Page 5 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘Peut-être, oui, France would be nice,’ he replies.

‘And it’s just that we know it’s a big ask?coming all this way for a wedding …’ adds Cat.

‘What? How is that a big ask? You could get married on the International Space Station and I’d be there.’

‘Of course! I didn’t mean … We’re just not sure where we’ll get married, is all,’ says Cat.

‘They’ve barely gotten engaged, Sarah. Let’s give them a bit of time to figure out the details,’ Josh cajoles. But he was the one who asked the question! I think, flummoxed.

‘But autumn?definitely,’ says Jean-Luc.

‘Right, autumn sounds nice,’ I say vaguely.

What is wrong with me? These are two of my favourite people in the world and they’re betrothed and I’m ruining the moment. I push my suspicions aside and right my emotional state. ‘I am so happy for you guys,’ I say. They must be the magic words, as Cat’s shoulders drop a centimetre and the tension between us dissipates. ‘I wish I could be there to celebrate with you, but no matter where you decide to get married?or when?I’ll be there. For sure.’

‘We both will,’ says Josh.

The beaming smiles are back. ‘Brilliant,’ says my sister. ‘And … uh … we’ll keep you posted. Oh, and you’re the first people we’ve told so …’

‘Of course! I promise not to ruin your surprise with Mum and Dad. Actually, they’ll be up by now, you know.’

‘Golf,’ we say at the same time. Cat and I joke that we were golf orphans growing up.

‘All right, loves, we’ll let you go. Sorry again about waking you,’ she says.

‘No, no, it’s okay. We really are happy for you. Definitely worth getting woken up for,’ I say.

‘Yeah, totally. Congratulations, you guys.’

‘Thank you!’ and ‘Merci,’ then a swap of sisterly ‘I love you’s and the call ends.

I sit with the phone in my hands, smiling. My little sis is getting married?to her childhood sweetheart. The tears come again and Josh holds me while I sob with joy.

‘Do you think we need more cheese?’ asks my best friend, Lindsey.

I look at the assortment of cured meats, three kinds of olives, four varieties of cheese, and three kinds of artisanal crackers, then back at Lins. ‘I think we’re good. It’s just the four of us. And there’s all that,’ I say, indicating the preparations for a barbecue dinner. Even though it’s mid-winter, it’s been mild today and Lins called this afternoon with the impromptu invitation.

Her gaze roams the platter again, then she nods with satisfaction. ‘Right. You grab the wine and I’ll grab this.’ She’s entrusting me with a tray laden with four wine glasses and a full bottle. Me?the walking disaster.

‘Actually, wait …’ I say and she does. Josh and Nick are outside on the patio, drinking beer and talking about whatever it is that men talk about when they’re alone and I want my bestie’s ear for a moment. ‘There’s something else. When Cat and Jean-Luc called this morning and we started talking about where and when they’re getting married … well, they said autumn and somewhere in Europe, but everyone was being weird?all three of them.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, it was like that scene in a murder mystery where one of the characters is in the dark and all the other characters are acting suspicious. Well, that was me this morning?I’m the one in the dark. Something’s going on.’

She nods at me with an ‘Mmm’, which is the correct way to show someone you’re actively listening, but also how you indicate that you know more about what’s going on than they do.

‘You know, don’t you?’

‘Know what?’

‘Hey, do you need a hand with that?’ Josh. Perfect timing?for Lins, that is.

She smiles brightly at him. ‘Thanks, Josh.’ He takes the heavy board and returns to the patio. Through the window, I watch him set it on the low table between the two outdoor couches. Lins now has the tray with the wine. ‘Probably best if I carry this, anyway,’ she says.

‘It was one time!’ I reply, slightly miffed.

‘It was one time but a whole tray of glasses.’

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