“You could have done that gentler!” I chastised.
“Sorry, mum,” he chuckled and took my arm once more.
He told me he brought me to a room and that I was to take a seat. I sat down when he told me it was safe to do so and almost instantly I heard a door open.
“Ah, right on time.” The voice belonged to a female that I had never heard before.
“Branna, listen to me carefully, okay?” Ash began. “This lady, Sandy, is going to remove your blindfold and do your make-up and hair for you. You’re not to open your eyes, not even once. Sandy won’t speak to you, so don’t try and get any info from her. Got it?”
“You’re a right bloody arsehole, do you know that?” I grumbled.
Ash tittered. “I’m aware of it, yep.”
I sighed. “You’re obviously goin’ through a lot of trouble to surprise me with Ryder so I’ll bite. I’ll do what you ask, okay?”
Ash was satisfied with my answer because I felt my blindfold being removed and I listened to Sandy when she spoke only to tell me what she was going to do while I was in her care. I wasn’t good at keeping track of time, but I think I was in the room Ash brought me to for forty minutes or so while she applied makeup to my face, and curled my hair with a curling iron then pinned it up and plated some kind of braid, too.
I broke a rule and tried to get some information out of Sandy, but she took whatever vow of silence Ash made her take very seriously.
When she asked me to stand up I did. She gently put the blindfold back around my eyes, but it was much looser that before so it would smudge my makeup. After Sandy left the room, I jumped with fright when I heard familiar female voices.
“Bronagh?” I questioned. “Ado, Keela, Lana? Is that you four?”
“Yep,” my sister chirped.
I sighed with relief. “What the hell is goin’ on?”
“It’s a surprise,” Aideen stated. “And don’t say Hell here.”
“What? Why?” I asked.
“No questions!” she quipped.
“Mate, come on!” I pleaded.
“You aren’t gettin’ any information from us, Bran, so zip it.” Keela chuckled, making me groan.
“Okay, fine,” I grumbled. “What’re you four doin’ in here?”
“We’ve to help you get dressed,” my sister said and I think she was about to cry from her tone of voice.
“Bronagh?” I pressed. “Are you okay?”
“She’s fine,” Alannah chirped. “Now, let’s get you out of your work uniform and dressed.”
I knew better than to ask another question so I gestured with my hand for them to get it over with. They took my blindfold off once more and I forgot about it altogether because I was bloody mortified when I was stripped down to my birthday suit and used my hands to try and retain some modesty. Apparently wearing new under garments that was bought for me was very important.
When I got my underwear on Aideen put something around my thigh that had me asking all kind of questions, but she said I’d find out soon enough if I stopped asking questions.
I was quiet until they made me put on heels, then opened my box—I bloody heard them open it—and put on a dress that I’m pretty sure was inside of it.
“It didn’t crease,” my sister said in a relieved breath. “Thank God.”
They put the dress on me and it was a snug fit and floor length. It felt like a very elegant dress, so I ran my hands over it and asked, “Is this lace?”
“Most of it is,” Alannah replied.
I shivered when my sister clipped a necklace around my neck, but I smiled when she kissed my cheek. She removed the blindfold after I promised not to open my eyes, but it was very hard they I heard everyone’s sniffles.
“Okay, why’re you all bloody cryin’?” I asked, impatiently. “What’s goin’ on?”
“You look beautiful,” Bronagh whispered. “Just like ma.”
Like our mother?
“Bronagh, what is—”
“Come with us,” she cut me off. “It’s time.”
Time for what?
“I’m about to blow a fuse,” I said as I grabbed onto the hands that took hold of my forearms.
We only walked a maximum of twenty steps when I was brought to a halt and my sister said, “We’re going inside now, and when you hear the sound of a door shutting, I want you to open your eyes then when you’re ready, I know you’ll follow us.”
“Follow you where?” I asked my sister.
I heard the clip clop of heels then the sound of a door shutting. I sighed and shook my head before I slowly opened my eyes. I almost jumped out of my skin when in front of me was a floor length mirror, and in the reflection was… me.
“Oh, my God,” I whispered and covered my mouth with my hand.
I looked down at myself and touched the dress I wore and the necklace that dangled from my neck, too. My mother’s necklace. I would know it anywhere. It was silver with diamonds set in an intricate pattern. I remember admiring it as a young girl and always begging her to let me wear it.
“One day, sweetheart.” She told me with a breath taking smile. “One day when you’re old enough to understand the significance of diamonds and forever you can wear it.”
“I think that day has come, ma,” I said aloud, knowing she was right beside me.