Page 4 of A Wedding in Tuscany

Sydney

The melodic sound of Caribbean music intrudes on my dream and for an instant, I exist in that state between (blissful) sleep and awake. I drag my sleep mask down to my chin, pick up my phone and squint at it. It’s 6:01am and my sister’s profile pic is grinning up at me.

Cat!

I sit up and scramble to answer the video call. ‘Hey,’ I say quietly, hoping not to wake Josh, ‘everything okay?’ Now the real Cat is grinning at me and I shake my head. Wake up, Sarah, I command myself.

‘Everything’s brilliant.’ Well, at least it’s not bad news. Josh stirs beside me, then scooches closer and rests his head beside mine on my pillow.

‘You do know what time it is, right?’ I say, succumbing to a yawn.

‘Six o’clock, Cat,’ Josh mutters. ‘And it’s Saturday.’ Now Jean-Luc appears on the screen next to Cat, also grinning.

‘It’s not too early is it? I?sorry, we?waited as long as we could. We have news.’

I push myself into a seated position and Josh does the same, rearranging the pillows behind us to prop us up. ‘Okay, we’re up. What gives?’ I ask.

‘We’re getting married!’ they say in unison. Now I am properly awake.

‘What? Oh, my god!’ I look at Josh and he’s as surprised as I am. ‘You’re engaged?’

‘Yes!’ and ‘Oui!’ Two more grins.

‘What? How?’ I sputter.

‘Congratulations!’ says Josh. Oh, yes, that’s what you’re supposed to say.

‘Congratulations!’ I add, a moment later.

‘Thank you!’ Cat is positively beaming and Jean-Luc lands a kiss on the side of her head. God, I love these two together.

‘So, like … this just happened today?’ asks Josh.

‘Well, yes … our today?your middle of the night. And I know it’s early there, but we’re engaged!’ Oh, I so wish I could share this with them in person. A sob takes hold and in seconds I am boo-hooing like a total dag. ‘Sez? Those are happy tears, right?’ asks my sister.

I nod, but my face onscreen looks miserable. ‘Here.’ Josh takes the phone from me while I snatch tissues from the box by the bed and sop up my tears. ‘So,’ he says to them, ‘have you had any thoughts about when?and where? I’m guessing with you guys, the “where” will be trickiest, right?’

‘Well … yes, uh … actually, that’s something we wanted to talk to you about.’ Something about Cat’s tone catches my attention and I grab the phone back from Josh.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing,’ she says unconvincingly. Her lips disappear between her teeth and her eyes flick towards Josh, who’s suspiciously squirming next to me. Something is going on.

‘So, what … you guys thinking somewhere on your side of the world?’ asks Josh. Cat’s expression shifts and my eyes home in on Jean-Luc’s hand squeezing her shoulder. Why is everyone being so cagey?

‘Uh …’ Cat and Jean-Luc exchange a look. ‘Well …’

‘Oh!’ I say, ‘are you’re getting married here? Oh, my god, that’s amazing!’ I grin at Josh.

‘Uh, no, Sez,’ Cat says and my grin dissipates.

‘Oh. Well, what then? Why are you all acting weird?’ May as well call it like I see it.

‘We’re not,’ Cat says brightly. ‘We’re just … you know … we were thinking?’

‘Somewhere in Europe,’ interjects Jean-Luc.

‘You mean like France? You know, where you live?’ I ask pointedly.