Page 81 of A Wedding in Tuscany

Tuscany

Anders’ visit has revealed two things. First, before he was a veterinarian, he was a paramedic and I cannot exaggerate how much that little nugget of information set Mum at ease. Her expression practically screamed, ‘Hooray, he’s had medical training?for humans!’ Then she fawned over him, offering him everything from a cup of tea to her third born. Thank god I snuck in at number two.

The second thing is that he doesn’t think Dad has broken his ankle, or any part of his foot. He has checked Dad for concussion, re-done Sarah’s strapping, and says to stay off it as much as possible and that if the pain gets worse, not better, then we should get an X-ray tomorrow, just in case.

‘I think you’re all set,’ he says to Dad, rising to his full ‘mountain man’ height. Lou, who has watched on adoringly, gazes up at him, love and pride radiating from her face.

‘We really can’t thank you enough, Anders. I don’t know what we would have done if we didn’t have a medical professional in the family,’ says Mum. See? She’s only known him five minutes and now he’s part of the family.

‘Honestly, it was nothing, Mrs Parsons. Just happy to be of assistance.’ Hang on, is Mum blushing?

‘Oh, none of that “Mrs” nonsense. I’m just Karen.’ Just Karen?! I chance a glance at Sarah even though I’m very close to laughing and this may send me over the edge. Yup. Her lips have all but disappeared between her teeth and her eyes are wide, telegraphing, ‘OMG, MUM!’ I stifle a snigger and Dad taps my leg with the back of his hand. All three of us are in on it now.

‘Well, we should get going, let you all get ready,’ says Lou.

‘See you at five,’ adds Anders.

Mum sees them out and I can’t hold it any longer. I start shaking with laughter and soon Sarah has joined in. ‘Girls,’ stage whispers Dad, ‘stop it.’ But that just makes us laugh even more.

‘What’s so funny?’ says Mum, now back in the kitchen.

‘Er, nothing, Mum,’ says Sarah. ‘So, is there much more to do upstairs?’ she asks.

‘All done. Jaelee has gone back to her accommodation to get ready. She said you’re to meet the caterer at four and show them where to set up.’

‘Roger that,’ says Sarah earning her a tut.

‘Ronald, we should go.’

‘Right. Of course, love.’ He flattens both hands on the table and pushes himself to standing.

‘How is it, Dad?’ I ask as he carefully transfers his weight to his left foot.

He nods, a small frown on his face. ‘It’s not too bad.’

‘Well, here, let me help you out to the car,’ says Mum.

Sarah and I make room so they can shuffle out of the kitchen, into the hallway, then out the front door. We stand on the gravel watching Mum get Dad situated in the car, Sarah in a set of dusty workout clothes and me in my dressing gown.

‘Well, don’t stand out here in your dressing gown, Catherine. Good god,’ says Mum as she rounds the front of the car to the driver’s side.

‘Bye, Mum,’ I say, ignoring her. ‘See you in a couple of hours.’

‘Smile and wave,’ says my sister to me quietly. ‘Just smile and wave.’ We do and they go and then it’s just me and Sarah.

‘Right,’ she says, ‘shower for me, then let’s get you fully bridal.’

‘I’m getting married today,’ I say, suddenly struck by how surreal it feels.

‘Yes, you are, little sis, and it is going to be magical.’ She hooks her arm in mine and we go back inside.

‘Okay, you can look now.’ Sarah has always been a dab hand at makeup. I’m pretty good at it but she’s next level so she was the obvious choice for doing my bridal makeup. I swivel on the stool to face the mirror above the dressing table and peer at my reflection.

‘Oh, my god, my skin looks like porcelain!’

She chuckles next to me, well chuffed with herself. ‘Well, I had a good canvas, and this,’ she says holding up her favourite ‘blur’ product.

‘You’ve done a beautiful job, Sez, thank you.’ My makeup is subtle and natural-looking, bringing out my hazel eyes and highlighting the apples of my cheeks. My lips are a velvety rose and no doubt I will need to reapply a dozen times, but I love the colour choice.

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