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Lily’s face appeared in the bottom of the screen as she joined the call. “Hey there, big sister, hey fam! Y’all looking well.” She had acquired a slight twang to her accent on account of living in Nashville for the past three years perusing her career as a country music singer.
“Hey twin!” Tom called out, grinning ear to ear. “G’day, Mandy Moo.”
“Don’t you dare use that nickname,” Amanda shrieked as Ryan panned the phone around the table. Shrieks gave way to a chorus of ‘hey sis!’ and ‘g’day Amanda!’ and ‘hi Lily”.
“Stuart’s here, too.” Amanda’s smile broadened as she adjusted her phone to show the man I’d only seen in photos: bearded, dark hair, and eyes slightly narrowed. He waved and said hello.
“Hello, Stuart,” Charlotte said, getting right in front of the camera with gravy dripping off her fork and down her dress. “I’m dressed like Belle from Beauty and the Beast!”
“My niece loves that movie,” Stuart chuckled. “I think she has the same dress you’re wearing.”
Charlotte grinned. “Aunty Amanda, why did we have to dress up in special clothes tonight?”
“Well, Charlotte.” Amanda briefly glanced at Stuart. “We have something important we want to tell you all. Stuart’s parents are here too, look everyone! Say hello!”
“Aye, I’d like ye to meet Old Mac and Lorna McAlister, my parents,” Stuart said as Amanda panned her phone around a lounge room.
An older woman sat in an armchair and Stuart’s dad was dressed in a kilt and sat in a wheelchair. Another older woman stood behind the armchair with a wooden spoon in hand.
“Don’t ye forget about Maisie!”
“No, Gran. We wouldn’t dare,” Stuart smiled.
“Is that roast lamb ye eating?” Maisie half-yelled as Ryan took a bite on screen.
He nodded; eyes wide. “One of our own.”
“Ooo! That’s good then, isn’t it?” Maisie said in approval.
We all said hellos, and then the phone panned back to Amanda.
“Right, dear. What’s all this hoohah, then?” Grandad Cec piped up. “Me dinner is getting cold.”
Mum shot him a look and he shrugged. I stifled a giggle.
“Oh Grandad, everyone,” Amanda flicked her hair back again and I saw it: a huge diamond on a gold ring. “We have exciting news. Stuart and I would like to announce … we’re engaged to be married!” She practically screeched the word ‘married’.
Amanda waved her hand back and forth in front of the camera, squealing and laughing, with Stuart kissing her cheek.
My jaw went slack.Was that rock a full carat? Heck, two carats?
Mum’s hand flew to her chest, shaking her head in shock. “Amanda, that’s so lovely. Congratulations to you both.”
“Another brother!” Tom cheered. “Bloody excellent! Been outnumbered for too long.”
Everyone laughed.
Ryan held up his wine glass and we all toasted the happy couple.
“Does this mean you get to wear a big white dress, Aunty Amanda?” Charlotte asked.
“It does, my niece! I’m coming home and will have Stuart with me so you can meet him. Plus Stuart can see the farm and where I grew up. We’ll stay in Sydney as well of course to see my friends and colleagues. And we can start to plan the wedding as soon as possible. And Charlotte, you can be a flower girl.”
Charlotte’s jaw fell open in mute ecstasy.
“Oh Amanda, that’s so lovely. We haven’t seen you in so long.” Mum clapped, looking radiant. “I’m very much looking forward to meeting you in person, Stuart.”
“I’m very much looking forward to seeing ye, Mrs Turner,” Stuart said.
