“I like the sound of that.”
“The weather was gorgeous. All blue skies and gentle breezes.” I came over warm and fuzzy just thinking about it. “I’m guessing it must have been September because there was a definite Indian summer vibe to it. Of course, you looked as handsome as ever in your suit trousers and waistcoat. You wore a tie, but casually. And your shirtsleeves were rolled up to about here.” I indicated right below my elbow.
“That’s very me.”
“I thought so.”
Leo laughed again.
“And my dress… You know, I actually felt like a princess.” Simple in design, there was no embroidery or fussiness to it. It was tea length and had a skirt that flared in a 1950s fashion. With three quarter sleeves and a neckline shaped into a deep V at the chest, in my mind’s eye it was perfect, and I made a mental note to sketch the dress after finishing breakfast, while the image was still fresh. “Oh, and Mum wore the widest of brimmed hats. A turquoise organza affair, all feathers and silk flowers. Completely ridiculous.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Even Sal had tears in her eyes, and she doesn’t believe in marriage.” I stopped eating for a moment. “Everything was perfect.” I let out a dreamy sigh. “It was like starring in our very own Hallmark movie.”
Leo reached out and squeezed my hand, bringing me back to reality. “Then let’s make it happen. Let’s do the same.”
I looked at him, aghast. “What? Get married in September?ThisSeptember?”
“I don’t see why not.”
Both pleased and surprised, I’d assumed we’d have a long engagement. I leaned over and kissed Leo’s cheek. “I’m up for that if you are?”
Leo grinned. “We better get organising though. It doesn’t give us much time.”
“You’re joking, aren’t you?” I said, smiling. “September’s months away.”
As I dug into my food once more, my excitement began to wane. I slowed in my chewing. Unable to get the picture of my mother breathing into a brown paper bag out of my head, my brow furrowed.
“Everything all right?” Leo asked.
“I can’t stop thinking about Mum,” I said. “Her response to our engagement wasn’t exactly normal, was it?”
“To be fair to her, it did come as a surprise.”
“But what if Sal’s right? And Mum is expecting a big event? The next few months are going to be a nightmare.”
Leo reached out again. “You’re worrying over nothing. Patricia’s just happy for us.”
I sighed, before returning my attention to my breakfast. “Maybe. But I still think we need to tread carefully.”
“Yoo hoo!”
I froze, my fork coming to a sudden stop halfway to my mouth. Frowning, I looked at Leo. “You were saying?”
Leo shook his head and smiled. “Trust me. She’ll be fine.”
Chapter 5
Mum glided into the room, pausing to take a good look at me and Leo. Beaming, she exuded happiness. “And how are you two lovebirds this morning?”
“All the better for seeing you,” Leo replied.
While my husband-to-be took Mum’s arrival in his stride, I eyed the woman, suspicious. Mum didn’t usually turn up at someone’s house uninvited. She considered not giving advance warning bad form, even when it came to visiting her daughters.
“Coffee?” Leo asked, already out of his seat.
I watched Mum glance over at the kitchen worktop. If she thought my sister’s kitchen was too pristine, she held the opposite view when it came to my cluttered and somewhat eclectic space. From the pre-loved wooden dresser heaving with an array of mismatched crockery, to the hanging pot rack that teemed with well-used pans, to the old ceramic farmhouse sink… my little abode was the stuff of Mum’s nightmares. Twitching at the mess that Leo’s cooking had left, she was obviously weighing up whether she should risk it.
