Free Best of Friends by Cathy Kelly Page A

matters. Barry and I are committed to each other and this is the proof. We’re trying to see if we can have doves at the wedding too because they symbolise peace. And just because you’re jaundiced about the whole marriage thing, Mum,” she’d added tartly, “that’s no reason to put me off it.”
    Lizzie, hurt at the idea that she was jaundiced about anything or that she’d harm a hair of Debra’s head because of her own problems, withdrew her gentle objections and began to help plan the wedding.
    “Commitment, commitment,” said Myles bitterly on the phone to Lizzie later. “I’ve a good mind to remind her that she didn’t have the commitment to stick with nursing.” Debra now worked in the offices of a double-glazing firm and shared a house with friends.
    “You can’t say that,” said Lizzie. “She’d be upset.”
    “I’ve a good mind to,” Myles went on, but he didn’t, as they both knew he wouldn’t. Debra was and always had been her daddy’s girl.
    Lizzie dialled her daughter’s mobile.
    “Hi, love, you can come over. I’m home.”
    “I’m already on my way, actually,” Debra answered. “I’ll be just five minutes.”
    “Great. I’ll make tea.”
    Lizzie hurried off to whisk cushions into place and to check if the house still looked like the welcoming home Debra had grown up in. She put on lipstick to brighten herself up too and was ready with tea and home-made shortbread biscuits (Debra’s favourite and always ready for whenever she dropped in) when her daughter’s Mini stopped in the drive. The car, an eye-catching dark red, was her pride and joy, and Lizzie never caught sight of it without feeling glad that she and Myles had been able to contribute to its purchase. Lizzie’s part of the car had been money she’d saved to fix the leak in the roof in the kitchen, but there was plenty of time to deal with that. Debra’s happiness was more important than a bit of damp.
    Debra let herself into the house with her own key and went immediately to the kitchen.
    “I shouldn’t have any shortbread,” she said by way of greeting. She put two sugars into her tea, added lots of milk, and took a biscuit.
    “How are you, darling?” said Lizzie, not wanting to sound too like a concerned mother. Debra hated that.
    “Fine,” said Debra through a mouthful of crumbs. “Whatever am I going to do about Sandra? Fine bridesmaid she’s turning out to be. You’d think she’d be happy to have a dress bought for her. Stupid girl’s the size of an elephant.”
    “Not everyone’s skinny like you.” Lizzie felt sorry for Sandra, a sweet-natured girl who didn’t share her brother’s good looks or slim physique.
    “That’s not my fault,” Debra said with the disdain of one who’d never been less than pleased with her reflection in the mirror. She finished her biscuit and took another. “I just don’t want her to ruin my day because of this. We’ve only got a few months to go—you’d think she’d say something before this, wouldn’t you? But that’s typical of Sandra. Troublemaker.”
    Debra’s temper made her face flush, and Lizzie did what she’d al-ways done when her children were upset: she reached out and comforted her.
    “It’ll be fine, love. Barry will talk to Sandra. He’ll explain that this is your special day, that everything’s got to be perfect and that you want to pick the dresses.”
    A brief flash of memory reminded Lizzie of her own hastily arranged wedding where the bride wore a dress a size too large in order to hide her burgeoning belly and the bride and groom’s parents wore stunned smiles. Times were different then, Lizzie re-minded herself. Nobody had the money for big days out with three bridesmaids, a five-tier cake and an Abba tribute band at the reception. Mind you, nobody had the money for that now either. But Debra’s heart was set on a big day in mid-July and neither Lizzie nor her ex-husband had the heart to say anything.
    Just then, an idea hit