The hotels restaurant was lit elegantly with miniature chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, fresh linen and sparkling silver utensils adorned the table tops that staff were currently cleaning and resetting for the next day’s service. The quite hum of the place was interrupted by a load set if laughs coming from the only table that had yet to vacate, management didn't seem to mind as the table was still being served drinks as those closed up around them so it wasn't like it wasn't a paying customer, better yet it was not one but two famous people who were paying customers.

The wait staff that tried to act like they weren't listening to the loud conversation of those at the table but yet couldn't help but smile at the stories being told by one about another ending with another round of boisterous laughter.

The group had entered nothing short of five hours ago and things didn’t seem to be winding down at all much to Belinda’s surprise. What surprised her even more was the fact that after dinner and the usual getting to know her/ finding out any information she could about the girl her son was with Lynn was the one to turn to Trace and egg him into a drinking game with her. Belinda realised that, that moment right there was when Lynn had become officially one of the coolest people Belinda had ever met in her life.

“Your mom is an absolute trip” Belinda said leaning into Justin as he sat next to her, also enjoying the view in front of him of his mother currently drinking Trace under the table, placing her hand on his thigh she gave him a gently squeeze as her excited eyes met his “My mother would of had a heart attack at the mere mention of me having anything to drink, let alone her being the one involved in the drinking game to begin with” she finished letting out a chuckle at the image in her head of her mother’s face if she was there.

Justin nodding his head as he swallowed his mouth full of drink, slightly more reserved to the drinks the two across from him were currently shooting. “That’s my mother, can even drink me under the table let alone Trace I don’t know what the hell he was thinking” he chuckled  

“I was thinking it was about time one of us beat her at this shit but since your too pussy to do it because of A your in front of your lady and B it’s your own damn mother I had to take up the challenge” a slightly intoxicated Trace slurred over the table at the two after just catching the end of their conversation

“And the fact that I have beaten you both many time previously or the fact that I directly asked you had nothing to do with his decision at all?” asked an equally intoxicated Lynn

“That’s totally besides the point ma he is still a pussy” Trace weakly argued back slightly leaning to one side in his inebriated state.

Feeling her phone vibrating in the bag placed next to her feet Belinda let out a chuckle at Trace’s expense as she dug through the bag to retrieve the offending object. Sitting up straight in her chair at the name flashing onto the mobiles screen she felt both joy and annoyance at the person contacting her. Figuring it was best to answer the call than ignore it she excused herself from the table, walking towards the deserted bar and depositing herself on one of the bar stools she could still faintly hear the laughter of the others at the table, somewhat making her rethink her decision to answer the call.

“Hello?” she answered wearily

“B? B you there? It’s Julie” came a hushed voice

“Yeah I’m here Julie how are you?”

“I’m good, you know busy with the wedding plans and all, look I can’t talk long but I know you’ve been calling and..”

“You decided to actually return one of my calls this time?” Belinda asked slightly annoyed that her thirty odd try’s of calling her sister had only equalled this one returned

“Belinda please don’t start I’m calling now aren’t I?”

Belinda sighed guilt seeping its way in at the sound of her sisters voice, laced with what sounded like a partially apology genuine or not she didn’t know and stress, stress was clearly evident in her voice “Your right I’m sorry Julie let’s not start what did you call for?”

“To apologise”

“For what?”

“For you last phone call with mother. I know it didn’t end very well, what with the uninviting you got for the wedding and all”

Pulling the phone back from her ear to look at the screen strangely Belinda was taken back a little to say the least, never in all their years of being sisters had someone apologised on behalf of their mother. Her word was normally taken as golden, many not wanting to take on the bad side of her mother’s wrath as she was known for her temper.

“So is this an apology with an invitation attached?” Belinda asked slightly hoping for a yes, as much as she may despise her mother and the way she treated people she still wanted to go to her older sister’s wedding. After all as kids they were known around the neighbourhood as the Carpenter sisters, you never saw one without the other; you never invited one out without knowing that the other would be right behind. Despite the few years apart in age they were they were inseparable, that was until their mother saw the potential in Julie that apparently Belinda was lacking and the two saw less and less of each other.

“Well no, I’m not saying that”

Shoulders slumped down at the rejection she was receiving “So I’m still not invited?” she whispered feeling the familiar sting start in her eyes

“Well mamma has invited the town’s mayor so his family is coming as well as all of the board members at Bradley’s firm”

“Hang on a minute here, so you’re telling me because some of Mr. big shots bosses are going I’m not allowed to? I’m family Julie doesn’t that bloody count for something?” Belinda argued her voice raising unbeknownst to her catching the attention of the others still seated at the table “How can these people hold a higher importance to you than your own flesh and blood?”

“It’s not me B its mamma and Bradley, these people are important to his career and they can make or break his future in the firm. If one thing to go wrong it would all turn bad for him”

“What could honestly go wrong if I go Julie? I mean seriously it’s not like I’m a druggy or some reclusive family member you know me Julie, you know me”

“Well they were talking about the paparazzi showing up if you came and the last thing these people want is to come to a wedding that’s more like a circus just because of one person. Not to mention the drama that would occur if you brought along that boy the papers have you tussled with” Julie argued back the slight sound of distain apparent in her voice, the apologetic and friendly tone long gone

“I can’t help if they follow me there Julie, seriously I can’t and what the hell has Justin got to do anything anyway? The way you say this sounds like you’re also involved in the decision for me not to go more than you’re letting on”

“Look we all have our reasons wither it be Bradley and his powerful people or me and the fact that I want this day to actually be about me and not my little sister upstaging me at my own wedding. I can’t help the way things are”

“Upstaging you? Do you really think that I would really do such a thing to you? I know it’s your day Julie, it’s not me standing at the altar in the white dress, it’s not me signing my name at the bottom of a piece of paper, it’s not me saying two words that hold the key to a future in my hands that’s you. I get that Julie I truly do, but what I don’t get is all these reasons ya’ll have come up with to shut me out of such an important day to you. I really don’t and for that I’m sorry” she said closing her eyes as she felt the stinging in her eyes start to make itself into tears. Slowly making a trail down her cheeks that not too long ago hurt from laughing so much but now were wet with tears of anger and desperation “I’m sorry” she whispered pulling the phone from her ear and pressing the end button.

Feeling the presence of someone beside her Belinda wiped her eyes and turned her head, surprised that it was Lynn sitting next to her “I’m not going to pry as it’s none of my business but I’m also not going to lie and say we didn’t hear your end of the conversation. What I will say is that I think you and I need to go out and have a girly day tomorrow if you’re free.”

Belinda looked at Lynn unsure as to why she would offer to spend her limited time here with her a practical stranger and not her son.

“When I used to have an argument with my sister I always felt as if I just needed to be away from the situation for a bi as it was only ever the two of us no other siblings to confide in. So I’d  let it all settle down and just forget it for a while. It wouldn’t always instantly fix itself in the time that I ignored it but those few hours that I was away from it all and just did things for me were and absolute god send. Besides Justin has to be on set tomorrow morning and he said something about you having the morning off so if you like I was thinking a good breakfast and just some good meaningless girly chat.” Lynn said as if reading her mind

Smiling slightly at the woman next to her she couldn’t help but feel relieved that she was here. Normally she would go and vent to Emma but as she was so biased towards Belinda it was always the best place to vent. Sometimes you wanted someone to vent to who knew nothing of the situation or the people involved, so that if they were to give an opinion it was going to be bull shit just dribbled to you that they think you want to hear.

“I would love nothing more than to spend tomorrow morning with you and spend absolutely no time worrying about my drama, thank you Lynn”

“Don’t mention it my dear we all need a pick me up sometimes” she said tenderly rubbing her hand along Belinda’s back in a soothing gesture “Now what do you say we call it a night? I think Trace is ready to call it quits anyway, poor thing never learns” laughed Lynn nudging her head in the direction of something behind them

Belinda had to chuckle as she was getting off her stool and turned to look over her shoulder noticing Justin standing with Trace somewhat leaning against him Practically passed up standing up with his head on Justin’s shoulder.

Turning back towards Lynn Belinda felt her smile grow wider “Did I happen to mention how cool you are for beating his ass?”

Lynn smiled as they started to make their way over to the two “Oh I’ll show you how to get one up on these two don’t you worry, I’ll teach you all I know”