‘Amazing. Who doesn’t love a fancy-dress wedding? Is it from Henrik? Or Greta?’
‘Not sure,’ I said, pulling out the rest of the bumf. Directions, gift list, RSVP postcard, dried petals… and a flash of bright white that didn’t belong in there. An alien piece of paper folded up at the back. My heart was in my mouth as I opened it.
Hei, Sara,
It’s only been three days and I’m already missing you like crazy. (It’s Henrik, by the way.) Another snowstorm has hit, and our connection and Wi-Fi is now completely dead – no surprises there – so I thought snail mail might reach you as fast while we wait for the technician.
I want to invite you as my guest to Greta and Jonas’s wedding. They would love you to be there and more important – as important – I would love you to be there too. I want you on my arm and in every other way. I keep expecting to see you around and am disappointed daily when I remember you’ve gone.
I’m coming to London to collect your RSVP in person. I’ll be staying at The Soho Hotel on Saturday 31st October – would you join me there for dinner? Say, 8p.m.? I’ll book us a table and hope to see you.
It’s a lot to ask you to come back again to Firefly Forest so soon for the wedding, I know. I wish I could send a helicopter, like we did for Emma Stone.
Looking forward to your answer.
Henrik x
‘Oh. My. Gadddd!’ Abi screamed, then hugged me. ‘This is so cool and romantic. I LOVE HIM ALREADY. A hot date and then a wedding on top!’
I was in shock. ‘He’s coming to London?’
‘To collect your RSVP,’ Abi said with a wink. ‘And the rest!’
‘Seems a bit much, doesn’t it?’
‘Bloody hell – make up your mind. You’ve been moaning that you hadn’t heard from him for two weeks!’
‘I don’t think I’m ready for a one-on-one date.’
‘What are you talking about? You’ve just spent a whole month with him!’
‘That was different. A date is serious.’
I hadn’t been on a date with anyone other than Mark for four years.
‘A date will be fun. This is his GRG Sara! His grand romantic gesture! I love that he’s coming over here to see you so soon – he’s obviously keen. Don’t put pressure on it – it’s just dinner with a hot guy.’
‘With areallyhot guy! Argghhhhh!’
We both screamed.
‘It’s a good recap opportunity – then if the date is a disaster, or you don’t like each other in the cold hard light of London – you can decline the wedding invite and leave it at that.’
‘True.’
‘But if you do accept the invite, I’ll have to do your nymphy make-up.’
‘Yesssss!’
‘Via Zoom though, I’ll be back in LA.’
‘Zoom isn’t really an option with the dodgy Firefly signal.’
‘I’ll do you aget ready with mevideo then, as backup.’ She laughed. ‘Get nymphy with me. Honestly, I wish we had a dodgy signal. Tony doesn’t get a second to himself. We’re seriously considering splitting our time between LA and Italy to get some peace. But onto more important stuff –what are you going to wear?’
‘No idea. What does a nymph look like these days?’ I squealed in her ear. ‘Underwear as outerwear and a jacket?’
‘Erm… no. That doesn’t sound wedding appropriate. But actually… you could be in luck, my lucky duck.’
