Abbi... Read online

  “My God,” her mother said. “That box is huge!” Abbi walked into her room carrying the box and placed it on her bed.

  “I know,” Abbi said. “It looks beautiful though. I’ll try it on for you.” Within five minutes Abbi had emerged from her room wearing the gorgeous silver dress. She hadn’t put on the elbow length gloves. She still thought they were too much.

  “Well?” Abbi asked turning around. “What do you think?”

  “You look beautiful,” her mother said, slightly awed. “It’s a stunning gown. You are definitely going then?”

  “Of course I’m going. I can’t not go now I have this dress. Let’s face it, where else am I going to wear it?” Her mother let out a childish giggle.

  “I would have loved to go to a ball when I was your age,” she said wistfully.

  “You don’t mind that it’s going to be overnight?” Abbi asked.

  “You are nineteen. In the autumn you will be twenty. You’re old enough to make your own decisions,” Eleanor said carefully. “I don’t mind.”

  Abbi’s face lit into a grin. “Thanks mum. Now I have to go to work.” Twenty minutes later Abbi was slamming the door shut. Eleanor was smiling too. It was nice to see her daughter that happy. She dearly wished that this boy wouldn’t one day break her daughters heart. He probably would though. He didn’t live around here. It was a set up for eventual disaster as it could never last.

  The next couple of weeks passed relatively peacefully. Mark and Abbi saw each other almost everyday and they called each other much more. Eleanor could see that Mark was well on his way to stealing her daughter’s heart. It reminded her of when she herself was young and in love.

  George Hammond considered his sons behaviour to be very inappropriate. Mark couldn’t seem to manage to spend a day without this new girl. Abbi seemed to have a spell over him. Even asking Jessica to go to the dress shop to wind Abbi up hadn’t worked. Either Jessica hadn’t been very convincing or Abbi had simply ignored it. Now Jessica he considered to be a fine match for his eldest son. The daughter of one of his close associates. He would encourage that to work.

  Abbi felt herself to fall a little more in love with him with every day that passed. Mark missed her when she was busy working or just quite simply wasn’t with him. He wanted to be around her all the time. Slowly the weekend of the ball came around. A whole weekend that he would get to share with her.

  They were due to leave early on Saturday morning. Abbi got a call from Rosalyn the night before they were leaving.

  “Hi Abbi, look I need a favour,” Rosalyn burst out.

  “I’m not going to like this, am I?” Abbi said grimly. She knew she wouldn’t like it. She could just sense it.

  “I need you to cover my shift at the hotel tomorrow morning,” she said in a rush.

  “Rosalyn, you know I can’t,” Abbi said slowly. “I booked this weekend off two weeks ago, when I got the invitation to the Hammond ball. I can’t cover for you.”

  “Oh please Abbi,” Rosalyn pleaded. “I know you are going to the ball but I’m busy for the first couple of hours. I’d be back to take over by half ten. Roger’s family has unexpectedly descended on him and I’m needed to help him sort through the guest room so they don’t all sleep on the floor. I can’t do it tonight as I’m doing your usual shift because you’re packing for your dream weekend.”

  “Rosalyn, I can’t,” Abbi started. Rosalyn just didn’t get it. “Mark’s getting here just before nine and we are leaving straight away. You know that. I’ve already told you.”

  “Look I need this. You out of the blue booked the weekend off, so I’m stuck doing your shifts. I’m just asking for a few hours. Please!”

  Rosalyn sounded quite desperate. “Call someone else. I can’t do it. I’m sorry.” She heard Rosalyn breathing hard.

  “I’ll remember this,” and Abbi flinched as she heard the phone being slammed down. Abbi tried to ignore what Rosalyn had said and went back to packing her suitcase. Her parting words rung out in Abbi’s head. She and Rosalyn quite often swapped shifts if one of them was stuck. She didn’t want to make Rosalyn her enemy, as she was a good mate to have at work. “I was in the right though,” Abbi said to herself. She had booked this time off a while ago. She had made it clear to everyone that she simply was not available this weekend. She sighed inwardly as she clipped her suitcase shut.

  Mark had finished packing his stuff for the weekend. His mother had already left to make sure that the hotel that everyone was staying at was up to the usual standard. His father was barely speaking to him and Steve was leaving his packing to last thing in the morning before he left.

  Mark couldn’t wait to pick Abbi up. This weekend was going to be perfect. His family had moved to their holiday home nearly two weeks ago. He had packed using several small bags as his suitcase still had some of the debris from staying at the Sunset hotel. He still hadn’t properly unpacked yet. But that didn’t matter. Tomorrow was going to be great.

  Chapter 7

  The Ball

  It was Saturday morning and Abbi had been awake since six. She was so excited that she couldn’t go back to sleep. Abbi had been sitting in the living room since eight waiting for Mark to drive up and pick her up. Her mother kept shooting glances at Abbi. After half an hour of this Abbi snapped.

  “What is wrong with you?”

  “I want you to be careful okay?” her mother said. She waited for Abbi to nod before carrying on. “Don’t do anything that you aren’t ready for.”

  Abbi suddenly got the gist of what her mother was trying to say. “I’m not planning to sleep with him.”

  “Even if you were, you aren’t very likely to tell me are you?” Abbi privately admitted that her mother had a valid point. She wasn’t going to tell her about what happened between herself and Mark.

  “Anyway that’s not the point,” Abbi’s mother continued. “I just want you to only do what you are happy with.”

  “I’ve got the message mum,” Abbi said irritated. Suddenly she heard an engine driving up and slowing down. She jumped up and looked out the window. “He’s here!” She gave her mum a quick hug.

  “I understand what you’re saying,” she told her mum. Abbi shouted a goodbye to her mum as she dragged her suitcase behind her.

  “Hi,” she said as she met Mark and kissed him.

  “Looking forward to today?” he asked her. Abbi nodded. “Do you want me to say goodbye to your mum?” he asked.

  Abbi hesitated. After what her mum had said to her, she didn’t want her to say anything like that to Mark. “No she’ll be fine,” Abbi said. She could see her mum looking out of a window at them. They both waved at her. She waved back. Quite quickly they were driving along the road away from her house.

  “How come you have so many bags?” she asked him. As they were putting her suitcase in the boot Abbi had noticed four or five smaller bags.

  “My suitcase hasn’t really been unpacked since I moved from the Sunset hotel,” he said. “I guess I’m just lazy.”

  Mark was driving and Abbi didn’t feel like starting a conversation. Abbi could drive, she had passed her test in February, but she didn’t have a car. What was the point when work was just a five-minute walk away?

  “You still haven’t shown me where you live now,” she said to break the silence.

  “I will,” he said.

  They got to Greenford hotel after driving for two hours. Abbi had a look at the building. It looked like a huge mansion. “How many rooms are here?” she asked.

  “Seventy two at last count,” he said pleased at her awed expression.

  “Is the ballroom here as well?” she asked.

  “No”, he said quickly. “We hire a company which give us about fifty cars for the evening. They drive us down the road. A ten minute car journey to the ballroom.” They smiled together as they went up to the reception desk.

  “Mark Hammond and Abigail Wilkins,” Mark said to the happy receptionist. She went through a list on
a clipboard in front of her. She found their names and asked them to sign next to them. After that she gave them their keys. Mark was in room fourteen and Abbi was in fifteen.

  “They’re up the stairs to your left,” the receptionist said pointing to a beautiful staircase. Both of them followed the directions they were given. Their hotel rooms were right next to each other. Mark asked her if she wanted to do anything for the rest of the day.

  “Of course I can’t,” Abbi said. “You told me we have to be ready to leave at six. That’s only a few hours away. I have to get ready and look as fabulous as all those other rich girls.”

  Mark smiled humouring her. “How about at twelve I’ll get you and take you downstairs for some lunch? You have to eat something.” He said.

  “Yeah okay,” she said. She kissed him and went into her room. It was magnificent. There was a lovely bathtub and a shower The towels felt like velvet and there was a gorgeous dressing gown that was actually silk. As well as the double bed there was a spacious wardrobe. It took Abbi a while to unpack her things and hang her dress up. She had no idea how it had happened but she had half of Marks things. She picked them up and knocked next door. Mark emerged and smiled.

  “I thought you must have had them,” he said lightly. He kissed her slowly. “So lunch?” Abbi nodded and they spent a happy hour in each other’s company.

  It was one o’clock by the time Abbi started to get ready. She had a quick shower washing her hair and blow-dried it, which took ages because it was so long. When it was completely dry it had a wave to it so she got out her hair straighteners. The only available plug was by the door. Half way through her hair there was a knock on her door.

  “Come in,” she said immediately without thinking. Mark opened the door. Abbi quickly took stock of what she was wearing. Her underwear and a silk dressing gown and not much else. She quickly grabbed her dressing gown so it was closed.

  “I think you still have one of my bags,” he said. Abbi looked on the floor and sure enough saw the bag in question. She quickly grabbed it and gave it to him. “I’ll see you later,” he said smiling and he left her to it.

  Mark went back into his room holding his bag. She hadn’t though before telling him to come in. That much had been obvious. She had looked stunning. For that second or so when she hadn’t realised what she was wearing he had had a good look at her. She looked absolutely fantastic. He was very glad that he had asked her to the ball tonight.

  Later that evening Mark knocked on her door. Abbi was dressed and ready to go. Abbi was pleased to see that Mark looked slightly speechless. She must look good she thought to herself. Mark gave her a long slow kiss. When he let her go he said quietly, “You look beautiful.”

  “Thanks,” she said. “You don’t look bad yourself.” She was right. He was dressed in tails and he looked gorgeous. He held out his arm for her and she took it. They descended into the lobby of the hotel. There were a few well-dressed people milling around. They must be quite early because the cars were just parking up and there weren’t that many people there yet.

  “Do you want to get going or hang around here first?” Mark asked.

  “Oh, we’ll be one of the first,” Abbi said. They got into the first black car and started to drive off. They were rolling through unfamiliar countryside and Abbi was starting to get quite nervous. She was going to meet Mark’s interfering father and mother tonight. They both knew she was staying at the hotel and coming to the ball tonight but they both had avoided her so far. Abbi thought that was probably a good thing as she didn’t want to provoke them into a bad reaction.

  Mark stroked her hair and asked if she was okay. “I’m fine,” she told him. “Just a bit nervous about meeting your parents.”

  “Don’t be,” he said kissing her cheek. “My mum will be lovely and polite and she will love you.”

  “And your dad?” she said tensely.

  “He’ll probably dislike you anyway,” Mark said slowly.

  “That’s just a kind way to say he hates me already.” Abbi looked at Mark for confirmation. The look in his eyes said it all.

  “Tonight is not about them,” Mark said. “I don’t care if they both hate you.” He was speaking softly to take the sting out of his words. But they still hurt. “Tonight we are going to have fun, I mean look at you. You are gorgeous.” She smiled at him.

  “You’re right,” she said. The car was slowing down outside a large building that was evidently the ballroom. “Let’s have fun.” She kissed him for a long time and they then got out of the car.

  Mark and Abbi entered the ballroom. It was absolutely stunning. The walls were all shimmering in bronze and gold. The ceiling was high and domed. There were several candelabras and they had actual candles alight in them, not electric lights. At one end of the hall there were several tables with centrepieces of white flowers such as lilies and white roses. The glasses were actually crystal. Real crystal! Abbi couldn’t stop staring. It was amazing. The other end of the ballroom had a dance floor and there was an actual band there.

  As more people began to arrive Abbi started to feel like she stuck out a bit. Most of the ladies were either in black dresses or in gold like the décor. She was wearing head to toe silver. Her dress was floor length and it glimmered when it caught the light. It was a sleeveless dress and she was wearing those elbow length gloves. She thought that they were far too much but now others were arriving she saw that everyone else was wearing them and she was glad she had them.

  Even though she loved the dress she didn’t want to be the centre of attention by its colour. Oh well. Nothing to be done now, is there she thought to herself. She did however have the style right. Everyone was wearing over the top gowns, elbow length gloves, tiaras and there were even a couple of ladies wearing hoop skirts. At least she hadn’t been that drastic!

  She felt much better looking around the room. She had been so nervous that she had been having trouble breathing right. However now she saw other people her oxygen levels were heading back to normal. Mark was holding her arm leading her to their table. According to the seating chart they passed on the way in they were going to be sitting with Mr and Mrs G Hammond, Mr S Hammond plus guest, Miss J Carter and Mr M Adams. Mark helped her into her seat and sat down himself. Within fifteen minutes everyone was sitting down at their appropriate table.

  Mark’s parents were the obvious ones she thought. They were the only ones around the table who looked over thirty. Mark’s mother smiled at Abbi immediately.

  “It’s so nice to meet you,” she said.

  “It’s nice to meet you too Mrs Hammond,” Abbi replied, shaking her hand.

  “No, no. None of that. Call me Julia.” Both women smiled at each other. On the other hand Mark’s father had completely ignored her. Not even a glance. Abbi tried to say hello but he immediately engaged in a conversation with Matthew, a young investor he was trying to impress. Mark was sitting next to her and she saw him looking daggers at his father.

  Before too much longer the starter had arrived. Just before she started eating she noticed who was sitting opposite her. It was the brunette “Jess” who Mark had been getting into the car with. That night Mark had cancelled the dinner date at Lily’s. At a distance she had thought that the girl was just pretty. She saw that she was wrong. Now Jess was sitting across from her she saw she was drop dead gorgeous. She was in an extremely low cut black dress and just looked stunning. Throughout the meal Abbi noticed that she kept looking at Mark more often than she liked. Mark, however, didn’t seem to even notice that Jessica kept looking at him.

  Quite quickly, or that was how it felt, dinner was finished. Mark’s father had ignored Abbi the entire time. Julia couldn’t have been more different. She kept the conversation going with Abbi throughout the meal and seemed genuinely interested. Abbi had also been introduced to Steve, Mark’s brother. He acted perfectly normal towards her. He was lively and animated. Steve’s partner was a five foot nothing blonde waif of a girl who hadn’t said a w
ord to anyone all night. He introduced her as Grace Williams. The glare that he gave his father while introducing her spoke volumes. Steve had evidently been set up.

  When the dinner had ended Julia gave Abbi a very warm smile. Abbi was very pleased that Julia seemed to like her. Before the band had even started playing Jessica asked Mark, “Do you want to dance? Ladies choice.” Mark nodded and turned to kiss Abbi. It was a lingering kiss. Abbi smiled and gave Jessica a quick look. She didn’t look too happy. Good.

  “I‘ll be back in three minutes,” he said and they headed off to the dance floor leaving Abbi sitting alone.

  “What are you doing, Jess?” Mark asked as they slow danced. They were the only ones on the dance floor.

  “I’m trying to dance,” she said lightly. Jess had noticed that Abbi’s eyes hadn’t moved of the pair of them by one inch.

  “You know I am with Abbi, right?” Jess nodded, still smiling. “She is the one I want to be with tonight. I can see what you’re up to. It’s not going to work.”

  “I know,” Jess said still smiling. “No one else in my family agrees with me though. I have to keep it up. I have to. Plus, you’re not exactly bad to look at,” she added. They both burst out laughing. At that moment the song came to an abrupt end.

  “I’ll see you later, Jess,” Mark said and walked over to where Abbi was sitting. Jess saw Abbi’s whole face light up

  This was completely and utterly pointless, Jessica thought. He is never going to notice me again. His eyes were on only her. He simply couldn’t take his eyes off her. Jessica’s mother was around here somewhere. If she could see the way Mark had looked at that blonde even she might admit it was hopeless. It had taken ages for their family to get a seat on the table with all the Hammonds. It had not been worth the effort. But then she knew that it wouldn’t be. Their previous conversation had made that crystal clear if nothing else had.