Page 18 of Not So Very Sensible

“Here, let me take a pic.” Katie took several photos with her phone, then sent them to the family group chat. Soon her phone was dinging with responses.

“Is that Ellie?” EJ.

“Oh, you look amazing! I wish I was there too!” Mum.

“You look so beautiful.” Liv.

“You both look wonderful.” Dad.

“Annabelle says hello and you both look great!” Mum again.

“Looks like the family approves,” Katie gloated.

“Thank you. For the dress, for the hair, for everything.”

“Ready to be the belle of the ball?”

Ellie smiled. “Bring it.”

Katie laughed and hooked her hand through Ellie’s elbow. “Let’s go stun the men.”

The Hydro Grand Hotel certainly knew how to put on a party. It helped when the era being celebrated fit the hotel’s architecture and décor, and everyone in attendance was wearing similar vintage vibes. And Katie was right. Nobody else wore anything as spectacular as Ellie’s peacock outfit, and she’d received many compliments on it. Even her hair, with its blue streak, seemed like it was tailor-made for the dress, the colour matching perfectly. Katie had styled it so it looked like Ellie had designed her hair to match her dress rather than the dress being a lucky find that matched her hair.

Of course, the men who were here weren’t exactly of their vintage. Most were older, and while still stunned, they weren’t quite of the age that boded well for the kind of stunning Katie had meant. Nor did they appear to be of the single relationship status either.

“Come on, let’s go find our seats.”

“There’s a seating chart right here,” Ellie said, but Katie had already walked away. Her sister likely wanted to peruse each table’s name cards and find their seats by socialising her way through the room, as was her way. The quicker option of studying the table seating chart helpfully displayed at the door was not for her.

Hmm. Ellie memorised the table number and its position, then gave their names to the woman at the door who checked them off.

“Enjoy your evening.”

“Thanks.” Ellie followed Katie into the former ballroom. It had been decked out with round tables, candles, and extensive flower arrangements, while warm white fairy lights festooned the ceiling. No wonder the tickets had cost so much.

She moved to their table, near a grand marble fireplace that was blazing away. Nice.

“Isn’t this all stunning? Quick, let’s take some selfies,” Katie suggested. She beamed as Ellie snapped some pics with her phone before they took their seats. “And look, you don’t even need a jacket because you’re right in front of the fire, so you can show off your awesome dress.”

“It’s certainly helpful.”

“Like God knew, right?”

“Apparently.” The one-shouldered sheath wasn’t made for the cooler temperatures outside. And fortunately, the quality satin fabric of many decades ago wasn’t likely to melt away. That was a version of stunning she had no wish to explore.

“Ooh, I wonder who we’re sitting next to? Have you looked?” Katie picked up a place card. “We’ve got someone called Chris sitting between us, and I’ve got a Jason on this side of me. And you?”

“Um, let me check.”

But before she could move, a shadow fell across the table. She looked up. Smiled.

“Hello.” A man with a deep voice spoke. His hair, greying at the temples, suggested he was in his mid-thirties at least. So not quite exactly Katie’s target age group. “I’m Chris Brandon.”

Katie smiled graciously, anyway. “I’m Katie, and this is my sister Ellie. I think you’re sitting between us. The thorn between two roses.” She laughed.

He blinked, not moving, studying Katie like he’d seen a ghost.

Was he offended at Katie’s careless jest? “Don’t mind her.” Ellie drew in her chair. “Can you get past me now?”