‘Don’t tell Aunty Susie,’ I say, winking at Vinnie.
He smiles. ‘Aunty JoJo, why aren’t you married?’ he asks me.
To be fair, he’s not the first person who’s asked me this evening. I’ve had the odd person come up and ask if I have a boyfriend. Some have gestured that it’s my turn next. Others have looked at me a little pitifully, like Sonny getting married first broke some unwritten rule. These are the people who I’ve made sure got their food last.
‘Oh, I’m just waiting for the right person, Vinnie. I haven’t found anyone who wants to marry me.’
He colours in the groom’s shoes pink. ‘Well, you should want to marry them too,’ he says casually. ‘When I’m older and you haven’t found anyone yet, I’ll marry you.’
I’m not sure how legal that will be, but I lean over and kiss him on the forehead.
‘Who would you like to marry? If you could marry someone famous?’ he asks me.
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Like out of all the Avengers, who would you marry? All of them are very hunky. Mum says she likes Thor.’
‘Don’t we all, Vinnie. I guess Hulk is cute. Bit angry, though. And the same colour of broccoli.’ This makes Vinnie giggle uncontrollably. Please don’t pee yourself. God, that sound is a tonic.
We keep colouring as the music suddenly changes. Is it sad that I know the playlist tonight? I told the DJ to keep it to disco classics and I vetoed the list. No modern dance anthems that will make us feel like we’re in Ibiza. The Bee Gees for days. I now watch as the crowd of people wait to hear for the bass change to see if it’s time to scream in joy and keep dancing or return to their drinks. There’s a roll of drums as a synth kicks in. Someone yells and breaks into a strange dance like they need an exorcism. Really? This is not a wedding song nor was it on the authorised playlist. I guess Sonny and Ruby did get engaged on Halloween, but it feels a little cruel. It’s theGhostbusterstheme song. Vinnie’s ears prick up.
‘What is this song? It’s funny,’ he says.
‘It’s from a film. A very good film. I’ll watch it with you when you’re older. It’s a bit scary. But there’s a character called Slimer that I think you’ll like.’
He starts to move his shoulders and I chair dance with him, Dave jumping down from my lap, scared by the motion.
‘There used to be a special dance to this song,’ I say, jumping up. ‘It was from the credits of the cartoon. You shoot up your fingers like this and then put your heel out.’
I may lose my cool points for this, but the giggles continue so I keep doing it. It’s not co-ordinated and I pull faces as I do it, but I guess it beats bursting into tears.
‘I saw that cartoon too.’
As soon as I hear those words, that voice, I stop dancing and freeze.
No.
You’re here. You’re here? Did he see that? I can’t quite breathe. I turn around. Yep, you’re here.Cameron.You’re at my brother’s wedding? You’re in a suit. Beside him, a little girl holds his hand and hides behind his arm. He looks at me and I feel every bit of breath leave me, feeling completely weightless, shocked. Say something.
‘Hey.’
‘Hey.’
He stands there smiling. I don’t know what else to say.
‘Are you Josie?’ the little girl asks.
I snap out of my spell and smile, bending down to her level.
‘I am. It’s good to meet you.’ I put my hand out and she shakes it. ‘You must be Erin?’
She nods her head, she’s dressed in a sparkly rose tulle dress, little ballet shoes on her feet. A big mass of curly black hair and her father’s blue eyes. Hey, Erin. I can imagine an event like this is a lot to take in, but fear not, I have crayons.
‘I like your dress,’ she tells me.
‘I like yours. You don’t think I look like a tomato?’
She giggles. ‘Is that your dog?’
