The Memory Dress

Chapter Seventeen

SEVENTEEN

Meredith

1991

Meredith is late again, and people are starting to notice. It was another terrible night’s sleep. William moved to the sofa in the lounge in the end, for her sake rather than his.

“It’s the third time this week,” Peter is moaning, encouraging one of the other seamstresses to do the same. “I’m not sure why she gets to roll in late when the rest of us are working all the hours we can.”

William takes a deep, slow breath, keeping his head low, focused on the pink chiffon in front of him. He’s not going to bite. It won’t do any good. But he’s tired and facing a mountain of work that will mean at least a twelve-hour day.

“Well, maybe I’ll leave early tonight.” Peter won’t let it rest. “It can’t be one rule for her and another for the rest of us. I’m not sure who she thinks she is.”

William almost manages to ignore it but Peter mutters something else under his breath that he suspects is personal. It causes a nasty ripple of laughter that makes something in William snap.

“Why don’t you just concentrate on what you’ve got to do, Peter? Meredith’s not holding you up, is she?” If Peter backs down, William will let it go. He’s not looking to fall out with anyone. Just an end to the sniping will do. But Peter’s pride gets the better of him. He won’t be spoken down to in front of more junior members of the workroom.

“I’m not saying anything we’re not all thinking. She’s taking the piss and I’m not afraid to point that out. Ahh, here she is, nice of you to join us, Meredith.”

Meredith’s eyes are puffy. She ignores the comment and heads straight for her table, peeling off her coat and sitting down. Her back is to everyone, but William can see the jagged rise and fall of her shoulder blades as she tries to breathe her way through it.

“Must be lovely to flounce in whenever you fancy it.”

“Leave it alone, Peter.” William’s voice is hard, a firm warning not to take it further, which is ignored.

“No explanation then? Sure, don’t worry about us, we’re only your colleagues. Why would we matter?” Peter is appealing for support from the others, but he is on his own now. Everyone else has more astutely felt the edge in the room and returned their focus to their work.

Meredith turns to face Peter and immediately William sees the upset held in her face, the tears swelling behind her eyelids. It’s not like her. She’s not easily rattled but it’s the tiredness. She’s not equipped to deal with the petty sniping this morning.

William forces his chair back from behind him, causing an abrasive scrape of metal against the hard floor, and raises his voice. “What is it, Peter? You’ve never forgiven her for pointing out how your work is lacking? Is that it? You’re so unsure of your own ability that you have to try to undermine other people’s? She’s more talented than you’ll ever be and everyone in this room knows it.”

The comment hurts. Peter tries to laugh it off but can’t. His smile is forced. He can’t hold it for long enough to look genuine. And it has shocked Meredith, who immediately rises from her seat and heads back out the door she arrived through. William follows her.

“Oh, I see, it’s like that, is it?” There is a lewd tone to Peter’s voice that he’s happy for everyone to hear.

William catches up with Meredith on the stairwell.

“Don’t worry about that idiot,” William tries to reassure her.

“I’m not, he’s not important.” Meredith is hesitantly smiling now. She takes William’s hand and places it on the soft center of her belly. “But this is.”

William falters, not sure if he understands her correctly. He says nothing.

“I did a test this morning, after you left.”

“You’re pregnant?” he whispers. His eyes flare wide open.

She waits for the smile to break across his face, but it isn’t coming.

“I thought we were being careful.” He immediately registers the hurt streaking across Meredith’s face and understands this is not the reaction she needs. Before she can pull away he quickly stops her.

“Wait, I’m sorry, I didn’t…It’s just, this is a real shock. Did you have any idea?” He tries to gather himself.

Meredith looks down to her belly, where she is still holding William’s hand.

“A feeling, nothing more until this morning. I’m sorry, I wasn’t going to tell you until this evening, but Peter forced my hand a little. At least I know why my sleep has been so disturbed. We can talk more later.” Meredith nods her head, trying to rally her emotions. She’s never been one to cry at work.

“Okay.” William runs both hands through his hair. The shock has made him pale.

“I know this wasn’t part of the plan. Not something you saw in your future. But perhaps not everything that’s great can be planned? Maybe this will prove to be the most wonderfully happy accident?” Does her voice sound convincing? She’s not sure.

William pulls her toward him and rests his chin on the top of her head so she can’t read his reaction, but she can feel the frantic beat of his heart.

“Let’s talk more later. I need to get back to the dress. The Snowdon shoot is next week, and it can’t wait.”