"Can I get you girls some mimosas to start?" A waitress walked over to the table where Thea, Jude and Cassie were sitting at. They were in a breakfast bar a few days later. Jude had been convinced to go out and spend the day with her sisters. She knew once she was out and in their company it wouldn't be as bad as thinking about it leading up to it. It had been a while since all three of them got time on their own and they were taking this opportunity.
"You absolutely can." Cassie nodded immediately.
"Yeah, please." Jude nodded.
"Just orange juice for me." Thea nodded to the waitress.
"No problem, I'll be back to take your order." The waitress nodded to them, wandering away.
"I thought you couldn't drink." Thea looked across at Jude, "Breast-feeding?"
"Yeah, I've gave up on that." Jude nodded, "She wasn't even interested. Plus, with me being kinda out of it for the past few weeks, it's been easier for Sean to feed her with the formula. It's not like he can take my boobs off me." She said.
"I didn't even think you were planning to breastfeed." Cassie shook her head.
"I wasn't." Jude said, "But because Mirren came early, and she's kinda smaller, the nurses were trying to get me to give it a try." She said, "But I mean… she's doing just fine with the formula." She said.
"What is her and Sean up to today then?" Thea asked.
"He was going to visit his mom with her for the day." Jude nodded.
"Sofia is spending the day with mom. She thinks she's looking after her. She brought this little doctor kit that we got her for Christmas. She puts band-aids on her teddy bears and stuff so… I reckon mom's gonna get a few of them." Thea chuckled to herself.
"She loves that stuff." Cassie shook her head, "Plus she can't sit still right now being off from work and having to take it easy." She said.
"Didn't she have an appointment with her doctor a couple days ago?" Thea asked.
"Yeah, it went well. They did scans and stuff, there's no swelling and things are looking good." Cassie nodded positively.
"Well that's a relief." Thea nodded, "She caught me and Dominic having sex the other morning." She scoffed as Cassie rolled her eyes.
"What?" Jude laughed, "Where?"
"In the kitchen." Thea shrugged, "I totally forgot she was coming. And I feel so bad about it but I was so mad. James was at school, Sofia was napping, Dominic got home from work for his lunch break… it was the only time-"
"Oh, you poor little deprived thing." Cassie frowned with uninterest as Thea scoffed.
"What have you been up to anyway? You've been very quiet?" Thea asked her littlest sister.
"I've been working." Cassie nodded.
"Saving cats from trees?" Jude teased as Cassie rolled her eyes.
"No, actually… finding out vandalised the Lincoln statue." Cassie said as Thea looked at her with confusion.
"You're serious?" Thea asked in a shocking tone, "You slaved over police academy for that?"
"Well I'm just starting out, plus… that shit is harder than you think. There's a lot that goes into it." Cassie defended.
"We're just teasing." Jude smiled, leaning into her sister beside as Thea sat across, "We're just jealous you have a cool job."
"It's true." Thea nodded too. There was still that mutual agreement between her in Jude to always protect Cassie, just like when they were growing up. She was the baby and they took care of her, no matter what age she was.
"It's hard doing it all on my own now." Cassie admitted.
"You miss Theo?" Thea assumed as Cassie nodded.
"Yeah… yeah, it's just so weird having to get used to him not being around." Cassie said, "And it's hard moving on when I… I had so much to say to him." She shook her head.
"I wish we could have met him properly." Thea nodded, "He seemed really sweet." She smiled.
"Oh, he was a jerk." Cassie smiled a little, "It was great." She nodded to herself.
"Have you spoken to dad's dad recently?" Thea asked her.
"No, I haven't spoken to him in a while. Although, I heard that dad and Dean are going to talk to him soon. I don't think it's gonna go anywhere." Cassie told them.
"Why do you think that?" Jude asked.
"Cause dad said it." Cassie said, "And now I just feel stupid for even unwrapping it all. Maybe it wasn't my right to go look into him. That was picking at old wounds for dad and Dean and… I just didn't even think." She shook her head.
"You were just curious. I'm sure we all were." Jude said as Thea nodded, "And dad has more answers now than he did before. He got truth from it. That's a good thing." She said.
"Speaking of dad and truth and… all that." Thea said, "I had mom asking me about dad and prison." She said.
"What about that?" Cassie asked.
"Well she said he's still having like… nightmares now and then about it. And he won't really talk to her about much that happened when he was there." Thea said, looking over at Jude as Cassie turned to Jude too.
"Why are you both looking at me?" Jude shook her head.
"Because you're dad's favourite and he tells you things he doesn't tell us." Thea nodded.
"I am not his favourite." Jude scoffed.
"Please, you're the one who kept visiting him when he was in prison." Thea said, "And I saw how close you guys were when he got out. He talked to you about things."
"Yeah, little bits here and there but nothing scandalous." Jude said.
"Well… what did he talk about?" Thea asked.
"Just what it was like." Jude shrugged, "He had a good cell mate the entire time so he was lucky that way. He stayed through a couple of riots. Saw some stupid shit." She shrugged.
"Well what was the stupid shit?" Cassie asked.
"I don't know, he never told me." Jude shook her head innocently, "I was fifteen when he got out. I doubt he was gonna get into the details." She said.
"I don't know… the more time passes it's easier for us to forget he was ever gone but… he must have felt every second of those eight years." Thea shook her head.
"Is there a difference between him before prison and after?" Cassie asked them, "Because I only… I only know the after." She said, "You guys obviously knew him before."
"Well I was only little." Jude shrugged, her and Cassie looking over at Thea who was best equipped to answer that.
"Yeah, he… he was different." Thea nodded, "Not… not in terms of how he acted or anything like that. He's pretty much just the same guy but… I don't know, there was a change about him. Before he was really loud, I guess. I remember going to Hawks games with him and he'd know everyone in the streets, he'd shout over to them, talk to everyone… now he leaves the house and I know he hopes not to bump into anyone or see anyone he knows." Thea said, "I don't know if that's a prison thing or just an age thing maybe." She shrugged.
"I think he likes just living in his own bubble now." Cassie nodded.
"If mom is worried about him why doesn't she just talk to him?" Jude asked Thea.
"I don't know, that's what Dominic said to me." Thea shrugged, "Maybe she's scared. If Dominic was gone for eight years in prison with… bad people around him every day, I'm not sure I'd really wanna know what happened." She said.
"Yeah, I guess." Jude nodded.
"So dad and Dean are talking to Daniel soon?" Thea asked Cassie who nodded.
"Yeah. I think it's just too late now. I don't think they feel like they're gonna gain much from it. I mean to build a whole relationship with your dad at that age… I can understand how deflating it must be." Cassie said.
"Yeah, I think too much time has gone by. Too much has happened." Jude nodded.
"At least they know what happened now and… I mean he is around. I doubt if any of us said we wanted to see him, dad would stop us." Thea said.
"Well he said to me that he wouldn't. If we wanted to visit him and get to know that he wouldn't step in the way." Cassie nodded, "Like he did with Sam, I guess."
"Where has she been?" Jude asked.
"God knows." Cassie shook her head.
"She's her own worst enemy." Thea shook her head, "It's annoying cause I know she cares about us."
"No, she cares about you." Cassie corrected, "She's never gave a shit about me or Jude. Or mom or dad." She said, "She just has this weird connection with you."
"Why? Because we're both alcoholics?" Thea raised a brow.
"Did I say that?" Cassie raised a brow back.
"Come on, Thea. You know she's right." Jude nodded, "You're just closer with her. It's fine."
"Yeah well not now after how she's been acting." Thea shook her head, "I don't wanna be around that shit."
"I'm surprised her liver hasn't gave out at this point." Jude said.
"Hopefully it does soon." Cassie said.
"Yeah, ok, Cass. That's a bit much." Thea nodded.
"Is it?" Cassie questioned, "She literally abandoned dad and Dean their whole lives. I know you've both saw those files. Pictures." She said, "I'm surprised she was never even arrested for how she neglected them."
"They should have been taken away from her." Jude nodded, "Permanently."
"It's not really our situation to get involved with." Thea said, "That's dad and Dean's personal stuff." She shook her head.
"Yeah can we talk about something less tragic?" Jude nodded.
"Like your wedding?" Thea grinned excitedly.
"Pass." Jude said.
"Oh, come on." Thea laughed, "You've gotta be excited."
"I'm excited, yeah. But I only got engaged a few weeks ago. Me and Sean have already talked about it and we don't wanna get married until at least another year."
"Good. The longer you wait, the more planning time you have." Thea said excitedly, "And look what I picked up at a stationary shop on my way here." She said, pulling out a wedding planner journal from her purse.
"You're too much." Cassie scoffed, "Where are these mimosas?" She groaned.
"It's perfect for you." Thea told Jude, "You can draw in it. You love sketching things out." She said as Jude took the journal from her.
"This is actually pretty sweet." Jude smiled a little, browsing through the journal.
"And you need to decide who your maid of honor is." Thea nodded.
"Oh, I've already asked Kirsty." Jude nodded briefly as Thea looked at her unhappily.
"And what am I?" Thea questioned.
"Bridesmaid." Jude nodded to her.
"Did you even consider me for your maid of honor?" Thea asked.
"Well yeah but then I… I didn't wanna have to choose between you or Cassie so… I didn't pick either of you. It's fair that way." Jude nodded.
"Or… you could have just picked me." Thea smiled dramatically with her hands out, "Cassie doesn't care about this stuff." She scoffed.
"She's right. I don't." Cassie nodded honestly as Jude looked at her.
"I've already asked Kirsty. She's my best friend." Jude shrugged, "And I'm not choosing between you both." She said firmly.
"Great, so I have to wait like what? Twenty years until Cassie finally gets married to be maid of honor?" Thea asked as Cassie tutted.
"Excuse me?" Cassie looked across at her.
"Oh, honey come on, you show more commitment to your sweat pants." Thea said.
"Sweat pants can't hurt me. Men can." Cassie nodded.
"That is very true." Jude agreed, looking over at Thea who was sitting quietly and unhappily, "What's the big deal, Thea?" She shook her head, "It's just a stupid label."
"You're my little sister and you're getting married." Thea said, "I want to be the one you come to when you're having wedding problems. You deserve the best day and I… I wanna make sure you get it." She shrugged sincerely.
"You don't need to be my maid of honor for me to come to you with problems." Jude assured her, "You guys are way too important to choose between. So… I'm just gonna have the best bridesmaids ever in the history of all weddings." She shrugged cockily as Thea smiled a little, "And Thea is in charge of bridesmaids dresses-"
"What?!" Cassie exclaimed.
"Yes!" Thea cheered happily.
"Are you kidding?" Cassie turned to Jude, "She'll have us wearing shit that I can't breathe in with slits and off the shoulder this and off the shoulder that-"
"Yeah and you'd have us wearing overalls if you could." Thea scoffed.
"Hey, there is nothing wrong with a good pair of overalls." Cassie warned.
"Thea is good with that stuff. She'll pick you something nice." Jude laughed, "Mom also gets a say in it too." She added.
"Yeah, she warned me that you better not find your actual wedding dress today." Cassie nodded.
"God, you guys are really going to make me go try on wedding dresses? I'm still carrying baby weight." Jude groaned.
"Yes, we are. And it's gonna be fun." Thea smiled as Jude just shook her head with a smile. It was hard not to get sore ribs from laughing when she was with her two sisters. This was a pretty good therapy in itself.
"Please can I wear this?" Cassie asked, coming out of the dressing room into the lounge area with a dress on and a very large hat.
"It's annoying that you actually look good with that hat on." Thea nodded, sitting on the couches in the middle as Cassie laughed, looking in the mirror at herself.
"I feel like if I bend over this thing is gonna split in two." Cassie said.
"Why would you be bending over?" Thea smiled a little.
"Lots of answers to that question." Cassie nodded, "Do I tilt the hat to the side?" She wondered, tilting the large hat to the side as Thea chuckled a little.
They'd been messing around in the wedding dress shop, trying on different dresses, having got the lounge area cordoned off for them on their own, which only encouraged them to mess around even more.
"Hey, guys." Jude called from behind the curtain in the main dressing room.
"Yeah?" Thea questioned.
"Come in." Jude said wearily as Thea stood up, walking towards the dressing room as Cassie put the hat on her, opening up the curtain and walking in where Jude had a wedding dress on.
"Oh, you look amazing." Cassie gasped.
"Oh my God." Thea smiled.
"It's stuck!" Jude exclaimed as Thea and Cassie's expression changed, "I can't get out of it." She panicked as Thea laughed a little.
"What?" Thea chuckled.
"I'm serious." Jude said, "I can't get the zipper down."
"Ok, turn around." Thea scoffed as Jude turned around, allowing her sister to take a look at the zip.
"Why do you have a hat on?" Jude shook her head with confusion, looking in the mirror at Thea who had Cassie's gigantic hat on her head.
"What's wrong with this zip?" Thea scoffed, trying to pull the zip down.
"Don't break it, we'll have to pay for it." Cassie warned, "How much is it?" She wondered, finding the tag on the bottom of the trail.
"How much?" Jude worried.
"Oh my God." Cassie's eyes widened as she saw the price, "Yeah, I'm not gonna tell you but just… be very careful with that zip." She warned Thea.
"It's stuck. I can't get it down." Thea worried.
"What am I going to do?" Jude panicked.
"It's fine, just pull it over your head." Thea nodded, "Put your arms up and me and Cassie will pull it up."
"Fine." Jude said, putting her arms up as Thea and Cassie stood at either side, trying to pull the dress up over her head, getting it as far as they could before they realised they couldn't get it much further.
"It won't go any further." Thea complained, having pulled the dress past Jude's face a little, to the point where it was stuck with her arms in the air, over her face.
"It has to!" Jude hissed quietly.
"Breathe in." Cassie told her.
"I am!" Jude said.
"Cassie, pull it up on 3." Thea ordered, "1… 2… 3." She said, pulling the dress up with all her strength, stepping back and slipping on the end of the silk dress, falling down and taking the dressing room curtain down with her as Cassie placed her hand over her mouth.
"Oh my God." Cassie laughed.
"What's going on? I can't see." Jude complained, the wedding dress half up her body as Cassie looked over at the shop assistant who was looking over at the three of them with slight disgust upon the reveal behind the dressing room curtain of the three of them.
"Is my hat ok?" Cassie asked Thea who was tangled up on the curtain on the floor.
"Jude, I think we might need to call some firemen." Thea said, tossing the curtain aside as Jude chuckled as did Cassie.
"That's not funny." Jude laughed, not being able to help it.
"It is." Thea got back to her feet.
"We're about to get thrown out of here." Cassie laughed, noticing the shop assistants talking to each other.
"Jude, you're gonna have to leave the shop like this." Thea teased.
"Ok, I can't see, but I can't beat your ass." Jude warned as Thea chuckled with Cassie, "This is why neither of you are my maid of honor." She made clear jokingly as they laughed, trying their best to get her out of the dress without wetting themselves with laughter,
