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‘If?’
‘Well, I’m assuming she is. She hasn’t said otherwise, has she?’
‘No,’ said Emma. ‘Wonder what she’ll say when she sees James?’
Kirsty chuckled. ‘I know. Blast from the past, eh?’
‘Yeah! Anyway, sorry, what were you saying about the distillery?’
‘Yes, the distillery is beautiful, and the views are to die for. Right on the beach and across the water. I can send you a video and pictures.’
‘Okay . . . why?’
‘Well, I, we wondered how you and Max would feel about having your big day there?’
‘Instead of Meadowbank? How come?’
She heard Kirsty take a breath. ‘We can still do it here if you want to, Emma. It’s your choice. I just thought it might be nice to have us all here together at home, without caterers and florists bustling around. And I’m a bit worried about space inside should the weather turn.’
Emma frowned. It wasn’t like her sister not to embrace an event at home. ‘Okay. How much is it costing?’
‘That’s the thing. Because they haven’t done any weddings yet they’ll let us have the venue free of charge as a trial run so they can see how it goes. We can still use the caterers and everyone else that would have been at the house. This just keeps it a bit more . . . tidy and simple.’
‘Okay,’ said Emma slowly. ‘What do you think?’
‘Well, the windows are floor to ceiling looking out across the bay so even if the weather turns, which I hope it won’t as it’s been so lovely of late, then the ceremony can be moved inside. If it’s fine, then you can actually take your vows on the beach. How cool is that?’
Emma was intrigued. It did sound quite nice and as long as she got to spend some time at Meadowbank with her sisters and her dad that was all that mattered. ‘If you send me the pictures, I’ll take a look and talk to Max. We’d better decide soon as time is ticking on.’
She felt herself tense even as she said it. She needed to speak to Max.But how and when? There was never going to be a good time. Yet her worries were dominating her thoughts and distracting her from what should be one of the happiest days of her life.
‘Are you sure you’re okay, Emma?’ Kirsty sounded concerned.
‘Yes, honestly, I’m fine.’
‘You just sound a bit tired.’
‘Mmm, I probably need to go for a lie down. We were out for a curry with Oliver and Ruth.’
Kirsty laughed. ‘I bet you need to go and recharge in a darkened cupboard?’
‘Something like that,’ mumbled Emma, still embarrassed at how irritated she was earlier.
‘How’s Max?’
‘Oh, you know, just the same as always. Busy with work but quite happy.’
‘Okay, well have a chat with him and let me know.’
‘Thanks,’ said Emma. ‘I really appreciate all you’re doing for us.’
‘That’s what big sisters are for.’ Her words hung there in the silence for a moment and there was so much more they could have said to one another.
Then Emma coughed, breaking the silence. ‘Look, I’d better go but will be in touch.’
‘Okay dokey. Speak soon. Bye. Love you.’
Emma ended the call and curled up on the sofa, letting tears silently fall down her face. She didn’t cry — why was she crying? She needed to pull herself together. Emma had never ever given into emotion before, and she certainly wasn’t about to start now. Her determination kicked in and she opened up her laptop, vowing to get on with things. Thank goodness Max was still on his call and couldn’t see her like this. She had a chance to pull herself together and her inbox would quickly focus her attention. Then she saw a reminder in her calendar for later in the week. She needed to collect her dress from a boutique in the New Town.
