Georgia:It would depend on who she was, wouldn't it?
Seph:It would. I agree. What would be your dream wedding?
It wasa question I was pretty sure I could lose my man card for asking, and definitely one my brothers would have pulled their faces if they'd heard me ask it. Georgia wasn't stupid, and I hoped she knew that when I talked about brides there was only one person I could consider. Only one person I had ever considered. Her. Even though it hadn't been that long, and even now there was an argument that it was too soon, slowing things down had only made me realise how much I didn't want to be without her, and everything that entailed.
Georgia:I don't know. I've never been one of those girls who's really thought about it. Nothing huge or pressured. I quite like the idea of something similar to what Ava's done.
Seph: I can't see you becoming a Godzilla though.
Georgia:You never know. Weddings do strange things to people. I have to go; Rose really wants me to help her make a sandcastle. Talk to you later?
Seph:Definitely. I look forward to it. And in the meantime, if you want to take anymore pictures of you in a bikini, that would be great.
Georgia: Perv.
I laughedand shoved my phone back towards my sun lounger, needing to do a few laps the pool just to burn off the energy I had amassed through texting with her. I’d felt like shit when we'd come out here; I practically had to drag myself onto the plane and force myself to be sociable. I'd wanted to be coming out here with Georgia, for us to be together as a couple, and parenting Rose, which I suppose kind of made us a family.
“What's the matter, Uncle Seph?”
I looked up from the pool, slowing down my lap, and saw Claire sitting at the side, holding Niamh.
“Nothing’s up, apart from the sky, and that's pretty cloudless.”
She faked a laugh. “That's hilarious, Seph. A proper dad joke. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've heard our dad crack the same one.”
“Probably.” I kicked my way to the side where she was. “I was just texting Georgia.”
“And?”
All my siblings, and my parents, knew what had happened between Georgia and I. No one had pressed me for any more detail. I'd figured Max had mentioned it to Victoria, she’d said something to Claire, Claire had mentioned it to Killian, and he'd probably said something to Owen and so the grapevine had continued. No one had said anything that criticized what Georgia had done either. Claire had been sympathetic, understanding where she was coming from with having a child.
“We were kind of flirting.” We were more than flirting but I wasn't going to tell Claire that, she'd just demand to see the phone.
“So, do you think she'll drive over? She's only a few miles away. I know Ava would really like to have her here still, and if she could make that smile return to your face, I think we'd all be very happy.”
Usually, from Claire, we expected sarcasm and salt. She would be cutting when she thought needed, and praise was something that was rare. This was a different tack; she actually seemed softer.
Of course, it could be a trap.
“She didn't mention anything. She was telling me that her sister had hooked up with some bartender.”
“You could go to her. We've got a couple of days before Ava gets married. That's enough time to get there and back to see her.” Claire passed me Niamh, who’d had her first splash in the swimming pool yesterday and had absolutely loved it.
I took the baby from my sister and held her so her toes and feet would dip in the water. She giggled and kicked straight away. “Georgia’s asked for space. Me turning up there wouldn't be giving it to her. She knows where I am, and she knows where I'll be when we get home.”
“Okay.” Claire nodded, surprisingly not saying anymore. “We're hoping you've got something planned for Eli tomorrow night, because we're going to get Ava drunk.”
“Is that your attempt at making her a normal person again before she gets married?”
Claire laughed and Niamh turned her head to try and look for her mother. “Seph, this is how most women act just before they're about to get married. One day you'll be in the same position that Eli is.”
“Jesus.” I muttered it under my breath. “Maybe I'm best staying single.”
She laughed again, but this time it was at me instead of with me. “You need to take Eli out for the day. Go out on a boat with a load of beers or something.”
I shrugged. That sounded like a good plan anyway. “What about the kids? Who’s looking after those?” I also wouldn't mind babysitting; it wasn't something I actually found a chore.
“Eli’s parents arrive tomorrow, and his sisters. Plus, Victoria’s not drinking still, and Payton's not. The idea’s to get Ava to relax. You could always ask Georgia to join us.”
