The Wedding Day Part 4

"What's my pa.s.sion in life? I don't know. I like yoga and keeping fit. I liked my job as a journalist," Nicole struggled to find an answer as the other woman scrutinised her face.

"I'm hearing a few likes, but no loves. Did those things fill with you pa.s.sion?" Sarah persisted.

"Did you jump out of bed in the morning and think, "I can't wait for my yoga cla.s.s later" or "I can't wait to go to work today.""

"No, not really," Nicole looked bemused by Sarah's questions.

Well, maybe it's a blessing in disguise that your life as you knew it is well and truly over," Sarah said.

Nicole gasped. "My life is ruined!" she exclaimed. "I've lost my fiance and my home and my whole lifesytle. I've moved in with my baby sister and to top everything off I don't even have a job."

"Why don't you look on the positive side?" Sarah suggested, not even flinching at Nicole's high-pitched tone.

"What positive side?" Nicole spat out the words. "How can there be a positive side to the disaster that is my life! Please, enlighten me."

"May I speak freely?" Sarah asked, c.o.c.king her head to one side and looking at Nicole thoughtfully.

"I thought you were already speaking freely!" Nicole replied, wondering what Sarah would possibly say next.

"Well, I like to speak my mind," Sarah explained.

"You don't say," Nicole said sarcastically.

Sarah ignored her sarcasm and continued.

"I've been holding back a little as I didn't want to make a bad first impression on you. Some people say that I can be too forthright and they mistake my bluntness as rudeness, which is not my intention at all.

Your sister is one of my dearest friends. She has been very kind to me over the past few years. I was going through a rough patch in my life and Ev was the only person who I could count on completely. It would mean a lot to me if you and I could be friends too and it would be a pleasure if I can help you in anyway."

"Oh," Nicole relented as she could see the softness and earnestness in the other woman's face. "I'd like us to be friends," she said quietly. "Lord knows I need all the good people around me that I can find."

"Let me buy you another drink then," Sarah smiled, "to seal our friendship."

Nicole laughed. "Sure, I could do with another one."

She stayed outside while Sarah went to get their drinks.

Cheers, Nicole and Sarah clinked gla.s.ses in a toast to their new-found friendship.

They sat in easy silence, sipping their drinks and casually eavesdropping on the conversations of those around them.

Sarah, what were you going to say to me earlier? Nicole asked.

She was feeling much more relaxed now, a combination of the alcohol and being outside in the fresh air. She was beginning to enjoy Sarah's company too.

She made a refreshing change to her usual circle of friends. Sarah was genuinely interesting. She'd travelled extensively and was full of stories about the different people she'd met and the places she'd seen. She was a down-to-earth, easy-going, soulful person.

Well, I was saying that maybe you should look on your wedding disaster as a chance for a new start in life. You can leave your old baggage behind and start afresh. Instead of looking on it as a disaster why don't you turn it upside down and see it as an opportunity.

It's not often that we get the chance in life to start again. You should try to relax a little and open your mind. It's amazing what can happen when we just let go.

Maybe, Nicole said slowly.

Anyway, enough about me, let's talk about you for a while. What's your pa.s.sion in life? Nicole asked, turning the tables on her new friend.

My pa.s.sion is travelling, Sarah answered quickly.

I live to travel. Life is about the people we meet and the experiences we have along the way. I love immersing myself in another culture; learning a new language and getting to know their traditions, which is why I love my job. I teach English as a foreign language. It gives me the freedom to travel the world.

"How can you be so brave?" Nicole asked.

"Well, you're not the only one who's had a major let-down," Sarah said slowly.

Nicole's eyes widened with curiosity. She liked nothing more than a good gossip.

"My boyfriend dumped me too," Sarah continued.

"Oh," Nicole sounded disappointed. She expected some sort of a serious revelation from her new friend.

"He left me for another man," Sarah said in a totally deadpan voice.

"He did not!" Nicole exclaimed.

"It gets better," Sarah replied. "I heard on the grapevine that the two lovebirds are planning on adopting a baby together."

"Ok, I think you win," Nicole conceded.

"We broke up five years ago and that's when I decided to grab life and travel the world. I read somewhere once that getting lost is the best way to find yourself again."

Wow, Nicole smiled. I like that philosophy. I might make it my new mantra, if you don't mind."

"I don't mind at all," Sarah smiled.

"You're very brave," Nicole said. "I don't know how I'd cope with the uncertainty of travelling by myself. I've always planned every last detail of my life.

You're missing the point, Nicole. It's when you stop planning every last detail that you discover the fun in life. I think it may be time for a change, my friend. Who knows what might happen when you just let go.

Chapter 4.

You're up early. Evette yawned widely as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and perched herself on a kitchen chair.

Would you like a coffee? Nicole asked.

Yes, please, I'm still exhausted from last night. What time did you get up?

I've been up since six, Nicole replied as she stirred two large spoons of coffee into the cafetiere.

Six A.M.! her sister exclaimed. We didn't get to bed until well after two.

I know. I couldn't sleep. I found it hard to switch off from the conversation I had with Sarah last night. I feel really motivated after my chat with her."

"I'm glad," Evette said as she spooned sugar into her coffee.

"Sarah has opened my eyes. I need to discover my pa.s.sion in life. I'm tired of obsessing about every last detail. This is my life. I only get one chance at it and I want to do something that I love. Doing the right thing most of the time clearly hasn't gotten me very far in life. I need to change.

Ok, Evette blinked as she tried to digest what her sister was saying. Her head was beginning to ache from the hangover that was lingering behind her eyes.

You look like you're having an information overload, Nicole laughed at her sister's tired face.

I am slightly. I'm really happy to see how motivated you are, Nicole. I know what you've been through has been horrendous but you've been in a bad state for the past while and to be honest I was starting to worry about you.

She took a large gulp of her coffee and waited for her sister's reaction.

The two sisters had never really shared their innermost thoughts and feelings before and Evette didn't know how her sister would react to her words.

Well, my pity party is well and truly over, Nicole said with determination in her voice. I have to start picking up the pieces of my life at some point. It might as well be sooner rather than later. I'm done wasting my time and emotion on Paul. He's not worth it.

I'm going over to the apartment later today to pick up my belongings. I can only wear your clothes for so long and no offence, sis, but the bohemian look isn't really my style.

I agree. You have to have a certain flair for clothes to be able to carry off my fashion statements.

Evette looked Nicole up and down as she stood in front of her dressed in a long, flowing skirt with a wide pashmina draped around her shoulders. She couldn't help suppressing a smirk at how awkward her sister seemed.

Do you want me to come with you to Paul's apartment?

No thanks, sis. I think I'll be ok. It's probably best that I go alone. I hope Simone isn't there. I really couldn't stand seeing the two of them together, not yet anyway.

I don't think even Paul would have the audacity to have moved her in already, would he? Evette asked doubtfully.

I really don't know, Ev. I thought I knew Paul but clearly I never really knew him at all.

A look of sadness flashed momentarily across Nicole's face.

We'll get through this together sis, I promise you. Evette squeezed her sister's arm encouragingly. I want you to know that you're not alone and I'm here for you, no matter what happens.

Nicole's eyes filled with tears and she threw her arms around her sister. Evette was startled by her uncustomary display of affection, but she managed to hug her back.

Are you sure you don't mind having me stay here with you? Nicole asked.

I hope I'm not invading your s.p.a.ce too much by suddenly gate-crashing your life.

You can invade and gate-crash for as long as you want. I'm really enjoying your company. It's nice to have someone else rattling around the apartment. It saves me talking to myself.

"I'm very grateful for your help and kindness, sis. I don't know what I would have done without you," Nicole said tearfully.

"You're more than welcome. It's an unexpected pleasure to have you here with me."

"Anyway, what time are you heading over to see the apartment?" Evette asked, changing the subject.

It was too early in the morning for so much sisterly love.

"I'll probably go after breakfast. I might as well get it over and done with and hopefully I can start moving on with my life." Nicole poured them another steaming mug of strong, black coffee and handed her sister a big plate of scrambled eggs on toast.

"Mmm, my favourite," Evette savoured the delicious smell of fried onions and egg.

"I didn't realise I was this hungry," she said as she wolfed down her food.

"I wish I could cook like you. You must have inherited mom's culinary skills and I got dad's. I can't even fry sausages. They usually end up burnt on the outside and raw on the inside."

Nicole laughed. "It's all about timing," she said.

"The trick is to stay calm and take it nice and slow. I learned a lot from watching mom in the kitchen and when I moved in with Paul I bought a huge old-fashioned cookery book. I simply follow the recipe exactly and most of the time it tends to turn out ok."

"I should get ready," Nicole said when they'd finished eating.

"What on earth shall I wear? Paul's going to get a shock if I turn up in one of your outfits. He'll probably think that I've joined a commune!"

"Good," Evette replied. "Let him be shocked. Who cares what that sad loser thinks of you now anyway?"

"I suppose you're right," Nicole agreed.

"I feel very nervous suddenly." Evette looked at her sister. She'd turned very pale. "My stomach is turning over."

"I'm coming with you," Evette said forcefully.

"Are you sure you don't mind?"

"Of course I don't mind. You need all the support you can get right now, besides, what else are sisters for?"

Chapter 5.

"This is it," Nicole said as she paused outside the apartment that she used to share with Paul.