Elle tore down the last of the sun-bleached newspaper covering the shop window. It was a warm day. The sun was already high above the streets. She looked at her watch. Eight-thirty. With hands on hips, she glanced up at the signboard: Grace Studio, Wedding Specialist. Here goes nothing, she thought and with a deep breath, marched to the door and flipped the 'Open' sign.

Perfect! The entry bell was working. She looked around the sparse front waiting room and the reception. A dark walnut desk stood solid and piles of sample albums sat upon it. A little vase sat on the coffee table and white lilies proudly bloomed from it.

The smell of the paint was fresh. She took her shoes off and stood barefoot on the fluffy cream carpet. She had somehow turned a dreary-looking space into a compartmentalized photo and planning studio.

The door opened and in walked Chloe, with Maya trailing behind. "I brought us coffee."

Elle grabbed a cup and took a gulp. "What do you think?"

Chloe scrutinized the place in silence.

"You think I went over the top?" Elle asked.

Chloe pulled a grim face and then laughed. "Are you kidding? It looks fantastic. It's bright, inviting, and pleasant."

"I hope it works."

"Of course, it will. We've just got to advertise you, the professional, award-winning photographer, to this dreary town." Chloe sipped her coffee and watched Maya plunk herself on the sofa with her hot chocolate. "But, honestly speaking, Elle, I don't understand why you gave up your studio back home. You'd have already been ready to shift it to the city."

"I needed space."

"Loads of it," said Chloe and drained her coffee, set the cup on the table, and clapped her hands. "Now, for advertising."

"I was thinking of throwing an opening party. Invite everyone I know, along with businesses down the strip. Then take snaps, print them and post them on that community board with my details and all the functions I can cover. Whatchu think?"

"That should do, for starters."

Elle stared. "What if no one comes?"

Chloe stared out the window at the near-empty street. "You've got me."

"For the moment. Then what? I'm going to be in this space I can't afford, staring out at that." Her arm flailed towards the window. "I hope I've made the right decision."

"You can't waitress all your life." Chloe walked over, standing next to Elle. "You've got to get on with life and feel your pulse quicken. I'll help you out."

"You're going back to your life in two days. I can do this party thing by myself. I'll be fine." Elle dropped her head in her hands.

Maya looked up, alarmed, and turned to Elle. "Are you crying?"

Elle didn't say a word.

"Mum's just nervous," chirped Chloe. She looked at Elle. "I'll tell Peter I'll be another week."

Elle felt guilty, but she needed Chloe's help to plan and host the opening party. "Do you mind?"

"Thought we'd celebrate." Elle brought over a glass of Chardonnay when Chloe got off the phone with Peter. "It's from a local vineyard."

Chloe grasped the wine. "Isn't it too early for this kind of juice?"

Elle laughed. "What did Peter say?"

Chloe shrugged, dropping next to Maya on the sofa as she coloured in a picture on her book. "Sometimes I think I'm just a pretty face for his firm."

Elle slid in next to her. "When will you two ever be serious, by the way?"

"Serious like you and Blake got?"

Elle shrugged. "You know what I mean. You have been together for quite some time."

"I don't know." Chloe smiled, slapping Elle's leg. "Come on, I don't think you're getting any customers today. Let's grab some lunch, go home, and do some party planning."

They locked up, walked into Connie's and Cal's café, and had a large barbeque chicken pizza between the three of them, which they couldn't finish. Then they made their way to the large convenience store at the end of the street.

Chloe lazily chewed gum as she pushed the shopping trolley along. "You know, as surprising as this may sound, I'm actually ready to settle down." She looked at Maya walking ahead of them, picking out things, running back to her mother, and asking for a purchase.

"Does Aunt Ester know?" Elle beamed. Chloe's mum had been waiting for this day ever since Elle got engaged.

"You're the first I've told." Chloe shook her head. "I've been ready for a while now. I wouldn't mind a Maya of my own." She pulled down a jar of strawberry jam. "It's just, I'm not sure whether he's ready."

Elle chuckled. Her cousin, Chloe, shy? "Come on, Chloe, what's the real reason you're holding back? The Chloe I know and grew up with wouldn't care about the norm. If she was ready, she'd be the one popping the question."

Maya ran back with a packet of Asian noodles, and both women shook their heads. "Too hot, honey."

Chloe twirled on her toes. "Actually, I'm a traditionalist in this matter. I know I jump ahead and do what I want when I want, but I've always dreamt of being proposed to."

Elle took the trolley and turned it into the next aisle, heading towards the picnic ware. "So? Drop Peter some hints."

Chloe pursed her lips. "I have dropped him plenty of hints. I've even gone as far as leaving a copy of Bridal on his coffee table before I came here."

"Probably shocked him." Elle laughed, unable to help herself.

Chloe's face darkened. "He said we needed to talk," she blurted, her eyes scanning the shelves. "I don't have a good feeling about this."

"Relax!" Elle rubbed Chloe's back. "He probably just wants to get all the planning out of the way."

Chloe turned on Elle. "Don't joke, Ellie! I mean it, he didn't sound happy. He sounded annoyed. Probably why he gave me another week off."

Elle pulled the trolley to a halt. "Peter didn't care when you were dating all those jerks before him. All he cared for was you, and he waited years for you before he won you for himself. I don't think a man who has invested ten years of his life in his partner will give that up all because you left a bridal magazine on his coffee table."

"I just wish he wouldn't joke around anymore, you know." Chloe pushed Elle aside and rolled the trolley along, grabbing paper plates and cups in her wake. "I just want him to drop his thirty-five years clause! If he wants me as a wife, then take me already. I'm turning thirty this year, for God's sake." She took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "Five more years and this oven won't be baking anything." She showed her super flat stomach.

"Tsk, tsk." Elle shook her head. "Too bad. I wanted to be a matron of honour before I sprout grey."

Chloe chuckled. "You and me both." She pulled Elle's hair. "In fact, I think I saw some grey on you just yesterday."

Elle slapped her hand away. "Then you're doomed."

"I still look better than you," Chloe said, poking her tongue out.

"True."

***

A week later, exhausted from party planning and its execution, Elle was just closing the door for the day when a couple walked into the office.

"Are you Ellenor Grace?" the man asked. Elle nodded. "I'm Gary Hamilton." He extended his hand. "And this is my wife, Anita. We saw those photos on the community board about your studio."

Elle smiled, thinking of Chloe. "Yes. How can I help you today?"

It was past seven in the evening when Elle locked up. Her first contract had come through, a christening, and she wasn't about to pass it up. Walking to the car, she was the happiest woman, or at least she thought when her phone twittered. "What now?" she murmured, worrying she'd left Maya all day at the neighbour's.

"Guess what?" came an excited shrill.

"Chloe?"

"Who else would it be?" Chloe bit back. "Guess what? Peter proposed!"

Elle stumbled and dropped her car keys. "He did?" She reached for the keys on all fours. "I mean, of course, he did. Congratulations, honey!" She pulled the keys out from under the vehicle. "When did he do it, and how? Don't leave out any details."

An hour later, Elle was reeling with the good news as she pulled up into her driveway and ran across to the Taits.

"Aunty Chloe is getting married, mummy?" squealed Maya as she leaped into her arms before Elle could even get a word out.

"And, guess who will be her flower girl, just like mummy was at her Aunty Lexi's wedding?"

Maya jumped up and down with excitement. "Me?"

Elle nodded and thanked the Taits, waved goodnight, and walked home with her daughter's arm-in-arm.

"You're doing Aunty Chloe's photos too, mummy?"

"You bet your bottom I am. Mummy's been waiting for this day for a long time."

As Elle busied herself reheating last night's leftovers, Maya disappeared into Elle's room, only to re-emerge with the ancient Polaroid camera Elle had gotten on her sixth birthday.

"What was it, mummy?" Maya asked, peering through the viewfinder.

"Ready, steady..." Elle moved forward in a crouch and jumped at Maya playfully. "Shoot!"

The flash and Maya's excited scream went off together.

I'm back, Blake. Your Elle is back! Elle grabbed the camera and clicked Maya, running away with an echo of laughter.