Chapter 12: Claire's Hen party
Claire was fixing a fence on border with Wilgul. It was beautiful sunny day and she hoped that will also be that nice tomorrow, when she will marry love of her life.
This night, however, was due for her Hen Party that Tess organized for her. Her and Alex weren't able to see each other this evening, as Tess pointed out that it's bad luck. Claire shook her head and smiled at the thought how Tess warned her about that.
'Tess and her signs', thought Claire, slightly chuckling.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind around waist, picked her up and whirled her around. In that process she managed to turn around screaming and laughing in the same time.
"ALEX!!", she wrapped her hands around his neck, allowing him to kiss her lips and she responded eagerly.
When they parted, Claire asked him through smile:
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, ya know how our siblings are...Tess and her signs..."
"Blah, blah, blah..."
"And Nick is the same. He will probably tie me up this evening to be sure that I don't sneak out to Drovers!"
They both laughed and kissed one more time.
"So, I thought to come to see you before sun goes down", whispered Alex.
Claire ran with her fingers through his hair, before their lips met again in long, soft and tender kiss.
"Ladies, I proudly pronounce Claire's Hen Party STAAARTEEEEEED!!!!!", she exclaimed and Meg, Claire, Jodi and Becky applauded. Jodi put Pink's "Get the party started" on when doors slammed open. Claire looked surprised at person who entered the house.
"Oi, McLeod!! FINALLY you two got together!!"
"STEVIE!!!!!", Claire ran toward her best friend "I was afraid that you won't be able to come!"
"What, and to miss the event of the century?! No way!!", she laughed and hugged her best friend tightly "I'm soooo happy for you, Claire! You two belong together!"
Claire's reply was tightening of their hug.
"Everybody, this is my best friend Stevie."
"I thought Alex was your best friend!", Stevie teased Claire earning devilish look from her best friend.
"Nah, he is more than that! Always has been and always will be!" , They all laughed and Claire added, laughing "All right, all right, it took me some time to admit it!"
Tess's eyes went wide open and she yelled:
"Some time?! SOME TIME?! It was whole 15 years of pure hell!!!!"
They all bursted to laugh. Tess smiled, handing her hand to Stevie:
"Hey, I'm Tess!"
"Aw, Claire's sister! It's sooo nice to finally meet ya!" , Stevie warmly smiled.
"Ya too!" , smiled Tess.
They all shook hands with Stevie.
"All right, so shall we start with the party?" , smirked Jodi.
"You bet we will!", she laughed putting music louder and taking a spoon as a microphone in her right hand. From CD player "Man! I feel like a woman! from Shania Twain played. Claire got up on the chair singing:
"I'm going out tonight-I'm feelin'
alright
Gonna let it all hang out
Wanna
make some noise-really raise my voice
Yeah, I wanna
scream and shout
No inhibitions-make no conditions
Get a little outta line
I ain't
gonna act politically correct
I only wanna have a
good time
The best thing about being a woman
Is
the prerogative to have a little fun and...
Oh, oh,
oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a lady
Men's
shirts-short skirts
Oh, oh, oh, really go
wild-yeah, doin' it in style
Oh, oh, oh, get in the
action-feel the attraction
Color my hair-do what I
dare
Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the
way I feel
Man! I feel like a woman! "
"Wooohoooo! Go McLeod!" , yelled Stevie.
"Go, future Mrs. Ryan! " , yelled Tess.
Claire threw towel on her sister's face making Tess crack up from laughing. Claire continuing with singing:
CLAIRE: "The girls need a
break-tonight we're gonna take
The chance to get
out on the town
We don't need romance-we only wanna
dance
We're gonna let our hair hang down
The
best thing about being a woman
Is the prerogative
to have a little fun and...
Oh, oh, oh, go totally
crazy-forget I'm a lady
Men's shirts-short skirts
Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style
Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction
Color my hair-do what I dare
Oh,
oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel
Man!
I feel like a woman!
The best thing about being a
woman
Is the prerogative to have a little fun
and...
Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I'm a
lady
Men's shirts-short skirts
Oh,
oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin' it in style
Oh,
oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction
Color
my hair-do what I dare
Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be
free-yeah, to feel the way I feel
Man! I feel like
a woman!
I get totally crazy
Can
you feel it
Come, come, come on baby
I
feel like a woman!"
On last "I feel like a woman!" Claire jumped from the chair sending girls to laugh. She cracked down with them and Tess jumped on the table.
Meg was in charge for recording all on camera.
So, Tess was on the table with bottle of champagne and she exclaimed:
"Yo, girls! Attention here, please!" They all looked up ate her and Tess continued with charade. "Today is the last day of Claire being single woman! She is loosing her freedom and she is happy 'cause of that!", Tess laughed.
Claire warmly smiled and replied:
"Well, if Alex is closing me in..."
Girls clapped hands yelling "Speech, Claire! Speech!
Tess pulled her sister up on the table and handed her a spoon.
"Microphone is yours" , said Tess.
Claire cleared her throat by little cough, preparing to give funny - speech.
And that's when Stevie put song "Sleep" from "Texas" on.
As she heard song, Claire forgot all
funny - thing that she wanted to say as her heart overwhelmed with
emotions as she heard song:
I think that you're the
one
When every time you call me lady
I
don't know what it is
That makes me feel like this
just lately yeah
Those heavenly calls
You
knew I was on my own
Those heavenly calls
We
stepped into the unknown
Let me sleep
So
I can dream of you
Let me sleep
So
I can be with you
What's a girl to do when
she's alone
With you just tell me
And
here we are again yeah acting
Like we're friends
just help me
Those heavenly calls
You
knew I was on my own
Those heavenly calls
We
stepped into the unknown
Let me sleep
So
I can dream of you
Let me sleep
So
I can be with you
Hold me close, let me be with you
At least tonight, won't be misunderstood
Let me sleep
So
I can dream of you
Let me sleep
So
I can be with you
Let me sleep
Oh
let me sleep
Let me sleep so I can dream of you
Let me sleep so I can be with you
Let
me sleep so I can dream of you
Let me sleep so I
can be with you
Let me sleep
Let
me sleep so I can be with you
Claire remembered how she was dreaming about Alex loving her...Back than, it was the only way to be happy...Her dreams were everything for her...
And now, her biggest dream became true. She was marrying for him.
That was too much for Claire - she sat at the table, spoon fell down from her hand as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Girls ran toward her.
"Claire! Honey, what is it?", asked Tess as she sat down beside Claire and hugged her. Jodi sat from the other side, Becky behind Claire and Stevie sat in front of Claire, taking her hands in her own hands. They all hugged her.
Only Meg could see what was going on - she knew Claire whole her life and she knew that she was hard on showing emotions - good one or bad one. This was pure happiness coming from Claire's eyes, Meg knew it. And, that's why she continued with recording.
Tess wiped Claire cheeks and Stevie asked:
"Do you want me to go at Wilgul and kick his ass for ya?", she joked and Claire started to laugh through tears.
"No... I'm just sooo happy", she replied, crying more and more "I'm just afraid that someone will shake me and I will wake up...", she quietly added "As I always have." She took a deep breath before continuing "I can't believe that this is really happening...He was always the only one for me although he didn't knew... I couldn't believe when Bryce told me that he left everything to come back to me ... to tell me that he loves me... And, when he did...I felt like I'm not touching the ground anymore...Like I'm flying...He was always there for me, always...I was sooo afraid that I lost him when he stayed in Melbourne ...I still can't believe that this is happening..."
Girls hugged Claire and she hugged them back. They sat like that for a while and than Stevie playfully muttered:
"Make sure that you throw bouquet in my direction...", she barely finished sentence when Tess kicked Stevie's hand lightly.
"No way! I reserved it days ago!" , Tess joked.
Claire laughed out loud:
"You girls are soooo crazy! Thanks for being here for me all the time..."
" And for pointing out to ya that Alex is the right one for you!" , said Jodi.
Claire nudged her playfully.
"You sure did! Remember, Meg, when I was sitting on verandah and played with Roy and Alex came over. Jodi acted like I didn't saw him and screamed from top of her lungs 'Claire! Alex is here! Don't ya think that he looks sooo damn hot in these jeans?' ", Claire imitated Jodi soo well that all girls cracked up from laughing.
"It was - what - five years ago?" , Meg asked with smile on her face.
"Yup. Claire wanted to strangle me back than!", Jodi chuckled.
Becky laughed:
"But, you did thought of him that he looks hot back than , right, Claire?"
"I didn't knew where my head was!", said Claire, smiling warmly.
"Oh, and remember School dance? That night you put dress on for the first time in your life. Nick took you to dance, but when Alex saw ya, he forgot all about that girl he took to the dance and he danced with you all the time!" , smiled Meg.
"Geez, Mum, can ya remember that silly grin on her face when she came home that night? It was glued on her face for days!!" , Jodi grimaced, pretending to be annoyed.
Claire laughed kicking Jodi playfully and they hugged each other. Meg looked warmly to Claire and said:
"I am sooo happy for you, Claire!"
Claire looked at Meg and went toward her, hugging her tightly. Jodi took over camera.
Claire and Meg hugged each other and stood like that for a while and than Claire said:
"Meg...you were like Mother to me. You were always there when I needed parent's love... I wanna thank you for that."
Meg's eyes filled with tears.
"Meg...would you give me away?" , asked Claire warmly.
Meg broke down in tears and hugged Claire even more.
"Of course, my dear little Claire!", said Meg.