Page 80 of The Notecard
‘Obviously,’ I say.
‘But it’s okay,’ says Keri. ‘It’s going to be okay.’
‘And I literally have endless new material for my comedy,’ says Hugh.
I’m so happy for Keri. I realise getting pregnant wasn’t in her plan, but it’s happened and they’re going to be okay. Hugh is the best bloke in the world, and she’s so lucky to have him.
‘Thanks for earlier,’ says Keri. ‘I know I was a blubbering, teary mess, and you were getting ready for the wedding and everything, but thanks, you were brilliant.’
‘Of course. Anything for my flatmate.’
‘I will miss you,’ says Keri, tearing up again. ‘Sorry, I think it’s the baby hormones or something, but I can’t stop crying. Hugh bought me a coffee on the way over and some of that millionaire shortbread, and I literally had a full breakdown. I just can’t stop.’
‘I’ll miss you too,’ I say, feeling my own tears begin to take hold.
Keri and I both cry for a moment, while Hugh waits for us to finish.
‘Just to be clear,’ says Hugh when we’re done. ‘I will miss you too, Meg.’
I laugh.
‘I’ll miss you too, Hugh. Just make sure you take care of my best friend.’
‘Without question. Her and our little baby,’ says Hugh, putting a hand on her belly. This makes Keri start crying again.
I hang up just as we’re called back inside to sit down for the speeches. I’m so happy for Keri and Hugh. They’re a wonderful couple, and they will make great parents. I know that when I get back from my trip life’s going to look very different in the flat. Instead of cigarettes and vodka shots there will be breast pumps and nappies. The days of watching Friends until 2am on a school night with a bottle of wine, giggling and laughing like it’s the first time we’ve seen it, will be replaced with baby feeds at 2am and a fridge full of breast milk. I can’t worry about it now. I have six months to look forward to. Beth is in Fiji at the moment. It looks incredible. She’s scuba diving and living on a palm tree fringed desert island. I’ll be there in about five months.
I have looked through Beth’s Instagram photos so many times, but there’s one photo I keep going back to again and again. It’s a photo of Beth in Bali #BethInBali. She’s on the beach looking out at the ocean. She’s in a white bikini, and it’s just gorgeous. The perfect shot on the perfect beach. She looks so happy and relaxed. I keep coming back to that photo because it’s everything I want. I’m going to go to that beach and take the same photo. That is my inspiration. Happiness. Relaxation. Wanderlust #MegInBali
It’s strange how despite all the planning, my trip hasn’t felt real until the last few days. I have packed and repacked my backpack about fifty times, but it’s finally ready. It’s in my bedroom, sitting on my bed. I’m staying here tonight, and then it’s back to the flat for one night, and then Dad’s driving me to the airport the following day. There will be tears, but I’m excited to see what the next six months of my life holds. I’m literally flying off into the unknown. I have my first hostel in Bangkok booked, a rough plan about what I’m going to do next, and that’s it. Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, California, and then back home in six months. It’s overwhelming when I think about it. I had my last day at work, and they threw me a big leaving night out. It was so sweet of them. I’ll be going back there after my trip. A new person with new ideas, new stories, and hopefully a fresh perspective on life.
I walk back towards the hotel, and I’m joined by Adam, the best man. He looks at me.
‘You realise there’s a tradition,’ says Adam, a sly smile on his face.
Oh god.
‘Not going to happen, Adam.’
‘I mean, it’s tradition, so it’s sort of our responsibility. I’m single. You’re single. We’re both good looking, and after a night of drinking, you know it will happen. So give into it, Meg.’
I stop and look at Adam.
‘Adam, you’re right, you are good looking, we’re single and there will be drinking.’
‘Lots of drinking,’ says Adam, who looks down at my boobs for a second.
‘But no matter how much I drink, I’m not going to have sex with you. You can keep your penis in your trousers because I’m not going to touch it with my hands or with my mouth, and it’s definitely not coming anywhere near my vagina. Do you understand?’
Adam seems to have gone quiet. He looks horrified and then sort of points over my shoulder where the vicar who performed the ceremony is standing. He must have heard every single word. The lovely old vicar, George.
‘The lord works in mysterious ways,’ says George with a solemn face.
I want to curl up into a little ball and go down a hole for the next ten hours. I don’t. Instead, I smile at George, for some reason curtsy, then dash inside and get ready for the speeches.
Nick
Never forget that the most important thing in the world, Nick, the thing that matters the most, has always mattered more than anything in history, is love.
