Nina sat in The Drunken Sailor and watched as Nancy stood at the bar with Sophie. She fiddled with the diamond on her left hand so that it caught the light overhead. It twinkled and sparkled back at her. She shook her head for what felt like the millionth time about Robby’s proposal that had taken her completely by surprise. Not only had the proposal itself surprised her, but her response had been a shock, too.
She’d not even thought about getting married; not even a sniff of it had crossed her mind. It hadn’t been on her radar in the slightest. In fact, before Robby’s proposal, it was as if marriage was a thing for the other Nina; the one before she’d moved to Lovely Bay. She always thought about it in the past tense as something that she’d done with someone else, which, to be fair, was true. She just assumed that she wouldn’t be doing it again. Ever. As if it was all a foregone conclusion. Now, not only had she said yes to doing it again, but deep down inside, she was over the moon about it. Someone else was, too; Sophie could barely contain herself. When Nina had phoned Sophie to tell her the news, even though Sophie had known precisely what was going on, she’d squealed and whooped with joy.
Nina smiled as Sophie and Nancy made their way back from the bar. Sophie plonked a gin and tonic on the table in front of Nina and sat down. ‘So, here we are! I cannot tell you how excited I am by the news. I can’t wait to start the planning. Bring it right on, is what I say. Hooray and then some. This is the best news ever!’
Nina nodded her head and widened her eyes. ‘Same. Sort of.’
‘Sort of?’
‘The planning bit isn’t filling me with joy.’
Nancy sat down. ‘It’s such good news.’ She put her drink down and another one on a mat beside it.
‘Just think, if I hadn’t seen that post on Facebook.’ Sophie mused. ‘You never would have even known about Lovely Bay, let alone moved here.’
‘Good point. You are the one who started it all, Soph.’ Nina noted.
‘In fact, you have me to thank for all of this.’
Nancy chortled. ‘Not quite.’
‘I did tell you many, many,manytimes that you needed a change of scenery and look what happened.’ Sophie chuckled. ‘I was right all along. You owe me big, Neens. Huge. Massive.’
Nina also chuckled. ‘It’s always been that way in our relationship. You’re right and I’m wrong.’
‘In this case, I was definitely right. I am so right that you now have a sparkly rock to show for it.’
‘You so were.’ Nina agreed.
‘How many years was I telling you for? Can you remember or have you conveniently forgotten? It was like I was banging my head against a brick wall.’
Nina was never going to forget how grim Sophie’s Friday night calls, complete with the Pity Smile were. There were many years of long calls behind her that she’d very much like to drawa line under and put in her past. At least these days, the phone calls were long gone. ‘At least five.’
‘There you go. Look what happened when you took my advice. Actually, I’m a life guru. I should take it up as a job.’
Birdie came bustling in the door and, together with the Shipping Forecast from her shoulder, rushed over to the table and sat down. ‘Evening everyone. Sorry, I’m a bit late.’ She grabbed Nina’s left hand and studied the diamond. ‘Ooh, again big congrats. It’s gorgeous. Oh, yes. Now I do like that. Hmm. Perfect.’
‘Thanks. I love it.’ Nina said as Birdie sat in front of the drink Nancy had put down before.
Birdie lifted the drink up and toasted, ‘To wedding bells in Lovely Bay.’
Everyone toasted, and Sophie then leant forward. ‘So, actually, have you decided anything? Like when, where, and how? Will it be in Lovely Bay, or I don’t know, at your Mum’s or near Robby’s family?’
Nina shook her head and turned her lips upside down, ‘Not really thought about it yet. It was all such a surprise.’
Sophie's eyes sparkled. ‘Well, you said on the phone you didn't want a long engagement, right? So, we should start organising! Everything gets so booked up. Lovely Bay has some beautiful spots for a wedding. I think it would be nice right here, but I’m not the one in charge.’
Nina nodded; the reality of planning a wedding was starting to sink in. ‘Yes, I did say that. I just want it to be simple, you know?’ She felt funny about too much fuss. In a weird way, she thought it was because of Andrew, almost as if she didn’t want to do the traditional rigmarole again. But then, on the other hand, she wanted to make a massive deal about it because it was just that to her: a huge, gigantic deal. Her feelings and emotionswere totally confusing. ‘Quick and not too fussy are my initial thoughts.’
Nancy leaned in. ‘Simple but beautiful. The best way. Lovely Bay is always magical.’
Birdie chimed in. ‘What about the reception? The Drunken Sailor here could host a cosy gathering. It’s got that homey feel, and the food is great.’
Sophie looked around and nodded. ‘Yep. It could work for a local feel…’
The pub certainly didn’t really grab Nina. She needed to think about it for a bit. ‘Maybe. Or I think just a party or something?’
‘Did Robby have any thoughts? What did his family say?’
