Robbie and Laura's wedding day dawned bright and clear. Laura grumbled at the alarm clock as it trilled out, and she swatted at it. Robbie smothered a grin, and tightened his grip around her waist. Laura shifted herself so that she was facing Robbie, and brought her hand up to caress his face gently. "I'm going to go for a quick swim," she told him and Robbie mumbled something incomprehensible about it being too early. Laura grinned. "You're strangely loveable," she observed, kissing him lovingly. "That's a relief," he observed wryly, "since you're marrying me a little later today." "So I am," she replied happily. Robbie kissed her slowly "I am the luckiest man in the world," he told her and Laura regarded him happily. "Today is going to be lovely," he continued and Laura smiled. "I think so too," she replied "and I better get up, because after my swim, I'm going to go and get my hair cut before I meet Ellen, Jean and Lynne,". Robbie grinned. The relationship between his soon to be wife and daughter brought him a great deal of pleasure, and he was rather pleased that Lynne was not only able to come to the wedding but that Laura had quietly and determinedly involved her throughout the planning. His son would be there today too, and Robbie was very much looking forward to having his nearest and dearest nearby. They'd kept the wedding deliberately small - a handful of friends, his children and their families, Hathaway and Innocent, Laura's brother and his wife and Laura's much beloved nieces. Laura's voice broke into his thoughts, and he smiled at her. "See you later pet" he replied, as she leant in to kiss him goodbye. "See you at LMH" she replied teasingly.
There was a merry crowd waiting for Laura when she walked up to the hairdressers later in the morning. Lynne greeted her affectionately, obviously pleased to see her and Ellen and Jean appeared within moments of each other. "Thank you so much for coming," she told them and a babble of responses returned to her. Ellen presented her with a box and Laura looked at her curiously for a second before she recalled Ellen's promise of a wedding gift. "Oh Ellie, she said softly when she saw the birdcage veil, adorned with a few cream flowers. "It's really lovely," she told her earnestly, leaning in to kiss her friend's cheek. "Your something new," Ellen replied and Laura smiled at her. "Ah yes," Lynne observed, and produced another box which she gave to a slightly perplexed Laura "you might be needing this too," Lynne explained "your something blue and your something old," she continued as Laura opened the box to discover a pair of sapphire studs. Laura suddenly felt rather choked, and she leant forward to hug Lynne. "They're antique, and just subtle enough to be you," Lynne told her and Laura nodded. "They're really lovely Lynne, just perfect." Laura told her, her voice nearly cracking and Jean rubbed Laura's shoulder gently, as a comforting gesture. Laura looked over at her and Jean squeezed her shoulder. "I complete your set," Jean told her and Laura looked surprised. "How so?" she enquired and Jean passed her another small box. "Your something borrowed," she replied and Laura chuckled. "Of course," she observed, opening the box to reveal a delicate diamond bracelet which she knew was a great favourite of Jean's. "Thank you Ma'am," she replied warmly, leaning over to kiss her friend warmly. Jean's eyes twinkled. "You are most welcome Laura," she replied, as the manager came to show them to the back of the salon to begin their appointments.
With a glass of elderflower presse in hand, Laura surveyed the scene rather happily. Highlights freshly done, and her hair nicely blowdried, she was very happy to be done, and wait for her friends. The others had opted for different styles, and it made Laura smile to see them all so glamourous. She cast her gaze to the window - it was proving to be a lovely warm day and she was looking forward to it tremendously. "How long have you and your partner been together?" the hairdresser asked Laura as she put the final touches to Lynne's hair and Laura was greeted with a cacophony of laughter. "Now there's a question we'd all like the answer to," Jean observed wryly and Laura pulled a face at her. Lynne smiled knowingly at Laura "well, by my reckoning, Dad's been in love with Laura for about five years," she remarked, quirking her eyebrows at Laura who blushed. "You've only been together for six months though," Jean interjected and Ellen laughed, before turning it into a cough under Jean's steely gaze. "Six months?" Ellen replied dubiously and Laura rolled her eyes. "My husband to be and I have been friends for a very long time," she said to the hairdresser, "and I suppose we've been dating in a roundabout way for about three years,' she paused and the hairdresser smiled encouragingly. Jean looked bemused, Lynne looked rather tickled. "And we decided to get married about two months ago," she concluded and the woman peered at Laura's left hand. "May I see your ring?" she asked and Laura dutifully held out her left hand. "Very pretty," the hairdresser remarked, "unusual colours."
Lynne looked over at Laura, perched on the windowsill and smiled at her. Laura and Lynne had been in touch with each other longer than anyone, much less Robbie, knew and they'd become good friends. "The stones on Laura's ring spell out 'dearest'" Lynne explained. "An old romantic, our Robbie" Jean observed, coming to sit next to Laura, who smiled broadly. The two women chinked glasses. "I can't quite believe this day has actually arrived," Jean owned and Ellen suppressed what sounded remarkably like a snort of derision. "I'll drink to that," she remarked cheerfully.