no beating the wicked witches of the west.