“Yes, long engagement or short?” Chloe asked before I could reply.
They both looked at me in anticipation.
“Short,” I replied. “We’ve decided on September.”
Their eyes widened. “What,thisSeptember?”
I nodded. “I’ll let you know as soon as we have the exact day and time. So you can mark it in your diaries.”
“You bet we will,” Abbey said.
Chloe fell silent.
“Is there a problem?” I asked.
She took a deep breath. “No. However, you’re not the only one with news.” She screwed up her face. “Dom and I are having another baby.”
“Excuse me?” Abbey and I said. It was clearly the firsteitherof us had heard of this.
“I’m pregnant.”
“Since when?” Abbey and I said.
Chloe smiled. “Since about two months ago. I haven’t mentioned anything before now, because, you know, it’s early days. But it’s looking like I’m due October time, which means I can be there.”
Having thought she’d been about to tell me she couldn’t, my relief was palpable.
“Chloe that’s fantastic,” Abbey said.
“A little brother or sister for Ruby,” I said, imagining her as the doting older sibling. “She must be so pleased.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “She’d rather have a puppy.”
I laughed.
“Anyway, if you’re about to ask me to be bridesmaid.” Chloe paused as if reluctant to continue. “I’m gonna have to pass.”
My smile froze. Trying to hide my disappointment. I’d been hoping that along with Sal and India, both Abbey and Chloe would be in the wedding party.
“Because if this pregnancy is anything like my first, it’s not going to be pretty.”
I understood, of course. Thinking back, poor Chloe had had an awful time carrying Ruby. What should have been three months of morning sickness didn’t only go on for nine months, there was no let-up; it was twenty-four seven.
“Can you imagine the stress of getting to dress fittings from all the way down here, let alone dealing with on-the-day emergency alterations. Remember first time round, I ballooned in those final couple of months.”
The last thing I wanted was for Chloe to feel bad. Bringing a new life into the world was way more important than my wedding service, even if the day wouldn’t quite be the same. “Maybe we should change the date? Because bridesmaid or not–”
“You’ll do no such thing!” Chloe looked aghast at the mere suggestion. “No matter what happens, I’ll be there.”
“But should you be travelling come September. What if you go into labour?”
“Don’t they have hospitals in Yorkshire?”
I could see she was determined.
“Which brings me to my news,” Abbey said, tentative.
Taking in her sudden hesitancy, this was not how I anticipated our call going down.
