Imogene stood for a fleeting moment outside in her wedding dress. She was looking for Diandra hoping to ask her for a last minute favor, as now that the ceremony was over, she was thinking about so many last minute stupid details she’d forgotten to take care of. Things that couldn’t wait till she and Rodney returned from Capri…. where was she? Someone said they saw her wandering outside with ….? who….?
Imogene quickly spotted her by the glow of the rose-gold bride’s maid gown (which she had personally selected) just as Diandra was slipping inside the dark midnight navy groom’s suit jacket (which she had also personally selected) (she had a moment to admire how perfectly well the color combination exactly matched their new master suite interior before she shook herself back to her task)
“Diandra!! Diandra-darling!!” and shaking out the length of her wedding train, she freed her feet well enough to do a half run towards the parked cars where Diandra was talking— or was it arguing?—with…. Greg Wilson….?
….Imogene bit her lip as she slowed down her pace approaching them, she glanced quickly at Greg then back at Diandra
“D— is….?” Imogene raised her brows in question as at that moment a guest called out to her from across the lawn
….and as Imogene turned to reply—that was the moment when Diandra jerked on Greg’s sleeve and held a finger to her lips to indicate silence as she implored him with her sultry eyes
But not before Imogene caught that very last second of the departing look just as Diandra dropped a facade. Only to realize her friend recognized the intent.
There are those moments when we find ourselves red handed and caught in the act without actually being in any act or action at all; but you’re caught anyhow because it is written all over your face ….but still
There was never anything ever confirmed or admitted to Imogene years ago. And it had never seriously been talked about between them. Diandra would just laugh very hard every time Imogene suggested ….’is there something going on with that boy and you, Miss Pim?’
Until now she had forgotten how Imogene liked to tease her about him. Trying to get her to come out and meet the friends over on the other side but Diandra always said she’d rather stay home and read or write. She didn’t want to meet men who were like her father. Which were the type Imogene had meant.
The two now older friends exchanged silent messages with their eyes that perhaps they themselves didn’t know the words for. But it was a wedding day. An emotional day. A day when she had with her a friend from long ago where her own little love story began long ago with the man she finally got to marry. Coach Rod, who was on staff at the school, all those years ago —then married….
Her choice to be wise and bite her tongue would have surprised her younger self….
but then ….
Greg and Diandra all those years ago— she knew it…. she’d always suspected ….they all had, really but —nobody said anything at the school. Not at school. After. Everyone talked.
Diandra felt the blood drain from her head from the realization the secret was out there —maybe not actually said but, definitely acknowledged and as Greg caught Diandra by the arms from behind as she stumbled from a wave of dizziness, his move spoke more in volumes
“Uhrm—“ Imogene hesitated looking now at Greg and remembering the youth he once was. So angry all the time. He was worse after Diandra left. It was Rod who somehow got through to him. Coach Rod started a boxing club for boys soon after and Rod took Greg under his wing. Greg never forgot and always remained close to him after he left school.
“I just wanted to ask you D—if you wouldn’t mind looking after my flat?” Imogene pressed on as time was forcing the issue. “We’re moving into the house right after we get back and I know you were saying you’re at a lose end with your job—until I can get out of my lease I actually need someone living there— would you consider that?”
Diandra wasn’t sure what the question was,
“my return flight is for next Saturday, I was thinking of doing some shopping originally before what happened with work—so, sure, yeah, I can stay there till Saturday instead.”
But the odd pause that followed seemed to say she missed the question
“So just the week?” Imogene sighed, “well, that’s fine—I can figure it out when I get back—“
Greg interrupted, looking at Diandra,
“are you in such a hurry to return to New York? It’s not like your job is demanding it.”
They were both now looking at her. Imogene felt, at that moment, suddenly grateful for whatever may be between them
“Yeah but I have my own life to get back to there—“
“Oh! I’m sorry, of course, don’t worry about it, I’m sure I’ll think of something! Was just taking the chance you could. I forgot! You have cats, right? You were always a cat person, I should have thought!” Imogene said now
“No—no….I don’t. I don’t have cats….. but I also have a lease and —stuff ….back there—that I should be doing,” she ended the last sentence flat.
It was getting rather nippy in the air but somehow the conversation seemed to hold everyone
“Have you heard anything from your job since what you told me happened?” Greg asked
The question now seemed like a wild notion to Diandra.
She looked up at Greg.
“What?”
“Have you heard from your work since they fired you?”
There was an odd look on her face as she looked up and answered him,
“I haven’t checked my emails since I got here.”
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