the girl in the yellow dress - part 10

Celia was enjoying the warmth of the sun and the tranquillity of their island hideaway with only the gentle sound of small waves lapping on the shore. It was just what she needed after all the drama back home. Time and space to gather her thoughts and just relax.

She breathed in deeply and breathed out slowly – no worries, no cares, let it go, let peace be restored.

It was her new mantra, the latest in vogue de-stressing technique guaranteed to regain inner harmony. Or so proclaimed the new expensive app she had downloaded on her phone.

“Cee! Cee!”

Her peace was shattered as her little sister Penny came charging over the beach kicking sand up as she ran. Celia could feel it settle like a fine dust on her smooth oiled body.

“Look!” Penny thrust an iPad under her nose.

Although Celia flicked her sunglasses down from the top of her head the brightness of the sun still made it impossible to see.

“What am I supposed to be looking at?”

“Sebastian! He out on a date with another woman.” Penny was horrified. She’d adored him, bored him silly with her incessant chatter about dancing shows on TV.

“Well good luck to her is all I can say.” Celia tried to get comfortable on the sun-lounger again but the sand was itchy and Penny was casting a shadow.

“Celia, please come and look properly.”

With an audible sigh Celia got up, tied her sarong around her waist and slipped her slender feet into her flip flops.

They trudged over to a shady spot and Penny brought up the page again.

Celia’s mouth dropped as she saw the image properly. “The bastard! The utter bastard!”

“I know.” Said Penny, “He only dumped you a couple of weeks ago and he’s already moved on.”

She put a reassuring arm around her sister but Celia brushed it off.

“I’m not worried about that, he can see who he wants. But how dare he take a date out in my dress!”

“Perhaps she has the same one.” Penny never understood the importance of looking unique.

“But this is a vintage one off, Aunt Ada’s dress.” By now she had zoomed right in to the detail of the antique lace and it was unmistakable!