Chapter Three: Under Control
~ AN HOUR LATER ~
“Sure you have to go?” Brian inquired biting his bottom lip
“You know I have to” Faith taunted as she slipped on her jacket “and you have to wash Marty” she added with a wink
“Argh, he’s your dog” Brian commented screwing up his face
“Fine then I’ll marry him instead” Faith smiled kissing Brian briefly before grabbing her bag from the table behind him
“You know, I bet he’d like that” Brian announced as he watched Faith walk out the door.
~ AT THE SAME TIME ~
Catherine starred at the stranger in the mirror, she could hardly recognize herself. The dark wig hung straight, something her naturally curly blond hair had never done. She’d given herself a mole, and painted her eyebrows with a dark pencil, hiding her natural hair color. She ran an extra coat of lipstick over her full lips and placed the fake glasses on her face. They looked real enough, but were simply for the look rather than prescription ones.
“Chelsea, my name is Chelsea Jackson” she smiled, dawning a perfectly crafted southern accent
“Perfect, let the games begin” she grinned grabbing her bag
~ 20 MINUTES LATER ~
Faith darted between the parked cars in the parking lot, making a dash from one end to the other. She had an appointment at the hairdressers, and she was running late.
“Oh my god, sorry” a southern accent called as she ran directly into her, sending the coffee in Faith’s hands spilling across her top
“Oh god, look what I’ve done, oh dear, it’s not too hot is it?” the dark haired lady rambled madly searching through her bag for a hanky or tissue. She pulled one out and handed it to Faith.
“No problem” Faith smiled slyly as she wiped the thankfully luke-warm coffee off her blue baby-T.
“Planning a wedding?”
Faith looked up.
“How did you know?” she questioned
“They kinda give it away” the dark haired southerner laughed pointing at the bridal magazines popping out of Faith’s bag
“Oh, duh, yes I am” Faith responded, smiling
“Well congratulations. I'm Chelsea Jackson, and this must be fate” she grinned
“Why?” Faith inquired
“Because I'm a wedding consultant, and I just love my job” Chelsea smiled sweetly
“Oh well, I pretty much got everything under control, but thank you for the offer”
“Oh come on, a pretty girl like you I'm sure has other things to worry about, anyway I feel so bad about knocking you like I did, that I just insist helping you out, free of charge”
“Oh no, you don’t have to do that”
“It’s southern hospitality, please, it’ll make me feel so much better, I’ll help you out with some things today, and then if you decide you need some help, well then I'm here” Chelsea persuaded
“Well okay then” Faith sighed, a little help never hurt anyone
“How about Lunch?”
“Well I’ve got a hair appointment, like” Faith looked down at her watch “Now. But we could meet at Starbucks, in the mall”
“Around twelve?”
“Uhuh”
“I’ll be there, oh and dear you’re name was?”
“Faith, Faith Traven”
~ 10 MINUTES LATER ~
“So she just balled right into you?” Marie questioned as she snipped away at Faith’s hair
“Yeah, she seemed nice enough” Faith shrugged as she flicked through the bridal magazine on her lap
“And you don’t think there is anything strange about that?” Marie smirked
“No, it’s a coincidence that she’s a wedding consultant”
“Really? Like there is such a thing. You’re too trusting”
“Oh God Marie, what you think she has a secret agenda?”
“All I'm saying Faith, is that people in this world always take advantage of the nice people, watch your back, that’s all”
~ 12:00 PM/ LUNCH TIME ~
“We meet again” Chelsea smiled as Faith sat down on the chair opposite her “and you got a new top, well good, just don’t let me spill anything on you this time” she added with a slight laugh
“Chelsea, it was nice of you to offer, but I really do think I have things in control” Faith smiled, she’d been thinking about what Marie had said – she was right, you cant always trust people.
“Oh well, no harm done. You’ve got the cake organized? The church? The minister?”
“Pretty much, but thank you so much for the offer”
“Well then I wish you the best of luck, but you know if something comes up, instead of pulling your hair out, promise me you’ll call me” Chelsea smiled handing over a business card she’d specially made
“I will, thank you” Faith smiled as Chelsea stood from the table
“Good luck Faith, may god have mercy on you” she smiled as she strolled away from the table
Faith nodded slowly, that was a interesting way of saying goodbye. She shrugged thinking no more of it. She pulled out her diary and flicked to the back, there listed down the back was everything from Brian’s shoe size to the phone number of the minister. She’d not overlooked anything. She was right, she did have it all under control.
Chapter 4
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