Chapter 4

First, she didn't recognise the girl in the supermarket checkout, but the girl apparently recognised her.

"Oh, it's you!" she exclaimed.

"It's me?"

She examined the girl more closely; the shiny, chestnut hair, cut in a trendy lob, the heartshaped face with large green eyes and a friendly smile. A bell rang, but she couldn't quite place her.

"We met before", the girl eagerly continued. "At the Town hall, on your wedding day, in the toilet. Remember?"

Now Georgie remembered the other bride who came in there right when her heart was breaking. When she was crying her eyes out because her world was falling apart, but the girl was obviously sensitive enough not to mention that. The other bride's hair had been a hideous, almost yellow blonde then, the colour she had now was much more becoming. In fact, she looked radiant now compared to on her wedding day.

"You were the other bride?"

"I was. Never got married though."

"Neither did I."

They stared at each other and strange enough, Georgie felt some kind of bond with this girl working in the supermarket checkout, one which she felt a sudden urge to explore further. There was a long line of people eager to pay behind her, so now wasn't a good time to talk, but she felt she would really like to. Maybe share what had happened to them both that day.

"This may seem strange, but would you want to meet up for a coffee after you finish work? Have a chat?" she spontaneously asked.

"Okay", checkout girl said, smiling. It didn't seem like she found the request odd at all. "I finish at 1, so we can meet up outside then."

Georgie nodded and it was decided. She paid for the packet of Tampax which was the reason for this detour to the nearest store and left.

She had been in the neighbourhood for work, given a lecture about life as Army medic at the nearby Army recruitment office, but that job was done and for an hour she walked around aimlessly. She had time to regret her impulsive proposal many times. Why would she and that girl have anything in common, just because they were brides to be, that never were on the same day? It seemed impolite to bail out when she had been the one who asked to meet though, so at 1 pm she found herself waiting outside the supermarket.

"Hi there."

The girl, now in skinny jeans and a knitted jumper instead of the red work uniform, reached out her hand. Her wide smile made Georgie feel a bit less apprehensive. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all.

"I'm Molly."

"I'm Georgie."

"I know a nearby place we can go to, it's just down the street."

They walked the short distance to the café in silence, like they needed to sit down before starting the conversation for real. Minutes later they each had a cuppa in front of them, both preferring tea over coffee as it turned out.

"So", Molly said. "You didn't get married either, eh?"

"No." The thought of it still made Georgie choke. The day that turned out so very different from what she had expected. Dreamed of. Hoped. She felt tears prick on the back of her eyelids and knew she couldn't hide her pain.

"I take it that you wanted to? Get married I mean."

"I did. Didn't you?"

"No, saved by the bell you can say."

Confused Georgie stared at Molly, suddenly wondering if she had done the same terrible thing to her bloke that Elvis had done to her. She had to ask.

"Did you jilt your guy at the altar?"

"Don't look so appalled, it wasn't like that." Molly's smile was disarming and it was difficult to imagine she would do such a nasty thing, but then again Georgie never thought Elvis would either.

"I never wanted to marry him in the first place."

"Then why? And don't you think it's a bit shitty not to tell him until your wedding day?" Georgie couldn't stop her upset feelings from shining through.

"I was forced to marry him", Molly snapped, a little sharper than she had intended. "Sorry, I just don't think I deserve you being all judgmental about it. You and I obviously come from very different worlds. In mine, my dad made a deal which involved me getting married to a guy I didn't love."

"For real?"

Molly nodded and went on to tell Georgie the horrifying story how her father had bullied her into agreeing to marry, not to lose her family. Only a rude, handsome stranger and a power cut saved her from going through with it. She told it all with such self-distance and humour that Georgie found herself crying with laughter. She loved the way Molly was able to turn her dark tale into something bright, especially the end of it; how the women of the Dawes household joined forces and kicked the villain dad out, taking charge over their lives and now were happier than ever. A new beginning rather than an end and Georgie was fascinated.

"And your fiancé?"

"Haven't seen him since that day. First I thought I simply was very good at avoiding him, but then I heard he is behind bars over some dodgy car deals."

"Lucky for you. Hope he stays there for a good while then."

Both sipped on their now tepid tea.

"Now, tell me what happened to you? Why were you crying in the toilet that day and why didn't you get married?"

Georgie knew she was unable to make her story light and funny. It was just sad.

"Unlike you, I was to marry the love of my life, or so I thought he was. I was so happy, so in love. There wasn't one single sign... When we met the day before the wedding everything was fine and he seemed to look forward to it as much as I did."

"But then, what happened?"

"Elvis just didn't show up, never came. He sent his best man to tell me he couldn't go through with it. No other explanation and he couldn't even tell me to my face. He just disappeared. Left me there alone to tell everyone it wouldn't happen. There wouldn't be a wedding between him and me that day, or any other day. It was the most horrible day of my life. I loved him, he let me down and everyone was there to see it."

"Shit, Georgie. I'm so sorry." Impulsively Molly grasped Georgie's hand and squeezed it to comfort her. "Did you hear from him afterwards?"

"Not first, not during the weeks, months when it was all I wanted. Then out of the blue he texted me one day and asked if we could meet up, but I said no. It was too late for whatever explanation he might have, I had started to mend, tried to move on. I felt seing him again would only take me backwards. I changed number after that so he couldn't contact me anymore."

"Good for you, I can't imagine he could have anything to say that would excuse what he did."

"No, neither can I. The more I thought about it, I felt no reason would be good enough. Worst thing is, mum and dad warned me. He was known to be a player and a maverick when we met, but I was so sure he had settled with me. Sure that he loved me. When it turned out as it did, I could see 'I told you so' written all over their faces even if they never said it out loud. It made me feel even more like a total looser for loving him and being abandonned."

"I'm truly sorry, nobody deserves that. He really must be a prized arsehole."

Georgie giggled. It was the first time she managed to laugh at the misery. Somehow Molly made her feel lighter at heart.

"Yeah, a prized arsehole he is. Anyway, I'm glad to hear your non-wedding day was better than mine. You're the lucky one of us."

"I don't know if I'm the only one lucky in the end. Think of it, would you really have wanted to be married to a guy who could do such a thing to you? As he could, did you really know him as well as you thought you did? What if he had let you down once you had kids instead? That would be even worse. Maybe Lady Luck was smiling on you too, though it didn't seem like it at the time."

This made Georgie smile again. Molly was so unbreakable and positive despite the shitty hand of cards life had dealt her. Georgie wondered if she even realised what a strength it was to possess such a mentality.

"I haven't thought of it that way before. Maybe you're right. Thank you for making me see it with different eyes. It still feels shit, but maybe a little less."

Georgie got this feeling, like this girl was someone she would like to keep in her life and suddenly she had an idea.

"This is a long-shot but... You see right before the wedding, Elvis and I signed the lease for an amazing flat here in London. We didn't have a place together before, it would have been our first home and we thought we were so lucky to get it. When he disappeared on me, I moved in alone. Couldn't stand to let it go, but reality is, it is too big and expensive for me alone and now I'm looking for a flat mate to be able to keep it. Would you be interested?"

"Me? Move in with you? Why would you want me? Sorry, but we don't know each other that well." Molly looked surprised.

"It was an impulse but I like the idea. I just love how positive you are and I think I'd like you much better than some random stranger. You already know my tragic past so I won't need to explain it."

Molly swirled the teaspoon around in her cup, for a moment taking in the proposal.

"I would love to move away from home, it's about bloody time I had my own place", she said pensively. "But it would be difficult for my family to manage without me. I'd like to say yes, but I have to say no."

"I see. Anyway, I haven't advertised it yet, so if you change your mind you could give me a call, come and see it. You would have your own room with en-suite bathroom."

Molly's face scrunched in a way that told Georgie she would die for a room that was just hers, plus bathroom!, but once again she chose to do something out of loyalty to her family. Not as bad as the situation she barely dodged, but still. She really was someone to count on when it came to her loved ones and Georgie hoped they realised how lucky they were to have such a daughter and sister.

"Thanks, I'll think about it."

Molly put the note with Georgie's scribbled number in her pocket, but Georgie had a strong feeling she wouldn't come around.

"I need to leave now, promised I would pick up my brother and sister from school today. If we don't meet again, good luck with everything Georgie. I hope we both end up happily married some day."

"So do I. Good luck Molly."

Despite that they only had talked for an hour and maybe never would meet again, they had shared an important moment and hugged each other goodbye. Georgie watched Molly leave through the café window and again smiled at the spring in her step. She looked like a woman who was at ease with her life. Not that she didn't aim for change, like that she would want a place of her own and in the long run another job, but she was also happy as things were. Anyone could see that.

I leave from the unexpected meeting with Georgie Lane, feeling light at heart. Her story made me realise something; that it's not what cards that life deals you that matters most, it's what you do with them. Take a girl like Georgie who seems to have everything from start; from what she told, she comes from a stable and loving middle-class family without any financial issues, she is obviously clever and kind and her beauty is indisputable. Then her fiancé pulled the rug away under her feet so she lost her way and now it is up to her how she moves on, if she choses to stay a bitter victim or dust herself off and move on to find happiness. Really, it's the same for all of us but some chose to only see the short end of the stick even there are more options.

I jump off the buss and walk towards the school where I'm to pick up Will and Jade. It isn't far from the bus stop but even closer if you pass through a small dark alley, which I always do, of course.

"Hey, Molly Dawes!"

Someone shouts behind me and I freeze because I recognise that voice and accent far too well. I turn around and there his unwelcome figure is. Not very tall but still threatening, due to the aggression he radiates.

"Hi Artan."

I try to sound light and friendly, try to keep my voice from trembling, but I'm very scared and my heart is pounding hard in my chest. Apparently, he is out of jail and now he has sought me out in a dark alley where there is no one but him and me. I'm thinking about screaming but he hasn't given me any reason to and I don't want to provoke him. It may be that no one would hear me anyway.

He stops in front of me, too close for comfort and I instinctively take a step backwards, but he follows.

"Hi wifey."

He raises his hand to touch my cheek and I can't help flinching. He squints his cold eyes.

"No wait. You never showed up on our wedding day..."

"Power cut, was stuck in the lift, you were gone..."

"And you were so sad that you came visiting me every day in jail, like the very devoted girl-friend you are."

His mocking voice contains a clear threat.

"I didn't, I'm sorry", I stutter, more afraid by the minute.

"But now we'll pick a new wedding date, won't we?"

I feel his foul breath on my face.

"If that's what you want."

I would have said anything to get out of this alley unharmed, but he has other plans.

"What I want?" he spits. "Do you think I want to marry a deceptive slut like you? No, but you will pay for what you did. You didn't stand by me when I needed you."

Suddenly he pushes me hard in the chest so I fall to the ground, lying on my back, and then I see him draw a knife. I see in his eyes this is it, he won't let me leave this alley alive. 'Who will pick up the kids?' flash through my panicked mind as he comes closer.

"Oi! What are you playing at?"

Two young men have miraculously appeared at the end of the alley. Startled Artan's gaze shift to them, then flick back to me, furious. He knows the game is lost, for this time.

"You're lucky this time Molly Dawes. You won't be so lucky next time I set eyes on you."

Then he runs and the two men come over and help me get up. They have saved my life for sure.

I should have known Artan wouldn't let me off the hook that easy, he has just been biding his time in jail and now he is coming for me.

"What are you going to do Molls? He'll kill you if you stay here."

Those not so encouraging words are uttered by Nan the evening after the assault. I know she is right.

"It's not about what Molly's going to do. It's about what we are going to do, as a family sticking together", says mum and I have to give her a hug.

"Nan is right mum, I can't stay here in Newham. If I do, Artan will get me sooner or later. It doesn't necessarily mean the rest of you need to move though. Think of it; it isn't easy to find a place big enough for all of us to an affordable rent, plus Jade and Will would have to change school."

"What then, Molly? Finding a place where you can live alone isn't that easy either."

I suddenly come to think of something.

"Maybe it is."

I still have the note with Georgie's number in my pocket. Sometimes I think everything happens for a reason. Earlier today I couldn't possibly accept her offer even if I was dying to do so. Now it might be the solution to staying alive.

"Do you have any plans for this weekend?" Georgie asks from her lazy position on the couch.

I'm in an equally lazy position in the big armchair, as we watch Love Island and pick on the participants. It is one of our mutual sources of amusement in life.

We have shared flat for nearly two months now and get along really well. I truly like her. Despite that she is beautiful like someone out of a glossy magazine, she is very down to earth and very dedicated to her job. I was surprised to say the least, when I realised she is working for the Army. I never would have guessed. I had to bite my tongue not to ask her if she knows Charles James, I would feel really silly to do so for many reasons, number one being that he is totally out of my league.

I still think of him though, almost every day. There was just something about him, other than that he was gorgeous. It felt like we connected in that lift, but maybe that was all in my mind. Doesn't matter much since he is in Afghanistan. I wonder for how long.

Georgie's flat, which now is mine too, is the most beautiful place I have lived in. Not that our shabby council house is hard to beat, but this flat really is something, with large rooms where big windows let the light flow in. I love my room, I love my en-suite bathroom even more. Mum and I are working a few shifts extra to cover the cost. After all we lived of much less for many years so we get by. I continue to think of what else I could do than working in the supermarket and Georgie encourages me to enlist. 'There are so many options and they would be lucky to have someone like you' she keeps saying. I doubt that, but find the thought tantalizing somehow.

When we are home we often hang out together and sometimes we tag along with each other's friends for drinks or cinema.

"I only have plans for Friday evening, play pool with a few from work. You could join if you want to, or do you have plans already?"

"None for Friday. On Saturday I'm meeting up an old friend of Elvis'."

"Really? I thought you didn't want to have anything to do with anything related to Elvis?"

"I don't normally, but this guy is different. He always try to seem so stern and hardened but he's actually really sweet and a gentleman. I know he wants to check up on me. See if I'm okay. He was at the wedding so he saw me when I was completely devastated. He wondered if I would like to meet for a beer, but I was thinking I might invite him here for dinner. I'm not in the mood to go out for drinks with him."

"So, you want me to stay out of the way?"

"No, not at all. I was wondering if you wanted to join us? I thought that might lighten up things a bit. It's not like we have very happy memories to share."

"Are you sure?"

"One hundred percent."

"Okay, if you insist." I smile but inside worry a bit for Georgie, wonder if it is the right thing for her to meet with this guy or if it only would open up her wound anew. Well, I will be there to look out for her and if he does anything to hurt her I'll throw him out on his arse.

A/N: With that handing over to Gemmadog to decide who will come for dinner and how that will turn out. And will the girls turn into BFFs or is there betrayal down the line? Did Elvis ditch Georgie for the same reason as always or was there something else? I can't wait to find out.

/Miss P