A/N: Here we go: GIRLS DAY OUT!
Chapter 8
Laura and Lizzy were enjoying their day in London.
Laura had seen Robbie of with both their bags at around 8 am and shortly after that her mother and niece had come. There was still enough time for a tea together exchanging the latest family and friends gossip and giving them the instructions for Monty and Osborne before Lizzie and Tony turned up to collect Laura.
Lizzie had to confess she had been nosy to see Laura´s mother and niece and was surprised as they were really different looking to Laura both quite tall and red-haired or at least her mother had been red-haired as it still shimmered a bit under the grey.
As Tony had promised to drive them to the station they were there in time and enjoyed the hours ride to London.
After talking about work a bit and Laura telling stories about James and Robbie and their cases in the past Lizzie couldn´t hide her curiosity: "Laura, you don´t have to answer but I was wondering, your mother and niece both look really different to you…."
Laura smiled at the younger woman: "Yeah, it´s quite obvious that I look different than the other women of our family. You know we are a bit of a patchwork family. My mother died giving birth to me and then first my grandma came to take care of me. But after a year she said to my Dad that he had to choose: he could find someone to look after me and take care of me himself or she would take me with her to live with her as my granddad wanted his wife back. It sounds a bit like a bad romance but as often with fate an old school friend of my Dad needed work as her husband died in an accident shortly before her son was born and so she came to look after both her son and me and then after our fifths birthdays they married…..so I got a Mom and a brother who is annoyingly three months older than me and you can be sure he still lets me know it all the time!"
Lizzie smiled back: "It really sounds a bit like a tear jerker….." but also sensing that she wouldn't get more personal details (she was already surprised getting this much information from the normally all work and nothing private Dr Hobson) she got on: "Okay, where will we go first when we arrive in London?"
Laura looked out and then said: "As the weather is really nice how about a walk through Hyde Park to Harrods and then we see where it takes us?"
That was what they did then. After strolling through Harrods they bought freshly made sandwiches in the famous food hall and took them to St. James Park having their lunch sitting on the grass watching the birds, squirrels and people.
From there they made their way via Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Street and after some smaller shops they made it to Selfridges.
"God, are you as tired as I am, Lizzie?" Laura asked. "Can you believe that is it 4 pm already?"
"What?" Lizzie looked at her watch and then at their bags, looked like they had bought more than she had thought. "When should we be at the hotel to meet with James and Robbie?"
"We said around 6, so we have a bit of time which is good, there is a nice tearoom in one of the backstreets and I also have to collect my dress for tomorrow night."
So after having tea and some very delicious cake they walked to a little shop where Laura had ordered her dress.
She was greeted by the owner quite warmly which told Lizzie that Laura was a regular customer here.
"Hello Laura, there you are. The dress is ready, will you try it?"
"Hi Celia, nice to see you. Yes, I guess I try it but I know it will fit perfectly as always." And with that Laura went to the dressing room.
Celia smiled at Lizzie: "It´s always easy to make a dress for someone who has the same figure and weight for years….I really don´t know how she manages that. She ordered this one for her parents 45th wedding anniversary in four weeks and just called last week and said she needed it already tomorrow…You are going to pay for two night shifts Laura!" she called to the dressing room.
"I know. Drinks and dinner on me the next time you come to Oxford!" with that Laura came out.
Lizzie was just staring she couldn´t help it. Laura was wearing an ice-blue taffeta dress in the style of the fifties a bit over the knee and with petticoats under it.
"As said perfect as ever, Celia! You are really the goddess of sewing." Laura was beaming at the two woman. "What do you think, Lizzie?"
"I think, Robbie´s eyes will pop out when he sees you and if you two don´t show up for the dinner at all I know why?" Lizzie answered.
"Okay, I guess that is the best compliment I can get, thanks Lizzie." Laura went back to the dressing room to change again.
"You´re a colleague of Laura?" Celia asked.
"Yes, but only for a few months, I was transferred from Manchester to Oxford."
"I was in school with Laura and she was one of my first clients when I started this business. I really owe her and her mother a lot wearing my dresses and telling everyone about me."
When Laura came back Celia packed the dress in a duffel bag and after paying they chatted a bit more until Laura´s mobile rang.
"Oh, the boys are at the hotel. We better go there now too, Lizzie. Thanks for everything Celia! Oh looks like you get another customer" Laura said hugging Celia good-bye.
Looking out Lizzie and Celia both saw a woman standing outside. She looked a bit shy and as if she didn´t know if she should come in or not.
"Oh, yes. My little Cinderella who came here with her fairy godmother…"Celia opened the door for Laura and Lizzie to let them out: "Good-bye you two. Lizzie, if you ever need a special handmade dress let me know…Hello, please come in, love, the dress is ready and waiting for you." And with that she shoved two out and one in.
Going out Laura smiled encouragingly at the woman who looked like being hit by a truck or in this case by Celia and noticed the most incredible green eyes she had ever seen. Going on with Lizzie to the hotel Laura thought that she would love to see this woman in her dress. It would be for sure some kind of Cinderella-like metamorphosis.
A/N: As always thanks for the reviews, it´s nice to know that some are reading my story and enjoying it as I do with writing it.
