Page 14 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘But you’re divorced.’

‘I know.’

‘Oh, Lou. That sounds like a right pickle.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Well, I’m always here to listen if you need me.’

‘Thanks, Cat.’

‘And I do have more news.’

‘Oh! Of course?the wedding. Sorry, I didn’t even ask. Where and when? I’ll be there!’

I grin. ‘Tuscany, this autumn.’ Her eyes widen. ‘I know! I promise we’ll have the exact date soon, but we’re looking at late October.’

‘Oh, wow, that’s coming up fast!’ I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I suppose she’s right?it is only four months away and some people take a lot longer to plan their wedding.

‘Sarah is helping us organise it?actually, it’s her fortieth around the same time, so we’re having a joint celebration.’

‘Oh, that’s awesome. I’ll finally get to meet her!’

‘Yes. We’ll all be together. That’s what Jean-Luc and I want?all our loved ones with us. So, you can definitely come?’

‘Yes! No matter what,’ she says.

‘And bring Anders too,’ I say quietly.

‘Oh, thank you. I definitely will.’ She leans in close to the screen. ‘And you’re right, I do love him. I’m working up the courage to tell him, but … it’s true.’

‘Oh, Lou, that makes my heart sing. And do tell him?it’s obvious he’s in love with you too.’ She smiles and looks off camera again. God, this is wonderful news. When I met Lou, her marriage to Jackson was rocky and she’s endured a rough couple of years?the separation, the divorce. I am definitely Team Anders.

‘And Tuscany!’ Lou adds. ‘Gosh, our trip through that part of Italy is a total blur?even Florence.’

‘You mean you don’t have vivid memories of getting caught up in a police raid and missing the bus back to the campsite?’

She chuckles. ‘Traumatic flashbacks, more like.’

‘It was a good trip,’ I say.

‘Oh, yeah, for sure.’ She lowers her voice again. ‘I don’t know that I could have made my big decision if I hadn’t been on that trip with you girls.’ She’s referring to the decision to leave Jackson.

‘I know. Oh, Lou, I cannot wait to see you?properly, I mean.’

‘Me too.’

‘Hey, hon?’ Anders calls.

Lou looks over her shoulder. ‘Yeah, hon?’ Oh, my god, they are so adorable together.

‘We’ve got that brunch reservation. We should probably get going.’

She turns back to me. ‘Sorry. I need to go, but I’m ecstatic for you, Cat.’

‘Thank you.’

‘And you give Jean-Luc a big hug for me and let us know about the wedding, ’cause we’ll be there.’ The ‘we’ makes my heart sing. No one deserves happiness more than our Lou.