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‘Oooh, jealous.’
‘What about you two?’
‘Josh is making us a picnic from the leftovers, then we’re heading into the vineyard here at the castle.’
‘Oh, that’s lovely.’
‘Gotta make the most of our last full day in Tuscany.’
‘Right,’ she says quietly. She’s frowning again and all I can think is, Please don’t say it! But then she says it. ‘I’m going to miss you.’ My eyes mist, blurring her face, and I bite my lip and blink back the tears. ‘Soz,’ she says, shorthand for ‘sorry’. I shrug. ‘Oh!’ she exclaims, jolting me from imminent melancholy. ‘I forgot to tell you. Guess what Mum and Dad gave us for our wedding present.’
‘What?’
‘Half-a-million frequent flier points!’
‘Like me!’
‘Exactly. We should plan a trip together?all four of us?somewhere tropical.’
‘The Maldives!’
‘I hadn’t thought about the Maldives.’
‘I have,’ I say, ‘they’re halfway.’
‘Between …?’
‘Between the UK and Sydney. It’s perfect. None of us have been there before and we’ve probably got enough points for flights and accommodation. But after I get back from South Africa, okay?’
‘And when’s that?’
‘I have no idea?Easter time maybe? Logistics, Cat! So much to figure out but I’ll keep you posted.’
She turns around, smiles, then turns back to the camera. ‘Jean-Luc is back. It’s massage time.’ She makes the ‘squee’ face.
‘Well, enjoy and we’ll see you in a few hours for happy hour.’
‘All right. Enjoy your picnic!’
‘Love you.’
‘Love you too,’ she says, ending the call.
‘Da-aad, enough with the toasts,’ I cry. I’m only half joking. Even when they’re slightly embarrassing, Dad’s toasts are always from the heart.
Our farewell gathering is in full swing, Jaelee having arranged an area for us that’s both poolside and close to the resort’s bar and, until Dad stood on a chair and called for our attention, joyful chatter and laughter permeated the early autumn evening. For an event I’d wanted to skip, it’s actually been a lot of fun.
‘I won’t take up too much time, love, I promise,’ he says to me. ‘Now come over here?both my girls. Come on.’ Cat and I exchange an ‘uh-oh’ look, then move through the loose knot of loved ones to stand either side of Dad. He rests one hand on my shoulder and the other on Cat’s head. ‘You really are short, aren’t you, love?’ he says peering down at her. Cat shakes her head in amusement. I am so grateful that Dad’s keeping it light?the goodbyes are just there, lurking in the shadows and they are absolute buggers.
‘I just wanted to say, on behalf of Karen and myself, that we are very proud of our two beautiful daughters.’ Oh, god, that’s not light, Dad?that’s gonna make me cry?for the third time today! Where’s the jokey-teasing toast where everyone laughs and rolls their eyes?
‘Catherine,’ he says, ‘congratulations again on marrying the love of your life. We are thrilled for you both and no rush, love, but I would like to be a grandad while I’m still young enough to pick them up.’
I laugh along with everyone else while Cat chastises him with, ‘Dad!’
‘Don’t blame me, love. Your mother wrote that line.’
‘Ronald! I absolutely did not!’
