Wedding Night

proach Mrs. Hocking, non

ing around gradually fall

e playground ha

s pointing to the baske

king at Batman. All the

rex Fetherlite Ultra. It in

on the end is bob

Anna, but when I look aro

cent exp

Mrs. Hocking faintly.

Jane, clutching her bo

ol, in case you’d forgotten

erned, this is a perfectly

” I turn apologetically

much

pps!” Mrs. Hocking rallie

of

t bursts?”

back triumphantly, and pr

played out like

realize how this look

hand to cover up the words

My fingers are doing a st

he condo

o find a balloon for Noa

ys at last. “I’d keep th

earching for a way t

ad her off. “Good idea. I’

shrilly. “Actually, I prob

I am responsib

. I’ve just shared detail

I’m not sure ho

t desperation. “So. I’ll

… some purpo

ndoms back in my bag, d

the seven-year-olds can re

ed, as though they’ve

Noah.” I hand him the hotair balloon with a kiss, t

e road, then dial Barn

You will not believe what

ch Daniel didn’t say

arnaby patientl

condom to Noah’s teacher

ar Barnaby bursting into l

He pretends to care, but he

h d

is suddenly harder and st

to s

p?” I stare at t

g to say something to you

s, you’ll drive everyone i

appens

ut

auses. “And it doesn’t he

n. Get a life. Go on a da

nd’s und

alking about?”

can hear Barnaby’s frustr

to flirt with Nathan. No

r entire div

tire thing!” I finger my

d I happened to mention i

e was being polite. Appa

about Daniel

exaggeration,”

aybe it was five minutes.

lot to say about Daniel’s

first appointment, Fl

whatever you did, you

B-word. “I’m not. I’m … a

ptable emotions. “I’m ru

than used wa

yell at him. “I think I w

o

ther end. I’m breathing

te with Nathan. I thought I was talking about Daniel

n’t having a good time. I

Humor

“Well, now I know. Th

erful voice resounds thr

nd I do love you lots. But

I’ll talk t

left, chewing my bottom l

very well. It’s

see my in-box is full, but

Barnaby’s words have stu

ng into a bitter, twisted

ack hood who scowls at th

people with her stick an

ildren, who run

case s

the phone and call Lottie

y each

swers is Dolly,

,” I say. “Is

ng. Don’t know whe

phone in surprise. I kn

t to go out shopping and bl

ay to go in this

when she’l

uying stuff for

that right? Honeymoo

swallow. “Dolly, is L

t you

s … I’ve been …” I can

rang and cong

beam elatedly around th

to dance. Lottie’s engag

world do go ri

, h

, how, h

ly out to San Francisco

? I text her: I’m expecting radio silen

iting to tell

at happ

eve it. He came back into my li

idea he would, ab

ll her mobile number, but i

again. As I head to our in

so happy I really want to

y at work, so I’ll set

everything I could ever

, then, I do feel motherl

of gave up on the job, wha

with loaded businessmen

we were left alone a lot.

our mother died, she start

t w

r/possible chief bridesmai

ning our strange little fam

-for. This is important, I

own eyes, but you don’t w

ould I feel if Lottie b

hts honestly, in the priv

terly. I would probably try

l bets

Depp. He’s handsome, do

y handsome, which that

er carbs. Richard’s a man

erce Brosnan and someti

k I’m the only one who

emblance to Lottie once, a

b. (Obviously, when he fir

contacts for the lowdown

e bawled out his team so

ize. But he’s also good-na

n armchair, which Lottie

the sitting room, saying

just held that big heavy

ht his eye and he grinned a

or Lo

n, I’m so happy. After al

to come our way. So, ho

rything. As I head back to

in—and this ti

Fli

xcitement. “Congratulati

eve

ounds even more euphori

have swept he

t down at my desk

It still hasn’t

tai

e out of the blue.” Lottie

thought I’d never see hi

ago, that means he’d be

Francisco and turned r

ch

say? Did he get d

s loved me and he wanted

ut ten times, and at last

again. “Can y

ther sip of coffee. It’s so

British Airways press con

lebrator

e for more details. “Did

sounds drawn up sho

t. I was never in

cided not to

me!” To my surprise, she

s for R

” I blink at the p

for Richard.” She sounds

to someone else.

oughts have jammed, as tho

at’s this “someone else”? I ope

ulations. I’m sure

ve him. He’s good-lookin

y conn

t up for lunch, OK? And

yself. I simply have to ad

ct for Lottie and it will a

e long engagement and d

dges?” Lottie says. “I’m

neymoon u

when were you plann

pily. “We wanted to do i

e the d

? She’s

hardly get the words out.

should ha