grabbing my comb and running it through my hair one last time before I go back out.
‘Mate, you’ve really got it bad.’ He puts me on to Carrie who’s happily kicking while lying on her baby mat. ‘Carrie and I wish you luck, and Tina does too.’
Tina comes into view. ‘Hi, Jack, hey you look good!’ She’s a little too surprised for the compliment to be flattering. ‘Are you off somewhere?’
‘No – long story.’
‘By the way, I like the sound of this Sophia.’ She raises her eyebrows suggestively. ‘She sounds fab.’
‘I know,’ I say. She is too. It doesn’t matter how much I try to deny it to myself, I am totally smitten with her.
Chapter 17
Sophia
This is it! The day of Jess’s wedding and I can’t believe it’s here already. From all that time ago, when we started looking at dresses and venues, flowers and music choices, it’s all gone so quickly. Yet in other ways it seems another lifetime we were in the bridal shop trying on dresses. This world we live in now is totally different. I give myself a little shake; today is not the day to be brooding about things. Jess needs me to be on top form, helping her to have the best wedding ever.
I dial her number on FaceTime. ‘Sophia!’ she answers, raising a glass of bubbly to the screen.
‘Hey, looks like you’re having a good start to the day!’ I laugh. ‘Where’s mine?’
‘You’ve got to join me – come on, open some, it’s not that early.’ I meander to the fridge and pull out a bottle I’d put there ready yesterday. It’s a funny thing, but I love the way we don’t usually drink at certain times in normal life (whatever that is, I can’t actually remember any more) and then when it comes to Christmas, weddings, christenings and other special occasions, suddenly it’s perfectly fine to drink champagne at eight o’clock in the morning.
‘Cheers,’ I say raising my glass. ‘Happy Wedding Day to my favourite sister!’
‘I’m your only sister!’ she remarks. ‘Cheers, here’s to it!’ She takes a sip. ‘I can’t believe it, it’s actually sunny. The weather’s been dry for so long, I was so worried today it would finally rain.’
I peer out the window. ‘Blue sky, hardly any clouds – it looks perfect. How’s the gazebo looking?’
Jess takes the phone to the window and shows me the view. I can see down into her small city garden, where a white gazebo with intricate lace design topped with sheer white swathes of fabric sweeps back to reveal a couple of big screens, on either side are pots of sweet peas, lilies and roses, a mass of stunning blooms on a long table, which also has photos on it.
‘Wow, Jess, that looks incredible!’ It really does, I never imagined anything so lovely.
‘I know, didn’t the team do a tremendous job!’
‘They did. I’m so amazed; I had no idea there were people out there who set up tech for virtual weddings.’
‘I guess it’s become a thing now.’
‘You always were a trendsetter! Is Zach safely out of the way?’
‘Yes I haven’t seen him since yesterday, which has been really difficult to pull off in our house as you can imagine. He slept in the spare room and then this morning I said I’d eat first thing and then be up here out of the way, getting ready.’
‘I don’t know how you do it, Jess. You think of everything.’
Over much giggling, more champagne and plenty of banter, I help Jess with her make-up. Luckily she is pretty good by herself; I’m acting in more of an advisory capacity.
A couple of hours fly past and it is nearly time for the ceremony. Jess has her computer in the corner with me on Zoom so I can see a full-length view of her in her wedding dress. ‘You look simply gorgeous,’ I say. ‘That dress fits you to perfection.’
‘I do feel pretty good.’ She twirls in front of the mirror.
‘Okay, I’m going to join the ceremony now – and, Jess?’
‘Yeah?’ She turns and looks at me, her tiara sparkling in the midday sunlight.
‘Enjoy it. This is your moment.’
‘Thanks, Soph, for everything.’ I touch the screen as does she, our fingers meeting but not meeting and that has to be the best we can do for now.
I log out and then try to log into the Zoom ceremony. Oh for goodness’ sake. I try to copy and paste the password and the whole computer jams.