I’m embarrassed,
“You didn’t Alvez. You know me, I’m an early bird. It’s so good to hear your voice. I miss you like crazy” I bite my lip, he misses me
“Me too , it’s been hell not speaking to you” there’s a pause as we both take a moment to appreciate that we’re actually talking, “Hey guess what, Pippa’s got a boyfriend!” Pippa throws a pillow at me to try and shut me up but Jackson has already heard me loud and clear, I’m giggling as he responds,
“Really, who’s the lucky bloke? Anyone I know?” he questions,
“Yes actually, but we’ll catch up on that when you’re home. How are the wedding plans coming along? All ready for tomorrow?” I feel myself sobering by the minute as I talk to him,
“Yeah it’s all go, Steve is like a kid at Christmas; Annie has gone to her parents’ house now. I’m looking forward to it, partly because the sooner it’s over the sooner I can get back to you” he says quietly, I guess it’s just in case Steve hears him,
“ Jackson, do you want coffee?” I hear the voice of an English woman call to him and my heart sinks, why is there a woman asking him about coffee at six in the morning?
“Rosie that’s Sasha, she’s a friend!” he explains without being asked, “You have nothing to worry about,”
His words do put me at ease but being so far away from him is hard. I am so tired and as much as I don’t want to, I have to say goodnight and get some sleep,
“Ok babe I trust you. Listen, I'm exhausted so I'm going to go. Let me know how tomorrow goes”
“Ok sweetie, I will. Get some sleep, I love you”
“I love you too Jackson, I miss you”
“Me too beautiful, speak soon”
We hang up and I look over to a version of Pippa that I have never seen before, one that is smiling at her phone like a teenage girl.
I am struggling to keep my eyes open now so quickly change into some pyjamas and climb into bed, Pippa is in the middle of a text conversation with her new man and the thought makes me smile as my head hits the pillow and I give in to the tiredness.
Chapter Five
The wedding day is finally here. It’s an early start as we had to be at Annie’s parents’ house for seven am for the arrival of the monks that are coming to bless the happy couple, Rosie’s wakeup call helped!
The Thai wedding is full of traditions to uphold and Steve wants to make sure that it’s perfect for Annie, she’s dreamt of this day since she was a little girl.
The monks chant and say prayers before placing a lit candle in a bowl of water. Steve, Annie and their guests all then offer food to the monks and we leave the room to allow them to eat. After their meal, the monks begin their chants again and a senior monk blesses us all with holy water. After the blessing, Steve, Sasha, his parents and I leave Annie’s parents’ house to go back to Steve’s and prepare for the khan maak procession.
“How you doing bud?” I ask Steve while we change into traditional Thai suits ready for the procession,
“I’m good, we’ve been waiting for this day for a long time so it’s exciting that it’s finally here” Steve seems nervous behind the happiness that he is projecting and I suspect it’s because of the pressure of making sure he gets everything right,
“You’re doing great mate, I’m happy for you” I pat him on the shoulder to reassure him just as Sasha leans around the door to Steve’s room and wolf whistles,
“Wow, check you two out! Come on then, let’s get this show on the road”
The procession is a fun, happy tradition with musicians playing long instruments like trombones and dancing all of the way to Annie’s parent’s house. Once we arrive at the house, women from Annie’s family block the way with gold and silver ribbons, meant to symbolise gates. Steve has to negotiate his way through the gates by offering money in envelopes as a key.
Annie’s re latives certainly make it difficult for him, joking that