Page 22 of The Wedding Forecast

‘I’m not making a face.’

‘You have to be open to new opportunities, new people,’ Mum says. This has been her standard lecture for as long as I can remember.

‘I am. Why do you think I’m not?’

‘His name is Patrick,’ Bobbi says, as if we’ve forgotten.

‘Sorry, what’s the significance of the name?’ Mac asks.

‘A psychic told Anna she is destined to be with a man called Patrick,’ Bobbi says. ‘And I know that sounds like nonsense, but actually, once you get to our age, you realise there are things in the universe we don’t understand.’

‘Like aliens,’ Luke says. ‘The US government released those reports that basically confirmed the existence of alien aircraft.’

‘Babe, let’s not do aliens right now,’ Hayley says.

‘And let’s calm down on Patrick. I’ll meet him at some point and we’ll see what organically evolves,’ I add.

I can’t let the mums see that I’m excited to meet him. I’m not sure I am excited to meet him. It’s whiplash, going from Joel and his baby to this. I don’t have the headspace to meet someone right now.

‘He’ll be at the rehearsal dinner. He’s taking the photos tonight,’ Bobbi says.

‘I knew I was right about buying you that bra,’ Mum says. ‘I just knew it.’

‘Okay, okay,’ I say, before anyone can ask about the bra. ‘Wait. You didn’t tell him, did you, about the…’ What are we calling it? A prophecy? No. ‘About the psychic?’

‘No,’ Mum says. ‘Of course not. That would scare him right off.’

‘Good.’

‘We did tell him a bit about you, though,’ Bobbi says.

Now I am the one gripping Hayley’s arm. ‘What did you say?’

‘We were just telling him the names of everyone in the bridal party, and we mentioned you, and told him a few relevant facts,’ Mum says.

‘Relevant to what?’ I ask.

‘What you look like, that you’re single too, and we showed him your book,’ Bobbi says.

Of course they did.

‘Very subtle,’ I say.

What if Patrick is my one chance at happiness and the mums have thoroughly put him off before we even meet? My book isn’t exactly seduction material. It’s about toxic relationships and murder. Well, technically manslaughter, but that’s not really any sexier.

‘You should wear that nice floral dress tonight,’ Bobbi says. ‘The backless one.’

‘I didn’t bring that dress,’ I say.

‘Or that black one with the very deep neckline,’ Mum says.

‘That’s Hayley’s and I didn’t bring it either.’ I am starting to panic now.

‘Well, whatever you brought I’m sure is fine, sweetheart,’ Mum says.

‘I didn’t bring any dresses,’ I add.

‘Oh,’ Mum says, and her tone implies this is a grave situation.