‘So what did you two get up to today?’ Mimi asked later, when they were all seated around the table for dinner.
‘Just shopping and cooking this delicious meal for us all,’ Sive said. ‘And running lines.’
‘Well, itisdelicious, thank you,’ Aoife said.
‘And I learned to make pastry,’ Sam said.
‘How about you?’ Mimi turned to Aoife and Jonathan. ‘Good wedding?’
‘It was lovely,’ Aoife said. ‘Good fun.’
‘Any notes for me? Ideas I should steal?’
‘Nothing I think you should steal, but maybe something to avoid. You know the old adage about not working with children or animals? Well, they had these three little flower girls…’
Jonathan started laughing as she spoke.
‘They were really young, only about four or five, I’d say?’ She looked to Jonathan and he nodded.
‘So they each had a basket of rose petals and they were supposed to walk slowly down the aisle, throwing them along the way. Well, two of them were fine, but this third kid clearly didn’t get the memo.’ Aoife started laughing at the memory and Jonathan was wheezing, his eyes tearing up. ‘She marches straight down the aisle with her basket, turns it upside down and dumps the lot out by the altar. Then she stalks off to her seat – job done.’
‘Oh, she sounds brilliant!’ Mimi turned to Rocco. ‘We have to book her for ours.’
Sive felt a warm glow as she looked around the table at the laughing, smiling faces of the people she loved. But she was aware of the people who weren’t there too – the shades of her parents and Detta, the shadow of Ben’s quiet presence beside her. The happy chatter flowed around her as everyone passed plates and talked over each other. She loved this, just as it was. Sam was a good friend and that was enough.
‘Right, moment of truth,’ she said to Sam as she stood, ‘let’s try this pastry of yours.’
She brought the plum tart through from the kitchen and put it on the table to a chorus of oohs and ahhs. She’d just sat down when her phone buzzed. She picked it up and looked at the screen.
‘Oh! Ben’s back early from his stag do. He wants me to go over.’
‘Now?’ Mimi frowned.
‘Yeah. He’s going back to Portugal tomorrow, so…’ She trailed off with a shrug.
She was aware of several puzzled sidelong glances cast her way as she stood. ‘Sorry, I’ve got to go. Help yourselves to pie.’
17
‘Sive, love,’Bridget pulled Sive into a hug as soon as she was through the door.
‘I guess Ben’s told you my news, then?’ she said dryly.
‘He did.’ Releasing her, Bridget gripped Sive’s hands tightly in both of hers. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘I’m fine. I feel great.’
‘No morning sickness?’
‘Not so far.’
‘Well, we’re here if you need anything – lifts or someone to go with you to your appointments – anything at all, you’ll let us know, won’t you?’
Sive nodded and her eyes welled up, overwhelmed. ‘I will. Thank you.’
‘We’re just across the road.’
It was a nice thought that her child would have grandparents nearby.
