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“Please,” Mum giggled. “Call me Leonie.”
“And I’ll be in the country doing some festival work, so y’all be seeing me in a couple of months too,” Lily added. “I’ll get to see you, big sis!”
I looked around the room. My family was grinning, talking at once, asking questions: happy.
We hadn’t been happy in so long.
And yet, a petty voice invaded my thoughts.
I just wanted to share my news … and she took that away from me.
My stomach tightened. I felt hot.Fuck, this isnotwho I am. I’m not jealous. I’m not.
Ryan swung the camera around to me and I jerked in my seat.
“Hey, Amanda. Congratulations, and nice to meet you, Stuart.” My cheeks were flushed. “I’m really happy for you. I am. This is the best news.”
“Thank you.” Amanda sniffed.
She kissed Stuart on the cheek, who smiled shyly. “Nice to meet ye, Stacey,” Stuart said, “even if it is only over the phone.”
“Do you have a date in mind? I don’t think I heard it if you said it. Everyone is pretty excited here.”
My family cheered again. “Spring would be fantastic, flowers blooming and more options for bouquets. I just hope I can get the dress designer I want on such short notice.”
I frowned slightly. “But you have nine months to a year until it’s spring again.”
“No, silly!” she trilled, waving her enormous diamond in front of the screen again. I frowned deeper at the word ‘silly’. “Spring in Australia.”
“You’re getting married here?” I asked. “In Ballydoon?”
“Yes, of course! I’m thinking of the old chapel in the southern paddock, with the reception in a marquee. We’ll have a second ceremony on Stuart’s parents’ estate at the manse for our friends and Stuart’s extended family who can’t travel to Australia for the wedding. But yay! Spring wedding! How exciting for you with planning my wedding!”
Wait, what? Why for me?
Two hours later, Uncle Bruce had picked up Grandad Cec, with my uncle exuberant about Amanda’s news. Once he told his wife, my aunt Sally, everyone would know by morning.
I washed up the good plates, Ryan dried while Tom and Mum cleared the table. Charlotte took off to brush her teeth. In the background, Granite FM were still playing songs from the 1970s.
Everyone was chatty, looking forward to Amanda’s return and wedding plans. The news had given everyone hope; something different to think about than debt and drought.
“You boys will be groomsmen!” Mum exclaimed from the stove. “Oh, you’ll look so handsome all dressed up in suits!”
A look of terror passed Ryan’s face.
“It’s how we’re gonna pay for this …” he mumbled. Before I could ask Ryan what he meant by that, Mum placed a dirty roasting pan down between us.
“And Rosie Zanetti will be a bridesmaid, of course,” Mum said. “Probably maid of honour.”
Tom almost dropped the tray of wine glasses, knocking two over.
“Steady on, mate,” Ryan said, catching the tray before any damage was done.
“Rosie will be in the wedding party?” Tom croaked.
“Of course she will,” Mum said. “She’s Amanda’s best friend. And Lily, oh I hope she can travel from in Nashville to be here for the wedding. She’ll be a bridesmaid, too. And you Stacey!”
I jumped, splashing water everywhere. “Me? A bridesmaid?”
