ANG Do you not normally love us?
CARYS Shush. Will you come meet Patrick?
[Montage of scenes of them saying hello. Patrick cooks in the kitchen while Carys pours the drinks. Together they lay out plates of pasta in a rich glistening red sauce, topped with parmesan.]
DEL So, Patrick, do you think women should have jobs?
PATRICK Err, yes?
ANG And their own bank accounts?
PATRICK Well, I think that we should have a joint account for some things but that Carys can keep as much of her money as she likes. We need to have a discussion but there’s obviously a pay disparity—
DEL And is that a problem for you?
PATRICK No, I—
ANG Patrick, are you attracted to my sister?
CARYS Angharad!
PATRICK [visibly red]Yes. Of course I am.
CARYS You don’t have to answer. My sisters are being impolite.
PATRICK They just want to know that I’m being good to you.
[Ang and Del begin eating, and Ang’s eyes close. Cut back to when their plates are clean.]
ANG Patrick, it seems I have grown quite fond of you, especially if you keep making pasta like that.
DEL Even if you are someone who looks in holes all day.
PATRICK What holes?
DEL More likewhoseholes.
CARYS [buries face in hands]Please stop saying holes.
Chapter Thirty-OneCarys
Excerpt from podcast Rox’ Docs, interview between Dawson Roxford and Cobey Worthing
ROX So what’s yourrealopinion about Zack then? Between friends?
COBEY He’s not good enough for Lina. I don’t think I am either, but I wouldn’t make her this sad. She looks so sad.
ROX You know what would fix that? Surfing.
COBEY Not sure even surfing could fix that, mate.
‘And what do we think, ladies?’ calls Karina, as I walk out in my dream wedding dress.
It’s a modern take on a Regency wedding dress. The waistline has been dropped from directly under the breasts to the top of my waist and the sleeves end just at my elbows tied with little bows. The back closes with pearl buttons. I’ve seen this dress in pictures online for years, and I knew I wanted it. I can’t quite believe that the show agreed to work with the designer and bring the dress to the fake filmset shop we’re all sitting in, so that I could wear it.
It is perfect. I only wish I felt the same.
The room explodes with excitement, most of the noisegenerated by my sisters. My mum didn’t come. She and Dad promised to come to the wedding, but she seemed to think this was a bit of a pointless exercise when nothing was legal. Just like they often don’t get me, to be honest. Normally I wouldn’t mind but I’m in a room filled with mothers and daughters.
