Page 38 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘Hey, guys,’ says Sarah. She steps onto the balcony, followed by Josh, both glistening with sweat.

‘Oh, I love this part,’ I say leaping up from my chair. ‘Jae and Alistair, this is my sister, Sarah, and her boyfriend, Josh.’

They smile and shake hands and Jae insists on hugging Sarah even though she begs off for being ‘too sweaty’. ‘It’s so good to finally meet you,’ Jae says. ‘I feel like we’ve been email buddies for months now.’

‘I know! I feel exactly the same way,’ Sarah replies, grinning.

‘Did you want to join us?’ I ask.

‘Shower first,’ says Josh.

‘Yeah, definitely?to both,’ says Sarah. ‘Shower, then joining you.’

‘I’ll go first?’ asks Josh. She nods and he heads inside.

‘So, you’re coming wedding dress shopping with us today, right?’ she says to Jae.

‘Oh, yeah, for sure. But I did bring some dresses.’

‘Okay, so I’ll shower and get ready, we get Cat to try on yourdresses and, if no joy, we collect Mum and head to Siena to shop.’ It’s fascinating watching the two most organised people I know ping off each other like this.

‘Sounds good. I also need to figure out the venue,’ says Jae with a grimace.

‘Oh, yeah, that’s uh … we’ll work it out. Dress first. I mean, she can get married anywhere, right, but she can’t be naked.’

‘Hello? I’m right here.’

Both heads spin in my direction as though they’ve only just realised I’m here.

‘And?’ asks my impertinent sister.

Jean-Luc and Alistair are openly chuckling now and this time when my fiancé reaches for my hand, I lift my chin. ‘I’m going inside to try on Jae’s dresses.’ I push my chair back and retreat to our bedroom, laughter at my back.

I really do love each and every one of them?the buggers.

‘Lastly, there’s this,’ says Jaelee. She’s holding the brilliant blue silk shift she lent me the day I met Jean-Luc in Rome for our first date. We’ve already been through the other four options she brought. They all fit, as anticipated?we’re still the same size?but they were a little too ‘clubby’ for my wedding day.

‘It’s beautiful,’ says Sarah, running her fingers down the seam.

‘Cat wore it on her first date with Jean-Luc,’ says Jae to Sarah. ‘I also brought these in case you decide to wear it,’ she adds, rummaging through her large carry bag. She takes out a pair of silver strappy sandals. They’re gorgeous and I love the dress, but I’m not sure how bridal it is.

Sarah glances my way, seeming to understand instantly, and says, ‘Back-up?’

I nod and smile. ‘Back-up. Perfect.’ Not perfect, but Jae’s expression is bordering on contrition and it’s not her fault I left my wedding dress in an airport. ‘Jae, thank you so much. I really do appreciate you bringing all these options.’ She smiles one of those ‘not smiles’ and starts gathering the dresses, folding them haphazardly.

‘How about I take that one?’ asks Sarah.

‘Sure, yeah,’ says Jae. Sarah takes the blue dress from Jae before it gets bundled into the carry bag and hangs it in the wardrobe.

‘And these.’ Sarah places the sandals next to the box with my bridal shoes?satin Jimmy Choo, kitten-heeled slingbacks I bought online?second hand but never worn and only £100. You know what they say?one woman’s unwanted gift from a former lover is another woman’s treasure.

‘Right, let’s call Mum, tell her we’re on our way, then head to Siena!’ I’m grateful for my sister’s enthusiasm right now, especially as Jae, who is usually a powerhouse of organisation and gusto, seems deflated. Sarah disappears down the hall and moments later, I hear her on the phone with Mum.

‘Jae?’

‘Mmm.’ She’s still busying herself with the dresses.

I take the carry bag from her and place it on the floor, then sit on the bed. ‘Come sit.’ She joins me. ‘Everything all right?’

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