Page 90 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘That was …’ I tip my head up for a kiss. ‘Thank you for not having a shitty family.’

‘Thank you for not having a shitty family.’

‘Right. I’ve gotta go. I’m back on Maid of Honour duties.’ I turn and he lightly slaps my bum. ‘Hey,’ I say over my shoulder. He winks at me and we grin at each other. Oh, I love that man.

Jaelee and Lou meet me at the top of the stairs. ‘That was intense,’ says Lou.

‘You should have seen it from up close.’

‘So, Jean-Luc’s gone to get Cat?’ asks Jaelee.

‘Yeah.’

‘But that’s bad luck,’ says Lou. She looks almost as worried about the bad juju as she did about Vanessa being here for the wedding.

‘I think we’ve already crossed that bridge, Lou,’ says Jaelee.

‘I guess.’

‘Look, I’ve gotta go, but maybe you could break out the bubbles for everyone … you know, while they wait? And talk to the celebrant?’

‘On it,’ says Jaelee, leaving me with Lou.

‘It’s going to be okay,’ I say to her.

‘Poor Cat.’

‘I know. Look I should …’

‘Go?sorry.’

I navigate the steep stairs in my three-inch heels as quickly as I dare, not wanting to be the second member of the family to topple down them. When I get to the bottom, I spy Jean-Luc and Vanessa at the end of the castle’s driveway embroiled in what looks like an intense conversation.

‘Oh, for fuck’s fucking sake.’ If I thought the stairs were tough to navigate, how in the hell am I supposed to handle this? That’s a hell of a detour you’ve made, Jean-Luc! I have a thought and do my tiptoe trot back to the apartment. Maybe until we sort this mess out, I should switch to my flipflops. ‘Dad!’ I call out. He stands as I enter Cat and Jean-Luc’s bedroom.

‘What is it, love?’

Cat looks on the verge of tears again, so that’s my priority?assuaging the bride’s fears. ‘Vanessa’s left. Jean-Luc told Cécile off. Jaelee is pouring bubbles for the guests and this will all be sorted out soon, I promise.’

‘All right,’ she says feebly.

‘Cat. I promise, okay?’ She nods and Mum watches her worriedly, stroking her hand. ‘Dad, can I borrow you for a sec?’ I ask.

‘Sure, love.’ He hobbles over and I lead him out to the stoop.

‘Look,’ I say softly, indicating the end of the driveway where Vanessa and Jean-Luc are still talking.

‘Oh dear.’

A taxi pulls up moments later and Vanessa climbs in. ‘Oh, thank god.’ When she closes the door and it pulls away, Jean-Luc stares after it, then drops his head and shakes it. ‘I think he might need a fatherly pep talk.’

‘I think you might be right, love,’ Dad says. ‘Be right back.’

Dad makes slow progress down the driveway and when he reaches Jean-Luc, he places a hand on his arm and Jean-Luc turns. I can’t hear what he’s saying, but I’ve benefitted from one of Dad’s pep talks many times over the years?even just today?and it’s not long before a smile appears on my brother-in-law’s face. They hug?man-style, with back slaps?and start walking back towards me.

‘See you up there, son,’ says Dad and my heart nearly melts at ‘son’ as he slips past me and into the apartment.

‘Wait, I need to talk to her,’ says Jean-Luc.