Page 33 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘Chérie, there has been a misunderstanding. We cannot have the wedding in the great hall.’

‘What?’ I say again. ‘But Jaelee said?’

‘A mistake,’ he says with a slight shrug.

‘Shit,’ says Josh quietly.

‘So, we have to choose between the library and the sitting room?’ asks Cat slowly, as though her mind is only just catching up to the words coming from her mouth.

‘Sì,’ says Bianca.

‘Can we get back to you?’ I ask, walking over to Cat and wrapping a protective arm around her shoulders.

‘Of course. Is no problem.’ Oh, so now there’s no problem. I know exactly how much Cat and Jean-Luc spent on this venue for their wedding, and I can only imagine how queasy they’re both feeling. I glance at Jean-Luc, who’s frowning, and back at Cat, who appears dazed.

‘We should head out,’ says Josh brightly.

‘Uh, yes!’ I reply. ‘Thank you, Bianca, grazie. We will …’

Josh bundles me and Cat out of the room and into the great hall. ‘We’ll let you know asap,’ he says over his shoulder as we head outside.

Behind us, Jean-Luc says something to Bianca in Italian and she replies with, ‘Something, something giovedì.’ That means Thursday?two days before they get married, so we only have a few days to figure this out. ‘Sì, graziemille,’ he adds, then joins us in the courtyard.

‘Catherine?’ He peers at her, concerned. I’m concerned too, as I’ve never seen this exact expression on her face. She’s also mesmerised by a potted geranium.

‘So,’ she says numbly, as if to herself, ‘dusty old books or stuffed endangered animals? I suppose not everyone gets married standing on top of a leopard.’ She’s still staring at the pot plant and the three of us exchange worried looks.

‘Cat, don’t worry?we’ll figure it out, okay? Jaelee and Alistair will be here tonight and she can sort everything out first thing in the morning.’

‘Yeah, it’s probably just some minor misunderstanding,’ says Josh.

Cat nods. ‘Right.’ Mmm?she’s definitely not convinced.

I look at Jean-Luc and his lips are pressed into a straight line. He’s usually so easy going and I hate seeing them both so discombobulated. ‘Hey, do you want to come with me and Jean-Luc to talk to the vintner?’ I offer.

Cat’s head snaps in my direction. ‘Will we be tasting the wine?’ she asks hopefully.

‘I think so, yes.’ If we’re choosing what wine to serve at the reception, it makes sense that we’ll be tasting it.

‘Then I’m coming.’

She turns and walks back towards our apartment and the three of us follow. ‘Sarah, I am troubled,’ says Jean-Luc quietly.

‘I know, but it will all work out, I promise.’ I plaster on a massive smile which he returns wanly before jogging ahead to catch up to Cat.

‘Is Cat superstitious?’ asks Josh. ‘Does she believe in signs from the universe or anything like that?’

‘No, I don’t think so.’ She and I may be close, but no one knows everything about another person, even their sister and best friend.

‘You don’t, do you?’

‘Eh, sorta … when it suits me,’ I reply, smiling up at him. ‘You know … when my horoscope says I’m going to have a windfall …’

‘Or meet a talk, dark, handsome man.’

‘I’m going to meet a talk, dark, handsome man? When?!’

‘Ha-ha.’ He nudges me with his shoulder.