Page 31 of A Wedding in Tuscany

Tuscany

‘Saving everyone from a killer wasp goes down as an Adventure Chick escapade, don’t ya reckon?’ I say, alluding to my alter ego at breakfast the next morning. Adventure Chick went into hiding a few years back, eradicated by a dead-end relationship. She re-emerged right around the time I met Josh, which was not coincidental and one of the reasons he’s the love of my life.

Josh swallows his bite of muesli and yoghurt?our go-to, even when we’re travelling. ‘Oh definitely. Right up there with white-water rafting, abseiling, rock climbing …’

‘I should add it to my resumé.’

‘Add what to your resume?’ asks Cat. She’s carrying tea and a plate piled high with toast. I am so having some of that after I finish my muesli?two days into our trip and I’ve already reignited my love affair with Italian bread.

‘Sarah’s just bragging about her exploits in pest removal.’

‘Oh, right. Well, thank you for that?and I mean it. All I could come up with was locking up the room and moving to a pensione.’

‘Good morning!’ Jean-Luc joins us on the balcony with a brimming cafetière and a mug. Black coffee will be the entirety of his breakfast. It’s his only fault?almost enough to ban him from my family for life?but we love him regardless, so we’re keeping him.

‘Right,’ I say, snagging one of Cat’s pieces of toast. She tries to slap my hand but misses?I’m too quick, probably remnants of my Adventure Chick powers. ‘We all have assignments today …’ Cat groans. ‘And our parents will be arriving just after lunch.’ Cat groans again. ‘Hey, that’s not nice.’

‘At least they’re not staying here.’

‘Also not nice.’

She makes a face and goes back to her breakfast.

‘What’s on the list?’ asks Josh.

‘Excellent question. I’ll just go and get it so I don’t forget anything.’ This is merely a security measure, as I essentially have our plans memorised, but you never can be too careful. I return to the balcony laden with a three-ring folder and my pencil case.

‘You mean you didn’t pack a whiteboard?’ Cat jibes.

‘I had to talk her out of it,’ says Josh, piling on.

‘Just give them all the unfun tasks, Sarah,’ says Jean-Luc.

‘Hah!’ I laugh. ‘Jean-Luc, you are my favourite.’

‘Hey,’ says Cat, indignant.

‘Also, hey!’ adds Josh. I chuckle. God, I love being here with them, just us. Maybe we can tell everyone else to bugger off so we can spend the next week celebrating by ourselves. I’m sure Mum would be delighted. Hah!

‘Right,’ I say again, consulting the schedule. ‘We are touring the castle at ten’ ?I check my watch? ‘just over an hour from now and you’ll be making the final decision on where to have the ceremony. If it’s in the great hall?essentially the main room of the castle?that will be transformed for the reception while you’re having your wedding photographs taken. If not, when it’s time for the reception, we’ll simply move from your chosen room to the hall. Jaelee negotiated the same price either way, so it just comes down to your preferences.’

They nod along so I continue. ‘Jean-Luc, you and I will then meet with the vintner and finalise the wine selection.’ I’ve assigned this task to us, as Cat will essentially drink anything (don’t tell her I said that) and Josh is more of a cocktails and beer guy.

‘Cat and Jean-Luc, you’re due at the Civil Status Office with your paperwork at 12:00pm. And after Mum and Dad arrive around two, we’ll say hello, then take them to their accommodation and make sure they’re settled.’ Jaelee, bless her, recommended a resort for Mum and Dad on the opposite end of town to the castle.

Granted, Montespertoli is not that large, but the resort is far enough away that we won’t be expecting any impromptu visits from Mum. Besides, I’ve seen the website and the place is gorgeous?total luxury. I can only hope Mum would rather lounge by the pool and stare out at the Tuscan countryside than hang around here driving Cat batty.

‘And I have a few last-minute arrangements for your birthday party, too,’ says Josh.

‘I’m not sure there’s ti?’ I start to say.

‘Jean-Luc, wanna come with me to the … uh … place? We can go after Ron and Karen get here.’

‘Ah, oui, sounds good. I will come with you to the place.’ Dual manly nods and it is decided. They are going to ‘the place’. The others start gathering up the remnants of breakfast and under the guise of reviewing our plans, I sit, folder open and stare out across the valley.

My birthday celebration is the only aspect of the trip that Josh has managed to keep as a surprise. I still don’t know what it is or even where it is. For some reason, Jean-Luc is involved, which has added to the intrigue. And there have been a number of times that Josh has come close to revealing a pertinent detail? he’s so excited about it, he can barely contain himself.

At least one of us is.

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