"Jean, you know how long it takes you to get normally let alone for a wedding." James calls up the stairs in an attempt to wake me. James is my partner, we met at work but we couldn't have a proper relationship while I was his boss, so he left. We now live together and have been together properly three and a half years. Today though I woke up half an hour ago in a particularly bad mood for the reason that today is my niece's wedding, which I spent months planning but after all of that I can't help but feel that anything I've done will be appreciated. Not only that but even James, who usually wakes me with a cuddle, a kiss and a coffee seems to be short with me this morning.
The thought of spending a day with those who used to be my family isn't an appealing one because although I said she was my niece, by blood we aren't related, she's Richard's niece. Relation by marriage, a marriage that ended just under five years ago. Evie, Richard's niece, and I were always close so I owe it to her to go to her wedding, it's the by product of a day with ex-family that's the problem even though James and my son Chris will be there.
"Yeah I'm up, give me ten minutes to get dressed and I'll be down for a coffee." I call back down.
Fake smiles and fake pleasantries, that's how I've decided to play today. The ceremony itself was beautiful and all went exactly to plan and it did a lot to improve my mood but now I'm sat at a table at the after party, seeing all the people who used to greet me nicely are now staring at me sourly as James gently rubs my arms. I should have known they'd be like this because although it was Richard's cheating that brought about our divorce and I've been with James three and a half years, it's the first time we've been together at an event with his family.
I can't sit here moping forever so I've made it over to Richard's younger sister, the one that isn't mother of the bride.
"Great to see you here Julie." I say as I offer her a smile, which unsurprisingly isn't returned.
"Jean." She replies, just about tolerating the fact that I'm talking to her.
"Nice ceremony wasn't it?" I ask trying to keep the conversation light.
"Lovely." Julie replied bluntly.
"Who's this baby?" James asks me as he comes up behind me.
"This is Julie, Richard's younger sister. Julie this is James, my partner."
"Congratulations on your daughters wedding."
"She's not my daughter." Julie replies as she tosses James a disapproving look.
"Sorry my bad."
"Well she was a bundle of fun." James laughs as Julie walks away.
"I don't think she approves of us James."
"It's none of their business, who cares if they approve?"
"Just take me away James."
I'm curled up in bed now although it's little after four. I'm fed up of this day and I can't wait for it to end. As I thought no one actually thanked me for the planning the wedding today so the unappreciated feeling in my stomach all day has got progressively worse as the days gone on. The plan for the rest of the day now is to stay in bed and out of everyone's way.