Page 118 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘Don’t you remember? As soon as the clock strikes twelve on your fortieth birthday, it’s like this veil is lifted and you suddenly know all the secrets of the universe.’

She tuts and rolls her eyes, then smiles?exactly the reaction I hoped for, because with her calm and collected façade in place, she may just be ready to tell her youngest daughter how much she misses her.

Just then, something catches Mum’s eye and her expression does a one-eighty. ‘Sarah, isn’t that …?’

I follow her line of sight and, yes, it is in fact … ‘Piero,’ I half whisper. Our Roman god-like life-drawing model is at the bar chatting up a very pretty (and very lucky) woman.

‘Mmm, he nearly looks as good in clothes as he looks out of them.’

‘Mum!’ I say, my attention swinging back to her.

She presses her lips firmly together, their edges slightly curled up and raises her eyebrows at me. ‘Sixty-four,’ she whispers, ‘not dead.’

We both dissolve into giggles?possibly the only time I’ve giggled with my mum. When the giggles subside, she kisses my cheek and without saying another word, goes to wait her turn to say goodbye to Cat. It could be a long wait?Dad’s goodbye is lasting longer than one of Cher’s farewell tours.

Familiar arms snake their way around my waist. ‘You having a good time?’ asks Josh.

I lean against him, laying my hands over his, and breathe in his delicious aftershave, the one I gave him for Christmas last year. He smells of sandalwood and spices. As we sway together gently, I cast my eyes over our motley crew?old friends and new, and family?imprinting the image on my mind. No doubt there are dozens, maybe hundreds, of photos that were taken this week but I want to remember this night exactly as it is.

The delight on people’s faces, the cackle of Siobhan’s laughter as she tosses her black tresses, the glances Anders sneaks at Lou, obviously in love with her, Lindsey chatting conspiratorially with Jane, kindred pragmatists amongst the rest us, Dad doing the rounds, having endeared himself to everyone here, Jaelee balancing on five-inch heels, her expression softening every time she sees Alistair, Jean-Luc catching my eye and smiling, and finally, Cat and Mum sharing a special mother–daughter moment. It’s perfect.

‘Yes,’ I say, answering Josh’s question, ‘but I’m ready.’

‘Ready?’

I turn inside his embrace, clasping my hands behind his neck and look up into his beautiful grey eyes. ‘Ready to go home.’

‘Lots to look forward to.’

‘Yeah.’ I nod, grinning. ‘Oh! I forgot to tell you?I can’t believe this totally slipped my mind?but Cat and I are thinking we should all go to the Maldives.’

‘All?’ He cocks his head, then his eyes lift to scan the people gathered around us.

‘Just us four,’ I say quietly. ‘They got frequent flier points from Mum and Dad too?that was their wedding present?so we just need to find a time when we can all go.’

His eyes drop to meet mine. ‘That sounds amazing.’

‘After Cape Town, though.’

‘Obviously.’

‘Or maybe before?depends on how quickly I can get that organised.’

‘Definitely.’

‘Are you teasing me?’

‘Always.’ He smiles, then dips his head, capturing my lips in a rather sexy kiss.

‘All right, you two, enough of that. At least wait till your mum and I leave the party.’

‘Ugh, Da-aad!’

He bellows out a laugh then shouts, ‘Goodnight, everyone,’ and grabs Mum’s hand and they leave the party to a chorus of ‘goodnight’.

That’s the first goodbye done but it was also the easiest.