Page 111 of For Love or Money
‘There are,’ her mother said sourly, narrowing her eyes at Lesley. ‘Did Katrina tell you her news?’
Lesley looked to her sister.
‘I’m engaged!’ Katrina held her left hand up, displaying the small sapphire on her ring finger.
‘Oh wow! Congratulations!’ Lesley grabbed her hand and pulled it towards her for a closer look. ‘When did this happen?’
‘Just last week,’ Katrina said, smiling smugly. ‘I asked Tom!’
‘Good for you! And you got a ring and everything.’
‘Of course she got a ring,’ Miriam said crossly.
‘You don’t seem to be very happy about it,’ Lesley said to her mother.
‘I’m delighted. But I can’t say I’m thrilled about the way it happened. Call me old-fashioned, but I think it’s a sad day when a girl has to propose to herself.’ She pursed her lips and shook her head sadly.
‘She didn’t propose to herself. She proposed to Tom. I think it’s great!’
Miriam narrowed her eyes at Lesley again, but said nothing.
‘So, when’s the big day?’ Lesley asked.
‘We haven’t set a date yet, but probably early next year.’
‘Well, let me know if you want me to be bridesmaid, because I book up fast. I’ve already got one bridesmaid gig this year.’
‘What? Who?’ her mother asked.
‘Stella, Peter Bradshaw’s fiancée. She asked me while we were away.’
There was a low growling from the hall.
‘I guess Skipper’s ready for his walk,’ Katrina said, getting up. ‘I’ll see you later.’
As soon as she left the room, Miriam let loose. ‘Now see what you’ve done! Our big YouTube proposal is off. I hope you’re happy.’
‘I am, actually. But I don’t know what you think it has to do with me,’ Lesley said innocently. ‘It’s not my fault Katrina jumped the gun and proposed first.’
‘Hmm. Don’t try and tell me you didn’t have something to do with it. And now I have to resort to extreme ironing to get on YouTube. Well, on your head be it if I end up at the bottom of some ravine under a pile of your father’s freshly ironed shirts.’
‘Seriously, Mam. There are much easier ways to become a YouTube sensation. Besides, isn’t extreme ironing a bit passé? Does anyone even do it anymore?’
‘What would you suggest, love?’ her father asked, while her mother continued to fume at her silently.
‘Let’s see what’s trending right now,’ she said, picking up her phone. ‘I think soap cutting is pretty big.’
‘Soap cutting?’ her dad asked. ‘What’s that when it’s at home?’
‘Um ... it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s basically whittling, only with soap.’ She thumbed through her phone. ‘Here, I’ll show you.’
Her parents scooched together and looked over her shoulder as she opened a video.
‘Hm! Looks like a waste of perfectly good soap to me,’ her mother sniffed.
‘I don’t know,’ her father said. ‘There’s something kind of ... mesmerising about it.’
‘It’s supposed to be very soothing, even just watching it,’ Lesley said. ‘And it’s something you could do in the comfort of your own home.’
