Page 15 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘I promise.’

‘Love you, Cat.’

‘Love you too.’

‘Hey, what’s up?’ Jaelee is looking off to the left and I can hear her typing.

‘I’m getting married.’

She stops typing and gawps at me. ‘No shit.’

‘Absolutely no excrement at all.’

‘That’s awesome. To Jean-Luc or …?’ She breaks into a cheeky double-dimpled grin.

‘Or. Actually, I’m running off with the dustman.’

‘I have no idea who or what a dustman is, but I hope he’s hot.’

‘He isn’t. He’s also old and mean and his name is Frank.’

‘Wow. I can see why you dumped your hot, sexy Frenchman for him. But, really, that’s awesome, Cat.’ For Jaelee, that’s practically gushing.

‘Thank you!’ I reply. ‘So, remind me, where are you now?’

‘At home.’

‘Are you being obstreperous on purpose?’

‘Always. We’re back in Bali.’

‘Again?’

She shrugs. ‘We’re kind of in love with the place.’

‘Perhaps I’ll come visit you one day. I’m definitely due for a do-over,’ I say, referring to my one and only trip to Bali?a rite of passage for many Australians only most of mine was spent on the toilet.

‘Oh, yeah, you were sick.’

‘Yep, the dreaded Bali belly.’

‘So, you gonna bring Frank the mean old dustman?’

‘If he behaves himself.’ She chuckles.

‘So, I’m guessing I’m invited to this shindig?’

‘Yes. You both are. Unless Alistair wants to come alone.’

She pays my quip with a half-raised eyebrow. ‘So, London?’

‘No, a destination wedding.’

‘Okay, so where are we going and when do we need to be there?’

‘Italy. In autumn.’ She writes something down on a pad next to her.

‘Date?’

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