One Summer in Paris(127)

Future sister-in-law? Katie struggled to get her head around that. ‘If he doesn’t have a problem why are you marrying him? Are you pregnant?’

‘No, I’m not pregnant! I’m marrying him because I’m in love.’

Love. A disease with an uncertain prognosis that often struck without warning.

‘Just checking you’re not being pressured into something, that’s all. It’s important that you’re doing it for the right reasons.’

Katie couldn’t think of a single reason that made sense, but she was willing to accept her own limitations in that area. Rosie was right. She wasn’t romantic. She didn’t watch romantic movies. She didn’t read romance. She didn’t dream of weddings. She lived a life drenched in reality. She saw plenty of endings, few of them happy.

‘Can’t you be pleased for me?’

‘I’m your big sister. My job is to protect you.’

‘From what?’

‘From anything and everything that might harm you. In this case from yourself. You’re impulsive and very free with your affections. You’re gentle, and frankly adorable, and you’re a target for every lame duck.’

‘Dan is not a lame duck.’

‘Maybe not, but then you don’t see bad in anyone. And… how can I say this without offending you?...you’re not a great judge of men.’

‘You have offended me. And, by the way, “adorable” makes me sound like a puppy that fell in a puddle. It’s not a compliment to someone on track for a serious academic career. You never take me seriously. Maybe I’m not a high-flying doctor, like you, but I’m at Harvard doing a PhD. Some people are impressed by that.’

‘I do take you seriously.’ Didn’t she? ‘And it’s possible to be cute and academic. I know some people are impressed, which is why it’s my job to keep you grounded, so that the whole Ivy League thing doesn’t go to your head. And, to that end, we do need to remember here that you’re studying fairy tales—which basically sums up your entire view of life.’

It was a long-running family joke, but still Katie felt a twinge of guilt as she said it. Maybe she’d made that joke a little too often.

‘I’m studying Celtic languages, folklore and myth. Not fairy tales.’

Rosie sounded defensive and Katie softened her tone.

‘I know, and I’m proud of you. I also love you and want to protect you.’

‘I don’t need protecting. I love him, Katie. Dan is—he’s incredible. He’s funny, he’s kind, he’s so laid-back it’s unbelievable, frankly, and he kisses like a god. I never thought I could feel this way.’

‘You can’t marry a guy because he’s good in bed.’

It had been so long since she’d been to bed with anyone, good or otherwise, that she probably wasn’t the best judge of that either.

‘That’s all you heard from what I just said? It’s so much more than that. He’s perfect.’

The alarm bells in Katie’s head were deafening. ‘No one is perfect. If he seems perfect it’s because he’s working hard to hide something. Remember Sam.’

‘I’ve just told you I’m getting married and you have to mention Sam? Do you really think that’s good timing?’

‘It’s perfect timing. You adored Sam. And, by the way, you thought he was “The One” right up until the point you discovered he’d slept with two of your friends.’

‘People sometimes behave badly. It’s a fact of life.’

‘You’re excusing him?’

‘No, not really—but we were at college. People go a little crazy at college.’

‘He hurt you, Rosie. You cried so hard it triggered the worst asthma attack you’ve ever had. I will never forget that crazy drive to Oxford. And lying to Mum because you begged me not to tell her.’

Her mother knew less than fifty per cent of the things that had happened to Rosie since she’d left home. Sometimes Katie felt the burden of that.

‘I didn’t want to worry her. I’ve done more than enough of that in my lifetime.’

‘And then there was—what was his name? James. He insisted you paid whenever you went out together.’

‘He didn’t have much money.’

‘He was a leech.’ And Katie had had to lend Rosie money, but she didn’t raise that. It wasn’t about money. It was about judgement.

‘Dan is different.’ Rosie was stubborn. ‘You’ll see it the moment you meet him.’

‘Great. When can I meet him?’

The sooner the better, as far as she was concerned. Engagements could be broken, couldn’t they? Relationships ended all the time—particularly Rosie’s.

‘That’s why I’m phoning. We’re getting married at Christmas, right here in Aspen. Can you think of anything more romantic? Blue skies and snow…’

‘This Christmas? The Christmas that is happening in less than a month? Are you kidding me?’

‘Why is everyone so surprised?’

‘Because generally you get more than three weeks’ notice for a wedding and you’ve only known him for a couple of months.’

An image of Sally’s bruised, tear-drenched face slid into brain. ‘There were no signs. No clues.’