Page 45 of Love Grows

“Mail!” shouted Derek, who had been kind enough to give me a couple of hours even with a fussy newborn at home.

I shouted in return. “I don’t want it. It’ll be awful news, and?—”

A hand holding an envelope appeared around the doorframe and wiggled at me. The rest of Derek’s body followed, his face wearing a cheeky grin. “It’s in a pink envelope with love hearts on it. I doubt that Melbourne Electric is dabbling in empathy.”

I laughed and took the rectangle, sliding open the flap.

Then I chuckled. “This is so very Ted, and Jules, and it’s amazing.”

“What?”

“It’s an invitation to a community party for tonight at the cafe. Knowing Pip, there’ll be sparkles and glitter and crystals everywhere and all light sources will scatter beams that will give us epileptic attacks. It sounds wonderful.”

We grinned at each other. “What else does it say?”

“Didn’t you get one?”

“Yeah, but it got snaffled away by a woman who was breastfeeding and watching Wheel of Fortune. I wasn’t interrupting either of those things, no matter how much I love her.” He nodded slowly with eyebrows raised high.

“Okay. RSVP is ASAP. That’s nice and balanced. I’ll do that now. It says dogs are allowed—of course—but not to bring kangaroos because there’s enough already.” I stared at Derek. “What the hell?”

He shrugged. “I dunno. It’s Ted and Jules. Who knows?”

* * *

I wasright about the glittery stuff everywhere. The ceiling looked like someone had shot stick-on stars at it from a canon. But it was delightful. Everyone had dressed up. Ted was in his ‘good suit’ as he called it.

“It’s my only suit but don’t tell anyone,” he whispered to me.

Jules was in blue and pink dungarees, hair all teased up.

I’d gone for black denim and a soft blue collared shirt. It was a celebration after all. Even still, I couldn’t quite pull myself out of my hole. I was completely heartbroken, because I was starting to think that Steph could have been my one. I truly felt that we were good together. Cute, and fun together. Sexy as anything together. Just all round better together.

I walked across and hugged Derek, bent to hug Kahlia, and kissed Leroy on his little fuzzy head.

Lucas got a bro hug, and Kaydee, who Lucas had invited, got a wave and a smile. I was in silly yet silent raptures of delight to see the two of them together. Normally, Kaydee was very selective in who she hugged or touched, but the touching she was clearly thrilled to do tonight was Lucas’ hand and she didn’t seem inclined to let that go. The way she looked up at him was gorgeous. Heart eye emojis all over the place.

I imagined that was how Steph and I looked. Well, how I had looked at her at least. Or she had looked at me while she lied.

“Stop it,” I hissed to myself.

I got kissed on both cheeks by Mrs G, and Mr G gave me a demure hug, but with the largest smile in the world.

The sound of the door opening cut all conversation.

Steph stood there; one foot in, one foot holding the door as if she wasn’t sure whether to continue her inwards journey.

Our eyes locked and all I could see was how sad she was and also how beautiful she looked in her pink party dress with her white sneakers and the glittery ceiling reflecting onto her skin and how much I missed her and had it only been a week because I think I’d been heartbroken for much longer, hadn’t I?

“Ah! Good! Ted announced. “Right on time.”

I spun around. “Right on time for what?”

Ted didn’t answer, but pulled out a chair and patted the space next to him for Kahlia to roll up into. He opened his arms to encompass all of us.

“For our kangaroo court council celebration party,” he announced proudly.

“What?” I asked, but my question was lost in in the cheering. Then Mr and Mrs G whipped out a pair of ear protectors for little Leroy and Kaydee and set off party poppers around the room so that paper streamers rained down on us.

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