Chapter 5
'Who would have thought it, Serena Campbell marrying Berenice Wolfe! It's been a long time coming. Sorry today hasn't gone as planned.' Ric was smiling at Serena now who was adjusting her dress a bit and fussing with her hair. Her and Bernie were sometimes more alike then they would both like to admit. They were both nervous and both had been fidgeting in their respective cars.
'Not your fault AAU was short staffed.' Serena said reassuringly.
'No, but I should have marched you back out that door this morning and made sure you were at your own wedding.' He grinned and winked at her.
'Bernie is the one used to marching, not me.' She laughed. 'Look to be honest I wanted some normality, the run up to, today has been manic. I love Bernie to bits, but sometimes I wished we had just eloped in secret.'
'No you bloody don't...hang on is it this way?' He nodded his head in the direction of the right hand turning at the junction they had stopped at.
'Yes it is...'
Ric turned off and carried on his rant, admittedly it was a rant of support, but he was no longer concentrating fully on the road.
'Look as I was saying. you don't wish that at all. I know you too well Serena, you like the finer things in life, you wouldn't want to miss out on the fancy country hotel, the champagne the delicious food, or the chance to show off how sickeningly happy the pair of you are. You wouldn't want to get married without Jason or Elinor and you certainly wouldn't want Bernie to miss out on being happy in front of her children...would you? This is the wedding of your dreams, the one you should have always had, the one with The ONE!'
'So out of your 5 weddings which one was The ONE?' She asked mockingly. Smiling softly. 'Thank you, now this is why I wanted you to do the ceremony. I mean I could have asked Hanssen...' she was teasing him, as she always had done, since day one of their working relationship and friendship.
***
'Mum what do you want us to do?' Cameron asked again. Bernie had been staring out the window for 5 minutes. She had barely blinked, just hoping to see Ric's car pull up. Her lips pursed together tightly.
'Go and get the make-up girl, she can fix me up whilst we wait at least. Not you Cam, Jason would you mind?' She didn't even turn away from the window, just spoke commandingly, tailing off more softy when asking Jason to leave and go and get her.
'No that's ok Auntie Bernie, I'll get her, her name is Susan, she seemed really nice.' Jason smiled and walked out the room, leaving just Cameron and Morven behind.
'Right, I didn't want to worry Jason but...'
'I'm sure she'll be here any minute, didn't you leave the hospital around the same time? Maybe Serena was just taking longer to get ready?' Morven chimed in, trying to calm Bernie's worries.
'I know what you are saying is logical, it's just I feel it...in my gut.' She said low and quiet, almost not audibly. Morven and Cameron turned to each other and shrugged, unsure what to say.
'Why did you come separately? I thought Mr Hanssen, was picking you both up? Mum?' He walked over to stand beside her, Bernie's hotel room was nice, but small. Well small in comparison to the one that had been set aside for Serena originally to get ready in. Bernie didn't mind, she wasn't expecting much help to get ready, Morven and Elinor had been assigned to help Serena get ready in the morning, before Serena had insisted on working that was. Now that all seemed like a distant memory, that conversation about how Serena wanted bridesmaids and Bernie just wanted Cameron and maybe Charlotte at her side. Charlotte had refused, but she did say she'd be at the wedding if it didn't upset their father too much. Whilst Cameron had jumped at the chance to be involved, it was awkward, but he had grown close to Serena.
'I was...I said something about not wanting to see Serena in her dress...it is meant to be bad luck.' She sad sadly, with a small grin on her lips.
'Isn't that some old wives tale about a groom seeing their bride? And Serena isn't a man and neither are you.' He laughed, Bernie turned to him, pain in her eyes. 'Come on I didn't mean it like that, you don't believe in bad luck. You do believe in romance though. You wanted that romantic moment, seeing her for the first time.' He placed his arm around his mum, bringing her in for a side on hug.
There was a knock at the hotel door, 'Auntie Bernie, it's Jason...and Susan.'
Bernie didn't move.
'Let him in.'
Morven opened the hotel door and smiled, 'Think it's time we get the bride to be ready, don't you Jason?'
'Yes.' He nodded too, but Bernie didn't see that, she was still facing out the window.
'Hi, Jason said you wanted your making up touching up?' Susan stood in the doorway holding her big box of tricks up.
'Yes, yes, just a bit, better look better than I do now, I look a mess.' Bernie looked down herself and touched her face in despair and finally turned to face the girl.
'We can fix that Miss Wolfe.' She smiled warmly, walking over to the desk in the room, 'Why don't you sit on this chair and I will apply some light make-up and maybe...um...brush your hair?'
Bernie looked up at her fringe and laughed. 'I forgot to brush my hair before leaving the hospital.'
Bernie had been sat patiently for 5, maybe 10 minutes, having some make-up applied. 'Any sign yet?' She moved suddenly, making Susan sigh.
'No Auntie Bernie. No Auntie Serena, I am getting bored now, I want to see the people downstairs.'
'Go on then, it's ok Cam is here, you go down with Morven, chat to Raf for a bit.'
They both left, Morven smiling at Cameron before closing the door behind them.
'Should I try ringing her?'
'I left my phone at the hospital. I really was in a rush.'
'Well, I have my phone, I could ring her, I do have other Mummy's number you know.' He was trying to lighten the mood. It worked for a moment.
'Other mummy?' Bernie raised her brow, again Susan sighed as she tried to do her eye make-up. 'Sorry' She looked sheepish.'...look no ganging up on me when we're married right? You too are bad enough as it is now...I am glad you get on though.' Bernie exhaled.
'Ok ring her...'
Cameron sat on the edge of the bed and got his phone out his suit pocket. Flicked the screen to Serena's number and pressed to dial. 'I'm sure it's fine...'
Ring Ring Ring...
'It's ringing...'
'Hello. Serena Campbell's phone...'
'Hello, Um you're not my new step-mummy...' Cameron laughed, slightly recognising the male voice, but not quite placing it.
'Oh Dr Dunn, It's Sacha Levy, I was just finishing up with their patient from this morning, shouldn't you be at the wedding?'
'Well Serena isn't here yet...'
'Oh I might just make the ceremony after all. I was just going to get changed and head over...'
'Ok that's great, but I don't know where Serena is...do you?'
'No idea I'm afraid, I just found Serena's phone in the office, I was placing the case notes in here for her...um I'm sure Hanssen and Ric will get them there in one piece.'
'Well we have the one bride, my mum, but the other is AWOL.'
'Cameron what is going on?' Bernie had stood up now and had batted Susan off her.
'It's fine mum...hang on...ok well if you do see Serena send her our way will you. Oh Mum's phone is probably in the office too can you bring them both with you?'
'Yes of course I can. Well I'll see you later. Wish your mum luck from me.'
'Bye.' Cameron clicked the phone off, 'Well Mummy number 2 was sounding a lot more manly...'
'Not the time Cam, what's going on?' Bernie scowled at him.
Cameron put his hands up in mock surrender. 'She left her phone at work that's all. You did as well in the rush remember. Nothing to worry about.'
Bernie winced and looked towards the window. She wasn't quite so sure.