HELLOOOO –HOW ARE YOU ALL?
THANKS FOR READING AND PLEASE R&R
The day of the wedding came and Louisa was crazy and nervous – for her not a good combination. Irene, Calpurnia and Louisa were in Irene's bathroom putting Louisa's hair up.
'There, how beautiful do you look?' Irene smiled.
'Ma, I am so nervous' Louisa stood up, shaking.
'Don't be, you've been waiting for this forever' Cal said with a smile, as her and Irene rubbed her shoulders.
Her dress was plain and simple, it had been Calpurnia's, they didn't have much money, nobody really did these days, in this part of the world. She still looked beautiful, stunning, she walked out of the room. Cal and Irene followed, they walked to the front porch where Louisa was stood. Zebo skipped up the steps on the porch, swiftly kissed his sister on the cheek and hugged his mother.
'Hey Rena' he said to Irene, who was beaming at him.
'Hey to you too, trouble' he gave her a huge hug, she hadn't seen him for a long time.
He was to drive them to the church, Mr Finch had lent him his car, and had been invited to the wedding, but couldn't make it as he had a serious appointment with the Haverfords.
Calpurnia helped Louisa into the car and then Irene got in beside her, Calpurnia climbed into the front next to Zebo.
They drove up to the First Purchase Church, there were lots of people outside and as soon as they saw the car, they headed inside. Calpurnia climbed out and helped the girls out of the car, as Louisa's father had died two years ago, Calpurnia was to walk her down the aisle.
When they had all got themselves ready the bridesmaids, Irene and Sophia (Louisa's cousin) walked down the aisle with Louisa's two brothers. Zebo and Irene reached the end of the aisle and he kissed her on the cheek and they parted. The music changed and Louisa and her mother walked down the aisle, perfectly in time to the pretty music that flowed throughout the plain church.
It was the nicest wedding Irene had ever seen or been to, Stephen smiled broadly every time he looked at his Louisa, and Irene wasn't ashamed to admit she did cry at the vows, they were so beautiful.
'I'm going to miss you Rena' Louisa said when they were sat in her garden, where the reception was taking place.
'I'm going to miss you too, you'll visit me right?'
'I sure will!' Louisa looked at her sister, and hugged her, before she was pulled up by her brother, Ralph.
Irene sighed, got up from where she was sitting and walked through her house, out onto the street.
She walked along for a while, until she got to a wooden bench hollowed out of a log and sat down for a while. She didn't realise she had fallen asleep until she heard, 'Is this seat taken?'
Her eyes flicked open, and she sat upright, 'No, sorry' she coughed. Atticus sat down next to her.
'Is the wedding really that bad?' he asked her.
'No, just tiring, I've been up since four'
'What were you doing up so early?'
'I had to have breakfast, shower, get ready, put this dress on' she gestured to the flattering dress 'and then help Louisa get ready'
'Well, I'm sure it was worth it' he smiled looking at her
'Yes, it was' she smiled at him, then looked down. 'Did you get anywhere with the Haverfords?'
'Not at all, they are persisting in pleading innocent' he sighed, scooting down in his seat slightly, sitting in a less formal position.
'Well, that's not too good. When's the trial?'
'Two weeks on Thursday'
'Ahhh, is it a public trial?'
'Yes, they'll be hanged if they don't plead guilty'
'Don't worry; I'm sure they'll come round to their senses'
'Hmm'
'I should be getting back, I did promise Zebo a dance' she said, rising from the seat, as did Atticus.
They walked along, until they got to Irene's gate, they could hear the soft music now.
'Do you want to come inside? They would be glad to see you, you did lend them your car after all' she laughed.
'Alright, it would be nice to see Calpurnia after so long'
'Let's wait here for a minute, it's a slow dance'
'That doesn't matter, you don't have to dance' he walked up the stairs grinning at her.
'No- I will' but he had already gone inside.
'Hey Rena! Where have you been?' Zebo called, 'And who's your friend?'
'Zebo, this is Mr Atticus Finch' she replied, 'Atticus, this is Zebo, Louisa's brother' they shook hands and Irene was quickly dragged out onto the makeshift dance floor, she gave Atticus a quick glance asking for help, but he was too late.
'Humph' Irene slumped down into a chair next to Atticus 'Won't have to dance huh?'
'You weren't dancing for that long' he replied biting his lip, trying not to laugh.
'I danced for eight songs!'
'Yes, but did you enjoy yourself?'
'Yes, fine I did' she laughed.
'Well, you haven't asked me to dance yet, I felt quite offended' he said dryly.
'Come on then' she sighed getting up again.
'I was only joking- I'
'Too late Mister' she took his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor, he placed a hand on her waist, and she put her hand on his shoulder. The song had changed to a slow one, they pretended to be slightly annoyed but they realised they didn't really mind.
Their noses were close together, and every now and again their eyes caught each other's, when this happened their eyes locked and they gave a small smile, Irene's slight dimple at the corner of her mouth appearing more than once. They twirled around the dance floor together, synchronised and perfectly timed with the music and each other.
When the music stopped they stayed together for a moment, and then they parted and sat down. They sat in silence for a while, until Robert, Louisa's brother came and sat down.
'Hello Mr Finch, hey Rena'
They spoke for a while and it was a good hour and a half before guests started to leave, Irene offered to walk Atticus home, he gladly accepted.
'Are you back at work tomorrow?' he asked whilst they were working.
'Yes I am, have you got lots of papers for me to file?'
'Some, I have a lot of legal papers ready for the trial, I was going to do them myself, I didn't want to make you do extra work'
'I'm looking forward to it' she laughed, grinning at him, he chuckled.
'Well this is it' he sighed; Irene unhooked her arm from his and stepped back.
'Thank you for keeping me company tonight' she smiled.
'It was a pleasure ma'am' he grinned and then looked down, looking quite shy 'You look beautiful tonight' he said softly before turning around and walking up his path and then up his steps into his house.
Irene watched him go, and turned when he had gone inside, a smile creeping at her lips.
It was a week later and Irene was rushing around with lots of papers ready for the trial, the week after. She marched down the corridor, trying to be quick but without running, Atticus' office door was open so she walked in.
'Atticus I've g-' she looked up at Atticus, Jack and another woman who were all sat down 'Oh, so sorry Mr Finch' she turned to go.
'No, no don't worry' Atticus replied.
'Well I've just got-' Irene was cut off again.
'I was talking Miss' the woman said.
'Sorry ma'am' Irene stood in the doorway looking down at the papers in her hand.
'As I was saying,' the lady continued 'I think you should stay away from this Irene Graham woman' Irene's eyebrows went up, and she looked out the door biting her lip to stop herself from grinning. 'She's obviously got some sort of strange relationship with them, and is obviously unstable and very violent' the woman finished, and Irene could guess that she was Atticus' sister.
Atticus cleared his throat, he looked slightly amused at Irene's expression, and Jack was just sat there grinning. Irene walked across the office floor, and handed the papers to Atticus.
'They're some papers concerning the Haverfords' trial' Irene said, and then turned to face the woman who had stood up 'And you must be Mrs Hancock, I've heard a lot about you' Irene shook her hand warmly and gave her a smile 'I'm Irene Graham' she said with a grin. 'Sir' she nodded to Atticus 'Mr Finch' she winked and Jack, who was trying hard not to burst out laughing 'Ma'am' and she was out of the room, listening to Jack's chuckles as she walked quickly down the corridor.
