Page 19 of The Wedding Forecast

‘They have exciting news, apparently, but they wouldn’t tell me until you arrived,’ Hayley says, raising her eyebrows at me.

‘Oh great,’ I say.

It will be somehow related to the bra Mum bought me, I am sure.

Mac has walked in behind me, and I see his demeanour change slightly. He puts his bags on the table, mumbling, ‘Excuse me.’ I had thought he’d be the kind of guy who would immediately try to charm older women.

‘Now this must be the famous Mac!’ Bobbi exclaims.

I’m not sure if she’s using ‘famous’ in the sense that she’s heard a lot about him, or that she’s implying he’s literally famous. Either way, Mac looks stressed at the word.

‘Yes. Hi,’ he says.

‘Oh sorry, Mac, this is my mum, Bobbi, and Anna’s mum, Wendy, they pretty much travel as a pair,’ Hayley says.

‘Nice to meet you both,’ he says.

‘Mac, tell us everything about what it’s like working in Hollywood,’ Mum says, the exciting news apparently forgotten.

‘Who is the most famous person you know?’ Bobbi asks.

‘Is Tom Hanks as lovely as he seems?’ Mum adds.

‘No, don’t tell us if he’s horrible. I don’t want to know,’ Bobbi gasps.

‘He won’t be horrible, that’s impossible,’ Mum says.

‘I don’t know Tom Hanks. I’ve never met Tom Hanks, I’m sorry,’ Mac says. He looks at Hayley and Luke with a slightly panicked expression.

‘Mac lives in New York and he does theatre and voiceover stuff right now, and not all actors hang out with famous people,’ Hayley says, with a pointed tone in her voice. ‘All of which I have mentioned to you before.’

‘There are plenty of celebrities in New York, darling,’ Bobbi says.

‘Tom Hanks might actually even live there,’ Mum says. ‘I’m checking.’ She pulls out her reading glasses and starts tapping on her phone. ‘No, he lives in California, never mind,’ she says after a moment.

‘Okay, now we have Tom Hanks’ address sorted, aren’t you supposed to be giving Anna some exciting news?’ Hayley says.

‘Yes. Okay. Now, Anna,’ Mum says. ‘Don’t immediately shut this down.’

‘Don’t start by saying that,’ Bobbi says.

‘Why not?’ Mum says. ‘You know what she’s like.’

‘It’s too negative. Anna, darling, this is a good thing, a very good thing. Fate has cast its hand,’ Bobbi says. She loves a dramatic moment.

‘Please just tell me,’ I say. I can’t take the suspense. I can’t handle any more surprises today.

Mum and Bobbi exchange a look.

‘We’ve found him,’ Bobbi says, throwing open her arms.

‘He’s here,’ Mum says.

‘Who?’ I say, completely bewildered.

‘Patrick,’ they say in unison.

‘Your soulmate,’ Bobbi adds dramatically.