Read Tales From a Hen Weekend for Free Online Page B

to her.
    ‘How’s Fergus?’ I ask her now, throwing myself on my bed and leaning on one elbow, watching her tidying the dressing table.
    ‘He’s grand,’ she says, smiling shyly at me in the mirror.
    ‘It’s about time I met this guy. You can’t hide him from me for ever, you know!’
    ‘Aw, come on, Katie, you know well how much I’m looking forward to you meeting him!’
    ‘Well, me too. I hope he’s being good to you?’
    She laughs.
    ‘Sure, and why would he not be? Give over with your fussing, for the love of God!’
    I roll over onto my back and stretch out on the bed, arms above my head. I could fall asleep quite easily. I’m knackered from the stress of all the wedding preparation, and this is the first chance I’ve had in weeks to relax.
    ‘Aren’t you going to unpack?’ says Jude.
    ‘Nah, I don’t think I am. I haven’t got the energy.’
    ‘Would you like for me to do it for you?’
    I open one eye and manage a lopsided grin at her.
    ‘You’re the best friend I ever had. I don’t know how I live without you.’
    ‘Be off with you. You and your nonsense!’ She pauses. ‘Katie. Are you sure you’re OK?’
    ‘Of course I am. I’m here to party. Let’s get on with it…’
    But I’m asleep before she’s even unzipped my case.
     
    We’ve arranged to meet up in the bar at seven o’clock. I’m expecting Emily, Karen and Suze to be first there, already getting stuck into the booze, but surprisingly, Mum and Auntie Joyce are the only ones already ensconced at a table. They’ve both got gin-and-tonics in front of them and they’re deep in conversation, hugging their handbags on their laps.
    ‘We didn’t have a honeymoon,’ Mum’s saying as Jude and I bring our drinks over from the bar to join them. ‘There wasn’t any money for things like that. We spent everything we had on the deposit for our first house.’
    We’re back in 1972 again, by the sound of it.
    ‘I know, Marge, says Joyce, ‘but you’ve got to hand it to the youngsters. They don’t rush into marriage. They work hard and save up. Bloody good luck to them, I say. Ron and I went to Guernsey for a week. But if we could have afforded a honeymoon in the Caribbean, we’d have gone for it. We all would have done, wouldn’t we?’
    ‘We didn’t expect luxuries,’ insists Mum, taking another sip of her drink. ‘We expected to be hard up. That’s the difference.’
    ‘It’s not so very different, Mum. We’re still hard up, trust me,’ I tell her.
    ‘God, everyone’s hard up these days, aren’t they, so?’ says Jude.
    ‘Who’s hard up?’ asks Emily, joining us at the table. ‘Is someone trying to get out of buying a drink?’ she laughs. ‘Cos before you all start arguing about it, I think we should have a whip.’
    ‘Good idea,’ says Lisa, and between the two of them they’re getting organised, getting the right amount of euros from everyone and keeping it in a separate purse.
    ‘Hope one of you two is going to stay sober!’ I tell them.
    ‘Yes, Emily, dear – that’s a lot of money. Be very careful,’ says Mum, giving her a stern look. ‘We don’t want you getting mugged.’
    ‘Well, that’s nice to know, Marge! I’ll do my best not to be.’
    ‘I know you will, dear, and it’s very good of you to take care of everything for us. Katie’s very lucky to have such good friends,’ she adds. The look she gives me implies that it’s far more than I deserve.
    ‘Here’s to good friends, then!’ I suggest, raising my glass. Everyone’s turned up in the bar now and got themselves a drink.
    ‘Cheers!’ they all respond.
    ‘And here’s to the Hen !’ laughs Emily. She raises her glass again, takes a big gulp of her vodka and lemonade, and gives me a hug. ‘Have a wonderful weekend, Katie! Just relax and have fun!’
    ‘It’ll be the last chance you get!’ says Helen darkly.
    Everyone laughs. But knowing Helen, I don’t actually think she’s joking.
    ‘Time to get the gear, on,