A Summer of Changes
by Louise Anne Smithson

Chapter 7

‘Preparations for a wedding’

For the next two days Denise did her best to cultivate a feminine persona both at home and at work. She dressed carefully and put on her own makeup each morning before arriving at work on time. She would then change into the high heels provided by Helen. She also did her best to act, talk, gesture, and above all, walk, as if she were a woman and sought to take an interest in the matters which concerned them. She asked her colleagues to point out any occasions where she might give herself away, but they fairly quickly forgot about Denis and started treating her as one of themselves. At the same time she worked hard and ensured that nobody could complain that she was being distracted from her job.

Samantha accompanied her into central London on the tube on the Tuesday morning, as she had to go into the University, but thereafter Denise made the journeys on her own and quickly gained in self-confidence when she was in public. In the evenings she chatted to Samantha who went through all the arrangements in detail and the two of them started to prepare a beauty regime so they would look their best for the coming weekend.

---

On Wednesday morning she received a formal invitation from Jane’s father, to his daughter’s wedding on 29th May 2004, which included a handwritten note from him thanking her for stepping in at the last moment. During her lunch break she put on her medium heels and ventured out shopping on her own. She went to a local store to buy Jane and her new husband a cut-glass vase as a wedding present. To buy a nice one and have it suitably gift wrapped cost her more than she had originally intended to pay, but she shrugged and thought that her workmates had all been equally generous to her over the last week.

As she was about to leave work on Wednesday evening her colleagues joined her to have a glass of wine and to wish her good luck for the coming Saturday.

‘It is Jane who is the bride not me,’ protested Denise.

‘Yes but we've already wished her well last week,’ said Sarah.

‘I just hope that I don't let Jane down by giving myself away,’ she answered.

‘Don’t worry you'll be fine,’ said Mary. 'You have gained a lot in poise and confidence over the last two days,'

‘Good luck Denise, I'm sure you'll make a lovely and most convincing bridesmaid and I'm looking forward to taking some photographs of you to show the others next week,’ said Sue.

That night Denise and Samantha packed their suitcases ready for their journey the next day, before sitting down together for a final discussion.

‘Once we've attended the rehearsal tomorrow night I think we should be well enough prepared,’ said Samantha. ‘How are you feeling about the prospect of being a bridesmaid?’

‘I'll be really glad when Saturday is finished, but I must admit I've enjoyed these last three days staying with you.

‘Good! I'm equally pleased to have had you stay,’ she replied and kissed her on the cheek.

---

Samantha and Denise left the flat the following morning just before nine o'clock and made their way by tube train across London to Euston station. They were each carrying a small cabin bag containing two changes of clothes. It was a warm and sunny day and so Denise was wearing a cream and pink printed georgette dress with a three quarter length skirt, together with a shell-pink knitted cardigan and pink high-heeled sandals for the journey. They had ten minutes to spare at the station and so before boarding they each bought a fashion magazine to read on the train. Fortunately the ten o’clock train was not particularly busy and they had no difficulty in finding a table to themselves where they could chat together without being overheard.

They were going to be met at Birmingham New Street Station by Jane and her fiancé, who had also offered to take them to lunch before driving them out to her father’s house on the Hagley Road. This would be the first occasion that Denise had met Simon and indeed the first close contact she’d had with any man whilst dressed as a woman. Inevitably she was a little nervous by the prospect and quietly expressed her feelings to her companion during the journey.

‘You don't need to worry about Simon, he's pretty overawed by the wedding and will be pre-occupied with the arrangements,’ said Samantha. 'Peter, the best man, might be a different problem as he rather fancies himself as a lady’s man. I've reluctantly agreed to sit next to him at the reception. You'll be sitting with my cousin John who is quite nice but also a little shy. The others on your table are all middle-aged or elderly.’

‘Won’t your cousin object to being stuck with me at the reception?’

‘I shouldn’t think so. Prior to last week he would have been sitting next to his bossy sister - the one who has broken her leg. You may have to initiate some of the conversation, though. Jane and I will explain your situation to him tonight so you needn't worry that he'll try and get off with you.’

‘Well that's a relief,’ said Denise, ‘but I'll still feel rather awkward when I meet him.’

‘All you need to do is act as Denise. In fact that is the only thing to remember for the next three days. Just forget that Denis ever existed and concentrate on being Denise until after the wedding.’

‘I was under the impression I'd been doing that for the last week.’

Samantha smiled. ‘Yes and you've been brilliant so far, so just keep it going until Saturday evening.’

‘All right, but I'm truly looking forward to Sunday morning,’ she answered.

---

Jane and Simon were waiting at the station forecourt as promised. Simon kissed Samantha on the cheek, whilst Jane seemed genuinely delighted to see Denise and hugged and kissed her.

‘That outfit looks nice on you Denise, I've not seen you wear it before,’ she said smiling, knowing that it was one of her own that she had left in the flat.

‘Thanks,’ said Denise, ‘actually it was loaned to me by a friend’.

‘Let me introduce you to my fiancée, Simon!’ she said.

Denise shook hands, and asked him how he was coping with all the arrangements, whilst the two sisters exchanged kisses. Simon seemed to be a straightforward young man, if a little reserved, and said very little. He did not appear to notice that Denise was wearing one of his fiancée’s dresses. However, Jane possessed a very large wardrobe, the product of a rich father and of having worked in the fashion industry for three years, and so she had probably not worn that outfit for over a year.

Their lunch was fairly matter-of-fact affair in a local pub. Jane went through various last minute arrangements with her two bridesmaids and gave them details about the rehearsal that evening.

‘After lunch we'll drop you at home and then see you again at the rehearsal tonight. Daddy will drive you there. Once the rehearsal is over it's important that Simon and I don't see one another again until the wedding, which is at three o’clock on Saturday. We three have various things scheduled for tomorrow morning including a trip to the hairdresser and a manicure in the afternoon. Also I've a friend who works in a beauty parlour; she'll be coming round to the house on Saturday morning to help us with our makeup’.

‘Where will I be staying?’ asked Denise.

‘In the spare room at our father’s house. That way we can all help one another to get ready on Saturday morning.’

Simon seemed to be a little bored with talk of makeup and hairdressers and so excused himself to go to the toilets. As soon as he was out of earshot, Jane turned to her sister: ‘You and I will have to visit John tomorrow evening to explain about Denise’.

‘Yes, but I'm sure he won't mind, especially once he's met her.’

Jane then turned to Denise and said:

‘I've been phoning my sister at home and Sue at work each day, and understand that you've been getting on very well over the last few days.’

‘I've been doing my best, Jane. I'm getting used to wearing high heels and makeup, and I don’t think anyone saw through me on the train this morning. I'm still rather nervous about this wedding, but I guess I'll cope.’

‘You can’t be any more nervous about it than I am,’ said Jane.

‘OK that's the last time anyone discusses nerves,’ said Samantha. ‘Jane, you seem to have everything under control, and we're both here to help you have a wonderful day. Denise, you're just a normal bridesmaid, the same as hundreds of others throughout the country who will be taking part in weddings this coming Saturday.’

‘Yes of course. I am actually looking forward to it. As I told you last week I have always wanted to be a bridesmaid ever since I was a little girl,’ she answered smiling.

Simon returned to the table and the conversation turned to other things.

---

After they finished lunch Simon and Jane drove them to her father’s house, and then left them as they had to carry out other last-minute tasks. There was nobody in when they arrived and so Samantha showed her friend around the house and to her room. It was a spacious and nicely decorated house, now occupied only by the father. The family clearly had plenty of money. Jane and Samantha retained their own bedrooms, each with well-stocked wardrobes, despite the fact that they both now lived in London. Even the guest room was luxurious with both a double bed, and an en-suite bathroom.

‘You’ll find that Jane has already hung your bridesmaid’s clothes in the wardrobe, and the underwear for the day is in the drawer. On the dressing table you'll find the lipstick foundation and eye shadow that she wants us to use,’ said Samantha.

‘You're right, she has got every last detail under control,’ said Denise.

‘The bathroom should be stocked with most things you need, but if you need any other cosmetics or indeed any extra clothes, feel free to borrow them from my room next door.’

Denise thanked her.

‘I’ll leave you now for a couple of hours, but if you like you can give me a hand getting dinner ready for dad. He should be home about five thirty, and we need to leave for the rehearsal by seven.’

Denise emptied her suitcase, putting her own clothes in the wardrobe and cosmetics on the dressing table. She took out the long pink bridesmaid’s dress and shoes to inspect them again before taking a leisurely shower. By the time she had done so, got dressed again and sorted out her hair and makeup it was almost time to help Samantha.

Jane and Samantha’s father proved to be an undistinguished looking grey-haired man in his early fifties. He had been a widower for the last five years. However, he was polite and welcoming to Denise and did not seem in any way suspicious of her. He asked about her background, and thanked her for standing in for his niece at such short notice.

---

As soon as they finished dinner he drove the bridesmaids to the wedding rehearsal, where they again met Jane and Simon together with his friend Peter, who was to be the best man. Jane introduced Peter to Denise but her first impressions of him were not very favourable since he seemed to be undressing her with his eyes. She was relieved that it would be Samantha rather than her who would have to deal with him at the reception. She also met the clergyman who would officiate, but he was preoccupied with the arrangements and did not pay a lot of attention to the second bridesmaid. In fact nobody seemed to treat her any differently from Samantha and so gradually she gained more confidence.

After the rehearsal the groom and the best man went for a drink together, and Jane and her sister briefly went to visit their cousin John to explain why he would accompanying a young man at the reception. The two sisters thought it might be better if they spoke to John without her present in the first instance. They therefore arranged for her father to drive her home. In the car she did her best to strike up conversation, asking about the arrangements for the wedding. He was rather reserved but was clearly very proud of his two daughters.

‘I must say that I was rather relieved when I met you this evening Denise,’ he said.

‘Oh! Why was that?’

‘Jane is lovely, but she also has some rather strange friends with studs through their tongues and eyebrows and who wear dungarees or boiler suits all the time. It was a relief to see that she has chosen somebody who was so feminine to be her bridesmaid.’

Denise laughed.

‘Thank you, that is very nice of you to say so. I just hope everything goes well for Jane and Simon on Saturday’.

‘So do I,’ he replied. ‘Since I lost their mother, both my daughters have become very important to me. I should hate for anything to spoil Jane’s special day.’

Denise blushed and smiled, but made no answer. ‘I can only do my best’ she thought to herself.

---

As this conversation was taking place, Jane was explaining to her cousin why he would be sitting next to a man wearing a dress. He was astounded by the revelation but once he was shown one or two photographs of Denise he was less worried and agreed to help in any way he could.

‘Honestly John, no-one would never know that Denise was not a woman if they did not already know,’ said Samantha.

‘In that case why are you bothering to tell me?’

‘We need you to look after her and act as if you were her boyfriend so that nobody else tries to get too friendly with her,’ said Jane.

‘We thought it only fair to warn you just in case you fancied your chances,’ said Samantha laughing.

He shrugged. ‘Ah well, I suppose I will be no worse off than having to escort my sister, but it will be rather embarrassing for me if it becomes common knowledge that she is really a bloke’.

‘Believe me, that is something that would be embarrassing for all four of us,’ said Jane, ‘so that is why we are trying to prevent it from happening.’

---

Denise again wore a summer dress and fixed her own makeup on the Friday morning and was congratulated on her appearance by the sisters over breakfast. Jane had to leave at about ten o’clock to finalise numbers and deliver place cards and a seating plan for the reception, to the caterers.

‘Before I go you two, do you both know how to get in and out of a car when you are wearing a long dress and high heels?’ asked Jane.

‘I can't say that I have ever tried', said Denise.’

‘In that case we'd better have a practice session this morning, as I would hate for anyone to fall over and spoil their dress. Denise I'll find you a pair of my heels to practice in, but you will have to imagine you are wearing a long dress.’

The three of them spent twenty minutes practising getting in and out of Jane’s father’s car which was parked in the drive. Once they were satisfied that there would be no accidents, Jane left them and Denise and Samantha went to the florist to confirm details about the delivery of their bouquets and the button-holes to be worn by the men on Saturday morning. They all met together for a coffee at 11.00 before their appointment with a manicurist.

‘As far as I'm aware that is everything done now apart from getting our nails done,’ said Jane. ‘We have a block booking so they can deal with the three of us at the same time.

‘My nails were only done a week ago’ said Denise, ‘won’t it be a waste of money for me to go?’

‘My goodness! Have you only been Denise for a week, it seems like much longer. But don’t worry about the money, Daddy will be paying. He invested some money to pay for our weddings soon after we were born, and the shares have done rather well. In any event, the salon will make a far better job of applying your nail varnish than we could possibly do,’ she replied.

‘What if my nails get chipped in the meanwhile?’

‘They won’t if you are careful, they will apply an extra hard coating that should protect them.’

‘That means it will be a devil of a job to remove afterwards,’ said Samantha

‘Will you explain to the manicurist about me?’ asked Denise.

‘I already have done so,’ said Jane, ‘but don’t worry she's cool about it and won’t give away your secret.’

They entered the nearby salon at the appointed time and Jane was greeted by the owner, who briefly enquired about the wedding preparations.

‘Which of these two ladies is Denise?’ she asked.

‘Can’t you tell?’ said Jane.

‘It's difficult to do so, they both look like attractive young ladies’

She carefully inspected their hands before making the correct decision.

‘Men usually have a slightly longer ring finger than their index finger and with women it is the other way round. In Denise’s case both fingers are the same length. However we can easily disguise that by extending one nail and leaving the other a little shorter.’

Ninety minutes later the three emerged from the salon with immaculate finger and toe nails.

‘Jane, why did you bother with our toe nails when they won’t be visible tomorrow?’ asked Denise.

‘I want to look good on the beach on my honeymoon, and for you two it is all about getting all the details right. You'll have more confidence that way,’ she replied.

---

After lunch the three were booked into a hair salon. Once again, because of the intimate nature of the proceedings, those involved had to be told about Denise’s origins, but surprisingly they were not as astounded as might have been expected. Diane, the owner of the salon simply shrugged her shoulders.

‘You're not the first guy we have had to deal with in this way, and I doubt if you'll be the last. You are at least sufficiently convincing for us to be able to deal with you in the salon during our normal opening hours without turning any heads,’ she said.

Whilst Jane and Samantha were each having a trim and their hair was being styled, the assistant assigned to Denise checked that the extensions were still firmly affixed, and in one case took out the original and replaced it. Her hair was then washed and put into rollers, before drying and styling. The whole process took a couple of hours.

‘Tomorrow at nine o’clock we need to come back to have our hair lifted into a style for the wedding,’ said Jane.

---

They had promised themselves an early night, and the three spent the evening in Jane’s bedroom initially removing all traces of hair from their arms, armpits and legs and also wearing face packs. As they did so, they went through the last details of the timetable and plans for the next day. Eventually, when they were all clean and ready for bed, Jane handed over a little brown jewellery case to Samantha and Denise. Inside each one was a pair of pearl drop earrings and a matching pendant.

‘These are gifts from Simon, for you to wear tomorrow, and for you to retain as a keepsake’

They thanked her on behalf of her fiancée and gave her a hug.

‘Good luck for tomorrow and for the future,’ said Denise.