Page 36 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘Who knows you better than anyone?’ I ask.

‘You?’

‘I mean, besides me.’

‘Oh.’

‘He has to have noticed, Sez.’

She buries her head in the pillow. ‘I’m ruining this for him,’ she says, her voice muffled.

‘You’re not ruining anything and it’s not for Josh. It’s for you. You usually like having a fuss made over you, especially on your birthday. So, what is it? What’s going on?’

She peeks at me. ‘It’s something about the number.’

‘Well, obvs, but why? Forty is not old. I’m mean, look at Mum. She’s sixty-four and she’s gorgeous. You’re gorgeous.’

‘I know.’

‘And modest, so modest,’ I tease.

It has the desired effect because she chortles at herself. ‘I meant I know that forty’s not old.’

‘And?’

She sits up properly this time, crossing her legs and looking down at me. ‘You know how I can sometimes get a little stuck in my own head?’ ‘A little’ is an understatement but I nod. ‘Well, that’s been happening even more lately. It’s hard to describe, but it’s like there’s something missing and a time crunch both at the same time.’

‘What’s missing? You love your life.’

‘I do and I have no idea!’

Something occurs to me. ‘Is it children?’ Sarah has never wanted to be a parent but maybe that’s changed.

She coughs out a laugh. ‘Uh, no.’ I guess not, then.

We’re both quiet for a moment?Sarah no doubt contemplating the meaning of life, the universe, and everything, while I’m wondering how I can help my sister find her way out of this funk?and in time for what Josh has planned.

‘Have you talked to Josh about this?’ She shakes her head. ‘So, he could be thinking that you’re unhappy with him.’ Her mouth gapes and she blinks a few times. ‘That’s not it, is it?’ Oh, god, I hope not.

‘No! I love Josh. He’s … no.’

Bollocks, now I’ve got her even more wound up. ‘Look, promise me you will talk to him?soon?before your birthday, Sez. He’s gone all out and I know you’re going to love it.’

‘I will?talk to him, I mean.’

My phone buzzes on the nightstand. When I check it, there’s a message from Jaelee.

About to take off. Will go straight to our accommodation and see you in the morning. J x

I tap out a reply.

Fly safe. Cat xxx

Another message pings back almost instantly.

And happy wedding week! It’s going to be awesome! J x

I send a sticker back?cartoon me blowing a kiss?though I am not too sure how ‘awesome’ Jae will think everything is when I tell her about the venue.

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