“Blink said if we book now for October we’ll get half off.” Thomas pulled his arm from around her shoulders and leaned toward the woman in the pink suit with bright blue eye shadow. “She said she’d go with me since you’re working. Unless you can get away.”
“We can send you tons of pictures. Tom said an October wedding would be perfect.”
Tom? Did she mean Thomas? No one ever called him Tom. Not without being corrected. “I’ve been to Saldings. I know it’s beautiful, but I want to get married in our church. We can have the reception there I suppose.”
“But Saldings, babe. Imagine the wedding photographs.”
“Look, let us talk to her.” Blinky patted Daffy’s knee. “We’ll get back to you.”
Us? We? Since when was Blinky in the middle of this relationship?
“October seems perfect, Daffy darling.” Forgive her but Thomas, er, Tom, sounded more like he was siding with Blinky than Daffy.
“I agree,” she said. “October is a lovely month for a wedding.”
“Good. I’ll give you a full report.” He pulled out his phone and picked a date to tour with Blinky.
This wasn’t what she expected, but Blinky was a good friend. And Thomas liked to have things researched, scouted, and detailed. Really, when Daffy considered it, Blinky was doing her a favor.
The hot chocolates arrived and the room split. The lads gathered to talk more football, while the girls talked weddings.
“How’s the famous dress display going?” Leslie Ann settled next to Daffy. “Can you get me a press pass?”
“You know I can’t, Les. Go through the Chamber Office. And the dress display is beautiful. Thank you.”
“But what about your wedding, Daffy? What are your plans?” Kayle’s voice was ever sweet as she raised Daffy’s ring hand. “I never got a good look the night he proposed. It’s beautiful.”
“Should be. He spent enough.” The lot of them turned to Blinky, who’d squeezed in between Daffy and Thomas. She popped a handful of nuts into her mouth as her wide eyes regarded them.
“How do you know how much it cost?” Tonya spoke first.
“I might have been with him when he picked it out.” Blink sank into the couch cushion. “Sorry, Daff, but he needed help.”
“It’s fine.” She waved off the apology. “I think most guys need help with a ring. Just wish I’d known he was even thinking of proposing. When did he go shopping?”
“You mean you two never talked about marriage?” Kayle switched her surprise from Blinky to Daffy.
“Not really but I do like surprises.” Daffy smiled.See, I do like surprises.
“Blink, what did he say about Daffy when you two went ring shopping?”
“How should I know?” She reached for her cocoa mug. “I can’t remember a conversation we had two years ago.” She froze, the mug still to her lips, then glanced away.
Daffy looked at the others then Blinky. What did she mean, two years ago? “Darling, you must be mistaken. Thomas and I have only been dating a year.”
“Right, right.” Blink nodded, her laugh breathless. “That’s what I meant. A year. Two?Pfbbt, what was I thinking. I’m so bad with dates. Can’t remember my own birthday.”
“Blink, the other day I was trying to remember when we first met.” Leslie Ann angled around Daffy. “Winter of our second year of A-levels?”
“What? And you’re a reporter? We met on the first day of our first year, at orientation, and you know it. We ate lunch together. Oh, do you remember seeing Luke Jonas? He had on a blue shirt and—” She stopped, then yawned. “Look at the time. Who’s ready for bed?”
“It’s two-thirty.” Leslie Ann pressed Blinky back in her seat. “Did you help him pick out this ring two years ago?” She used her telly presenter voice.
“Maybe.” Blinky winced as she faced Daffy. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say anything.”
“So far you haven’t.” Leslie Ann bulldozed right along. “Spill the deets.”
“Les, leave her alone.” Daffy elbowed her pushy friend. “Blinky, you don’t have to tell me any details.”
