Lucy and I sat on her bed chatting for a while longer.
‘It was a total surprise,’ she said. ‘I honestly thought I was bloated.’
‘Have you told Nora?’
‘Not yet, she’d never forgive me for stealing her spotlight in her birthday month, and I didn’t want to risk her blurting it out at school until we’d had a chance to tell you all. But now I’m three months gone, I will soon.’
‘I’m going to be an auntie again!’ I exclaimed.
‘I think my child loves you more than me most of the time.’ Lucy smiled.
‘Anyway, how are you feeling?’
‘Apart from morning sickness, I’m okay. I’d forgotten how bad it was with Nora. I’ll bet there’s another head-strong little girl in here.’ She ran a hand over her stomach.
‘Will you find out the sex?’
‘I don’t think so. Rory says there are few genuine surprises left in life, so why not let this be one.’
‘And a massive control freak like you is happy to go along with that?’ I smiled at the side of her face.
‘To be honest I’ve been feeling too green to argue. We’ll see, but for now, I don’t have a huge urge to officially confirm my gut instinct that it’s a girl.’
‘We’re going to need to find you a new wedding dressthen,’ I said. ‘But don’t worry, I’m sure Pronovias do a maternity line. I’ll sort it.’
Lucy hung the gown on the outside of the wardrobe and unzipped the bag, some of the champagne-coloured fabric immediately spilling out, shimmering sequins catching the light.
‘It’s a shame. I absolutely love this gown. I felt amazing in it.’ Lucy took a final look at it. It was the most unwedding-y bridal gown I could find – on her orders – and it really was stunning.
The doorbell rang, making us both jump.
‘It doesn’t matter if he sees it now,’ Lucy remarked. ‘Come on, let’s go back down and find you some wine.’ She steered me towards the stairs again.
‘Sorry I’m late. We met in the off-licence.’ Rob was standing in the hallway with Rory. ‘Happy birthday, Nora!’ he called out, but Nora was still too busy devouring another mouthful of leftover cake to notice.
‘Jesus, Mum, were you not keeping an eye on this?’ Lucy asked, moving forwards to detach the little girl from the cake box.
Mum looked up from her phone. ‘Sorry, darling – work stuff.’
We might have been together for two years now, but Rob still had the ability to put butterflies in my stomach, just like when I first clapped eyes on him in the Smith’s boutique when he was making a TV show about Mona Armstrong. He had an undeniably, classically good-looking face, symmetrical features, sandy hair, green eyes, teen-pin-up qualities that had not diminished with age.I’m lucky to have him.I kissed him on the cheek, and he wound an arm around my waist.
‘So – what’s the latest?’ Rob asked.
Everyone looked at me expectantly.
‘I got it.’ I smiled.
‘Got what, darling? The bridesmaid dresses?’
‘No, Mum. I had the interview today – for the stylist job for Mandy Sykes.’
‘Mandy who?’ Dad appeared beside us.
‘Mandy Sykes. She’s a celebrity. A big one. I got offered a job as her stylist.’
‘Oh wow – have you accepted it?’ Lucy asked.
‘Not quite. I mean, yes, I probably will, but there are some parts we need to discuss.’ I looked at Rob. We stared at each other for a beat. I didn’t want to do this in front of my whole family. ‘We can talk about it later. But it feels like perfect timing, given I’m unemployed.’
