Daisy Yorke picked up her wine glass, struggling to give any input to the conversations going on around her. She was part of the bridal party for her best friend Freya’s wedding, which was taking place this weekend at The Lakeside House Hotel. Their college friends had arranged to get together in the bar, before the rehearsal dinner, as this would probably be the only free time they would have all weekend.
It had been over six years since they’d left college and everyone, Daisy realized through listening to their conversations, was either married or engaged. Some even had kids. She was the only one still single at twenty-seven. The only one out of the group that she’d kept up with over the years had been Freya, mainly because Freya insisted on weekly calls and regular meet-ups. ‘Reading your once in a blue moon Facebook updates’, she said, didn’t count.
“So, Daisy, what have you been up to since the last time I saw you? We’ve missed you at the last few Maui get-togethers.”
Melody Marshall gave Daisy a broad smile and shuffled forward on her seat to hear her answer. Melody was married to an NFL player, Brad, Brandon, Brody or something, she couldn’t quite remember, and looked to be about nine months pregnant. She was glowing with what Daisy assumed must be the ‘pregnancy glow’ that the others had been talking about earlier. She debated on how best to answer this question. Before today she had thought herself to be extremely happy and loving the life she had created for herself after college, but after listening to her old college friends talking about their husbands and fiancés and how great their lives were, no mentions of their jobs or careers, she was no longer sure she was happy.
“Daisy?” Melody prompted.
“Oh, sorry, I was miles away. Nothing very exciting I’m afraid. It’s been work, work, work. I recently got promoted to Marketing Director at Fredrickson Foods in San Francisco, I think I’d just moved there when we last spoke. There’s not really been time for anything else, unfortunately.” Was that really all she’d achieved since college?
By the look on Melody’s face there was something else she was itching to ask. Melody had always been the nosy one in college, guess nothing has changed. Thankfully, she was never vindictive with it, more like a mother hen, sometimes smotheringly so. Daisy caught the look and it wasn’t long before she was proved correct. “So,” Melody continued, “is your fiancé? Husband? Here with you?”
Daisy groaned and for the first time ever, she wished she could say she had one, she didn’t care which. She’d had a few boyfriends over the years but nothing serious, probably due to the promise she’d made to herself in high school, and still kept to this day.
In high school her parents had both worked low paying jobs, her dad was a mechanic at the local garage, her mom a waitress at the local diner. This wouldn’t have been so bad if everyone around them had been in the same situation, but her mother had inherited their home from a rich aunt and they had been the poorest family in an affluent neighborhood. It had had an excellent high school and that was why her parent’s decided to stay in the house instead of selling it. Being poor in a rich kid’s high school wasn’t easy. She’d made the decision, after a couple of weeks of being there, she wasn’t going to end up like her parents, stuck in a small town with no prospects and no money. She would focus on getting top grades, get a full scholarship to college and a high paying job in a big city. Financial security was her number one priority. In fact, it was her only priority and looking back, she’d sacrificed everything to achieve it. After listening to her friends, she was starting to wonder if she’d made a mistake.
With a sigh she replied. “No, I’m here on my own. No boyfriend or anything else.”
“Oh, I’m sorry Daisy, I didn’t mean to push. I just assumed you would be in a relationship like the rest of us.”
Daisy was sure there was pity in Melody’s eyes, but maybe the surroundings were making her feel paranoid. The Lakeside House Hotel was certainly the perfect venue for a wedding or a romantic getaway for that matter. It was the first time she’d really had thoughts like that, it wasn’t like her at all.
Freya came up beside Daisy and grabbed her hand, pulling Daisy towards her. “Sorry Melody, I want to borrow Daisy for a minute, won’t be long.”
Just like in college, Freya was rescuing her and they escaped to the bathroom for some privacy. Freya turned to Daisy looking concerned. “Are you okay? You don’t look like you’re having fun, and I’m sorry, but this is my wedding weekend and I command you to have fun.”
Daisy laughed at her friend, pulling her into a hug. “I am having fun and more to the point, I’m over the moon you are finally marrying Charlie.”
“But, there is something. I can tell so spill it or you will totally ruin my weekend.” Freya grinned knowing fine well that the guilt trip always worked on her friend.
She sighed, it was better to let it out and move on. Freya could be relentless on her quest for the truth, and the last thing she wanted was to spoil Freya’s wedding.
“I was really looking forward to your wedding.”
“But …” Freya prompted.
“Oh no, it’s nothing like that. I’m saying this all wrong, and it really is nothing for you to worry about. This is your wedding weekend after all. I am happy, well I thought I was. What I mean is that I hadn’t really thought about meeting up with the girls, other than catching up with them y’know … like in college. Then listening to them all, they are happily married or engaged and I hadn’t really thought about me being the only single one left. For some reason it seems to bother me, and when I see you and Charlie together, I realize that I would like that … for me. I mean Charlie is your soul mate, you clearly love each other dearly, and I love seeing your eyes light up when you talk about him, or when you notice he’s walked into a room. I really am so happy for you Freya, just ignore me.”
Freya’s eyes started to fill up with tears and Daisy began to panic. “Oh Freya, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
She was suddenly pulled into a hug. “That was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you.”
“Aw Freya, you’re welcome,” she replied in relief.