‘Neither can I. I’ve only been dropping hints for the past year.’
‘It never would have crossed my mind that you’d want to live with me.’
‘What, because I’m such a loser?’
‘BecauseI’ma total loser.’
‘Emmie, what? Hang on. I need to go so I’m transferring you to the car phone.’ A couple of seconds later, she reconnected,voice slightly fuzzy from the speaker. ‘You own your own house and business at twenty-six, and don’t give a crap what anybody thinks. Andyou’rethe loser?’
‘I give a crap what everyone thinks!’
‘Then why do you wear those clothes, and… be like you are?’
‘Because I give most of a crap about what Mum thinks. No. Scrap that.’ I stood up and started walking down the garden. The grass was damp with dew, the birds a full-on symphony all around me. I sucked in a deep breath and made sure I meant what I said next. ‘I did care, more than anything, what she thought. But I’m closing Parsley’s, so I guess I now care more about what I think.’
‘Wowee. Hold the line onthatthought, Emmie.’
‘What?’
‘Keep caring most about whatyouthink. I mean, when it comes to being you, and what you want. Obviously care about what other people think, too. Like, me, when it comes to my woeful living situation and how much I want to properly be your actual, real friend. But I’m so down with you finally thinking about what you want.’
We chatted a bit more, about Blessing moving the rest of her things over to my –our– house, and how I was genuinely very happy for her to have Mum’s old bedroom, once I’d got back and emptied it, so we could redecorate.
‘Right,’ she said. ‘I’m nearly at the airport, but before I go, what are you wearing to this wedding? I don’t suppose there’s loads of clothes shops over there.’
‘Definitely not ones that sell catering uniforms. I’m in the shorts and blue top.’
There was a moment of silence.
‘You’re wearing shorts? To a wedding? Where the man you’ve been crushing on for two years will be in attendance? I thought you were over trying to please Nell?’
‘I am…’
‘Thenwhat the hell, Emmie?’
‘I’m baking pasties all day. What did you expect me to wear?’
‘You aren’t going to the reception, once all the baking is done?’
‘No. I’m not invited to the reception. I’ll be too busy clearing up, anyway.’
‘Excuse me?’
I was momentarily confused by that response, as it seemed to have an echo, until Lily appeared at my side with another mug of tea, and I realised that she and Blessing had both said the same thing.
‘Of course you’re invited to the wedding!’ Lily exclaimed, before leaning closer to my phone and yelling, ‘She is invited!’
‘Good to hear it,’ Blessing huffed. ‘Look, I’m heading to Security. Call me later when you’ve decided what you’re really wearing. No, send me a photo. No – do both. Photo then call. I love you, bye!’
Lily shoved the mug at me so that she could put both hands on her hips and stare me down properly.
‘I know you’ve only been here a week, Emmie. But haven’t you figured out anything about how we do things around here yet? You don’t need an invitation to the wedding that is only happening because you’ve stepped in to cater at the last minute. Of course you’re coming. The students we’ve hired to waiter are clearing up. As soon as the last tray of pasties is out the oven, I expect to see you in the Old Barn.’
‘I can’t… I’m not sure…’ I stopped, took a breath. Remembered who I was trying to be now, and decided that I should go, so I would. ‘Thank you, that would be lovely.’
‘Perfect.’ Lily smiled, enjoying the view for a moment before snapping her head around to look at me. ‘Whatareyou going to wear? If you didn’t think you were invited, then you won’t havesorted anything. Unless you happened to squeeze a just-in-case outfit into your suitcase?’
‘No. I didn’t. I have the long sundress I wore the other day, but it’s not clean.’
