"New Love Found"
Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Everything else I own unless otherwise stated. I don't own Eric McKnight.
A/N: Takes place a couple of months after previous chapter. All voices besides Conner's and Kira's are in bold and italics. Thoughts are in italics.
Chapter 20 – Viewings and Dresses
It had been two months since Conner, Kira, Neil and Jade came up with their double wedding plans. They hadn't thought about much else apart from their wedding. Neil and Jade were round at Conner and Kira's discussing the plans on this day.
Kira thought to herself, "We haven't gone to see the staff at "The Lochside" to discuss what we can do yet." She spoke up. "Guys, I think now would be a good time to visit "The Lochside" as we only have three months left."
Jade looked up and agreed. "True Kira. We need to go soon and I agree, today is as good as any."
It was agreed and they decided to visit. However, Neil spoke up, "how are we going to get there? Conner's car only holds one other besides himself and none of the rest of us can drive."
"We'll call Eric and see if he and Mel can give us a lift."
"OK. We can also call Tommy and Hayley as well."
"Why Babe?"
"Well, Baby, I was thinking, that we girls can go choose our dresses today as well, and no, you boys are not coming with us."
"Makes sense Con. If we call Tommy and tell him and Hayley to meet us at "The Lochside", we can leave with Tommy and the girls and Hayley can leave with Mel."
"True. I'll call Eric, Babe, if you wanna call Tommy."
"Sure Baby. You call Eric first to come over here, then I'll call Tommy."
"OK."
Conner picked up the phone and dialled his brother's number. It was answered by a female after a few rings.
"Hello?"
"Hey Mel."
"Hey Con. What's up?"
"Can you and Eric come over to mine and Kira's? We'll explain why when you come over. Bring the big car if you can please."
"Sure. We're on our way."
"Thanks Mel. See you soon. Just walk in."
"No probs Con. Bye."
"Bye."
With that, Conner hung up the phone and Kira took it to dial Tommy.
"Hello?"
"Hey Tommy."
"Hey Kira. What can I do for you today?"
"Can you and Hayley meet us at "The Lochside Restaurant"? We'll explain when we see you."
"OK. I'll pick up Hayls the now. See you when we get there."
"OK. Bye."
With that, Kira hung up the phone and said, "They'll meet us there."
At that moment, Eric and Mel walked in and came into the living-room. They saw Neil and Jade there on the chair and they sat down on the other end of the couch with Mel on Eric's knee.
"OK. We're here. What's up guys?"
"Well, Mel. We were wondering if you and Eric would be able to give the four of us a lift to "The Lochside Restaurant" as we have decided to talk to the staff about the double wedding. Then, Jade and I thought, that us girls could go and choose our dresses. Tommy and Hayley are meeting us at "The Lochside" as once we are done, the boys are going with Tommy in his jeep."
"Sure. Let's go."
"Thanks for this Mel."
"No probs."
They then left the house and got in the car while Conner locked up. He then joined them in the car and they set off.
x
About an hour later, they pulled up at the restaurant car park and saw that Tommy and Hayley were already there. They got out and walked over to them as Mel locked the car up and then she joined them.
"Hey guys."
"Hey Tommy, Hayls."
"Why are we here, Kira?"
"Well Hayls, as we told Mel and Eric, we need to talk to the staff, then us girls are going to choose our dresses. Hence why we needed the two cars, as the boys are not coming with us."
"Oh. OK."
Jade then spoke up and said, "If you four want to come inside with us, you can."
The others nodded and they entered the restaurant and went to Reception. The receptionist looked up and said, "Hello? How may I help you all today?"
"Hi, my name is Jade Spencer. You may not remember, but I spoke on the phone to you a couple of months ago."
"Oh? You're right, I don't remember as we speak to a lot of people on the phone. Anyway, can you tell me again?"
"Certainly. As I said, I'm Jade Spencer, and," she indicated Neil, Kira and Conner, and said, "This is my fiancé Neil McBride, sister-in-law to be, Kira McBride and her fiancé Conner McKnight. We are getting married here on the 15th October and were told that we would need to come in to discuss things."
"No, I still don't remember. Hang on, I'll call my manager down."
They nodded and sat down. A few minutes later, a tall woman came towards them and said, "Hello there. My name is Zoë Kirk, and I'm the manager here at "The Lochside." Which of you is getting married?"
Kira said, "That would be the four of us" and pointed at herself, Conner, Neil and Jade.
"OK. Follow me please."
They turned to the others and said, "We'll be back soon guys." They then followed Zoë."
Zoe then led them to the office and asked them to sit down. Once all were seated, she asked, "OK. What would you like us to do? As I said to you on the phone two months ago, we'd be happy to cater for you and do your cakes for you as well."
Conner handed over the guest list and said, "This is our guest list, which is definite. I'm Conner."
"OK. I'll hand that to the staff. Would you like us to designate tables?"
"Yes please. I'm Neil by the way."
"OK. Where are you thinking about getting married here?"
"We were thinking by the loch. As for entrance for Kira and me, we would be accompanied by our dads. We were thinking, that we could walk down the alley of trees, leading to the loch."
"Yes, that's doable, Jade."
x
About an hour later, all the details had been worked out and they got up and thanked Zoë for all her help. They joined the others and Kira said, "Right, girls. That's us done here. Let's go and choose our dresses." She turned to Conner and said, "Baby, you said that you would call your dad when you were choosing you outfits."
"True. I'll call him the now. I'd better call your dad as well to let him know."
"OK Baby. We'll leave you to do that and we'll go shopping. See you later Baby."
"Bye Babe." With that, all four boys kissed their other halves goodbye and the girls got into Mel's car and drove off.
Conner turned to the boys and said, "Once I call my dad and your dad, Neil, we'll head off."
"OK, Con."
Conner got his mobile out of his pocket and called his dad's number. It was answered after a few rings.
"Hello?"
"Hey Dad."
"Hey Son. What's up?"
"Nothing, I'm just calling to say that the four of us are going to choose our outfits today if you want to come."
"Sure, Son. Where will I meet you?"
"How about that menswear shop, "Up Town Man", which is over at your side of town?"
"Sure. I'll meet you there."
"OK. Bye Dad."
With that, Conner hung up the phone and dialled Kyle's number and said the same thing and Kyle agreed to meet them there. He then hung up and said to the boys, "Let's go."
They nodded and left in Tommy's jeep.
x
Meanwhile, back with the girls
The girls had left the restaurant and headed to look for their dresses. Mel said, "Where do you want to go, girls?"
"How about "Wedding Days" in the high street?"
"If you want to, Jade. That was where I got my bridesmaid dress for my mum and dad's wedding. It's really good."
"OK Kira, Jade. We'll go there, but first, you both need to call your mums and let them know."
"OK Mel."
"Sure Mel. Kir, you go first."
"OK Jade."
Kira then took out her mobile and dialled her mum's number.
"Hi Kira."
"Hey Mum. Jade, Hayley, Mel and I are going to choose our dresses and wondered if you wanted to join us."
"Sure, where will I meet you?"
"Wedding Days."
"Sure. I'll see you there. Bye Kira."
"OK. Bye Mum."
With that, Kira ended the call and asked Jade if she wanted to use the mobile to call her mum or did she have her mobile with her.
Jade said that she didn't, so Kira passed Jade her mobile phone and Jade called up her mum who said that she would them there, then Jade ended the call and handed the mobile back to Kira who put it in her pocket. Jade told the others what her mum had said and Mel drove to "Wedding Days."
x
About ten minutes later, Mel parked in the car park. They got out and Mel locked up, then they headed to the high street. When they got to the shop, they saw Kirsten and Amanda chatting. Amanda was the first to see them.
"Hey Kira, Jade. Nice to see you again, Hayley, Melanie."
"Please Mrs McBride, call me Mel. You as well, please, Mrs Spencer."
"Sure Mel, but only if you call me Amanda. That goes for you as well Hayley."
"I will. Thanks Amanda."
"I second what Amanda said, Mel, Hayley. Please call me Kirsten."
"No problem Kirsten."
"I agree with Mel, Kirsten."
"Anyway," Kira interrupted, "shall we go in?"
The others nodded and went inside. Jade and Kira headed over to the books to see if they could decide on what they liked, while Mel, Hayley, Amanda and Kirsten headed to the couch and sat down. Jade noticed a dress in the book that she really liked and hoped that they had it in stock.
The assistant came up and Jade asked if the dress that she chose from the book was in stock, and was told that it was, so she went with the assistant to try it on and she fell in love with it.
After a few minutes, Jade came out of the curtained area to show it to the others. Kirsten gasped and said, "Little Gem that. . . is beautiful." Kira turned around from looking at the books and said, "Neil will be so shocked." Hayley and Mel agreed, for the dress that Jade had chosen was a white strapless dress with a cross-back design and had beads on the front.
Hayley then said, "OK. Let's see if Mel and I can choose something." She turned to both Kira and Jade and asked, "Would you like Mel and I in the same dress?" Kira and Jade nodded.
"OK." Hayley replied and her and Mel got up from the couch and headed over to the racks to see if there was anything there that took their fancy. After a few minutes of browsing through the rack, Hayley pulled a pale blue, thin strapped dress of the rail and held it against her. She went to try it on and then came back out with it on a few minutes later. Mel loved it and said so, then chose the same one in her size and tried it on as well.
When Mel came out of the curtained area, she stood next to Hayley and Jade. Kira nodded and said, "Perfect. They complement Jade's dress and go well together."
Hayley, Jade and Mel all got changed back into their clothes and went to pay for their dresses. When they had finished, they came back through and took a seat next to Amanda and Kirsten on the couch. Jade looked at Kira who had gone back to browsing through the books and said, "Have you found anything you like, Kir?"
"No, I don't like any of these ones in the books." She then browsed the racks to see if there was anything there. After a few minutes of browsing, she still hadn't found anything and said so to the others. She then went up to the assistant and asked, "Can you do a custom made dress?"
"Hang on, I'll just check." The assistant then left to talk to her manager. She came back a few minutes later and said, "I have just asked my manager and she said that we could. It will take a couple of months for it to be ready, though."
"That's fine."
"OK. What were you looking for?" She got a pen and a pad of paper and waited for Kira to speak.
"I'm looking for a two-coloured strapless dress, which is to be detailed in gold. The first colour will be pink and will be left half and the other colour will be white and will be the right half."
"Hmmm. OK, it will take some doing, but I believe that it can be done. You will need to come back in a couple of months to try it on to see if it needs adjusted."
"OK. Thank you. Would you like my house number?"
"Yes please."
"OK." With that Kira handed over her house number and said, "Thanks again."
"No problem. You're welcome."
With that, they left the shop and headed for the florist. Kira asked the others, "Will you all come with me to view the dress when it is ready?"
Everyone nodded. A few minutes later, they reached the florist and went inside. A shop assistant came up to them and asked them if they needed help.
Jade replied, "Yes. My sister-in-law to be and I," she pointed at Kira, "are getting married on the 15th October. It's a double wedding to be held at "The Lochside Restaurant"."
"Oh yes?"
"Yes. We were wondering if you could do our bouquets as well as our Maid of Honours' and the floral arrangements for the tables for the reception?"
"Certainly. You said for the reception? What about the service?"
"That's being held outside next to the loch."
"OK. I have actually been there, so I know all about it and the alley of trees there as well. Would you like us to see what we can do there?"
"If you can, please try."
"OK. What colour scheme are you looking for?"
Kira spoke up and said, "Well, the main colours are lilac, blue and white. However, my dress has pink and white in it."
"Hmmm. Ok. We can throw in a few pink flowers as well, but only a few. Would you like pink in all the bouquets?"
"No, I think, just in mine and Jade's." She turned to Jade and said, "Is that Ok with you Jade?"
"That's fine Kira."
The shop assistant then said, "OK. We can do that."
A few minutes later, it was arranged that all the floral arrangements would be delivered on the day when the company was setting up the outside and the bouquets would be delivered to Kira's the day before.
Kira and Jade thanked the assistant and they left the shop along with their mums and Hayley and Mel and headed back to "Wedding Days" to collect the three dresses which had been placed in their garment bags and then headed home.
