Page 115 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘Sounds perfect. Thank you.’

‘I’ll start getting stuff together.’ Before he goes, he leans down and kisses me?softly and sweetly?and when he closes the bedroom door quietly behind him, I sigh. So much turmoil, so much pain and misunderstanding … if only we’d just talked to each other. I’ll never try and hide something like this again. Even if I don’t know exactly what ‘it’ is at the time, I’ll be sure to tell Josh that something’s going on.

I pick up the phone and call Cat. When she appears on the screen, she looks a little peaky. ‘Hi, are you okay?’ I ask.

‘Yes, just been quite a morning.’

‘Oh, were you hungover?’ As Maid of Honour, I’d tried my best to ensure she’d stayed hydrated and had enough to eat to combat the free-flowing prosecco, but maybe I’d failed.

‘No, I don’t think so. I felt fine when I woke up … just a little sick after brunch.’

‘Oh, well that’s a shitty way to start your honeymoon.’

She laughs softly. ‘It’s funny that everyone keeps calling it that. We go home tomorrow.’ Sadness clouds her expression.

‘Yeah.’ We’re both quiet for a sec and no doubt?like me?she’s contemplating the goodbyes to come.

‘Sorry, you said there was something urgent. Is everything all right?’ she asks.

I fill her in on my tumultuous morning?every topsy-turvy detail (except the sex part?she’s always been squeamish about my sex life)?and end on a happy note with my Africa plans.

‘Oh, Sez, that sounds brilliant. And Aunty Tessa would have loved that.’

‘Thanks,’ I say with a wide smile, my heart full. ‘I think so too.’

‘Sooo … I have news as well.’

‘Oh, really?’ I say, feigning indifference. I don’t want to put any more pressure on her, but she really needs to sort out the whole living situation.

‘Yes. Jean-Luc is going to keep his flat in Paris?’

‘Oh?’ I’m pretty sure this isn’t what Cat had hoped for.

‘No, no, it’s a good thing, I promise.’ She goes on to explain what they’ve decided, including a weird tangent about a cat and a fish, but the gist is that they’re both content with their decision.

‘That sounds a lot more feasible than a long-distance marriage,’ I say.

‘Mmm, quite,’ she replies.

‘God, how good are we, eh? Here we are in romantic Tuscany, celebrating these incredible milestones with our gorgeous men and we’ve both had massive arguments.’

‘Love is messy, I suppose.’

‘Yeah,’ I agree?that one syllable conveying so much.

She smiles brightly. ‘Anyway, it’s all sorted now. I’m even hoping Cécile and I can find a way to make peace?properly, I mean.’

‘After all the shit she pulled?’

‘Yes, yes, all right,’ she says, interrupting. ‘I know it was bad, but I can’t keep wallowing. I’ve got to at least try with Jean-Luc’s family. Perhaps agreeing to live in France for part of the year will mean they hate me a little less. It’s a start, anyway.’

‘At least Louis likes you. And your nieces.’

‘Actually, that’s been my plan all along. Infiltrate the Carons via the children.’

‘Hah! Love it. So, what have you got on for the rest of the day?’ I ask.

‘Massages, I hope. Jean-Luc’s just gone to reception to see if they can fit us in.’