Additional Note: The minister's wife appears in this chapter. Again, I'm American, and I assume when Lester refers to just, 'the minister,' he means the Prime Minister. For the purposes of this story it is the Prime Minister, and he and his wife are fictional. 1839 Words.
Chapter Six, Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
The first guests were Abby and her relatives. Abby wore a slim, medium-length denim skirt, purple ankle boots, and purple blouse.
"I've never seen that blouse," said Jess. "It's elegant, but the tie-dye print makes it almost bohemian."
"Yeah, it's me. I thought it was fancy enough for this shin-dig, but still a little rebellious."
Jess nodded.
"Jess, Emily, I'd like you to meet my grandmother, Florence, and my step-grandfather, Martin," Abby said. "This is Uncle Jester, his wife Lorella, and my Aunt Willa and her husband Tyler."
"It is a pleasure to meet you," said Emily.
"Yes! Finally, we get to meet Abby's family!"
Grandma smiled and hugged both of them. "Abigail talks so little about her work. I hope you two gossip," she said.
Grandma was about sixty, small like Abby, and looked as feisty. She grabbed Emily and tried to coax secrets of Abby's life from her.
"Ten bucks she gets something from Emily," said Abby.
"No way!"
"Nothing important, not like," and Abby mimicked a silent dino roar, "but something. You don't know my grandmother."
Jess giggled. "Then I guess its good I have hostess duties."
"Yeah, Jess. It is."
Jess laughed and greeted new guests. A few were good friends from the ARC: Beverly from medical, Kim from the canteen, and several of Abby's female menagerie staff.
Of course, there were people Jess had never met. Some were friends from Abby's zoo days, others were childhood friends, and a couple of ladies were friends of Abby's deceased mother.
The last to arrive was Mrs Lester, who arrived with another lady.
"I'm so glad you could make it," said Jess.
"So am I," she said. She moved to Abby. "Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"Jess Parker, Abigail Maitland, and Emily Merchant may I introduce you to the minister's wife."
"Call me Eleanor, please," said Mrs. Lester's companion. "I insist that you do not make a fuss. I'm just here to celebrate your happy occasion, and to eat."
"Good! I hope you like what we've chosen," said Jess.
"If it's edible, I will."
Jess laughed, and showed her to her seat.
"I'm very glad you and Connor are getting married. I know how worried James was a few years ago about the two of you. He couldn't divulge much, but I know there was trouble. How wonderful, that the two of you are able to begin a life together at last."
Abby smiled. "Thank you, Mrs. Lester."
"Please, Helen. After all, I'm practically related to you, by employment through marriage," she said. The she smirked. "I hope your gown is gorgeous."
Abby blushed.
Helen laughed. "I know he paid for it. I approve, in fact, I'm proud of him.. He's protective and paternal, not many know that about my James."
"He hides it well."
"He does indeed!" agreed Helen.
"Did he tell you that...well, I told him that he'd be my choice to walk me down the aisle, if I didn't have my brother."
"He did not," said Helen. "I'm not surprised, however. Very sweet of you, Abby."
Abby smiled, and took her arm to seat her.
Jess signaled for the servers to bring the food, and they all began eating a splendid brunch.
"Oh, my!" said Eleanor. "You did splurge on the menu. Bravo!"
"Would you all please help me in recognizing my lovely maid of honor? She planned all of this, including the food," said Abby, raising her glass in a toast.
"To Jess," she said.
They all raised their glasses. "To Jess."
She blushed, but beamed. "Thank you, but I had help. Do you mind?" she asked, raising her glass. "To Emily."
"To Emily."
"And finally, a toast, to Abby and Connor," said Jess.
"Abby and Connor," they all said.
"May they have much happiness," said Grandma.
Abby blushed and smiled.
"And many children."
"Aunt Willa!" cried Abby, as Will smirked.
Eleanor was working through the pancetta mushrooms and moving on to the quiche and salmon. "Delicious. Oh, this beats stale toast and jam."
Jess covered her mouth as she giggled. "You do not! That is not what you eat for breakfast! You're the...well, you know who you are!"
Mrs Lester and Eleanor giggled.
"It's not all glamorous, I assure you. Peter is away so often, that I don't make a big fuss when its just me."
Mrs. Lester nodded. "I'm afraid some mornings I eat ice cream or chocolate."
Abby laughed. "So does Jess!"
Jess laughed and nodded.
"Save some room for dessert," cautioned Emily. "There is a chocolate cake you must try."
"Don't worry, dear," said Eleanor.
"Um, Emily? How do you know how good the chocolate cake is?" asked Jess.
Emily blushed. "I did not eat this morning, and they offered me a sample, several in fact. I felt it was my duty to test the cake."
"Of course," said Jess. "I'm jealous. I should have gone to the bakery, and left you here."
Emily smirked. "I do not think Becker would have appreciated that. He would not prefer kissing me."
Abby tried not to choke on the quiche as she laughed.
"Ooh, Captain Becker and young Jess? I must get after James, he has not been keeping me up to date on the gossip," said Helen Lester.
Jess was bright red, sinking into her chair.
Grandma, changed the subject. "So Emily, did the cake pass inspection?" asked Grandma.
"It did," she said,but then she noticed the men were not talking. "We are boring the men with our chocolate talk."
"No. I just don't want to waste my mouth talking," said Uncle Jester. "Good eats."
Tyler agreed. "It's tough supporting the niece, isn't it?" Jester nodded.
Abby laughed.
"Are you alright Mr, uh?" asked Jess, not knowing what to call the step-grandfather.
He nodded. "Keep the bacon stuff coming, and call me Gramps. Even though, technically I'm not."
Abby smiled. "Who cares about technically, right, Gramps?"
Grandma whispered to Jess. "We've been married a long while. Abby barely remembers her real grandfather."
Abby blew a kiss at him. "He's close enough."
Gramps laughed. "Good."
"So, what do you think of the groom?" asked Mrs. Lester.
"Nice boy," said Grandma.
"A little weird," said Gramps.
"He's cute," said Aunt Lorella.
"I think so," said Abby.
"How is he...you know?" asked Grandma
Abby froze. Jess gasped. Mrs Lester, Emily and Eleanor all smirked.
"Grandma!"
"Darling, you're getting married. A happy sex life is part of a happy marriage. I want to make sure you will be happy."
Abby hung her head, groaning. "This isn't embarrassing."
"No, it shouldn't be, which is why I'm asking now," said Grandma. "Better to know now if your man has any shortcomings. Literally."
There were gasps and smirks. Grandma seemed completely unfazed.
Abby tried to crawl under the table.
"Oh, dear. Is he short?" asked Aunt Willa.
"No! It's none of your business! I don't...we're eating!" cried Abby.
Jess was giggling, her face hot with embarrassment. Emily was amused.
"Size is not everything," said Eleanor. "It's really a matter of technique and emotion."
"Oh my God!" cried Jess.
"Oh, you poor thing, is your partner...unfortunately endowed?" asked Grandma to Eleanor.
"He's not terribly small, but he isn't a mutant either," said Eleanor. "I am quite satisfied."
"Too much information," said Abby.
Eleanor smiled. "Before I found him, though, I seemed to be swimming with very small fish."
Aunt Lorella agreed. "I had been too."
"You do realize your husband is in the room?" asked Abby.
"And I'm not complaining," said Lorella. "Indeed not," she said, kissing him.
"Ew!" cried her niece.
The younger ladies turned pink, and snickered. Emily was amused. Jess was terribly embarrassed, and Abby was about to die.
Gramps shook her head. "And they call men vulgar."
"Maybe we should save this kind of talk for the hen party," said Jess.
"That's a good idea," said Abby.
"A hen party, huh?" asked Eleanor. "Will it be very naughty?"
Jess blushed, and Abby smirked.
"I'll take that as a yes," said Mrs. Lester.
"I don't suppose..." asked Eleanor.
"What?" asked Abby.
"I'm sorry, I know it's frightfully rude, but could I perhaps come along?"
Jess choked on her wine. "To the hen party?"
"Of course!" cried Abby.
"No!" cried Jess.
Eleanor was stunned, and blushed.
"Not that we'd mind if you came," said Jess.
"We'd love to have you," said Abby. "I think Jess is concerned about Lester."
"James? He's coming? He has all the fun."
The ARC ladies, all of them, broke out laughing. "Lester at a hen party," said Beverly, from medical, through hysterical laughs.
"No," said Jess, giggling. "He gave us a stern warning not to invite you. He's worried about offending you. You are the minister's wife, remember?"
She frowned. "I'm too often unable to forget it. It's been ages since I just tore loose and had fun. I'm not offended. I'd love to come, if you don't mind."
Abby smiled, scribbling on a napkin. "This is the time, date, and Jess' address. It's at her flat."
Jess' face turned pale. "Lester is going to kill us. Or fire us. Or both."
Abby smirked.
"He will not be pleased," agreed Emily.
"He doesn't have to know," said Eleanor, winking at Helen Lester.
"He won't hear a peep from me, unless of course..." said Helen
"Unless what?" asked Abby, smiling.
Helen smirked. "Would you mind one more hen?"
Jess shook her head. "You're all dirty!"
"You're the one throwing it," Kim, from the ARC canteen reminded her. She was a really close friend of Jess, so it was natural for her to tease.
"I have to! I'm the maid of honor! It's not by choice, I promise you!"
Abby smirked, and Emily laughed.
"Mrs. Lester, Helen, of course you can come," said Abby. "I'd love it."
Jess frowned. "I...feel like a traitor."
"Not a traitor," said Helen. "A conspirator, that's all. Don't worry. I will handle James."
"And no one will know that I'm in attendance," said the minister's wife. "I'll wear a disguise."
Abby chuckled. "I think I'm loving this."
"Putting one over on Lester?" asked Jess, scowling.
Abby smiled, nodding.
"It is not truly nefarious, Jess. We are...helping Lester avoid discomfort," said Emily.
"And a heart attack," said Abby.
"I appreciate that," said Lester's wife.
"So, are we on?" asked Eleanor.
Abby nodded.
Eleanor and Helen smiled.
"It's going to be tacky," said Jess.
"Good," said Eleanor.
"A little vulgar too," continued Jess. "I'm talking...body shaped edibles."
Emily chipped in. "There will also be young men removing their clothes to music."
Helen and Eleanor exchanged naughty looks.
"Brilliant," said Eleanor.
"I concur," said Helen.
"Is the party tonight?"
"No Grandma, it's not for a few days."
"Darn. I was hoping I could come," she said.
Emily raised her glass in toast to the elder, and Abby laughed, sipping wine.
Jess looked aghast. "I think I'm too young and naive," she said.
"Don't worry, dear. You'll age," said Grandma.
End of Chapter Six