For DayDreamer_Vinnie who asked...
The past two days had been quiet, which is the last thing I ever thought my eldest sister's Hen Party to be. Seeing as Evelyn had been the mastermind behind it, it was typical of her but it wasn't Sophie in the slightest. I never imagined my sister getting married but now that she is, I kinda thought she'd have a mega blowout as her last hurrah before settling down. A dance class, followed by a West End show, and then shopping and a spa day was all well and good, but it was... boring. And Sophie Evangeline Clément Delaney is the furthest thing from being boring.
I suppose that's why Charlotte, Keira, Jenna, Noelle and I had put our heads together to come up with a more fun day of activities. Admittedly, this morning was subdued, mostly due to the fact that we had some older members in the party, but I think the bakery masterclass with Arnaud at La Petite Pâtisserie was the perfect start to the day, especially when we all sat down with glasses of Champagne as we enjoyed the rest of the early afternoon.
After that, I had arranged for us all to stop by a friend's boutique so that we could all choose outfits for tonight. We hadn't told anyone what the plan was, but they were all instructed to wear something that would be suitable for a club. At the mere mention of 'club', a few of the older members of the party frowned but they were adamant that they were coming as this Hen Party was an 'All for One and One for All' deal. Or so Aunt Helen said as she barged past me to coo over a sequined number.
"Hey, Emma!" I heard Sophie call out at me as I watched Mum cast a discerning eye over the clothes on offer. Turning to the direction Sophie's voice came from, I saw her still stood at the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes narrowed. "I thought I'd made it clear that I did not want to go to a club for my Hen Party. Tuesday and yesterday were fun, so let's leave it at that, yeah?"
Overhearing the conversation, Keira scoffed and decided to voice her opinion. "No offence to Evelyn because she's a really nice lady," Keira managed to say. "But I feel like a ninety-year-old. Everything we've done had been so... old, you know? You're young, you're about to sign your life away, so let's go out with a bang. But don't actually bang anyone. I may not be Daniel's biggest fan- although he's not that bad, I guess- but shagging someone behind his back is an offence punishable by death à la Keira Delaney style."
"Thank you for that, Keira," Sophie says, her eyes rolling around in their sockets. "But I wasn't planning on banging anyone else. I take it this whole 'club' thing is non-negotiable?"
Keira and I nod. "Sorry, it's really not," I confirm. Looping an arm around my sister's shoulder, I waved my other hand across the room at all the available dresses. "It's not a club in the sense that everyone else thinks it is. There'll be music, yes, but none of that party island crap that no one sane likes. Would it help if I gave you a clue?" When Sophie gives me a grateful smile, I say, "Kink."
Just like that, Sophie's eyes light up and she soon slips out of my hold, on a mission to find something suitable to wear. When Mum holds up a demure dress, Sophie quickly tears it away from her and shoves an eighties inspired sequined dress in her hands instead, insisting that it would be perfect for where we were going tonight.
We spent over an hour in the shop as Sophie went about dictating what everyone should wear. I knew she'd be excited bout where we were taking her, but I never thought she'd be this excited about it. Evelyn, along with Aunt Helen and Aunt Moira, were insisting that they weren't coming but with Keira and Noelle on the case, the two aunts were won over pretty soon. Evelyn, however, was a different kettle of fish.
"I'm far too old to be at a club," she said when I approached her about her outfit. "I'm closer to fifty than I am forty and I'm a mother of two. I cannot go to a club. Plus, I won't find anything that suits me."
Sensing this as a challenge, I picked out a black midi dress and held it up in front of Evelyn's tall, slender body. Despite two children, her figure was to die for and this dress would showcase it perfectly. "There are some things you should never say in front of Sophie and me," I tell Evelyn with a wink. "And right at the top of that long list is that you cannot find something to suit you. You'll look drop dead gorgeous in this dress, I can guarantee you."
After heading back to The Delaney, we said goodbye to all the grandmothers- Harlow, Jacqueline and Constance- and then gathered in many of the suites that we had taken over this week. In one suite, you had Aunt Helen, Noelle, Mum and Aunt Moira, while in another suite there were too many people to count. Sophie, Charlotte, Keira and Jenna- the wife of one of Daniel's friends- were busy prioritising who got in the shower first, while I set about making sure that Evelyn did not regret coming out with us.
It took us all approximately five hours to get ready, including styling our hair and applying a beauty counter's worth of makeup before we all finally stepped into our outfits and gathered at the bar. There were a few questionable fashion choices made, mainly by Keira who liked to be more individual than the others, but for the most part, we all looked ready for a fun night out. Even Evelyn was wearing a smile.
"I told you that you'd look drop dead gorgeous," I said with only a certain amount of smugness in my voice.
Sophie
Charlotte
Emma
Camille
Evelyn
Aunt Moira
Aunt Helen
Keira
Noelle
Jenna
There was a bus waiting, ready to take us to the club. For those who didn't know where we were going, there was chatter as they tried to guess what we had in store for them. Sophie, meanwhile, kept her gaze on the passing streets outside, getting more and more excited by the second. When she finally saw the club appear up ahead, she squealed in delight and jumped to her feet, rushing for the bus door before we were on stop.
"I am so fucking excited for this!" She swore while jumping up and down precariously in her heels. When the bus finally stopped and the door swung open, all we could hear was Sophie shouting, "Lola's Bar!"
Lola's Bar is one of the most famous but-you've-never-heard-of-it drag bars in the whole of London. So exclusive it is, that you need to be on the invite only list and to get on there, you either need to know a performer or the owner of the establishment. Luckily, I know the owner, who just so happens to be a performer. Oh, and he's also one of Sophie's ex-boyfriends.
Tobias Thomas and Sophie dated throughout their last years at school and for a few months after when they both were at university. It wasn't until Sophie surprised Toby by turning up unannounced at his uni that she found out about his very unusual hobby- being a Drag Queen.
Needless to say, the relationship between Toby and my sister didn't last but their friendship did, and every year on Sophie's birthday, Toby does a special performance for my sister. This year he did a Lady Gaga medley that went down a storm. When I called him yesterday to suggest that we come to the club, he was thrilled. He even said that he'd choreograph a new routine especially for the occasion.
When we finally caught up with Sophie inside the club, I was shocked to see the place packed with all of Sophie's old work colleagues, including Jasmine Gough. While Sophie had been living in New York, she and Jasmine had been inseparable and I had become good friends with the outgoing American who could somehow rein in my sister, but in recent weeks, something had happened that saw their friendship crumble. I knew better than to stick my nose in and ask questions, but from what Charlotte had told me- and what Samuel, Jasmine's ex-fiancé/Daniel's younger brother, had told Charlotte- it had something to do with Jasmine not liking Daniel.
Whatever the reason, Sophie still had the class to embrace Jasmine and thank her for coming. She then took a turn around the room, welcoming everyone else. Charlotte and I had rung a few of Sophie's close fashionista friends and they, in turn, had spread the word about the party, meaning that Lola's Bar was full of women all ready to celebrate Sophie's last night as a free woman. The only person missing was the only man- apart from Toby and his crew- that was allowed at the Hen Party.
"Where is Hugo?" I ask Charlotte as I scan the room looking for the Frenchman that would be Sophie's Man of Honour. It was typical that he'd be late as he really did love to make an entrance but tonight was supposed to be about Sophie and not about Hugo. Taking out my phone, I text him quickly, receiving a reply seconds later. I sighed and waved the phone in Charlotte's face. "He's running late. His flight from Paris was delayed."
Not wanting to make a big deal about it, Charlotte and I pushed our way through the crowd, spotting Toby leaning against the bar with a bashful smile on his face. It had always struck me how handsome Toby is; tall with dark hair, dark eyes, a killer smile and a personality that was confident and sexy, he was a walking God in my book.
"Emma!" Toby beamed as I approached. He pulled me in for a swift hug before moving in and embracing Charlotte, too. "Charlotte, always a pleasure to see you. I have to say, ladies, you both look stunning."
"Flattery gets you everywhere," Charlotte laughs. I think, back in the day, Charlotte had a crush on Toby and from the blush that crept up on her cheeks, it may still be lingering. "So, when do we get to see your amazing performance?"
"About that," Toby muttered, his smile disappearing as a frown took its place. "I pulled a muscle in rehearsal yesterday and I can't do a crucial move. It's all good, though. I've roped in someone else to steal the show from me. Now, some housekeeping stuff- the bar is free for the whole night. Consider it a gift from me. As requested, there will be performances along with some breaks so that you lot can play your games and what not. Then, the grand finale. Doors close at midnight and my bouncers won't hesitate in throwing you out on your arses. Got it?"
"Tobias!" Shouting at that volume, it had to be Sophie. Pushing her way through the crowd, she threw herself at Toby and planted kisses on both cheeks. "Look at this place! Oh, my God, you would not believe how excited I am! Like, really, really, really excited! Oh, Champagne!"
Sharing a look between us, Toby, Charlotte and I all burst out laughing, wondering how a sober Sophie could be this happy already. It wouldn't take much to get her drunk this evening, that's for sure, especially with an open bar.
The first few performances were standard Lola's Bar kind of stuff, something to whet our appetite, as the women all went crazy for the routines. As promised by Toby, there were lulls in performances to allow us to play some games. First, we had to fill out predictions for the wedding day.
I predicted that instead of being late to the wedding, Sophie would either be early or on time, and Daniel would most certainly be the first to cry. I've seen how that man looks at my sister. The only speech that was being given was the one Lucas had prepared and having seen it, I predicted that it would last only a few minutes. The first dance song was one that was being kept a closely guarded secret, but I still wrote Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. I continued to write the predictions, and under 'advice for the couple:' I wrote down the advice Sophie had given me on my wedding day- remember why you fell in love and grow old together because the best is yet to come.
"Ok," Charlotte announced, getting everyone's attention. "The next game is a scavenger hunt!"
The scavenger hunt would be particularly hard because a lot of the items on the list needed male participation, too, but in a group of women, that would be hard. But then again, we were in a drag bar... there were guys here.
Splitting into teams, one member was nominated to be the hunter and for mine, Charlotte, Noelle and Keira's team, we nominated Keira. Naturally. Despite us all being confident, Keira had balls that none of possessed. She had no qualms about going up to one of the barmen and asking for a condom, or then planting a kiss on his lips as a 'thank you.' Nor did she really care about asking one of the Drag Queens to marry her. As for taking a photo with a police officer, she simply asked Toby to dress up and then snapped a selfie of them together. She was happy to use the men's restroom and make a veil out of toilet paper and then have the bouncer carry her into the bar area, where she quickly took to the stage and belted out Shania Twain's song Man, I Feel Like a Woman. It was, she says, ironic. For twenty points, it was down to Keira to get a guy to give the Hen a lap dance.
"Toby!" Keira shouted above everyone else. "Can someone come and give Sophie a lap dance, please?"
"Naturally," Toby shouted back.
Just then, the lights in the bar dimmed and there three silhouettes of people, shadowed by a curtain, appeared in front of us. The familiar sound of an old childhood classic boomed from the speakers as Spice Girls' Wannabe began to play. Spotlights moved to the stage in front of us as the three silhouettes were flooded in light and began to dance.
"Oh, my God!" Sophie screamed before dissolving into hysterical laughter as she pointed to the stage. "Hugo!"
(The video that inspired the performance)
Looking up, I felt my eyes widen. Dressed in tight-fitting black trousers, a tailored white shirt and a black bow tie around his neck, a high heeled clad Hugo Cézanne was dancing as if his life depended on it. To his credit, he was keeping up with the two pros on either side. As he was getting more and more into the performance, the song changed to another Spice Girls hit and Hugo began to descend the steps, coming closer and closer to the crowd around Sophie.
Hugo winked at my mother, whose mouth was hanging open before he neared and placed a finger under her chin and pushed up gently. Next, he wandered through the throng, stopping to kiss Charlotte on both cheeks and then did the same to me. Next, he clambered over some of the fashionistas before he came to a stop in front of Sophie.
"Ma cherie," he said seconds before he upped his dance game and dipped in low as more and more backing dancer appeared behind him. For the briefest of seconds, Hugo twerked in Sophie's face. Seconds later, the music ended and the whole room shook as everyone cheered. Hugo, however, only had eyes for Sophie, and to say the look held within them was dangerous would be an understatement. "Je t'aime."