Geoff and Nicole walked slowly from Aden and Belle's new home to the beach house. They were holding hands and every so often would stop and kiss. It seemed to be taking forever to get there, Nic thought, but what a pleasant way to do it.
They walked in and Irene was sitting at the table, she was talking on the phone and she looked up and smiled.
"Speak of the devils Darl I'll pass you over." She said into the phone and then to them "It's Annie!"
"I'll take it!" Nic said and she took over the phone as Irene got up and walked over to the far side of the room.
"Hey Annie, Its Nic!" she explained. "I want to ask you a really big favour."
"Ask away" Annie told her from the other end of the line.
"Will you please be one of my bridesmaids?" Nic said.
"Of course. But this isn't because I hinted to Geoff is it?" Annie agreed in one breath and then showed off her insecurity in the next.
"No! I want you and Ruby to be my bridesmaids and I've thought nothing else since just after Geoff asked me!" she said trying to reassure the girl. "Well that's not entirely true sometimes I have thought about chocolate."
She heard Annie chuckle.
"So is that a yes?" Nicole said.
"Of course it is." Annie told her.
"Well we need to set up a time and date for choosing the dresses and everything. I'll text you shall I?" Nic said.
"Well the thing is Nic, I'm sort of coming home for a bit. I was just talking to Irene about it." Annie said hesitantly and slowly.
"Ok sweetie, " Nic said softly, suddenly suspecting there was more to the story. "Do you want to talk to Geoff?" she asked.
"No!" Annie exclaimed.
"Sure thing. Not a problem shall I say goodbye for you?" she asked covering for the other girl. She saw Irene look at her out the corner of her eye.
"Please." Annie said very quietly.
"Ok I'll see you soon Annie and take care won't you?" she said then "Bye love!"
Nicole hung up the phone and gave a quick nod to Irene to show that she knew something was wrong and then smiled at Geoff.
"Now all I have to do is get in touch with Ruby!" she said bringing his focus back to the wedding. "Irene have you had something to eat because we were thinking about Chinese?" Nic asked her.
Geoff looked puzzled for a second, they had talked about having a Chinese but then realised someone would have to go out to fetch it.
"No Darl, and to be honest I didn't feel like cooking tonight after working today!" Irene said.
"Well I think that's sorted. Geoff will you please be a darling and fetch us our dinner?" she asked him with a smile.
Geoff disappeared moments later dispatched with their orders.
"Annie told me very little before you even start!" Irene said.
"I gather its something big though. Do you think she's leaving her husband?" Nicole asked. "Because I know Jai still has a thing for her."
"Strewth! Are you trying to get everyone married off?!" Irene asked with a chuckle.
"I can't help it Irene, I'm in love with the most amazing man and he's swept me off my feet!" She chuckled in response, knowing that there was a silly love struck expression on her face. "Just you wait until I line someone up for you." She half threatened.
Irene laughed.
"I also want to thank for telling Geoff that we could come and live here. It's a fantastic offer Irene. Thank you so much!" Nicole told her and walked over to embrace the other woman, she also placed a kiss on her cheek.
"Are you turning me down with that soft-soap?" Irene asked, pretending not to notice how grown up Nicole suddenly appeared.
"Not at all, Mrs Roberts Ma'am!" She said cheekily. "I just want you to be aware of what you are getting. I'm untidy, I can't cook, I use up all the hot water and I don't have a job at the moment so I'll be under your feet all the time."
"Tell me again why I proposed?" Geoff asked walking in the door at that moment.
"Hypnosis. El taught me it. And don't think you can get out of it either!" Nic told him.
He smiled at her.
"You two are daft as each other!" she said. "I might just take my dinner upstairs out of your way!"
"No chance Irene, you need to sit with us. Have you seen Geoff try and use chopsticks?" she asked and hooking her arm though the other woman's she led her back to the table.
Geoff looked over at them and smiled.