Hi!
Sorry for the delay, I've been unbelievably busy! Anyway, this is a lovely long one to make up for it xD
This was written really quickly so it's not my usual standard but I hope you enjoy anyway, and please do review with your thoughts! -Sophie x
March rolled around, and with it came the excitement and buzz of Zoe and Max's wedding. Each day the ED became more and more excitable. With all the staff invited, they had lots to talk about- dresses, hair, hats, shoes, flowers, confetti, the bridesmaids (Grace and Louisa), best man (Lofty, who else?) and of course, the bride and groom themselves.
Connie, always one for showing off her clothing style, went all out on an outfit- figure hugging purple dress with a purple hat, decorated with a flower of the same colour. She even bought herself a new bag and shoes- it came to well over £600 by the time she had finished!
On the morning of the wedding, Connie woke both her girls up at 6:00am in order for them to be ready in time. She padded along to Grace's room first and stirred the sleeping girl. Once she realises what day it was, she was up and already excited! Grace ran into Louisa's room and jumped on her to wake her up.
"Get up get up get up! It's Zoe's wedding today!" She sang, jumping up and down until Louisa sat up, her hair all over the place.
"Alright alright I'm awake." She grumbled, shoving Grace onto the floor playfully and standing up, yawning.
"Mum?!" She called.
"Yes?"
"Are we showering here or at Zoe's?!"
"Here but be quick!"
"K."
Louisa looked down at her little sister who sat cross legged on the floor.
"Right, action stations Gracie. You go to the bathroom first, do your teeth and get a quick shower then go put some clothes on, doesn't matter which. I'll get dressed now then I'll use the bathroom when you're done, ok?"
She nodded and jumped up before darting up the stairs to the bathroom. Louisa dressed in her comfy jeans and Big Bang Theory top, then ran a hairbrush through her hair. Once Grace had finished in the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and got a quick wash before going back downstairs and meeting her sister on the landing.
"Breakfast!" She grinned and the two girls raced each other down stairs. Sliding into the kitchen, the younger girl looked triumphant.
"Ha, I win!"
Louisa just stuck her tongue out before sidling over to Connie who was still in her pajamas and stood on her phone.
"What's for breakfast?"
"Whatever you decide to make." She looked up and smiled sweetly before kissing her daughter on the forehead. "Though be quick, you've got half an hour until we're off."
"Awh. Was sort of hoping you'd make pancakes as it's such a special occasion." Louisa pouted and her mother laughed.
"Nice try sweetheart. Go on, we've got porridge, sugar puffs or chocolate shreddies. I'm going to get dressed and collect our dresses together ok? Don't burn the kitchen down."
…
20 minutes later and the Beauchamp household were all on their way to Zoe's house where the women were based. The guys were all at Robyn and Lofty's, though for that day it was just Lofty's.
"Right, please behave you two- no running about or jumping on furniture like you do at home."
"Mum we're 15 and 7, not 5 and 7 months." Louisa rolled her eyes and looked back to Grace who did exactly the same thing.
"You two, honestly…" She murmured, pulling up outside her colleague's house.
"Looks much nicer without a load of drunks in the garden doesn't it?" She remarked, climbing out and opening the door for Grace before collecting their dresses from the boot.
As they made their way to the front door, Grace ran on in front and rang the doorbell excitedly. The door quickly opened and Tess appeared, smiling down at the young girl.
"Hello sweetheart! Come in, come in."
"Hi auntie Tess! Is uncle Charlie here too?" She peered around the doorway as she took her shoes off.
"No, he's with Max at Lofty's remember?" She smiled as Connie and Louisa approached, Connie's arms laden with dresses.
"Hello you two, Connie the dresses can go up in the spare room- hair and make-up first apparently." The woman moved out of the way so they could enter, and the two girls followed Tess into the living room.
They were the last to arrive, and sat on every available surface (including the floor) were Zoe, Robyn, Rita, Lily, Louise, Dixie and some women they guessed were family members. They were all holding champagne glasses and laughing amiably. Zoe stood up when they entered and went over for a hug.
"These are my boss' daughters, Louisa and Grace." She explained to the suspected family members. "They're my two bridesmaids! How're feeling girls, excited?"
"Well this one woke me up by jumping on me going "Get up get up get up!" and now I probably have a few cracked ribs, so I'm guessing she's excited." Louisa grinned, placing a hand on her sister's back before pointing the floor by Tess' chair.
"Let's go sit down."
When Connie appeared at the doorway, the unknown women were introduced.
"This is my mother, Serena." She pointed at the oldest who looked around 60.
"These are my sisters, Hannah and Harriet-"
"Wait, are you called Hannah Hanna then?" Connie asked, raising an eye. Hannah laughed slightly.
"No no, I used to be but I got married last year. I'm Hannah Jackson now."
"Ah right." Connie smiled and Zoe continued.
"And this is Claire, Harriet's daughter." She motioned to a baby that was being rocked in a carrier. The girl's hadn't even noticed it when they entered but Connie went over and smiled.
"Goodness, she's adorable! I remember when Grace was that tiny." She sighed, reaching out and stroking her tiny fingers.
"She's tiny but she's got one hell of a loud voice on her!" Harriet grinned just as an elderly woman came in dragging a chair.
"Oh, and this is my nan, Beau." She smiled, watching as she set the chair down next to Tess.
"I heard the doorbell, thought I'd get another chair on the way back from the loo." She smiled, hobbling over to the armchair in the corner of the room.
"Oh, thankyou." Connie smiled, sitting down. Grace edged over to Connie's knees and laid her head against them, letting her mother stroke her hair.
…
After topics of conversations ranging from work, to family memories to underwear, there was another doorbell and Zoe let in the stylist to do their hair. She was introduced as Anna and smiled widely.
"Right, who do I need to get through?" She asked, looking round uncertainly.
"Not all 13 of us, don't worry." She grinned. "Just me and the two girls over there- Louisa the older one and Grace the younger."
"Oh thank goodness for that! Right, can I set up in the kitchen as planned?"
"That's fine. The girls will take the least time I think so do theirs first, I'll go last whilst they dress."
Anna nodded before taking her things through to the kitchen. Louisa hauled herself up and held a hand out for Grace. She looked at Connie with a worried expression.
"Will you come sit with me?" she asked and Connie raised her eyebrows.
"No way on this earth are you shy Gracie Beauchamp."
She shot her a pleading look before grinning when she sighed.
"Fine, fine." Connie muttered, picking up a glass of champagne and swatting Louisa's hand away as she tried to do the same before taking Grace's hand and going into the kitchen.
Anna looked up as they turned the corner and smiled.
"So Grace, you first?" She asked and the girl nodded slightly.
"Great. Come jump up here for me and we'll see what I can do."
With a little help from Connie, the girl jumped up onto one of the bar stools and Anna began to work.
…
20 minutes later and she had a curly bun over her left shoulder, and just enough make-up to do her justice.
Then it was Louisa's turn. She had exactly the same style except her hair was much longer so she could fit some flowers into her bun.
After admiring themselves in the mirror, the three went back into the living room and told Zoe it was her turn before ascending the stairs to the spare room.
"Right, I'll get dressed in here with Grace. No doubt you'll get stuck in it like you did for Zoe's engagement party." She laughed and Grace scowled. "Lou, you use the bathroom- come wait for is when you're done."
"Ok." She smiled and took her dress along the landing. She changed quickly, trying to keep her hair and make- up as neat as possible until she was finally in.
There was no denying it- she looked stunning, years older than she was. Grinning in the mirror, she snapped a picture and sent it to her boyfriend before going back to her mother and sister, arms clutching her other clothes.
"I'm done!" She called, knocking on the door.
"Just a sec!" Connie called back, and the door opened. Grace grinned up at her in her little red dress.
"You look like a little princess." Louisa smiled, getting her phone back out. "Let's get a quick picture!" The little girl struck a pose, then Connie came out.
"Mum you look… Wow." The teenager said in surprise. Connie smoothed it down, looking slightly worried.
"Does it look ok? I'm starting to think I should have gotten the blue one…"
"Don't be silly, you look great. I want a picture of you too!"
Connie laughed and she took it before putting the phone back in her pocket and throwing her clothes on the bed.
On the way back downstairs, they passed Zoe was coming up with Hannah and Harriet to get dressed. The girls gave her a thumbs up as they passed and went back into the living room. As soon as they appeared, there was an immediate, collective "awh!" and they smiled, giving a quick twirl.
"I know I'm adorable, you don't need to "awh"." Connie grinned, ushering the girls in further. They sat on Zoe's, Hannah's and Harriet's spare seats whilst everyone else complimented them.
"You three look like royalty." Tess smiled from her chair where she was looking after baby Claire. Robyn and Rita nodded in agreement.
"Thanks auntie Tess." Grace grinned.
"Oh, Robyn-" Louisa suddenly asked, "will you get a photo of us three together please?"
"Sure thing."
The girl threw her phone at her and they stood, Connie's hands on their backs.
"Say cheese!" The nurse grinned and they smiled whilst she pressed the button.
"Thanks!" Louisa smiled, taking her phone back and sending the picture to her mum's phone.
…
By the time Zoe came down from getting dressed, the photographer had arrived and had snapped some photos of everyone. He'd come from the boy's place, but refused to show Connie or Robyn any of his photos.
At 2pm, the group opened the door and congregated outside as Zoe descended the steps.
She looked perfect- her cheeks shone with a mixture of happiness and nerves, and her dress clutched her body in just the right places. Her hair was styled into a sleek black bun and her make-up was done to perfection.
Everyone crowded round her and told her how pretty she looked, but she waved them away.
"We've got to go!" She insisted, "Grace, Connie and Louisa with me and mum in the limo. The rest of you- we'll meet you there!"
They cheered and clapped, and her neighbours came out to wish her luck as they climbed into the car and began to move away.
…
"Nervous?" Connie asked, noticing the slight tremble in Zoe's stature. She nodded, looking out the window.
"In case he doesn't turn up."
"You'll be fine." She placed a hand on hers to try stop them shaking. "The great Zoe Hanna has no need for nerves. Not in that dress anyway, even if Max blows it, the rest of the men would be queueing up, trust me."
Zoe laughed quietly. "Thanks Connie. Though sit at the back, would you? I don't want him seeing you before me or he will blow it."
"I'd just fire him tomorrow." She winked as they pulled up outside the crowded church. Zoe took a deep, shaky breath, looking out to where the men were mingling with the women before they were ushered inside.
Her mother helped her out of the car before pulling her into a hug.
"Go get 'em darling." She whispered before pulling away and following Connie into the church. Louisa looked round.
"Zoe who's giving you away?" She asked.
"Charlie- my dad died and I don't have any brothers. He's sort of a father figure to us all in the ED anyway, he should be out in a minute." The woman smiled slightly, wringing her hands. In an attempt to take her mind off of the nerves, Louisa spoke again.
"Have you got everything in the rhyme? Something old something new, something borrowed something blue?"
Zoe nodded.
"Old- my engagement ring, it belonged to Max's grandma or something. New- this dress. Blue- underwear but don't tell anyone." She winked and Grace pulled a face.
"Borrowed- oh." She stopped. "Quick, can I borrow a hair pin?"
Louisa grinned and pulled a pin from her hair. "Am I the best bridesmaid or what."
Zoe rolled her eyes as the doors opened.
"Zoe!" Charlie said in surprise, looking her up and down. "You look stunning."
"Thanks." She smiled and Grace dashed up to him for a hug.
"Hi uncle Charlie! Do you like my hair?"
"Grace you look adorable." He smiled, "And you too Louisa- I like the dress."
"Thanks." She smiled before Charlie clapped his hands together.
"Right you beautiful women, ready for a wedding?" He asked and they nodded.
"Great." He opened the door and signalled that he was ready. The music started up and they quickly formed a line- Zoe at the front with Charlie, clutching his arm. Then Louisa, then Grace behind her. They made their way down the aisle, smiling until they reached the front where Max stood, waiting. He turned and his eyes widened before watering slightly.
"Beautiful, Dr Hanna." He whispered, taking her hand.
"You don't look so bad yourself." She replied, smiling as Charlie wriggled free from her grasp and let her go.
Grace and Louisa stood beside Lofty who was trying not to cry until they came to the vows. He held out a small cushion with two rings on it, and they exchanged their vows, all the while looking into each-other's eyes.
"And by the power vested in me," the priest said, motioning to the couple, "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride!"
Max grinned and pulled her into a deep, loving embrace as their audience stood and clapped.
"Mr and Mrs Walker everyone!" Lofty called and there was an extra loud cheer as the couple made their way outside for photos. The assembly crowded round them, and on the photographers count threw their confetti so it fluttered and swooped in the wind.
Connie found her girls and gave them both a huge kiss and a hug.
"You were perfect darlings." She smiled before taking their hands. "I love you both so much."
"We love you too." They said simultaneously, and went to congratulate the happy couple.