A Sister's Dilemma Read online

  Kate was dimly aware that Steve was behind her, carrying her rucksack and the silver parcel. 'My pleasure,' he said. 'Hope to see you later, ladies.' And he was gone.

  They left the rucksack in the hall and went into the newly furnished kitchen. With obvious pride Jo put on the kettle, took mugs from a cupboard. 'Tell me what you've been up to. I'm so happy I want to marry everybody off. You haven't got a man anywhere, I suppose?'

  Kate shook her head. 'No man. Lots of male friends, but no special man. I'm beginning to doubt if I'll ever meet that one person I want to spend my life with. I've seen a bit of an American doctor, but... well, he's good-hearted but he's not for me. Nothing will come of it.

  Anyway, where's your man? What's Harry doing, going for a walk?'

  'I've sent him away for the day. Both of us have been mad busy for the past four weeks—Katie, you don't know what hard work it is getting married. Anyway, he's been looking more and more harassed, so he's going off to the Lake District for a day's walking with Steve. Steve's nice, Kate, isn't he?'

  'Very nice,' Kate agreed.

  'I would have married Steve if I hadn't wanted to marry Harry. Oh, Kate, I know you're going to love Harry!'

  'I'm sure I will.' Kate smiled. 'You know he rang me up in the middle of the night? He said he wanted to do the proper thing and ask a relative for your hand in marriage. And I was your only relative.'

  'He's like that. He's impulsive.'

  A part of Kate's mind carefully suppressed the thought that Harry could have worked out that eight a.m. in England was three o'clock in the morning in Las Vegas—and that she might not like being woken after the shift she had done. But that was nothing. Harry had sounded really excited, and she liked him for that. She knew he was a doctor in the Milner General Hospital, where Jo worked—a junior registrar in Orthopaedics.

  'So how are the wedding plans going? Anything I can do to help at this late stage?'

  'You know me, always organised. I've got this vast folder of plans and a countdown worked out. You've got to try your bridesmaid's dress; I think you'll like it.'

  Jo looked at her sister critically. 'The dress fits me perfectly, but I think perhaps you're a bit thinner. You can try it on in a few minutes and we can phone for the dressmaker to call in tomorrow if necessary.'

  'So, am I the only bridesmaid?'

  'No, two little girls as well. They're Andrew's daughters—you know, the consultant I work for.'

  'Andrew Kirk. You've talked about him before.'

  'I'm going to carry on working for him until Harry and I decide... Well, that's in the future. Anyway, you'll meet the little girls on Thursday evening. We're having a rehearsal in church. I want everything to go as planned.'

  Kate looked at her sister affectionately. The two were fraternal, not truly identical twins. And, although they looked so alike, they both knew they were vastly different in character. Jo had always been the planner: working out her holidays, buying her clothes according to a budget, deciding on which bit of nursing would provide her with an interesting career. Kate had been the madcap, always wanting to know what was over the horizon, never staying anywhere for long. Perhaps that was why they got on so well together.

  'How long are you staying, Kate? The wedding's next week, then we're having a fortnight's honeymoon in Venice... it'd be lovely if you were around when we got back. You could get a job at my hospital! They're desperately short of nurses. Stay with us a while.'

  'Stay with a newly married couple? Never! You don't want to start married life with a sister in the spare bedroom.'

  Kate shrugged uneasily. 'No, there's work in Vegas as long as I want it, and it's well paid too. And there's a chance of training for an emergency response team. I think I'll go back after the wedding.'

  'Time you settled down,' Jo teased. 'Like I am.'

  'You've always been settled down. I've never known anyone like you, who knew what she wanted and went out to get it. Now, tell me, is there anyone I know who will be coming to this wonderful affair...?'

  Later, Jo took her sister on a tour of inspection. 'I know it's only small but we wanted to buy our first house, and we can move up to a bigger one when we start a family.' Jo looked out at the garden proudly.

  'We've been living here together for three months now—well, people do, don't they? But I've kicked him out for a fortnight before the wedding. He's staying with Steve. Come and look round and tell me what you think.'

  In fact Kate liked it already. The house stood on the side of a hill and there was a view across the valley. Unusually for a modern house, there appeared to be a reasonable-sized garden. She liked the inside as well. It was still half furnished, of course—but it was comfortable. On the walls were enlarged pictures of herself and Jo, taken through the years. She had copies of the same photographs in her wallet, and on her wall in Las Vegas.

  This was more than a house; it was already a home.

  'D'you want a bath?' Jo asked when they had finished looking round. 'You can try on your bridesmaid's dress straight after.'

  'Good idea. Flying long distance always makes me feel a bit grubby. But first—you can buy anything in Las Vegas.’

  She reached around the back of her T-shirt and unfastened the belt that held her ticket, her passport and her money. It also held the small blue-paper-wrapped packet. She opened it.

  'You said that Harry wore a gold chain, so I guessed he wouldn't mind male jewellery. This is a pair of amethyst and silver cufflinks. They're a traditional Navaho pattern.'

  'Kate, they're lovely!' Jo peered into the little box. 'When we get married he says he's going to wear cufflinks from his cricket club. Well, he's just changed his mind.'

  'Let him decide that,' Kate advised. 'The love of a man for his cricket club is not to be trifled with. Anyway, this is for you.'

  In silence Jo accepted the package Kate was offering her. It was a choker, in solid silver, with a red symbol engraved on it. 'Navaho art again,' Kate said. 'That symbol means long life and happiness.'

  'Long life and happiness. It's what I'm going to have. I'll wear this, Kate. It'll go so well with the neckline of my dress. Oh, it's so good to have you back! I wish you'd stay.'

  'We'll have to see,' Kate said gently. 'Now, what was that about a bath?'

  She was shown into a bedroom, only half furnished. But in the built-in cupboard there was a long lilac dress, covered in a Polythene envelope. 'Your bridesmaid's dress,' Jo said proudly. 'I know you'll look good in it. I'm in white, of course. But the dressmaker said this suited my colouring, so it should suit yours. By the way, I've booked an appointment for you at the hairdresser's at the same time as me. Is that all right?'

  'Jo! You've planned everything!'

  'You know me, I like to get things right. But have a bath now, and then we'll have a trying-on session.' Kate felt better after the bath. She put on clean underwear and then tried on the bridesmaid's dress. Jo smoothed it on her, adjusting the shoulders and then turned Kate to the full-length mirror. 'What do you think?'

  Well, her hair needed attention, she definitely needed make-up, and she needed a pair of heels—but otherwise... 'I look gorgeous,' she said modestly.

  'You do.' But Jo's voice was critical. All was not yet completely perfect. 'But I think... just a tiny touch too loose here,' she muttered, pulling at the waist. 'It'll only take the dressmaker a minute to put that right.'

  Kate smiled to herself. She loved this almost obsessive trait in her sister. 'What about flowers?' she asked.

  'I'm having roses—red roses. I know they're a bit conventional, but who cares? I'm a conventional girl. Now, come into my bedroom and we'll see how we look together.'

  It was a simple white raw-silk wedding dress, with a white cap and a veil. Jo had been right; the Navaho choker Kate had bought her matched it perfectly. The two sisters stood side by side, looking into the mirror.

  'Now we're both gorgeous,' Kate said with satisfaction. She said the words light-heartedly, as a little joke.
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  Right now she didn't want to be serious. But she knew what she'd said was true. They were striking, a lovely pair. Impulsively, she leaned over to kiss her sister. 'Nobody who sees you will ever forget you,' she said.

  'Nobody who sees us will ever forget us,' Jo corrected. 'Don't forget, you're my bridesmaid only on condition that I can be your matron of honour.'

  'It's a deal. But don't hold your breath.'

  Jo picked up the skirt of her dress, pirouetted round the room. 'I feel so happy in this,' she said, 'so I'm going to take it off and you can wear it for a minute. Perhaps it'll have some weird effect and you'll want to get married yourself.'

  'I need to find a man first, and at the moment there aren't many around who are suitable. But I do want to try it on.'

  When Kate did try on the dress it had an odd effect on her. This was a wedding dress, suitable for nothing but getting married in. She thought she looked well in it. But there was something else—almost a feeling of anticipation. It might be fun to get married.

  'You like yourself in it, don't you?' Jo asked. The two could always read each other's moods.

  'I must be more jet-lagged than I realised,' Kate replied. 'Marriage isn't for me—not yet.' She irritably reached for the zip.

  There was one more thing to be tried on. Kate ran downstairs and fetched the silver-wrapped box she had packed so carefully. 'Have you decided on a going-away dress yet?' she asked.

  Jo frowned. 'I've got a couple that will do, but I haven't made up my mind yet. Why?'

  Kate pushed the box towards her. 'This is a little extra going-away present.'

  Jo pulled at the silver paper, tore away the bubble wrap. And there, wrapped finally in tissue paper, was a blue silk trouser suit. She lifted it, pressed it to her face.

  'Kate, this is beautiful.'

  'It'll fit you,' said Kate. 'It fits me.'

  By now Kate was feeling tired, but she knew the best thing to do was not to sleep until night. She had to force her body into a new time pattern, she had done it before. Besides, she was a nurse, accustomed to disturbed sleep patterns. Working in A and E, she had discovered that people would injure themselves at the oddest times of day and night.

  Together they went through the folder of wedding plans. The organisation was fantastic! There were copies of business letters sent, invitations sent and acceptances noted, presents received. There was a timetable, a seating plan, a note of those guests who were vegetarian. On each day for the past fortnight there had been a set of tasks to do, and each task had been neatly ticked off.

  'You should have had this on computer,' Kate said, only half joking, 'on a spreadsheet. Or I'm sure there's software for planning a wedding.'

  Jo looked thoughtful. 'There probably is,' she said. 'I wish I had thought of that. There wouldn't have been all this crossing out and writing in again.'

  Kate managed not to let her sister see her smile. What a manager had been lost when Jo had become a theatre nurse!

  The rain had stopped but it was still not very warm. Jo lent her a thin coat and they walked up through town to the church. 'We'll have a proper rehearsal on Thursday evening,' Jo said, 'but I want you to get the feel of the place. The flowers will be here early on Saturday morning.'

  Kate glanced around the dim interior, looked at the stained glass, the vaulting roof. The church was over three hundred years old. It would please her to get married here herself—not that she was intending to get married!

  On their way down the hill they called in at the White Hart, the hotel where the reception would take place.

  There was another wedding dinner being held there. Jo was obviously well known at the place by now, and the two of them were invited to peer in at the function room and see how well it looked. At one end of the room was a small table with a three-tiered cake. Jo smiled. 'Did I show you the picture of my cake?' she asked.

  When they were together the two sisters always shared their emotions. If one was happy, the other had to be. By now Kate was feeling the excitement, the anticipation and even the apprehension that Jo was feeling.

  The week coming was going to be exhausting! But she was looking forward to every minute of it. And she could help.

  It was now Sunday afternoon, she had left Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon. And although it was only twenty-four hours ago, it now seemed like ages.' Are you still working in Theatre?' she asked.

  'Until Thursday night. Andrew, my boss, wanted me to take off longer, but he has a big list on Thursday and I know he likes working with me. You'll like the staff; they're all coming to the wedding. Like I said, Andrew's two daughters are going to be bridesmaids, they're sweet little girls. And we've just got a new man as senior registrar, called Ben Franklin, I've only met him once but I've invited him because I want the whole team there. And after the wedding—the honey moon... a fortnight in Venice! Kate, I can't believe it's finally going to happen!'

  'You've no idea how it makes me happy to see you happy,' Kate said, 'and I think Harry is a very lucky man indeed. Anyway, why shouldn't it happen?' For the first time she saw her sister slightly in doubt.

  'Well, Harry's a bit of an oddball in some ways. He has these sudden enthusiasms and then...' She shrugged. 'I guess I'm just getting a bit strained.'

  'I'm sure you are,' Kate said, 'and you're entitled to be.'

  She stood and stretched. 'I suppose I ought to unpack.'

  'That blue rucksack. Harry asked me what he should get you as a bridesmaid's present. I was tempted to say a new rucksack.'

  'It's part of me now.' Kate yawned. 'I'll never get rid of it. Be down in five minutes.'

  It was now nearly teatime, and Jo went to the kitchen as Kate unpacked her few things and hung them or put them in the empty drawers. She had treated herself to a set of silk underwear for the wedding, but otherwise her clothes were those that she'd worn over the years.

  She heard a car draw up outside. For a while the engine continued running, even though it was obvious that the car was not moving. Casually, she walked to the window and peered around the edge of the curtain. It was Steve's blue car. Kate felt a moment's pleasure. She'd like to see Steve again.

  The car engine stopped. But Steve didn't get out. She could see him, just sitting, dressed in the same red-checked shirt. He was staring out of the window. There was no one else in the car, no sign of the Harry she had been expecting to meet. It seemed a little—odd.

  Then the driver's door slowly opened and Steve did get out. She leaned back behind the curtain, not wanting to be thought a nosy neighbour or anything.

  He shut the car door and stood by it, looking at the house as if searching for something. She shrank further behind the curtain; he couldn't see her. He seemed hesitant, as if not wanting to come in. Then he appeared to make up his mind. His shoulders were braced; she could almost see the determination there.

  She felt the first tingle of apprehension. There was something wrong. Where was Harry? Why was he back so early? Why was this man putting off coming to the house? She watched him stride down the path, heard the muted ring of the doorbell. She heard Jo open the door.

  Her bedroom door was open; she could clearly hear what was said in the hall below. Jo's voice, bright, bubbling, happy as she'd been all day. 'Hi, Steve, back early, aren't you? Where's Harry?'

  There was the mutter of a male voice, Kate couldn't hear what was said. Then the sound of the living room door shutting. There was something oppressive about the silence. Kate caught herself listening, straining to hear what came next. Then it came, a scream of anguish that she could barely recognise as coming from her sister. 'No! He can't! Steve, this is some kind of joke, you can't mean it! Steve? Steve!'

  Kate rushed downstairs, threw open the door of the new, barely furnished living room. Steve was standing by the fireplace, an anguished expression on his face.

  He was trying to fend off Jo, who was ineffectually hitting his chest and arms, sobbing at the same time.

  Jo was more upset than Ka
te had ever seen. There was a piece of paper in Jo's hand. It fluttered to the floor as Kate pulled her sister round, held her, hugged her. Jo wept on her shoulder.

  Kate just didn't know what to do. She glanced at Steve, who just stood, a picture of misery. 'Jo, what's the matter? Jo, it's me, it's Kate. Come on, tell me.

  What's the matter? Has anyone hurt you?'

  Under her arms, she could feel the frantic thudding of her sister's heart, feel her chest heaving with weeping. Then Jo broke away, picked up the piece of paper from the floor, stared at it as if she couldn't believe in it. Then she thrust it at Kate.

  'It's a letter—a letter from Harry. He says he doesn't want to marry me, can't marry me. He's gone abroad!'

  CHAPTER TWO

  Kate read the letter over Jo’s shoulder. It was short, stark.

  Thinking of getting married had been a mistake.

  Better to find out now. Still love you.

  Her arms were around her sister, holding her to her.

  Never had she seen Jo so upset. She could feel her body racked by sobs and she wondered if the crying would ever stop. They were orphans, they had been through hard times together, but never had there been suffering like this. This was the worst.

  She wondered exactly what had happened. How could Jo have fallen for a man who turned out to be so cruel, so cowardly? Her anger was rising, but she knew better than to let it blaze through. It wouldn't help Jo, and now all she had to concentrate on was comforting her sister. 'You've got me, Jo,' she crooned. 'You've got me. We're sisters, we'll hang together.'

  She rocked her the way they'd used to hold and rock each other when they were children, when one was in pain or in trouble. Perhaps Jo's sobbing grew less.

  Kate looked up at Steve angrily. 'You can go now,' she said. 'I think you've done enough for one day, haven't you?'

  But even in her own distress she could see that he was upset too. Like a man, he tried to hide it, to remain imperturbable, but Kate could see the signs of strain in his face.